Feeding tip - Homemade Foods

Some breeders and many veterinarians will suggest that you give your Shih-Tzu puppy high-quality, nutritional foods which can be made at home in order to ensure optimal nutrition. The healthiest foods for Shih Tzu's include organs such as livers and brains, lean cuts of meat such as chicken, lamb, and fish, vegetables such as potatoes or broccoli, and starches like rice and pasta.

Quantities should be given in that order, with organ meat making up more of the meal than the starches. Homemade food allows you to be in complete control of what goes into your puppy's tummy, as there are no preservatives, food colors, or artificial flavors in home-made food. These foods should be served with scheduled feedings in order to prevent bacterial growth, and should be prepared in the same manner that you would prepare your own food in order to avoid food-borne illness.

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Feeding tip - Free Feeding

Some owners feel that leaving food out for their Shih-Tzu puppy is the easiest way to ensure that their puppy gets adequate nutrition. Allowing your dog to free feed can be an easy solution and can aide your puppy in developing a sense of independence. Free feeding must be monitored, however, as if the food is there your Shih-Tzu may attempt to eat everything in the bowl regardless of whether it feels full. Watch your puppy's feeding sessions to make sure that they aren't going to eat until they become sick; if they don't seem to have any problems with free feeding, it can be a much easier way to handle the feeding of your puppy.

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Feeding tip - Scheduled Feedings

Feed your Shih-Tzu puppy on a relatively tight schedule if you plan on maintaining specific feeding times. Scheduled feedings can help you to give the puppy some boundaries, and can also make bathroom needs fairly predictable (which is extremely helpful as far as house training goes since they will learn that shortly after they eat it's time to go to the bathroom.) Feed approximately ½ ounce of dry food for every pound of dog four times per day until the puppy is 12 weeks old; once they reach that age, reduce feeding times progressively until they have a morning meal and an evening meal. It is suggested that you have a time limit for your dog, usually about 30 minutes per meal.

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Feeding tip - Feeding a Shih-Tzu puppy isn't difficult

Feeding a dog might seem easy to someone on the outside looking in. It may seem at first as simple as buying a bag of food and pouring it into a bowl, but this isn't necessarily the case. Different dog breeds have different nutritional requirements, and even within a breed nutritional needs can change from the time that the dog is a puppy to when it is an adult. Feeding a Shih-Tzu puppy isn't difficult, but to ensure that the puppy is healthy, care should be taken to make sure that its specific nutritional needs are being met.

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Grooming tip - Wipe your Shih tzu's face with a damp cloth after every meal

Wipe your Shih tzu's face with a damp cloth after every meal. Due to their short snouts, it's common for food to lodge itself around a Shih Tzu's mouth. Clean your Shih Tzu's mouth area after every feeding to prevent health issues caused by rotten food particles.

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FEEDING

Feeding your Shih Tzu at scheduled mealtimes is the best way to control how much Shih Tzu eats, resulting in better weight control and allowing you to monitor their health. (Lack of appetite is often the first sign of illness.) Free feeding, a method in which food is left out all day, can wreak havoc on the digestive system and lead to obesity.

The best feeding schedule for your shih tzu depends on his age and lifestyle. While your vet or breeder can best advise you as to what kind of feeding plan is appropriate for your shih tzu’s particular life stage, the chart below provides a general outline.

Life stage feeding :

Puppies (under 4 months) feed 3 small meals per day

Adolescents (4–12 months) feed 2 meals per day

Active adults (1–12 years) feed 2 meals per day

Adult formula Seniors (12+ years) feed 1–2 meals per day

Rather than feed your shih tzu each time he begs for food, stick to regular meals and an occasional treat. If you’re serving commercial food, the package directions may not suit your individual dog, so talk to your vet or breeder. If you’re serving noncommercial food, consult your vet.

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