How many treats a day is too many for a Shih Tzu?

As a general guide, treats should make up no more than around ten per cent of a dog's daily calories, and for a small breed like a Shih Tzu that can be a surprisingly small number of treats. Sizing treats down and breaking larger ones into pieces helps stretch that allowance further.

Are dental chews really necessary for a Shih Tzu?

They are not compulsory, but the breed's crowded teeth make dental care more important than for many other breeds, so a dental chew alongside regular brushing is a sensible addition rather than a strictly essential one.

Can a Shih Tzu choke more easily than a larger dog?

Their smaller mouth and shortened muzzle do mean a treat that is fine for a larger breed can be a bigger risk for a Shih Tzu, so choosing a treat genuinely sized for a small dog matters more here than it might for a bigger breed.

What treats are best for training a Shih Tzu?

Small, soft training treats that can be broken into even smaller pieces work well, since they let you reward frequently during a session without overloading a small dog's daily calorie allowance in one sitting.

Best treats for a Shih Tzu

A Shih Tzu does best with small, bite-sized treats given their toy-breed size, and a treat calorie budget that is easy to overshoot on such a small dog. Dental chews are particularly worth including, since the breed's short muzzle crowds their teeth together and makes them more prone to dental problems than many larger breeds.

Why size and calories matter more here

A Shih Tzu typically weighs somewhere between four and eight kilograms fully grown, which means their entire daily calorie need is far smaller than a medium or large breed's. A treat sized and portioned for a bigger dog can represent a much larger share of a Shih Tzu's daily intake than the same treat would for a Labrador.

Small, bite-sized treats let you reward more often without the calories adding up as quickly, and they are also easier and safer for a small dog's mouth to manage in one go.

Dental chews are worth prioritising

The Shih Tzu's short, flat muzzle means their teeth sit more crowded together than in a longer-nosed breed, which makes plaque and tartar build-up, and the dental problems that follow, more common in the breed generally.

A dental chew sized appropriately for a small dog's mouth can help manage plaque between brushings, though it works alongside regular tooth brushing and vet dental checks rather than replacing either of them. Ask your vet at a routine check-up if you are unsure how your own dog's teeth and gums are holding up.

Texture and safety considerations

A Shih Tzu's shortened muzzle also affects how they breathe and chew compared with a longer-nosed dog, so a treat that requires prolonged, forceful gnawing may be less comfortable for them than it would be for a breed built differently.

Softer training treats, broken into small pieces, work well for repeated rewarding during training sessions, while a firmer dental chew is better reserved for a calmer, more settled moment rather than an excitable training session.

What we stock for this breed

Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.

Pet Dental Cleaning Wipes (50 Pack)

A tub of 50 textured finger wipes that lift plaque and freshen breath for dogs and cats without a toothbrush. Slip one over your finger and wipe teeth clean for easy daily dental care.

£9.99

Fast UK delivery

Forthglade Soft Bite Grain Free Turkey Treat

Forthglade Soft Bite Grain Free Turkey Treat: complementary dog treat with turkey — 90G

£2.09

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Common questions

How many treats a day is too many for a Shih Tzu?: As a general guide, treats should make up no more than around ten per cent of a dog's daily calories, and for a small breed like a Shih Tzu that can be a surprisingly small number of treats. Sizing treats down and breaking larger ones into pieces helps stretch that allowance further.
Are dental chews really necessary for a Shih Tzu?: They are not compulsory, but the breed's crowded teeth make dental care more important than for many other breeds, so a dental chew alongside regular brushing is a sensible addition rather than a strictly essential one.
Can a Shih Tzu choke more easily than a larger dog?: Their smaller mouth and shortened muzzle do mean a treat that is fine for a larger breed can be a bigger risk for a Shih Tzu, so choosing a treat genuinely sized for a small dog matters more here than it might for a bigger breed.
What treats are best for training a Shih Tzu?: Small, soft training treats that can be broken into even smaller pieces work well, since they let you reward frequently during a session without overloading a small dog's daily calorie allowance in one sitting.

Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.