A Shih Tzu does not do the holidays. It attends them. It makes an entrance at the top of the stairs, inspects the gift pile from the best cushion, accepts compliments from every guest and refuses the winter walk after eleven steps. For a dog that spent centuries as a palace companion, December is simply the month when everyone finally treats it correctly.
If someone on your list loves a Shih Tzu, the best gifts feel a little royal and a little practical: something for the dog's famous coat, something for its comfort and something that makes the owner laugh. Below are 11 original Shih Tzu tees for the season and gift ideas a Shih Tzu home will actually use.
The Little Lion Dog, a Quick History for the Card
"Shih Tzu" comes from the Chinese word for lion. In Buddhist art the lion is a guardian, and small long-coated dogs bred to look a little like lions were kept at the Chinese imperial court for centuries. The breed is often linked with the Empress Dowager Cixi, whose palace kept small dogs in the late 1800s. After the end of the empire the breed nearly disappeared, and today's Shih Tzu descends from a small number of dogs taken to Europe in the 1930s. The American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1969.
The breed standard describes a sturdy little dog of about 9 to 16 pounds and 9 to 10.5 inches at the shoulder, with a long, flowing double coat and a plumed tail carried over the back. It was never asked to herd, hunt or guard anything. Its only job was to be good company, and every Shih Tzu owner can confirm it takes that job very seriously.
11 Shih Tzu Tees for the Royal Holiday Schedule
1. The countdown: Take Your Time Seriously
A fluffy Shih Tzu sits on a calendar with the 25th circled, next to a sunset and a little stamp that says "GOOD THINGS TAKE TIME." A gentle reminder to slow down in the busiest month of the year. A sweet gift for the person who starts counting down on December 1.
See the Take Your Time Seriously tee
2. The holiday party: Small Dog, Big Night
A Shih Tzu with a perfect topknot poses under a giant disco ball, sparkles and red and blue stage lights. "Small Dog, Big Night" is how a Shih Tzu walks into a holiday party: tiny, glamorous and completely sure it is the guest of honor. For the friend who never misses the office party or New Year's Eve.
See the Small Dog, Big Night tee
3. The grand entrance: Grand Entrance, Small Paws
A fluffy Shih Tzu descends a sweeping green-carpeted staircase with ornate railings and a palm, like a star arriving at a gala. On Christmas morning, the dog is always the last one down and the first one at the presents. For the owner who films that entrance every year.
See the Grand Entrance, Small Paws tee
4. The palace history: Minor Majesty
A small Shih Tzu with a grand, flowing coat strikes a regal pose between big staggered letters that read "MINOR MAJESTY." A light joke with real palace history behind it. A good pick for anyone who likes to tell guests where their dog comes from.
5. The winter walk: Not Moving
A Shih Tzu is planted under a huge, blocky sign that says "NOT MOVING," and it means it. On a cold December morning, a Shih Tzu walk is often a short trip to the end of the driveway and a firm decision to go home. For the owner who has carried their dog back more than once.
6. The couch after dinner: Lounging Is a Language
A long-haired Shih Tzu with a topknot sprawls across a coral lounge chair, surrounded by plants, a curved lamp and a wavy rug. Every Shih Tzu is fluent in this language, and the holidays are its peak season. For the relative who takes the post-dinner nap seriously.
See the Lounging Is a Language tee
7. Working from home in December: My Calendar Has a Chin
A Shih Tzu parks its chin and paws on a person's forearm, and the cut-out letters say "MY CALENDAR HAS A CHIN." Anyone trying to finish year-end work at home knows who actually controls the schedule. For the remote worker whose dog has opinions about the laptop.
See the My Calendar Has a Chin tee
8. The holiday photo: Style Is a Survival Skill
A Shih Tzu whose long coat looks like a salon blowout sits beside the words "STYLE IS A SURVIVAL SKILL." Holiday card season is when that coat finally earns its keep. For the owner who books a groom before the family photo.
See the Style Is a Survival Skill tee
9. The groomer's favorite: The Fluff Index
A long-haired Shih Tzu is drawn in flowing cream, peach, teal and navy stripes next to matching swatches and a ruler, like an official coat chart. "The Fluff Index" treats the breed's famous hair as something you could measure. A clever gift for a groomer, or for the owner who brushes every day.
