shihtzucrazy.com

Teaching your Shih Tzu the “sit” command could be one of the most useful commands you ever teach him. A poorly trained Shih Tzu is a direct reflection on you the pet owner and how much you care about your dog.

In fact an untrained Shih Tzu becomes a nuisance to its owner therefore the dog and owner become unhappy.  Whether it’s a puppy or a fully grown Shih Tzu you can teach them to sit with a little effort on your part.

Have you been putting it off because you think your Shih Tzu will never be able to learn a new ‘trick’? Don’t put it off any longer. Start teaching your Shih Tzu how to sit today.

Use some of these tips to teach your Shih Tzu to sit:

You are going to need some treats; unfortunately this is always the best way to get a Shih Tzu to do something you want! You can use anything you know your Shih Tzu enjoys: biscuits, chewy treats or safe “people food”.

The main goal is to get your Shih Tzu to sit when you use the word. One way you can gradually get your Shih Tzu used to the word is by saying the word when the dog is sitting anyway. Dog sits down – you say “sit” and praise them.

You will also need to practice this every day by doing the following:

- Call your Shih Tzu and offer them the treat. Let them sniff the treat and get excited first!

- Slowly move the treat until it’s over the dogs head. The dog will naturally move into the sitting position.

- It’s important that your Shih Tzu associates the activity of sitting with the treat, the praise and the action of sitting. Try to get your timing right.

- Keep bribing the dog and gradually decrease the size of the treat. Keep enthusiastically praising the dog.

- Repeat this exercise a few times a day. Don’t overdo it – you want your Shih Tzu to think of it as fun.

- Try to practice around mealtimes when your Shih Tzu is hungry; this will make him keener for the treats.

- Have the treats easily accessible, don’t fumble around – the treat needs to happen as the dog is sitting.

- Don’t push your dog’s bottom down; this won’t work because your Shih Tzu will associate the action of sitting with having you push his bottom to the ground. If this really isn’t working you might want to consider obedience classes with other dogs.

- End each training session on a positive note.

Teaching your Shih Tzu to sit using these positive reinforcement techniques will strengthen the bond between you. Consider it time well spent.

Once you have mastered the basic command ‘sit’ it should be quite easy to train your Shih Tzu the other basic commands. “Sit-stay”, “down” ‘heel’ and ‘come are some of the most useful commands. Use the treats in a similar way. Training your Shih Tzu is an ongoing process. You want to keep praising your dog regularly and never associate anger with the dog’s reaction to your command.

Make use of every new situation to train or put your training into practice. The most important part about learning how to sit – is that the dog sits under a variety of conditions. Sitting in new environments, around other dogs, around new people, when the doorbell rings etc.

Training your Shih Tzu well is one of the most important things you can do for your dog. Besides having a well behaved Shih Tzu you will also have an obedient Shih Tzu. Dogs function as part of a pack – and you are the leader. Your Shih Tzu will be better adjusted and happier if he knows his place in the pack.

Your Shih Tzu is by nature keen to please you. Be a great pack leader and start teaching your puppy to sit today!

As Shih Tzu owners become more aware of their pet’s nutritional needs, they increasingly recognize the advantage of providing their pets with natural dog treats.

Natural dog treats contain no added chemical preservatives or fillers, leaving your dog with straight nutritional value, nothing more. Natural treats also use the highest grade of edible products and processing techniques to ensure they’re even fit for human consumption – which who knows, might help if you ever get stuck in a survival situation with your dog! Let’s examine a few commercially-available natural dog treats, and then a few treats you might stumble across in your own back yard.

Commercial Natural Dog Treats

As odd as they sound on first blush, pig ears are a natural favorite for many of our furry friends. They contain a reasonable amount of fat, and dogs find the flavor irresistible (much like some humans and pork rinds). Pig ear treats should be baked instead of chemically processed, and should have no added preservatives or coloring agents. Check your package label carefully.

Greenies are another favorite Shih Tzu treat — a unique variety that uses chlorophyll to naturally freshen your dog’s breath. Greenies contain no preservatives, artificial flavors or extra coloring. Surprisingly enough, dogs love them, and owners swear by them when it comes to sweetening the breath in a safe and healthy way. Chewing these treats has the added benefit of helping to clean your Shih Tzu’s teeth.

