A new puppy is a wonderful addition to your family. They bring so much joy and happiness, and they are good for you! Pets help to lower our blood pressure, through touch, activity and unconditional love. A Shih-Tzu puppy is one of the cutest, hardiest of the small breeds, and they are easy to take care of, as long as you know what to expect ahead of time.
Shih-Tzu's need lots of love and attention to truly thrive. If you work all day, and leave your Shih-Tzu alone for long periods of time, they may become depressed. If there can't be someone at home with your dog, a big stuffed animal can keep it company, just get one without eyes or plastic parts on them, for Shih-Tzu's love to chew, and they could choke. Remember, a Shih-Tzu puppy is just like a baby, they don't know any better until their brain starts to age and your training kicks in along the way. Shih-Tzu's are fast at learning commands, just by a resonating firmness in your voice for "no", or "stop that". Shih-Tzu's respond to the "EE" sound, so if you name them something with e in their name, they will respond faster and listen more when responding to a command where you incorporate their name.
Make sure you have plenty of rawhide bones around, for during the teething stage, they tend to chew at wooden furniture. You can easily train them to stop doing this by introducing them to the bone each time they start to go after the furniture, reprimanding them with your voice firmly. Shih-Tzu's are smart, they learn fast. Puppy pads are the best way to train your new puppy from not urinating all over the house and on the rugs, where permanent stench can ruin your sense of well being. Dogs are drawn to the puppy pads, and you can train them to use them by putting them in the middle of the pad before they begin to urinate. You will know this because Shih-Tzu's squat down; they don't lift their leg up often like the big dogs, though when urinating outside they might.
It is important to keep the hair out of your Shih-Tzu's eyes, for the hair around the face tends to grow faster than the body. Keeping their eyes clean is essential as well. Take a clean cloth or ideally plain, unscented disposable paper towels, wet with warm water, and gently clean your dog's eye area, careful not to poke their eye or press too hard. Repeat with clean wet towel two the three times for each side, until all dirt is wiped away. Shih-Tzu's have sensitive eyes, so this will help to keep them healthy. Some Shih-Tzu's have dry eyes, and may require drops to moisten them. Ask your vet about wetting drops that are preservative free, for preservatives can dry out the eye as well.
It is a good idea to get them spayed 6 months to a year old, only because Shih-Tzu females have a tendency to develop cysts, and spaying helps to alleviate this. They also won't suffer much with their menses, which can be hard for the owner as well. Around this time it is a good idea to cover up your furniture with sheets, for this will prevent staining. A female dogs cycle usually lasts from 4 to 12 days at most, any longer, bring them to the vet for a check up.
Food should be free of preservatives, you can even make your own dog food, consisting of 75 percent pure lean meats, and 25 percent vegetables, like peas, celery, carrots, mixed in. Dogs love turkey, chicken and steak. If you microwave the steak to drain fat, you are giving your dog a healthy alternative to processed fatty meat in dog foods. Just make sure they also eat their dry food every day, for they will get their nutrition from that as well, and it is good for their teeth. Science Diet is a good brand. Also one multi-vitamin per day is good, as well as natural bones for teeth and as a treat.
Play catch with your pet, for Shih-Tzu puppies love to run and chase after cuddly, small stuffed animals. Taking them for regular walks is good exercise as well, just be careful at dog parks, for there are a lot of parasites that your dog can easily pick up. Make sure they have had all their shots first. With proper care, it is easy to take care of your new puppy, they are easier to take care of than real babies, and so if you would rather have a fur baby, a Shih-Tzu is a good alternative! With love, proper care and exercise, your Shih-Tzu will thrive.
Source: Linda Stamberger of yahoo.com
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