I have shown and bred dogs for 20 years now. One of the most common questions I am asked is "Which is better, a male or female?" There are a lot of myths out there and I have created this page to address those myths.
The most common question/myth I am asked is "Are males harder to housebreak than females?" The sex of the dog has nothing to do with how fast a puppy will housebreak. This all depends on how much time and effort you the puppy owner puts into housebreaking. The more you learn about your puppies routine the faster you will housebreak.
Another common question/myth I am asked is about males and lifting their leg or marking territory. If your male puppy is neutered at the appropriate age (we recommend 5 mo. of age) he will more than likely never lift and squat to urinate. We suggest 5 mo of age for a neuter as that is before the level of testosterone reaches it's peak so the male puppy will never experience the need to mark his territory.
One of the most often asked questions I receive is "I've heard females are more loving than males". This is such an untrue statement. If you have done your research of the Shih tzu breed you will know that this breed was bred to be a companion. They were not bred for any other reason. Because of this the Shih tzu (both male & female) are very loving dogs. They love to be with their family and are both equally affectionate. However there is a difference between the males and females that you should be aware of. Males are very happy go lucky, go with the flow. Females tend to be stubborn. Because of this I highly recommend families with young children acquire a male puppy. A male puppy will tolerate being picked up and handled all the time whereas a female puppy may not tolerate being handled as much. A very good example is Cubby on my previous puppies page. Cubby went to a home with 3 girls, ages 2,4,& 6yr. Cubby tolerates his girls carrying him around and even pushing him in a doll stroller. The picture of Cubby in the doll stoller is a perfect example as to how the males will tolerate most anything.
You can view further info on the American Shih tzu Clubs Website at the following link: