Shih Tzu

The Cute And Practical Shih Tzu Puppy Cut

One of the most eye-catching features of a Shih Tzu or Shih Tzu mix is their glorious, flowing and soft coat. In show Shih Tzus, this coat covers the eyes and reaches to the ground. In ancient China, where the breed originated, a long thick coat was necessary for survival in the drafty royal palaces. But that coat is a bear to deal with every single day. Only show Shih Tzus should be kept in a full coat. Otherwise, the average Shih Tzu owner will go insane. Shih Tzu grooming of a full coat takes just as long as grooming the full coat of an Afghan hound (a much bigger dog). And your local climate is probably a lot more temperate than Northern China. If you live hot climates, a full coat will kill your dog. All breeding and pet Shih Tzus' coats should be kept in a Shih Tzu puppy clip. Your Shih Tzu grooming supplies should be for daily maintenance and for giving a Shih Tzu puppy clip. They all can be found wherever pet supplies are sold. Shih Tzus really don’t need anything breed-specific in the way of Shih Tzu grooming supplies. For the puppy clip, you need electric clippers with a number four length blade and sturdy scissors you are comfortable with maneuvering around small areas. Daily maintenance grooming equipment includes, at the least, a soft brush (that looks like a body brush for horses), a pin or slicker comb, a flea comb and nail clippers. Any white areas around the eyes, nose and mouth usually never stay white. This is normal. Just make sure these stains don’t smell and don’t have food or other material trapped in the coat. Brush with the soft brush and attack tangles gently with the slicker brush or the flea comb. Clip nails only when needed. To achieve the Shih Tzu puppy cut hold the clippers like a pencil in your dominant hand. This may feel awkward at first, but gets easier with practice. Hold as lightly, yet as firmly, as you can and sweep over the dog’s coat. Leave the face for scissors and get someone to hold the dog if necessary. Smile and act as casual as possible to keep the dog calm. Scissors are used for the coat, but not for the nails. You need a guillotine-style nail clipper to make an efficient, safe cut on the nail. Scissors can be used to trim any uneven areas and are especially recommended for delicate areas like the face and anal region. Lots of people like to leave a pageboy or pudding bowl cap on the dog’s head for a cute effect that balances the look of the trim Shih Tzu puppy cut well. Afterwards, give your dog a special treat and a break afterwords. Remember, this gets easier the more times you do it! This author is currently writing a series of e-books on dog care, including Shih Tzu grooming. When not buried under a pile of Shih Tzu grooming supplies, a professional groomer can be found giving really good puppy cuts.

Helpful Tips On Raising Your Shih Tzu Pup

Bringing home your new Shih Tzu pup is a very happy moment for you, your family, and your puppy. Everyone is happy and then comes the time to try and train the little dog. A Shih Tzu pup is very arrogant and stubborn and they do not respond to punishment so you are going to not only have to exercise the utmost in patience while training your pup but you are also going to have to find new and creative ways to use positive reinforcement to have it do the things you want it to do and not punish it for things you do not want it to do. You want your new Shih Tzu pup to feel comfortable in your home. You will be using a crate or a pen to housebreak it but for the first few minutes just let it wander the house so it knows there is a whole big house to conquer. Watch for signs of needing to use the bathroom like sniffing and circling and get the dog outside if that happens. If they do their business outside then praise and reward them profusely and hope you are setting a good precedent. The very first concern of any new Shih Tzu pup owner is housebreaking. This takes months, even in the best conditions, so be prepared and be patient. Find a spot in a room in the house and get the dog a large crate or make a large pen area. Put the dog’s food and bedding in there and play with it while it is in the living area so it feels comfortable there. Then confine it only when you are home. Every 45 minutes you need to take the dog outside to the designated toilet area and see if it does what it needs to do. If it does its thing in the designated toilet area then praise it profusely. You cannot leave a Shih Tzu caged up for too long or it will start to get confused and anxious and soil its own living area. If that happens you are back to square one so make sure you keep a close eye on your dog while it is in the confinement area. The coat of a Shih Tzu pup needs to be neat and clean at all times. You will be brushing your Shih Tzu daily to make sure their long coat remains tangle free because if a Shih Tzu gets a tangled coat then that Shih Tzu could wind up sick and that is not something you want to happen. Make sure you discuss bathing habits and needs with your breeder so that you will know how to properly bathe your Shih Tzu pup. The Shih Tzu pup is a fireball of energy and they want to be right at the center of attention. Your Shih Tzu pup will require a lot of your attention and you should be prepared to be spending a lot of time each day playing with your Shih Tzu pup and getting them to run around and be happy. They are very loyal pets and if you take the time to make them feel happy then they will return that love to you in a way that only the Shih Tzu is capable of. You can find helpful information on training Shih Tzu puppies in this article. You can use this article to assist you with Shih Tzu puppy care.