Mother Nature’s Own Natural Dog Treats

You might be surprised to realize that natural Shih Tzu treats exist right in your refrigerator, or in your garden. Carrots, apple slices, and celery are all terrific natural dog treats, providing vitamins without added chemical enhancers. Just give these treats a wash before giving them to your Shih Tzu. For an extra-special treat, chop up your fruits or veggies, and mix with a dab of peanut butter and a teaspoon or two of raw oatmeal.

Whether commercially manufactured or straight from the garden, natural dog treats are a great way to give your Shih Tzu a dash of extra nutrition without any mysterious extras.

If the thought of clipping your Shih Tzu’s nails is frightening, you aren’t alone. Most people prefer to ask their veterinarian to do this fiddly task. There’s no reason why clipping your dogs nails should be a frightening task at all. There’s no need to regard it as any different to giving your Shih Tzu a bath.

Ideally you should start when your Shih Tzu is young to get the dog used to having his feet handled regularly. Desensitizing your dog to having his paws handled will have a few other benefits too: it will make it easier for groomer or your vet to handle your dogs feet and will also mean if your Shih Tzu is injured you will be able to examine his paws easier.

If it’s your first time clipping a dogs nails it might be a good idea to watch someone else do it first. Ask your vet or the groomer if you can watch while they clip your dogs nails.

You will need a special pair of clippers for the purpose. Human clippers of scissors could tear the nail and cause painful torn edges. Make sure you get the right size and type of clippers for your Shih Tzu. You might find a nail file useful too.

You will also want to have some special clotting powder on hand just in case you accidentally cut the nails too short and it starts bleeding. You can find all these products at your local pet supply store.

You will want to clip the nails in a quiet place with minimal distractions. If your Shih Tzu has never had his nails clipped or is particularly resistant you might want to ask someone to help you. You are after all poking at your dog with a sharp object and it could be dangerous!

To avoid mishaps its best to slowly desensitize your Shih Tzu to having his paws handled. This part should be easy. Take your dogs paws and massage them a bit.

It makes the process easier if the dogs nails are softer. You can do this by bathing your Shih Tzu beforehand, massaging some baby oil into the paws or even just dipping the paw into warm water. This has the dual effect of both softening the paws and cleaning the dirt out from under the nails.

Examine the nails closely and try to locate the cluster of veins. This is called the ‘quick’ and cutting this can cause your dog to bleed. If your Shih Tzu has dark nails this can be difficult. The best policy here is to trim the nails bit by bit over a longer period of time. The quick will retreat over time.

Try to cut with the right hand and hold the paw firmly. Use a calm soothing voice while you do this. You don’t want your dog to become afraid and make the clipping more difficult. Try to cut at 90 degree angles.

If you do cut too far – don’t worry! You can use some of the powder to stop the bleeding. Just sprinkle the powder over the affected area or dip the paw into the powder. There are some other household items you can use to slow the bleeding. You can use cornflour or normal flour in the same way you use the styptic powder. You can also press the dogs nail into some soap. If the bleeding is not too bad – just simply applying pressure should slow the bleeding.

If you have cut your dogs nails too far and they bleed – this may make the dog scared of the nail clipping all over again. You will need to desensitize your Shih Tzu again.

If your Shih Tzu is very afraid of having his nails clipped you should gradually get the dog used to the process and the tools.

Start again by praising and treating the dog while you handle his paws. Then get the dog used to the clippers. Step by step desensitization coupled with positive reinforcement should ease your problem.

If you really can’t get your dog to behave long enough for a nail clipping remember – most vets will do it for you. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Willow and Peaches the Shih Tzu

Shih Tzu breeders specialize in their chosen breed. They know the Shih Tzu standard, temperament, and characteristics. They strive to breed only animals that epitomize these qualities.

This benefits the buyer by allowing the buyer a type of quality control. You will know better what you are getting – fewer surprises, fewer disappointments.

1.   They make it a point to be aware of all known inherited defects affecting Shih Tzus.

Reputable Shih Tzu breeders then screen their breeding animals to be sure they are free of such defects. This may not totally eliminate an inherited defect from showing up, but it will greatly decrease the chances of them occurring.

2.   A breeder is a valuable source of information should any problems arise after your Shih Tzu is in your home.

They can give advice on almost all aspects of caring for and training Shih Tzus. In the event that you find it impossible to keep your pet, many breeders will help you relocate your pet.

3.   Most breeders provide you with written instructions on how to feed, care for and train your Shih Tzu.

You also have the comfort of knowing you have a concerned individual who is only a phone call away.

