shih tzu

Read and learn more about shih tzu. For more, visit the Dog Breeds website DogBreedsFAQ.com

Q: shih tzu!!!?
im planning to buy a shih tzu but some people tell me that their very loud dogs. and that made me worried about my choice, so i was wondering if anyone can tell me any information that would come in handy about shih tzu’s.
thnx to all that answered and please no stupid answers!

A: My shih tzu only barks at a cat that comes in the yard and teases her by being just far enough away she can’t get to her. Otherwise she doesn’t bark and is a very friendly, easy going and playful dog. She does have a toe fetish and nips at toes when someone first arrives if they are wearing sandals. Our shih tzu is the perfect choice for us. We love her to death. I think you made a good decision. Good luck.

Q: Shih tzu ?
I finally decided after much thought and reaserch that a shih tzu is right for my family. Some dogs bond with many people and some choose only one person to get close to, I was wondering how the Shih Tzu is in this area. I just really want a personal opinion from people experienced with the breed.

Thank you very much,

A: my daughter had a shih tzu but it really seemed to be a 1 person dog, it got along well with the rest of the family but it mainly listened to her

Q: Shih Tzu….?
When I first got my shih tzu, she was really skinny and I guess we gave her alittle too much food because now she is alittle fatter. Is it bad to change her food to diet food? And how can we make her lose some weight? Also, how much should we feed her now? This is totally random but how many times should we bathe her?

A: ok. You know what you feed your dog now per feeding now cut that in half! Your goal is to get your dog so that when you gently go over your dog, you can just barely feel the ribs:)

When your dog gets to this point, gradually*** start adding a bit more food. You dont want to get back up to feeding your dog the same amount youre feeding now, so in the end, try feeding 3/4 of what you feed now:)

Try bathing the dog once a month. Shih Tzu’s coats are like human hair. Doesnt hurt to bathe them once a month. Also, use conditioner.

Good luck getting the weight of your dog:)

Q: Why do I see Shih Tzu with long hair and others simply hairy? Are there different types of Shih Tzu?
I am asking because my shih tzu is just hairy. I mean i am thinking if eventually its hair will grow.

A: When soldiers entered China – the people of China destroyed all their Shih-tzus — but a few made it back to England with the soldiers. All the Shih-tzus you see today are descendents of the Shih-tzus that were brought to England.

Lately there have been many “designer dogs.” Shih-tzus because of their sweet temperment have been exploited and mated with other dogs – so you may be seeing a glutton of shih-tzu mutts out there.

The folks that mention the groomers as to why Shih-tzus look different are right. My neighbor has two Shih-tzus (white and black and white and brown) and they keep their dogs in what their groomer calls “puppy cut.” The hair is cropped short and therefore, looks curly.

My own shih-tzu has very long hair – but only on her back (sides). Her beard it cut short (the minerals in the water were collecting and creating bacteria – several vet visits later we found out why…) the hair on her legs is kept short to avoid matting (and I’m not good at combing her legs, she doesn’t like it – and in the words of my groomer, not all Shih-tzus can pull it off and still look good – but she does). Also, so the hair on her head does not go into her eyes and cause infections – we keep that short and it frames her face. So, she looks like a Shih-tzu – sort of – but it doesn’t matter, it’s a great cut, works for her and she is beautiful!

So, if you have a puppy – give him/her time – it does grow. Especially the tail. My little girl had a tiny tail as a puppy – and now she has a beautiful long sweeping one.

Q: My shih tzu poodle needs a dog friend. How do theyt react to other shih tzu poodles?
we want to get my little boy shih tzu poodle a girl shih tzu poodle. he thinks he is the king of the house an were afraid he would get jealous but we think he is lonley during the day. How do these dogs interact with each other?

A: I hate when people say just adopt a shelter dog and the same breath tell you your dog is not predictable cause its a mutt. NO dog it predictable and rescues aren’t for everyone. They sure arent going to be predictable.Chances are I wouldn’t get a dog from a rescue. I think they are great but its a personal decision.