Shih Tzu Puppies Or The “Little Lion”

Those of you who are familiar with toy breeds will also perhaps have heard of a good example of toy breeds which are the Shih Tzu puppies that are very small in size and which do not weigh much either. These puppies are known to come in a diverse range of colors and the coat of Shih Tzu puppies is very abundant and the hair is a long, dense double coat. The outer coat is luxurious and it is long enough to rub against the ground. Shih Tzu puppies are small and sturdy and are just like Lhasa Apsos though this breed that looks proud has hair above its nose that grows upwards and is thus sometimes even referred to as “chrysanthemum dog”. A Shih Tzu is also characterized by a round head and a beard and mustache that are profuse lend a good look to it to its face. Without a doubt, Shih Tzu puppies have a lot of spunk to them even in spite of the fact that they are tiny toy breeds. In fact, they are also known to be very alert and make good watch dogs and they have loads of character. They are certainly very royal as well as dignified in the way they carry themselves about, and courage is another trademark of this excellent breed. Nevertheless, they can also be gentle and also loyal and are known to easily become your friend, though often they can be a bit obstinate. However, they respond well to training and all it takes is to be patience and they will even learn housetraining. You will have to put up with their pronounced barking, and they are also stubborn, though clever and are known to snap at you if they are surprised or angry about something – so watch out. In the final analysis, it would not be out of place to say that Shih Tzu puppies are the kind that will provide you with companionship. The indoors is also something they revel in, which you will notice when you see how fond they are of being around the family members. However, you need to exercise a lot of care in grooming these puppies since they require their coat to be brushed every day if you don’t want to see their coat get matted, knotted or tangled up. Another point worth noting about Shih Tzu puppies is that they do not housetrain too easily. Though you will have some success by using the crate method. It likes its daily round of walks, though it is also given to vigorously playing indoors as well. Still, owning one of these puppies will be sure to make you enjoy the experience and there will be many memorable moments to have in their company. Shih Tzu puppies are excellent companions and though they require a lot of care, do not shed easily and generally are healthy animals as well. Once you learn about the characteristics of the Shih Tzu puppies by going through this article, you would be in a good position to learn the best way to raise and care for these puppies and also know how to choose the right Shih Tzu puppy.