4.   Breeders take the time to properly socialize their Shih Tzu puppies.

They give the special handling needed during the critical developmental stages in the puppies’ lives. This socialization helps the puppies adapt and adjust to life with humans as well as laying a foundation for learning.

A carefully bred, well-socialized Shih Tzu puppy makes a happy, eager to please dog that is a pleasure to live with.

5.   Because the breeder has been laying the foundation for learning through socialization, and because your Shih Tzu puppy has not been kept in a small cage for a long period, buying your pet from a breeder may make it easier to housebreak your Shih Tzu.

Constant confinement in a cage, such as in a pet store, leads to a loss of the puppies’ naturally clean nature. This complicates housebreaking because they are no longer bothered by living with their own waste.

By living in a home situation with the breeder, Shih Tzu puppies maintain their naturally clean nature making it easier to housebreak them.

6.   If you wish to show your Shih Tzu, your pet’s breeder will help you get started in whatever area you wish to pursue.

A reputable Shih Tzu breeder wants to better his beloved breed by constantly striving to produce animals of high quality. This endeavor carries a high price, not only in time and money but more importantly in emotion.

Along with the joy of breeding litters comes much heartache. The satisfaction of bringing joy to the lives of others through the ownership of quality, loving companions is well worth the effort.

On the other hand, buying a Shih Tzu puppy also carries a price in terms of money and emotions. It is worth spending the time and effort on your part to find a reputable Shih Tzu breeder for the purchase of your special companion so you can both enjoy a long, wonderful relationship together.

Most Shih Tzu’s handle their own grooming needs.  But, you can offer a helping hand as necessary.  If you do this, you will have many benefits to it.

For example, it helps the two of you to bond.  And, it allows for you to catch diseases or other health problems that can affect your pet.

Can’t get your Shih Tzu to sit still long enough?  Then, do a small portion of her each day.  Eventually she will enjoy it and allow you to do it easily.

Shih Tzus use licking, shaking and scratching to stay clean.  If you brush them, you can help the fur to stay clean and unmated.

Some Shih Tzus that have longer hair will require this attention daily.  Others who have shorter hair can be brushed just once a week.  Most Shih Tzus will enjoy the brushing.  Others will not right off the bat.  In order to help this process, use the brush in a small amount while talking soothingly to her.  Afterwards, give her a treat for being good.  Add a little more time on each time.

Dark specs on the skin can be fleas.  In order to check for these types of problems, run your hands down her coat as you brush her.  If you see quite a bit of black flecks, which are flea dropping, then you need to seek help for your animal right away.

You may also notice rice like debris near her tail.  These are a sign that your Shih Tzu has worms.  Again, you need to take your pet to the vet in this case as they will need treatment.

Just like you, your Shih Tzu needs her teeth brushed daily.  You can do this using a child sized toothbrush or just a finger toothbrush that is designed for your pet.

The paste that you use should be one designed for dogs only.  Your toothpaste can seriously make your Shih Tzu ill.  To help keep Shih Tzu’s teeth in tip top shape, give them rawhide chews to gnaw on.  This helps keep teeth as well as gums healthy.

You’ll need to do other types of grooming as well, but not as frequently.

You should check ears and nails weekly or monthly. Look into your dog’s ears.  If you see small, black/brown specks, this can be ear mites.

For nails, walks that are given on sidewalks as well as in the driveway can help to wear them down.

Make sure, though, that the nails are not too long.  You can learn from your vet the proper way to trim them to help your Shih Tzu to stay healthy and to walk correctly.  You should not trim them without getting some training though.

Many books and articles have been written regarding the art of choosing a puppy (i.e. performing puppy tests, looking for parental OFA certifications, and so on…), but few, if any, discuss the contractual end of purchasing a puppy.

I can tell you through personal experience that purchasing a quality show puppy from a famous breeder can be quite a stressful experience because no breeder would give up the pick of the litter to a competitor (for obvious reasons) or to a novice without co-ownership of the puppy.

Co-ownership of a puppy entitles the breeder to many rights to the detriment of the buyer. To begin with, the breeder might also be an experienced handler and might contractually require the purchaser to use the breeder as the puppies’ trainer and handler.

Agreeing to this could be a monumental mistake because the purchaser might be required to pay (even though they might be co-owners) for the breeders time to train and handle the puppy. Agreeing to this can COST you THOUSANDS of dollars.