Ok now you never know if they will get along or not until you try. I think most dogs have the potential to get along with any other breed or mixed breeds. Pick a dog suitable for your lifestyle and that wont be too big to pick on your current dog. good luck.

Q: How old can a shih tzu be and still be able to breed?
We have the best dog we have ever had, a female shih tzu about 14 years old. Lately we have regretted not breeding her to get a puppy. Is she too old to breed?

A: Yes, she is way too old ! ! ! She is long past her prime. Way, way, WAY past her prime.

Q: How are Shih tzu’s and toddlers in the same house?
I have a 2 year son, a 3 month old shih tzu, and 3 year English bulldog. I have been reading that shih tzu’s are not good with toddlers however, my son picks him places him everywhere and when my son lays down the dog just licks him. My son absolutely loves him and calls him “my puppy”. I am wondering if anyone else out there has a shih tzu and a toddler and if they get along? My personal feeling on pets is how you socialize them whether they get along with someone or not but at the same time I am wondering is the puppy going to get jealous the older he gets. Any help or stories would be wonderful.
thank you for the response. I do want to add that we are teaching our son not to pick up the dog and also we tell him “gentle” then he understands he has to pet very softly.

A: I have 3 shih tzus and we take them everywhere we can to be around people. They are wonderful with kids of all ages and run up to them and kiss them. As others have said, the problem is more with a todler actions towards them. Our breeder will not sell a puppy to anyone with small children just because of that reason. Little kids are usually not mean intentionally but poke their eyes, pull their hair, throw toys at them etc, not knowing it could hurt them. They often see a puppy as another toy.

Q: When can i start taking my shih tzu to the groomer?
I have a nine week old shih tzu. Her eyes are green but you can’t even see them. And let’s not start on the nails. She loves to sit on my shoulder but i always end up with scratches all over me. When i was getting ready to make an appt for her a friend of mine told me I had to wait until she was 12 weeks old. I’m new at owning a puppy so I have no clue.

A: Hello!
I am a proffessional groomer in Rhode Island and we like to have the puppies come in when theya re about 10-12 weeks for their first nail clipping, ear cleaning, and glands done. We like to put them in one of the cages for a few minuetes and let them play around the dryer to get used to everything so that when they are older and ready for a full grooming, they won’t be frightened by the noises and other dogs.

Make sure you take your dog to a reputable groomer who has been in business for a long time and knows what they are doing. You can also specify what shampoo you would like used on her. Being a shihtzu, I would recommend whitener and E-Oil or oatmeal shampoo. They tend to have dry skin, so oatmeal spray would be goos as well as E-Oil spray. You will have a choice to get either a show cut or a pet-cut. Here are the two cuts:

Show-Cut

http://www.wenrick.ca/shihtzu/LukeBIS.jpg

Pet-cut

http://www.doggonehairy.biz/shitzu2.jpg

The show cut takes a lot of grooming and your dog will have to go every four weeks to keep it maintained. The pet cut will allow you to take her every six weeks because it is much shorter than the show-cut.

Good luck with your puppy.

PROTEST PET STORES

http://stoppuppymills.org/

Q: How do I get a puppy shih tzu to walk on a lead?
Have a four month old shih tzu puppy who will not walk on a lead. There is nothing phsically wrong with him. So what do I do?

A: Some pups seem overwhelmed by an entire leash all at once. In these cases you can start with a string, shoelace, or something of the sort. Add length as the puppy gets used to it.

Experienced dog people learn that chewed leashes can be useful later, and this is one of those times. Dogs tend to chew through leashes several inches from the snap. This leaves a “tab” of leash material with a handy snap on it to attach and detach easily from the collar. Tabs occasionally come in handy for other training, too, so if your mouthy young dog “creates” one for you from a leash, be sure to save it!

Attach the leash or the short item to the collar when the puppy is eating or playing, and let the pup get used to it being there. As with the collar, don’t remove it when pup is making a fuss about it. Remove it at a time the pup has forgotten it’s there.

