Congratulations
on your choice of a Shih Tzu puppy! The next few weeks and months will be an
incredible journey into a life-long friendship for both you and your puppy.
There are a few things you can do to help make the transition from nursery to
pampered lap-warmer a little easier for your new baby. Most of these things are
common sense issues, but there are a few breed-specific tips that I would like
to share with you.
It is imperative that you know what puppy food your breeder is feeding your
puppy. A high-quality puppy food eliminates any need to supplement the diet
with vitamins and minerals and ensures that your puppy will grow strong and
healthy. If you plan to change the puppy's food to a different brand, do so
slowly to prevent gastric distress. Try giving two parts of the old food
to one part of the new food for a few days. If your puppy doesn't
experience any adverse reaction (diarrhea, vomiting, constipation), then slowly
increase the proportion of new food to old until he or she is only eating the
new food. One important thing to remember is to NEVER feed a Shih Tzu food
which contains soy products. Shih Tzu tend to be very sensitive to
soy-containing foods and may suffer severe allergic skin reactions.
Despite the ongoing controversy regarding it's research facilities, I feed and highly
recommend Iams Smart Puppy and Iams Mini Chunks. They are both reasonably
priced and highly nutritious.
When it comes to treats, moderation is key. I feed Iam's Puppy Biscuits and Iams Small Biscuits (2
per day). My dogs love them and not only are they good for helping keep
the teeth clean, but are also great training aids! Once again, please make sure the ingredients don't include soy
products.
Vaccinations are essential to your puppy's continued health. Your new puppy
will come to you de-wormed and with his or her first set of shots.
However, please check with a reputable veterinarian immediately to ensure that
your new puppy continues with the latest vaccination protocol which should
include a heartworm preventative. Even in parts of the country where
mosquitoes aren't a prevalent problem, heartworm preventative is still an
important part of your pet's health care.
While it may be tempting to let your cuddly new baby sleep with you to minimize
his crying, you might want to consider that most puppies are not housebroken
when they go to their new homes. So, unless you don't mind waking up to a
less-than-pleasant surprise in your bed, you may want to consider purchasing a
small pet taxi for him to sleep in. The pet taxi can also do double duty as a crate to help
with his house
training. It can be placed near your bed so that you can
comfort the puppy during the night. Old sheets and towels make a
comfortable and inexpensive lining and are easily cleaned (believe me . . .
you'll be washing daily for a while). I will send home a favorite chew
toy with my babies (yes, it's used, but that's just the point). The
familiarity seems to have a calming effect. You'll still need a little
patience, though, as it will probably take a few nights before your puppy
becomes accustomed to his new surroundings, away from his mom and littermates, and sleeps through the night.
I have tried many methods to housebreak a puppy, but the only effective
method that I have found thus far is to use a crate. Over the years, I've
found that the "crate training" method works the best. Most people don't know
it but puppies don't have much control over their bladders and bowels until they are at least 10 weeks of age.
Frequent potty breaks are a must. Anytime the puppy wakes up from a nap,
drinks or eats,
it should go outside or to it's "puppy pad". The most important concept
here is that he always goes to the same place. It won't take long for your puppy
to get the idea. With Shih Tzu, praise works much more effectively than
punishment. When accidents happen, it seems to work well to "move" the
accident to the appropriate potty place and then praise your puppy.
Shih Tzu are brachycephalic (short-nosed) and are very sensitive to high
temperatures. Heat stroke is possible if they are exposed to extreme heat
for too long. I have found that my Shih Tzu don't particularly care for very hot
OR very cold weather.
During the summer season they can play outside early in the morning and late
in the afternoon, but make sure you have plenty of water available at all times. If
you live in an area where freezing temperatures are common in the winter, make sure you don't let ice build up between
the pads on the feet. Also, it isn't a good idea to allow your Shih Tzu on
walkways where salt or other ice melting ingredients have been used. Make
sure you thoroughly wash and dry the feet if they happen
to walk on any de-icing agents.
The reason why people tend not to be allergic to Shih Tzu is that they have "hair"
and not "fur." Shih Tzu need regular brushing (at least every
other day) to keep
their hair from matting. It is wise to invest in a good long-pinned brush,
but make sure it doesn't have the balls on the pins as these brushes tend to
break the hairs. Shih Tzu will need to
be trimmed, at least around the paws and anus, every couple of months. For
those who choose to keep the coat clipped, the length of the coat should be dependent on
the weather . . . shorter in the summer and longer in the winter. If you
want to keep
your puppy in long coat, daily combing and weekly baths are essential since a clean coat grows faster than a dirty one.
When brushing a dry coat, always spray a little conditioner on the hair to
prevent breakage. Use a good mild shampoo and, if fleas
are a problem, mix a few drops of Dawn dishwashing liquid with your shampoo.
It works like a charm.
When you wash your puppy, make sure the house is warm enough so your baby
doesn't get chilled. Start with the head and work your way back.
Make sure to rinse thoroughly with clean water and use a good conditioner
to keep the hair soft and silky. Make sure you routinely
pull all hair in the ears, squeeze the anal glands, and clip the nails.
Shih Tzu have prominent eyes and therefore have a high risk of
eye injury. If your puppy is in long coat, keep the hair around the eyes
in a top knot with a latex hair band. To remove the top knot for
combing, use scissors to cut the band rather than trying to untie it. If
you choose to clip the coat, make sure the hair is short enough to easily see
the eyes and make sure that it doesn't get long enough to poke the eyeball.
Any discoloration of the eye, especially a blue tint, is indicative of injury or
infection and you should contact your veterinarian immediately.
Early treatment is important since any injury or infection can quickly lead to
blindness. Tearing and staining are also a problem which require daily
cleansing around the eye area. Excessive tearing may indicate infection
and should be treated by your veterinarian.
Regular maintenance
of your Shih Tzu is essential to avoid expensive health problems later. A
healthy dog is a happy dog, and you'll be a much happier dog owner. Good
luck with your new baby!!
Ten
Commandments for a Responsible Dog Owner
1.
My life is likely to last 10 to 15 years. Any separation from you will be
very painful.
2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.
3. Place your trust in me - it is crucial for my well-being.
4. Don't be angry with me for long, and don't lock me up as
punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment. I HAVE
ONLY YOU.
5. Talk to me, Even if I don't understand your words, I understand
your voice when it's speaking to me.
6. Be aware that however you treat me, I'll NEVER forget it.
7. Before you hit me, remember that I have teeth that could easily
crush the bones in your hand, but I choose not to bite you.
8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself
if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food,
I've been out in the sun too long, or my heart may be getting old and weak.
9. Take care of me when I get old. You, too, will grow old.
10. Go with me on difficult journeys. Never say, "I can't bear to
watch it" or, "Let it happen in my absence." Everything is easier for me if
you are there. Remember, I love you.
Author Unknown