Taking Shih Tzu Puppies to the Veterinarian

You have wanted a dog for some time now, and finally the moment has arrived. You now have your very own Shih Tzu puppy! Of course, not only is this an exciting time for you, but it is also a new beginning for your Shih Tzu puppy, because he or she needs to get used to the new surroundings. So, it is important that you do all that you can to make sure the Shih Tzu puppy enjoys a stress-free acclimation process. A maladjusted puppy can often result in behavioral problems later on. The first thing that you should do is block out a section of your kitchen that your Shih Tzu puppy can call its own. Puppies do not like to go to the bathroom where they sleep. So, giving your Shih Tzu puppy its own corner will work well, especially when you are trying to get your Shih Tzu puppy housebroken. The fun thing about getting your Shih Tzu puppy’s corner ready is that you can make it comfortable for the puppy in a variety of different ways. The first thing that you should think about is the size. Ideally, the size of the Shih Tzu puppy’s area should not be too small, but rather midsized, so that the dog does not feel overwhelmed, but at the same time has room to exercise. It really all has to do with the overall size of the room that you intend to place the puppy corner in. You need to make sure that both you and the puppy have enough room to feel comfortable. It is important to note that for this reason many puppy playpens come in adjustable sizes. A puppy should never be left alone for long periods of time. So, if you have a hectic work schedule, you should at least have one other member of the family home during the day to play with and supervise the puppy. Indeed, taking care of a Shih Tzu puppy is comparable to taking care of a child. While a Shih Tzu puppy needs a bed, food, and water, it certainly has other needs for its playpen, otherwise it will become very bored! What a Shih Tzu puppy also needs is toys, and lots of them. However, while toys are always fun, they can also sometimes be very dangerous. As such, you will need to choose safe toys that cannot be easily torn apart and choked on. Ideas of safe toys include things like healthy dog treats and tennis balls. Now for the most frustrating part: housebreaking. This is a process that is going to take some time, so be sure to be firm and say “No” when you catch the dog going to the bathroom where it should not. Alternatively, when you take the dog outside and place it on a schedule, you should reward it with a healthy treat or with a hug. Really, when it comes down to the basics of training, with patience and love, your Shih Tzu will learn all that it needs to. Of course your new puppy needs a great name too. Choose a name that has a special meaning for you or maybe a name that suits your new puppy's personality. You may even try out a couple of different names and see which ones your puppy responds best to. Shih Tzu puppies are a wonderful, inquisitive dog breed that requires lots of love and attention. Of course, an important thing about being a dog owner is picking out the right name for your dog. There are many unique Shih Tzu puppy names to choose from – it all has to do with the appearance and personality of your dog.

Why Buy A Shih Tzu Puppy For Sale

The time has come to add a Shih Tzu puppy to your family so naturally your next question is where to find a Shih Tzu puppy for sale. There are some good places to go for a Shih Tzu puppy and some not so good places to go and they all have their reasons. Remember that you are trying to bring a new member into your family so when you decide you want a Shih Tzu puppy make sure that the place you get it from is going to be the right decision as well. One place you are probably going to want to avoid is a pet shop. A Shih Tzu has very specific needs and needs to be bred in a very certain way and pet shops are notorious for not only mistreating the animals they have for sale but selling unhealthy animals and also selling animals that do not match the paperwork they give you. The chances are that the person at the counter has no knowledge about Shih Tzu care and breeding so avoid a pet store completely. Probably the best way to get a Shih Tzu puppy for sale is from a local and reputable breeder. A good breeder will be with you for many years after you take your Shih Tzu puppy home to help insure good health for the dog and all around enjoyment for you and your family. Many of the national breeder associations have lists of reputable breeders near you so check out a few before you buy. Breeders also have the ability to offer you free pet insurance that is in effect for six weeks after you bring your Shih Tzu home. They can also offer you detailed advice on care and feeding of you new Shih Tzu puppy and will probably even give you a sample of their food to bring home so you know exactly what to feed your Shih Tzu. A breeder can be an invaluable asset to the long term care of your Shih Tzu. If you are looking to save a few dollars on your Shih Tzu puppy but still get a dog that you can feel good about then perhaps you should contact your local animal rescue organization and see if they happen to have a Shih Tzu puppy for sale. You won’t pay as much as you would if you bought it from a breeder but it will have been checked over by a qualified vet and you will have the satisfaction of knowing you saved a rescued animal. There are many ways for you to get your new Shih Tzu puppy and they all have their good sides and bad sides. However you do it, always keep in mind that owning a Shih Tzu puppy is a big responsibility as they need ongoing care, maintenance and will need to get to the vet regularly as well. But in the end they are very much worth any effort as they make wonderful pets. This article offers great advice on where to get Shih Tzu puppies. Shih Tzu puppy supplies can be found using the information in this article.