Do not leave a leash on an unattended dog. It can catch on things and trap the dog in dangerous and traumatic situations. Leashes are only safe during supervised times.

Distract your puppy into play or other interaction with you whenever the puppy seems bothered by the leash or starts to chew it. It’s fine to apply Bitter Apple to the leash, but realize this substance does not last long as a chewing deterrent, and will need to be reapplied for every session. Doing this can keep leash-chewing from ever becoming a habit, and save you money, work and the worry of a loose dog.

Training Techniques

Before you pick up the other end of the leash with it attached to the puppy, you need to first put in some time conditioning your puppy to come to you and to move with you. Treats are ideal for this training. Don’t be afraid the puppy will always need treats to walk on a leash. Leash walking has its own rewards, but a young puppy doesn’t know that yet. The treats will help get things moving in the right direction.

Feeding time is a good time to work on this conditioning, when you have the dish in your hand and an eager puppy at your feet. Back away from the puppy. Use your body language and the puppy’s name to attract the puppy to follow. Move around a bit with your puppy, making it a fun game, before putting down the dish and thus delivering a great reward.

At other times when your puppy is likely to be interested in games and treats, use a bit of food from the puppy’s next meal to condition the puppy to look at you and move with you [see article Attention, Please!). Keep moving away from the puppy, encouraging the puppy to follow you. Young puppies naturally do this anyway, so the training is easy and fun.

At all times, be prepared to reward your puppy with little treats, games and other things the puppy likes, for moving with you, coming to you, and looking at you. Make this a habit, and develop your body language and voice to what works best with THIS puppy.

Each puppy is different. Pups have different things they like best, and different things they respond to in different ways. You can build your puppy’s desires to interact with you by how you use your praise, treats, petting, and the games you and your puppy play together. All of this factors into your leash training as well as all other training, both in puppyhood and later.

The Leash Has Two Ends

With your puppy used to the presence of the leash attached to the collar and used to moving with you, you’re ready to pick up the free end of the leash. Now it’s time to visualize the real goal of leash walking.

When a dog freezes up on leash and won’t move, obviously you can’t get anywhere. So part of the goal is for the dog to relax when wearing a leash. You’re off to the right start there, having conditioned your dog to the presence of the leash with no pressure.

A dog pulling on leash can suffer damage to the throat, which is potentially very serious in some breeds. The person trying to hold the other end of the leash may not be able to control the pulling dog, and can even be injured. Therefore a huge part of our goal in leash training is to teach the dog to walk with the leash LOOSE, no pulling. This is not only for the purpose of having control, but also to be humane to the dog.

Ironically, it’s not the dog who causes the pulling-on-leash problem. Humans instinctively hold the leash tight. A dog’s completely normal and natural response to a tight leash is to pull. If the dog did not pull against the pressure, the dog would be constantly off-balance.

From the first minute you pick up the leash, keep it loose. Follow the dog at times, and at other times use the skills you have been developing to induce your dog to follow you. Resist the impulse to pull the dog around on leash, or even to guide the dog with the leash. Work hard at remembering to communicate through your voice, body language and various motivators. Keep building those abilities! Keep your attention on your mental communication with the dog, rather than trying to communicate through the leash.

If your puppy makes an attempt to pull you, your job is to stand still. The message to the puppy is simply that pulling on the leash is fruitless. It doesn’t work. When things don’t work, people and dogs eventually quit doing those things! You can help yourself and your puppy so very much by making sure that right from the start, pulling on the leash never works for your puppy. Then pulling will never become a habit, and your puppy will be spared innumerable problems-as will you!

As soon as the puppy notices that trying to pull you didn’t work because you stopped, switch into your attention-getting, puppy-follow-me mode, and get that puppy moving with you! This is the game. And to a puppy, it really does need to be a game. Make it fun for the puppy. It will be fun for you, too, and that’s one of the great benefits of living with dogs!

