Shih Tzu: A Guide to Chewing Bully Sticks

Shih Tzus have those adorable silky coats and that compact, sturdy build—but these little guys pack a surprisingly powerful bite that needs the right chewing solution. Shih Tzus belong to the brachycephalic family—that's a fancy way of saying they have those flat faces and shortened skulls.

Strong Jaws but Crowded Teeth

Their distinctive look gives them a real mechanical advantage when it comes to bite force. Their shortened jaw works like a lever, allowing the same muscle force to generate higher bite pressures than you'd expect from their size. Their compact jaw creates favorable mechanics with powerful temporalis muscles.

Shih Tzus' shortened jaw causes tooth crowding and misalignment. They have their adult teeth packed into a much smaller space. And then they have the underbite, where the lower jaw extends beyond the upper jaw.

In short—Which EverChew Holder?

Shih Tzus will do best with one of the green holders since we selected it to be very tough but elastic—that helps it hold up to hard chew bites, but still have some give so that it's less likely to break an angled tooth.  And that holds true even if you spell your dog's breed Shitzu because you're typing faster than autocorrect.

Understanding Bully Stick Advantages and why a Holder is Required

Shih Tzus are natural chewers, and this behavior serves multiple important purposes: dental health, mental stimulation, stress relief, and jaw exercise. Bully sticks are pure protein (like a beef jerky) and since they are soft hard (but soften while chewing), they act like a toothbrush—especially on the crowded Shih Tzus teeth. But once the bully stick is chewed into a short stub, any dog can swallow the stub. Many times the stub will just pass through, but sometimes it can lodge in the throat or digestive tract, leading to choking or a blockage (and maybe an emergency vet visit).

Shih Tzu Sizes

Puppy Phase (2-8 months): Shih Tzu puppies go through intense chewing during teething, typically between 3-7 months. During this crucial period, the Small EverChew holder is ideal because it prevents teething puppies from swallowing dangerous bully stick ends while letting them satisfy those chewing urges safely.

Adult Phase (8+ months): Most Shih Tzus stop excessive destructive chewing around 8 months old but still need appropriate chewing outlets. For adult Shih Tzus weighing 16+ pounds or those who are particularly aggressive chewers, the Medium EverChew Plus provides the heavy-duty construction needed to withstand their powerful jaws.

Choose the Small Dog holder if your Shih Tzu:

• Weighs under 16 pounds
• Is a puppy or moderate chewer

Choose the Medium EverChew Plus if your Shih Tzu:

• Weighs 16+ pounds
• Is an aggressive chewer

If your dog is a superchewer, and doesn't have problems with other nylon toys—give the nylon SuperChew holder a try.