Finding Shih Tzu Puppies For Sale That Doesn’t Support Puppy Mills

If you are looking for your first Shih Tzu puppy, the absolute best place for you to look for Shih Tzu puppies for sale is with AKC licensed Shih Tzu breeders. Not only will you get a Shih Tzu puppy that is healthy, sane and under warranty, but you also get access to the advice of the Shih Tzu breeder. They have lived with Shih Tzus a long time and know the quirks of this independent but loyal breed. If you have never had a Shih Tzu before – let alone a Shih Tzu puppy – then the support from the Shih Tzu breeder will be worth every penny. You can search on the Internet or information from the American Kennel Club (AKC) to find Shih Tzu puppies for sale in your area. Since Shih Tzus are the ninth most popular breed in America (according to the AKC), you should have no problem finding a reputable Shih Tzu breeder around where you live. You still will have to pay a three-figure adoption fee from Shih Tzu rescues, and you might not get papers with the pup. If you have never had a dog before, you don’t need to be taking on a second-hand puppy. Your best bet is with the American Kennel Club licensed breeders in your area. Either route you take, getting a pup will not be a quick process. Expect a few weeks to pass, unless the breeder just happens to have puppies for sale. Shih Tzu puppies for sale or for adoption fees should have the same characteristics wherever you go to choose them. They should be bouncy, outgoing and curious about everything that goes on. They should smell somewhat like sweet milk. They should have clear eyes, a nose free of any discharge and not have any diarrhea stains around the anal region. If a puppy is cowering in the corner, this is usually a sign of a sickness. Here is some basic Shih Tzu puppy care information that any animal shelter, Shih Tzu rescue or breeder will want you to know when you find the right Shih Tzu puppy for sale. Shih Tzus need to live indoors – they cannot handle changing temperatures too well. Shih Tzus are prone to ear infections and eye damage. Keep the ears clean – and the rest of the body, too! You will need to go to a groomer every six weeks, at the very least, in order to keep on top of the coat. And they need brushing each and every day. Keep the Shih Tzu in a “puppy trim” instead of a show coat to save some grooming time. The show coat takes as long to groom as the coat of a much bigger dog, the Afghan. Shih Tzus will wander, so they need to be on a leash or in a fenced yard when outside. And Shih Tzus are more for the stay at home types than those who do a lot of traveling. They want to be with you all of the time. This author has written hundreds of articles on dogs, including where to find the best Shih Tzu puppies for sale. Considered one of the leading sources of information on Shih Tzu puppy care in the nation, this author also writes books on many other breeds.

