Shih Tzus rank 70th out of 138 breeds in the most widely cited dog intelligence study, placing them in the lowest tier for obedience and working intelligence. But that ranking tells a narrow story. Shih Tzus score poorly on tests that measure how quickly a dog learns and follows commands, yet they excel at reading people, manipulating social situations, and doing exactly what they were bred to do: be an attentive companion.
What the Intelligence Rankings Actually Measure
The famous breed intelligence list created by canine psychologist Stanley Coren ranks dogs on two criteria: how many repetitions it takes to learn a new command, and how often the dog obeys on the first attempt. Shih Tzus typically need 80 to 100 repetitions to reliably learn something new, and they respond to a command on the first try only about 25% of the time. For comparison, a Border Collie learns in under five repetitions and obeys on the first command 95% of the time.
This puts the Shih Tzu in Coren’s sixth and lowest tier, described as the “least effective working dogs.” But that label reveals a limitation of the test itself. It measures willingness to follow instructions on demand, which is essentially a test of biddability, not raw brainpower. A dog that chooses not to sit when asked isn’t necessarily a dog that doesn’t understand the word “sit.”
Stubbornness vs. Lack of Intelligence
Anyone who has lived with a Shih Tzu knows the difference between a dog that doesn’t understand and a dog that has decided the request isn’t worth the effort. Shih Tzus are famously independent-minded. They learn quickly that certain behaviors get them treats, attention, or a prime spot on the couch, and they repeat those behaviors with impressive consistency. Ask them to do something that doesn’t benefit them, and you’ll often get a blank stare.
This selective cooperation is common in breeds that were never developed for tasks like herding, retrieving, or guarding. A retriever’s job depends on following commands instantly. A Shih Tzu’s historical job was to sit in a palace and be charming. That difference in breeding purpose shapes how each breed engages with training, and it has very little to do with cognitive capacity.
Where Shih Tzus Are Genuinely Clever
Dog intelligence researchers generally recognize three types of canine smarts: instinctive intelligence (what the breed was designed to do), adaptive intelligence (how well an individual dog solves new problems and learns from experience), and obedience intelligence (the category Shih Tzus score poorly in). When you look at the first two, the picture changes considerably.
Instinctive Intelligence
Shih Tzus were bred as companion dogs for Chinese royalty, living in imperial courts as far back as the Ming Dynasty in the 1300s. Court eunuchs competed to breed the most appealing specimens for the emperor. Centuries of this selection pressure produced a dog finely tuned to human social dynamics. Their instinctive intelligence is companionship itself: bonding closely, staying attuned to their person’s mood, and providing comfort. They do this without any training at all, because it’s hardwired.
Adaptive Intelligence
This is where individual Shih Tzus often surprise their owners. Adaptive intelligence refers to a dog’s ability to solve problems on its own, learn from past experiences, and figure out new situations without being taught. Shih Tzus tend to be remarkably perceptive at reading human emotions, often responding to sadness or stress before you’ve consciously signaled anything. They’re also resourceful when motivated. Many Shih Tzu owners report that their dog has figured out how to open cabinets, manipulate other pets out of a sleeping spot, or develop elaborate routines to get treats. Once a Shih Tzu learns that a behavior gets results, it will deploy that behavior strategically.
What Training a Shih Tzu Looks Like
If you’re training a Shih Tzu, expect the process to take longer than it would with a more biddable breed, but not because your dog can’t learn. Short sessions work better than long ones, because Shih Tzus lose interest fast. Five minutes of focused practice will accomplish more than twenty minutes of repetition that gradually turns into a battle of wills.
Positive reinforcement is essential. Shih Tzus are sensitive to tone and respond poorly to harsh corrections, often shutting down or becoming more stubborn. Food rewards and praise work well, especially if you can make the dog feel like cooperating was its own idea. Consistency matters more than intensity. If you ask for a sit before meals every single day, the Shih Tzu will eventually decide this is a worthwhile transaction. If you’re inconsistent, the dog will notice and opt out.
Housetraining is the area where many Shih Tzu owners struggle most. The breed is notorious for being slow to housetrain, and this is partly a size issue (small dogs have smaller bladders and faster metabolisms) and partly a motivation issue. Patience and a rigid schedule help more than anything else.
How They Compare to Other Small Breeds
Among toy and companion breeds, the Shih Tzu’s obedience ranking is fairly typical. Pekingese, Bulldogs, Basenjis, and Afghan Hounds all land in the same lowest tier. Breeds like Papillons and Poodles score much higher, but those dogs were historically bred for tasks that required following human direction. The pattern is clear: breeds developed for independent or purely social purposes tend to rank low on obedience tests, while breeds developed for cooperative work rank high. This says more about breeding history than about which dog is “smarter” in any absolute sense.
In practical terms, a Shih Tzu will never be the dog that learns a trick in an afternoon and performs it reliably at the park. But it will learn your daily routine down to the minute, know which family member is most likely to share food, sense when you’re upset before you’ve said a word, and figure out exactly how to get what it wants from you. Whether that counts as “smart” depends entirely on what you’re measuring.