Q: How do I know if my shih-tzu is pregnant?
I have a 2 yr old shih-tzu who we believe may be pregnant. She was sired 3 times the week of Oct 23rd. The male shih-tzu was only 6 months, but I am now finding out that he could be fertile. They did lock. We want to do everything we can to make sure this is a healthy pregnancy for our dog. The first step is finding out and we have been told to wait and see. I don’t really know when I should be starting to see symptoms. If she is pregnant she would be about 3wks and a few days.

A: My dog just had puppies, and about 3-4 weeks into the pregnancy it was pretty obvious. The nipples were noticably bigger, and so was her belly. She also got a little more aggressive/protective. Dogs are only pregnant for about 8 weeks-so at this point she is almost halfway through. Feel her belly, because shitzu’s have long hair it may not be quite as easy to “see” it on her. If it’s possible, and you have the stomach for it, get a urine sample from her and buy an over the counter (human) pregnancy test-they also work on dogs. If you REALLY want to know that is.

Q: What age does a normal female shih tzu start going in to heat?
I have a 7mth shih tzu and i want to know what age they usually start experiencing heat?

A: Most dogs go into heat at around 6 months.

Q: How long can a shih tzu be left alone for?
Im thinking of buying a shih tzu but ive heard they are a real yap when left alone for too long. If I left a shih tzu with another dog would they still cry for company?

A: I have a crate trained shih and we both work outside the home. We have had to leave her at times for at least 8 hours and she is FINE. No bolting to get out, no messes ( yes we leave her food and water) no barking, no excessive hyperness. She is 11 months. Yes I want another pup and will get one as soon as I find the right one I can afford. Not everyone who wants a pet can stay at home all day. Pets are able to entertain themselves when needed and if trained . She is only in the crate while we are at work . She sleeps with us and will go in the crate when we are home if she wants to . Sometimes just to chill and sometimes to sleep ( just because) We never use it as punishment and she is fine. Very social , good with other dogs and cats. Likes kids

Q: What is a healthy shih tzu puppy weight?
I have two week old shih tzu puppies. All checked out fine at the vet, all have been gaining weight steady.

They have doubled their weights and are big now!

My biggest one is 1.2lbs at 14days. Does this seem heavy? My smallest is 15oz.

Anyone know where I might be able to find a healthy shih tzu puppy weight chart?

A: you should be able to feel the ribs, but not see them

Q: Why does my male Shih Tzu growl and bite at my male American bulldog?
The bulldog is 150lbs and I am afraid he will hurt my Shih Tzu. They have been living together for 7 months now and still the shih tzu does not like the bigger dog. Does anyone know why or what I can do to make him stop growling and biting.

A: It could be a number of different things. It could be that your Shih Tzu just does not like big dogs, or, more than likely, the Shih Tzu wants to be the alpha male (dominant). In dog or wolf packs, there is always one alpha male and one alpha female. It can be dangerous to leave two males together, because they may fight for dominance, sometimes to the death. Either way, the situation will probably only get worse if you don’t intervene. You may want to contact someone who specializes in dog behavior to have the situation evaluated. Good luck!

Q: How long does the hair on a Shih Tzu grow?
I am getting a Shih Tzu puppy next week and I have seen pictures of older ones with very long hair. Do all Shih Tzu’s hair grow that long? Obviously you can have them groomed to whatever length, but I wondered what is typical. Thanks.

A: Like the other people who have answered before me, Shih Tzu’s hair can grow very long. The thing is, is how long do you want it to be? Either way this is the type of dog that needs regular grooming. If you want to keep your dogs hair long, then you need to brush it often. And when you brush it, make sure you get every where (many people forget to get the legs and behind the ears and such). You have to make sure your not just “surface” brushing where your not getting all the way down into the hair because many times that results in underlying matts, which would most likely cause your groomer to have to shave the dog. If you leave the dogs hair long or short, i suggest you buy a slicker brush to brush your dog with between grooming. If you want more info, im sure the groomer you choose to take your dog to will be willing to help you out. Good luck with the new pup!

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