Don’t Be Afraid Of Shish Tzu Breeders

Perhaps you’ve seen people picketing your local pet store because they were selling puppies. Don’t these people have anything better to do with their lives? Actually, no they don't. What they are doing is calling attention to not how the puppies in a pet store or treated, but where pet stores buy their puppies from – puppy mills. Puppy mills are not only cruel and unsanitary, but the puppies that come from there are often sickly, have ingrained behavioral problems and are sometimes sold with false papers. If you want a Shih Tzu or a Shih Tzu mix, then you are best off getting your puppy not from a pet store or an Internet site that sells puppies with no questions asked (except your method of payment), but from reputable Shih Tzu breeders or an animal rescue shelter. The puppies and their parents from Shih Tzu breeders are kept in ethical conditions an receive great veterinary care, often get to live inside of a house and come with health guarantees. These are some of the many advantages of buying from Shih Tzu breeders or adopting from a Shih Tzu rescue. Although animal rights activists and politicians like Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell (D) work hard to stop puppy mills, they can’t get them shut down if the puppy mill owners keep getting paid. Those payments come from puppies bought in pet store or Internet sites that only ask you where to ship the puppy and what your credit card number is. The big advantage to getting your puppy from a reputable Shih Tzu breeder is that you can see the parents of the Shih Tzu puppies. You can also meet the first humans your puppy will be in contact with and help shape their attitude towards life. You can also get to tour the kennel or home of a Shih Tzu breeder to see if the dogs are happy, healthy and treated humanely. Not only is humane treatment of dogs the right thing to do, it also makes for a healthier, better mentally adjusted dog. Always buy a Shih Tzu puppy from a reputable Shih Tzu breeder. Think about how a puppy lives in a pet store. They just sit in a cage all day and all night until they are sold. Every day they are fed, watered and their cage cleaned. The pet store employees usually have so much work to do that they cannot give the puppies the individual attention they need at this critical time. A puppy learns best from eight to fourteen weeks of age. When they miss this window, they will have a hard time learning to be a good pet. Nobody wins when a puppy is bought from a pet store. The buyer doesn’t win, because they have a sickly and maladjusted puppy. The puppy’s parents sure don’t win, being forced to live in overcrowded wire cages until they are shot for being too old to breed. But the biggest loser is the puppy. That someone will most likely buy Shih Tzu puppy in the window on impulse bereft of any Shih Tzu information can cause the puppy to soon be abandoned. A Shih Tzu breeder makes sure you and the puppy are well matched for life. The best way to stop puppy mills are to only buy puppies from reputable Shih Tzu breeders or adopt from shelters. One day no one will ever have to write about the existence of puppy mills in any further Shih Tzu information articles.

Shih Tzu Breeders You Should Not Give Money To

Once you have made the decision to bring a Shih Tzu into your family you are making a pretty important decision. You want to treat every step of the way like its own important decision and that is especially true of the Shih Tzu breeder you choose. Good Shih Tzu breeders are hard to find but definitely worth the search. You don’t want to buy a pet from someone who only looks at them as merchandise and inventory, you want someone that cares about pets as much as you do. You are going to talk to a lot of Shih Tzu breeders before you finally buy and a good Shih Tzu breeder not only expects that but also would probably insist on it. You aren’t hurting any breeder’s pride by looking around and they know you will choose the breeder that works best for you. If you see shady dealers engaging in animal cruelty then report them to the proper authorities right away. Shih Tzu dogs are living beings that deserve to be treated humanely and even breeders are capable of abuse. Always make sure any breeder you are dealing with is listed with at least one of the national breeder registries. You can find full listings by doing a search on the Internet and probably the gold standard that all breeders use is the National Kennel Club. If a breeder is not listed with any national breeder registry at all then you want to question their business practices and you probably do not want to do any business with them. You can also contact the local authorities in your area to see if a Shih Tzu breeder you are considering has any complaints against them. This is a step many people neglect to do but a breeder will smile at you and tell you anything you want to hear while they are trying to sell you a dog. You can find out the real story on that breeder by asking the local authorities if a particular breeder has any history of shady dealings or if they have ever been in trouble because of their breeding practices. This is very important. Your vet is always a great resource for any kind of advice or information you may need on any of the prospective Shih Tzu breeders you are considering. If you are getting your first pet then it would be a good idea to start a relationship with a vet anyway and what better way to start off with your new vet than taking their advice on a breeder? Your vet is only in it for the health and safety of your pet so their advice will reflect that concern and that is the information you need. Talk to the breeders as well. If you do not feel comfortable with one then do not do business with them. A breeder is supposed to not only sell you a pet but also be available to you for the life of your pet, so you want to be sure that the breeder you choose is someone you would have no problem talking to and dealing with. This is an important decision so take your time and do your homework. You can help yourself avoid shady Shih Tzu breeders by using this article. There is some useful Shih Tzu information in this article.