10. The doorbell: Small Does Not Mean Silent
A tiny long-haired Shih Tzu stands beside huge, shouting letters: "SMALL DOES NOT MEAN SILENT." Every delivery and every guest in December gets announced. For the household that never needs a doorbell, because the dog has it covered.
See the Small Does Not Mean Silent tee
11. The trip somewhere warm: Weekend Royalty
A Shih Tzu in a tiny crown lounges on an ornate chaise by the sea, lemon trees and a coastal villa behind it, like a vintage Riviera travel poster. It is a fun pick for the person escaping winter over the holidays, or anyone whose dog rules every long weekend.
Gifts for the Coat, the Comfort and the Owner
A Shih Tzu's coat sheds very little, but it grows and tangles, so grooming is the center of life with this breed. Gifts that Shih Tzu owners tend to love:
- A grooming gift card. Salons get busy before the holidays, and a prepaid groom for January is a gift that really gets used.
- A pin brush and a metal comb. Daily brushing keeps mats away, especially for dogs kept in a long coat.
- Soft topknot bands or bows. Keeping hair out of the eyes is a daily job, and a good set of bands is cheap and appreciated.
- Pet steps for the bed or couch. A Shih Tzu will want to be up on the furniture with you, and steps save its back and legs from the jump.
- A donation in the owner's name to a Shih Tzu rescue or a local shelter.
Holiday Notes for a Shih Tzu Home
- Watch your step: a small dog in a busy room is easy to trip over. Give it a quiet bed away from the main walkway during parties.
- Warm rooms, cold walks: the Shih Tzu has a short muzzle, so a hot, crowded room can tire it, while a dog in a short puppy cut may need a sweater outside.
- Table and tree: keep chocolate, grapes and raisins, onions and xylitol out of reach, since all are toxic to dogs, and pick up tinsel and ribbon, which tangle in a long coat and should never be swallowed.
Washed Tee or Soft Tee, and Getting It There by Christmas
- Fabric and fit: the Washed Tee ($35) is 100% cotton, 250 gsm, relaxed straight unisex cut, true to size, S to 5XL, three colors per design. The Soft Tee ($32) is a lighter 155 gsm, regular fit, S to 3XL. Tees are printed to order, so we cannot take returns for a wrong size; check the size guide.
- Delivery: printed and shipped in the USA, about 5 to 7 business days in the US including printing. Order by early December to be safe, since carriers get busy after Black Friday on November 27. See our shipping page.
- Multi-tee offer: 2 or more tees ship free in the US, and 3 or more get 15% off automatically.
Want more? Browse funny Shih Tzu shirts for the tiny royalty, the hair and the sit-down strikes, or see every design in the full Shih Tzu collection. Shopping for other small-dog people too? Try the Pug Christmas gifts and French Bulldog Christmas gifts guides, or the German Shepherd Christmas gifts guide for the big-dog friend.
More for Shih Tzu people: Shih Tzu mom shirts, 22 cozy, stylish and artsy designs for the woman with a lap dog. For him: Shih Tzu dad shirts, 16 chess, road-trip and racing-poster designs for the man whose lapdog rides shotgun. Shopping for her any time of year? Shih Tzu gifts for her matches 11 more Shih Tzu tees to the grooming cycle, from the fresh cut to full fluff.
FAQ
What is a good Christmas gift for a Shih Tzu owner?
Something for the coat or the comfort: a grooming gift card, a pin brush and metal comb, soft topknot bands, pet steps for the couch, or an original Shih Tzu shirt about their dog's royal attitude, naps and winter walk refusals.
What does Shih Tzu mean?
Shih Tzu comes from the Chinese word for lion, which is why the breed is often called the little lion dog. The lion is a guardian figure in Buddhist art, and the breed was kept as a companion at the Chinese imperial court.
Do Shih Tzus shed?
Very little, but the long coat keeps growing and tangles easily. Owners either brush daily and keep the long coat, or keep the dog in a shorter puppy cut with regular grooming appointments.
Is there a deal on more than one tee?
Yes. 2 or more tees ship free in the US, and 3 or more tees get 15% off automatically at checkout.