In the contract, the breeder might require your bitch/dog to whelp/stud puppies. And, of course, they would contractually want the picks of the litter (they may choose either male or a female puppies as they please).

Furthermore, you as the purchaser, might be required to pay the costs of breeding and whelping the puppies (i.e. food, vet-bills, housing, AKC registrations, stud fees, breeder’s time) even though you may not be allowed to get the picks of the litter.

What’s more, you may not be able to see nor be with your dog for the duration of gestation and delivery. Some breeders have been known to switch animals when they are sent away for whelping or stud service.

Therefore, I would recommend that you microchip you puppy and that you get an AKC DNA ID as soon as possible after you purchase your puppy. This way, you will get back your beloved animal without concern as to the nature of its identity.

When you purchase your puppy, most reputable breeders will guarantee that your puppy will be free of various ailments for the duration of two years.

What they may fail to mention, however, is that if your puppy becomes incurably ill, the replacement puppy may be one of their own choosing and not yours; which translates to the fact that you may end up with a new puppy that has a lousy temperament.

So, remember. The devil is in the fine print. Read your contract carefully, otherwise you may become the victim of your own ignorance.

When the moment arrives for selecting a Shih Tzu of your own, you should have a good idea of what you are looking for. If you are willing to adopt an older Shih Tzu, we highly recommend your local animal shelter first.

Not only will you be helping to relieve the local over population of animals as well as possibly rescuing a loving little dog, you just might meet the best friend you will ever have.

No matter where you find the right Shih Tzu for you, the same basic rules will apply. You will find that a very young puppy only vaguely resembles the adult dog you admired on the street or in the show ring.

Older puppies, between the ages of six and twelve months or so, go through an awkward adolescent stage during which they seem hopelessly out of proportion. You will often get a better idea of what the puppy will eventually look like if you observe the adult members of his family, (when this is possible).

If you are looking for a puppy, rather than an adult Shih Tzu, there are various methods of picking the best puppy from a litter.

Some advise avoiding the weakest and shyest, even though the runt of the litter may turn out to be the best.

Some breeders claim the mother picks out the best, so they remove the puppies from her and note which ones she brings back first.

But everyone agrees that the signs of a good temperament in a very young Shih Tzu puppy are friendliness, confidence, playfulness, and curiosity.

When you must choose a puppy from a litter you should proceed by elimination.

First of all is sex, male or female, this will eliminate 1/3 to ½ the group. Then you might consider colors or markings, next a playful and happy attitude.

But always bear in mind the role he will play in your life. Do you want an active playful Shih Tzu, or one that is quiet and more reserved? Go with the one that most closely fits your lifestyle.

Choosing an adult Shih Tzu is different. He has already achieved his full physical development and personality. He may also have acquired physical or mental quirks. When choosing an adult Shih Tzu of unknown past, you must use all of your powers of observation. Like the puppy, a good temperament is the most important quality of all. Keep in mind that adult Shih Tzu’s are more difficult to train, as they have already been trained by someone else.

If you are looking for a show dog, temperament may be secondary to physical conformation.

Lastly, when making your final choice, choose from the heart and not so much by the book, and you both will be happier for it.

Before buying your new Shih Tzu puppy it is advisable to do some research and find out all you can about on the background, general behavior and sociability of Shih Tzus. If you have young children, would a puppy be suitable? Stop and consider the future. When the puppy grows into a dog, will it still be as much fun?

It’s all too easy to overlook the fact that what is now a cute little puppy will grow into a dog that without proper training may become unruly and destructive.

Remember all dogs are born wild and need training. Once they know who is the leader… you and not them… they will settle into their new life quite happily.

When you bring your Shih Tzu puppy home make sure their first night away from mom isn’t to stressful. Give your puppy a warm, comfortable bed to sleep in. A fleece blanket would be a good idea and maybe a small teddy bear or other type of soft toy to cuddle up too. This will help relax your puppy and stop it feeling alone.

The first 12–16 weeks of a Shih Tzu puppy’s life are all important. This is the time of intense learning and getting the training right now, will reward you with a well-trained obedient dog.

One thing to remember is it won’t happen in a day. Done with regularity, persistence and a lot of patience over the coming weeks, you and your Shih Tzu will soon have a great understanding and be the best of friends for many years to come.