Looking At A Fake Shih Tzu Breeder

So the time has come to bring the pitter-patter of little feet back into your home and you and your family have decided on a Shih Tzu. The very first thing you are going to need to do is be certain that you find the right Shih Tzu breeder and one that you can trust, as your relationship will extend way after you leave their property with your new puppy. Choosing a breeder is important so take your time and consider many. Your first stop should be the National Kennel Club or any other national breeder registry that you can usually find on the Internet. These registries will point you to only the most reputable breeders in your area and also give you some information about how they do business and what you can expect. If you cannot find a particular breeder in a national registry then they may not be someone you want to get a dog from. A good Shih Tzu breeder knows that the relationship between an owner and a breeder does not stop after the transaction is signed and done. A good breeder encourages owners, especially novice owners, to contact them if they have any questions or concerns or if they feel they need any advice for the raising of a new dog. A good breeder knows that a good relationship between breeder and owner is essential to the ongoing good health of each dog. It is the job of a breeder to make sure that when you take your dog home you have complete and detailed care and feeding instructions so you know exactly what and when to feed your new dog. Most breeders will also send you home with a sample of food for your dog so you know what to feed it for proper health through its life. A reputable Shih Tzu breeder will get an extra incentive from insurance companies that the more shady breeders do not get. A registered and reputable breeder will get the option to offer new owners free pet insurance on their dog that extends for six weeks after the purchase date. The insurance companies want you to use the insurance just once on a vet appointment and then extend the insurance. The breeder just wants to make sure the dog is covered. Any good breeder will offer many options and pieces of advice to any new or experienced owner. You should discuss with your prospective breeder any of these conditions to see if you are dealing with a reputable breeder or not. A reputable breeder will offer to take the dog back at any point in its life if you can no longer care for it, with no cash refund. That is something you do not get from a shady breeder. There is very helpful information on narrowing down your search for Shih Tzu breeders in this article. You can use this article to help you find better Shih Tzu information in your search for a breeder.

Giving Your Shih Tzu Breeder The Third Degree

Every good Shih Tzu breeder is used to answering questions from their customers so you are not doing anything new or annoying for the breeder. Getting the right information to the owners is part of the breeder’s job and any good breeder is going to have the same level of concern for the animal's welfare that you do. So when you start asking questions you are not doing anything new, but there are some questions that you should always remember to ask your breeder when you are talking to them. You want to know your breeder so ask them how long they have been in business, how they got started, how they feel about the dogs they sell, and anything you think you need to know to feel like you know your breeder as a professional breeder. Leave any personal information out of it, you can find out what you need to know about their personality by just talking to them. Also ask them what national breeder registry they are listed with and why they chose that registry. Ask about them because they will ask about you. When it is time to take your new Shih Tzu puppy home your Shih Tzu breeder should be offering you free pet insurance. This pet insurance will extend for six weeks after you take your Shih Tzu home and many pet owners have never had pet insurance before so be sure you ask a lot of questions and understand how it all works before you leave. Pet insurance can really help out at that first vet appointment. If you do not get the free pet insurance offer then ask your breeder why. They get it for free so they should be offering it to you. Your Shih Tzu breeder will bury you in care and feeding instructions for your new Shih Tzu puppy and they expect you to ask a lot of questions before you go home. So go ahead and ask anything you can think of. It is important to the breeder, you, and your dog that you understand all of the care and feeding information you are given so that you know what to do for your dog when you get it home. Do not leave your breeder’s property without completely understanding your responsibilities. It may be a difficult question to ask but many reputable breeders have a policy where they will take the Shih Tzu back if you cannot care for it or no longer want it. No Shih Tzu breeder wants to do this, and they do not offer you a refund of any kind if you take them up on it, but it is a good thing to know that if you can no longer care for the pet that you are not going to have to abandon it somewhere. Always know your options and this is an important option to understand. Your Shih Tzu breeder is expecting you to have a lot of questions and the best breeders always have answers for you and probably even have the answers to many of your questions already written down for you to take home. But never be shy about asking questions, as this is the life of your dog you are considering and the happiness of you and your family. No one minds taking some time to answer those questions. This article will help you communicate better with Shih Tzu breeders. You can find very important Shih Tzu information in this article in regards to questions to ask breeders.