Training - Praise your puppy when it goes to the bathroom in the proper space

Praise your puppy when it goes to the bathroom in the proper space. Nothing reinforces positive behavior in dogs like praise. Whether it is a scratch behind the ears and some kind words or a special doggy treat, rewarding your puppy when it does the right thing will encourage it to do so in the future.

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Training - Create a toilet area

Create a toilet area where your Shih Tzu can go when you are home and when you are away. Consistency is important for puppies, so make sure there is an area that is not reminiscent of your home's carpet or tile to act as the location for your Shih Tzu to use the bathroom. Use something like blacktop or grass to keep your puppy organized.

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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 - Trim the hair around your pup's face every few months

Trim the hair around your puppy's face every few months. You may need to enlist the help of a friend who can hold your dog's face still while you trim the hair in this delicate area. You want the eyes, nose and mouth to be free of excessive hair so your dog can see, eat and breathe without obstruction. If you prefer, you can secure the hair over your dog's eyes into a ponytail, securing it with a dog clip or band.

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Grooming tip - Check your dog's ears for swelling or redness

Check your dog's ears for swelling or redness, as Shih Tzus are prone to ear infections. Observe your puppy's eyes to ensure they are free of irritation, clouding or debris.

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Owner guide - Walking with Shih Tzu

When walking your Shih Tzu, be sure to pull or tug him to your right leg. Do not let your puppy to run in front of you or ahead of you. You want to show your dog that you are the leader and pretty soon they will know the routine.

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Owner guide - Start training your Shih Tzu while he is still a puppy

Start training your Shih Tzu while he is still a puppy. Be sure you let your puppy know who the boss is from the start, and never show the dog that you fear him. Bribing your dog is never helpful.

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DOG FAQ - When does the breed a Shih Tzu dog stop growing?

Your Shih Tzu puppy will be full grown at around 8 months old and should weigh 10-15 lbs.

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DOG FAQ - How much does a shih tzu dog cost?

Shih Tzu puppy prices on average range from $550-$650. And cost nearly $1,500 to maintain annually.

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DOG FAQ - What should I feed my Shih Tzu puppy?

Your Shih Tzu puppy needs quality puppy food and fresh water close to him or her at all times. We recommend that if you do not plan to use the same food, you make the change to your high-quality puppy food gradual.

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DOG FAQ - Should I have my male Shih Tzu puppy neutered?

When a male is neutered at about 4 to 5 months of age, Shih Tzu rarely have the tendency to mark their territory as so many people are afraid of them doing in their homes. We have many happy owners of male puppies that have never had any problems with them in this way. They make wonderful family pets and companions. Neutering your puppy will protect his health, help him to liver longer and be a better pet, along with improving his house manners.

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DOG FAQ - Which is better,a male or a female Shih Tzu puppy?

Although many people like the little females Shih Tzu simply because that is all they have ever owned, males Shih Tzu most often make the better family pet. They are not as independent as a female, nor do they have the moods that the females seem to go through. It's a good idea to have male puppies neutered when they are about 4 to 5 months of age.

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DOG FAQ - How to Choose a Shih Tzu puppy?

How to Choose a Shih Tzu puppy correctly can be difficult, specially when you are in front of many of them, at the same time. Remember this is a life long commitment, at least to the dogs life span, so choosing a dog should never be taken lightly. The first thing is to make up your mind about whether you want a pedigree dog or a mixed-breed one, but there are some other points to think about before buying a Shih Tzu puppy. Afterwards, adaptation and training phases will be crucial to help your Shih Tzu puppy to settle down in his new environment, and developing into an enthusiastic and obedient grown dog. The playful nature of puppies is their main attraction, though grown dogs are more suitable to people of certain ages.

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DOG FAQ - How often should my Shih Tzu puppy get a checkup?

Take your Shih Tzu puppy to your veterinarian for regular checkups and vaccinations. Check with your veterinarian on how often they recommend you bring your puppy in, and then be sure you do so. Giving your puppy this extra care and attention will return it a hundred fold.

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DOG FAQ - How often should I give Shih Tzu puppy a bath?

Give your Shih Tzu puppy a bath only when he smells or is dirty. Be careful not to get water in his ears. We recommend putting cotton in his ears while you're bathing him. Keep shampoo from getting into his eyes too. Dry your Shih Tzu puppy immediately so that he doesn't get chilled and catch a cold.

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DOG FAQ - I have thought about getting a Shih-Tzu from a rescue group. Is this a good idea?

This can be an excellent way to add a new pet to your family. However, the challenges of getting a dog from one of these sources are different than the those relating to a puppy. You should take some time to visit several locations and talk with the staff. Ask questions about the health and temperament of the dogs and watch closely how the staff interacts with the dogs. This can tell you a lot about how the dogs are treated and how the dogs may act when you take them home. One basic factor that should be present in all rescue dog situations is this: the group should be very careful about matching a dog with a home. This may even extend to making a home visit before the dog is placed.

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DOG FAQ - I may want to show my Shih-Tzu if I get one. What should I do to get started?

Showing a Shih-Tzu presents a few extra challenges beyond having a Shih-Tzu as a pet. You may want to take a little more time in selecting the color of your puppy to begin with. In addition, you should be more selective about the bloodlines of your puppy, since this can help in making sure you get a good show dog. You will also have to spend more time grooming and cleaning what will be a luxurious coat. It will be key to get your new dog from a breeder that offers only show dogs.

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