Give your puppy time to settle into his new home (and have the necessary injections) then why not arrange a party? Everyone enjoys a party and what better way to introduce your puppy to other dogs and people. Invite your friends, and their dogs, to come and say “Hello”.

Now, lets get round to organizing the Puppy Shower.

This isn’t as complicated as it may seem. Dogs are natural party animals and will certainly enjoy the day. The party is more to get the puppy used to other dogs and people so it’s no great shake to organize. Maybe decorate the party room with blue or pink balloons and streamers. Put up a “birthday” banner with pictures of your puppy on it. This will get the puppy used to strange things being around.

Make sure there are enough soft toys around for the doggie guest to play with, as this is a great way to teach your new puppy about sharing things. Some of the bigger doggie guests may be a bit to boisterous for the puppy, so watch carefully but don’t take him away from the fun, as he must learn to interact with others. He has to learn not be afraid or intimidated by other dogs.

Look after your new Shih Tzu puppy well and you will have the best friend anyone could ever wish for.

Chew treats. You’ve probably given dozens of them to your Shih Tzu and they love them. They clean their teeth and keep them occupied for hours.

It’s a perfectly harmless canine treat right? Wrong. Chew treats can harm or even kill your Shih Tzu. If you are concerned about your dogs health read on.

Why are chew treats dangerous?

The two most popular kind of edible chew treats are those made of rawhide and those made from compressed vegetable protein. When your dog chews these treats, they may swallow large pieces of them. These pieces of chew treat cannot be digested by your pet and they can become lodged in their intestines.

Intestinal blockages can kill your dog in hours. They can cause a condition called intestinal strangulation which is when blood flow is cut off to the intestines. The intestinal tissue then begins to die and rot.

How do I know if my Shih Tzu has a blockage?

If your Shih Tzu has a blockage, you may see some of the following symptoms. They may vomit, refuse to eat, regurgitate food, have diarrhea or abdominal pain. If your Shih Tzu has any of these symptoms, you should consult a veterinarian as soon as possible. If they get a blockage, it will not clear itself. They will require surgery.

Should I stop giving my Shih Tzu chew treats?

You do not have to stop giving your Shih Tzu chew treats altogether. You should however monitor the use of these treats. When you can not be around your pet, take the treats away. When your Shih Tzu has worn the treats down into small pieces, replace them.

Remember, as a pet owner it is your responsibility to look after your dog’s health. We all love out pets and it would be a shame to lose them over something as simple as a chew treat. So keep a watchful eye on your pet and help them live a long and happy life.

There are lots of ways that people choose a new family dog.  Some may search the newspaper for advertisements from breeders who are selling new puppies; others find breeders via listings on the internet, while still more may simply purchase a puppy from a local pet store.

Perhaps the best method, however, in terms of being helpful to society in general is to adopt your new Shih Tzu from a local animal shelter.

Adopting a dog brings a new friend into your life.  It also helps to reduce the number of unwanted and homeless dogs in your area.

Unless the shelter is a “no kill” facility (and these are sadly few and far between), it will also save a dog’s life.

Animal lovers everywhere champion the adoption of dogs from shelters as opposed to any other method of bringing home a new pet for this reason alone, but there are other reasons to choose the adoption option.

• Adopted pets have had their shots

• Shelters often have information about a dog’s temperament

• Adopting a pet frees space in the shelter for more dogs

When you adopt a Shih Tzu you can be sure that the staff at the shelter has had the dog examined by a vet for diseases and parasites and that the dog has had its shots.

This is not always true of dogs acquired by other means such as kids giving away “free puppies” from a box in front of the local grocery store or PetsMart.

Shih Tzus at a shelter are not just strays and often are turned in to the shelter by former owners for various reasons.  When this happens, the shelter collects as much information about the Shih Tzu as possible, including whether its good with children, how much it barks, how playful or obedient it is, whether its housebroken, and other important details.

While it’s true that this information is only as good as the honesty of the former owner, most of the time it is fairly accurate.

Animal shelters provide a valuable service to the community that they serve by keeping the streets as free of stray animals as possible.

Because many of them do this with little or no public funding or governmental support, they are very limited in the number of dogs they can have in the shelter at any given time.

The only way that they can bring in more stray animals is if they remove the ones they currently have.  This is done through adoption or euthanasia.  Obviously they would prefer to have the dogs adopted rather than killed.

Adopting a Shih Tzu could very well save its life and allows the shelter to bring in another dog in its place.