Training - Have patience when training the Shih Tzu

Have patience when training the Shih Tzu. Young dogs do not possess the proper bowel control to become housebroken immediately. It can take until your Shih Tzu is six months to 1 year old before it can be successfully considered house-trained.

Shih Tzu - Dog Lover

Training - Be positive with your Shih Tzu

Be positive with your Shih Tzu. These dogs are small animals and can be easily intimidated. Avoid scolding your puppy when it has an accident in the house. Dogs do not make associations like humans and it will not know what it is being punished for.

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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 - Take your Shih Tzu out to its bathroom area every 45 minutes

Take your Shih Tzu out to its bathroom area every 45 minutes while you are home with the dog. This will help prevent accidents within your home and also help associate going to the bathroom with a specific place.

Shih Tzu - Dog Lover

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 - Never yank or pull a tangle

Never yank or pull a tangle. This can cause your dog extreme pain and lead to seriously damaged skin.

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Grooming tip - Maintain a regular grooming schedule

Maintain a regular grooming schedule to avoid serious issues with your Shih Tzu's coat.

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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.

Shih Tzu - Dog Lover

Grooming tip - Brush your Shih Tzu's teeth once to twice a week

Brush your Shih Tzu's teeth once to twice a week, using a toothbrush and toothpaste designed for dogs. Shih Tzu are particularly susceptible to plaque and periodontal diseases, so good oral hygiene is essential. Feed your dog hard, dry food rather than soft, canned food to keep teeth healthier.

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Grooming tip - Trim your Shih Tzu's nails every 4 to 10 weeks

Trim your Shih Tzu's nails every 4 to 10 weeks. Some dog's nails grow more quickly than others and require more frequent clippings. Use nail clippers designed to trim dog's toenails and cut them after a bath as they will be softer then. Avoid cutting the quick, the red vein inside the nail. If you do, it will bleed.

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Grooming tip - Brush your Shih Tzu daily

Brush your Shih Tzu daily. If you do not brush your Shih Tzu's coat, it will tangle. The tangles can cause pain, hot spots and even parasites to reside on your Shih Tzu's skin. Use a brush and comb to de-tangle the dog's entire coat. In addition to the body of the dog, brush his face, neck, ears, legs, feet, tail and belly. If you keep your dog's coat clipped short, you can lighten this brushing schedule to every few days.

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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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Grooming tip - Use a shampoo and conditioner designed for dogs

Use a shampoo and conditioner designed for dogs when you bathe your Shih Tzu. While many dogs simply require shampoo, conditioner will help to keep your Shih Tzu's coat free of tangles. Make sure you rinse both the shampoo and conditioner completely out of your dog's coat. If left behind, the residue can lead to skin irritations.

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Grooming tip - Wash your Shih Tzu every 3 to 8 weeks

Wash your Shih Tzu every 3 to 8 weeks. The frequency of your washings will depend on your environment as well as the length of your dog's coat. Longer-haired Shih Tzus require more frequent washings as do those that spend a good deal of time outdoors.

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Grooming tip - Shih Tzu requires extensive grooming

The Shih Tzu breed of dog requires extensive grooming, due to its long, flowing coat. If left unclipped, the Shih Tzu's hair will grow to floor-length. Its long nature, coupled with its double coat quality, make the Shih Tzu's coat particularly prone to tangles and mats. The double coat consists of a woolly undercoat and a silky outer coat. While this double coat looks elegant, it means double the amount of hair that needs to be groomed.

In addition to coat care, you will also need to care for your Shih Tzu's nails, face and teeth properly. If you are crunched for time, you can always take your Shih Tzu to a professional groomer. You can, however, properly groom your Shih Tzu at home.

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