Sunday, June 29, 2008

Safety Precautions for Shih Tzu Puppies

After discussing it with your family, everyone has come to the conclusion that they would like a dog. You have done some research, found an excellent breeder, and within a couple of months you have found a wonderful Shih Tzu puppy.

It is important to note that while you might like nothing more than to just hold and play with your new Shih Tzu puppy, you need to also pay attention to how you get the Shih Tzu puppy used to its new home. Take a corner of a room that has a tiled floor (preferably the kitchen) and set up a puppy play area. Until the puppy is housebroken, it is a good idea not to let the puppy out of the puppy play area unsupervised. Thus, creating a play area for your Shih Tzu puppy allows the puppy to be comfortable, yet get the puppy started on the road to being housetrained at the same time.
The fun thing about getting your Shih Tzu puppy’s corner ready is that you can make it comfortable for the puppy in a variety of different ways. The first thing that you should think about is the size. Ideally, the size of the Shih Tzu puppy’s area should not be too small, but rather midsized, so that the dog does not feel overwhelmed, but at the same time has room to exercise. It really all has to do with the overall size of the room that you intend to place the puppy corner in. You need to make sure that both you and the puppy have enough room to feel comfortable. It is important to note that for this reason many puppy playpens come in adjustable sizes.

A puppy should never be left alone for long periods of time. So, if you have a hectic work schedule, you should at least have one other member of the family home during the day to play with and supervise the puppy. Indeed, taking care of a Shih Tzu puppy is comparable to taking care of a child.
You have the playpen area all set up with food, water, and a comfortable bed. All that remains now is to add some toys and to start housebreaking your Shih Tzu puppy. When it comes to toys, make sure that you get toys that are safe.

Specifically, there are some dog toys that are available that have parts that can be easily chewed off and pose a choking hazard. The ideal toys for a Shih Tzu puppy are ones that promote teeth health and taste delicious too, such as various kinds of dog treats and dog bones.

When it comes to housebreaking your Shih Tzu puppy, one of the first things that you should do is get a bottle of spray water, and each time you catch the dog marking, you should say a firm “No” and spray the water at the dog.

Of course your new puppy also needs a name. You might choose a name based on the dog's personality. Maybe a reference to something in the Shih Tzu breed's long history would be appropriate, or maybe a combination of both a historical reference and personality trait. A little research into the history of the Shih Tzu breed could help you with this important decision.

Shih Tzu puppies are a wonderful, inquisitive dog breed that requires lots of love and attention. When you choose a Shih Tzu puppy, the first thing you should do is think of some Shih Tzu puppy names.

Monday, June 16, 2008

The Best Places To Find A Shih Tzu Puppy For Sale

The time has come to add a Shih Tzu puppy to your family so naturally your next question is where to find a Shih Tzu puppy for sale. There are some good places to go for a Shih Tzu puppy and some not so good places to go and they all have their reasons. Remember that you are trying to bring a new member into your family so when you decide you want a Shih Tzu puppy make sure that the place you get it from is going to be the right decision as well.

One place you are probably going to want to avoid is a pet shop. A Shih Tzu has very specific needs and needs to be bred in a very certain way and pet shops are notorious for not only mistreating the animals they have for sale but selling unhealthy animals and also selling animals that do not match the paperwork they give you. The chances are that the person at the counter has no knowledge about Shih Tzu care and breeding so avoid a pet store completely.
Probably the best place to get a Shih Tzu puppy for sale, that you can know and feel confident is a healthy pet, is from a local breeder. Make sure you check out several breeders before buying from one and make sure the one you are buying from checks out with at least some of the national breeder registries or your local vet. A good breeder will be with you for quite a while, so make sure you make the right choice.

Another reason for finding a breeder to buy your Shih Tzu puppy from is that a breeder will offer things like free pet insurance for six weeks after the purchase. This is a great service and can help you out a lot at that first vet visit. A breeder is also going to offer you feeding and care instructions and may even send you off with a food sample so you know what to buy your Shih Tzu puppy for healthy nutrition.
If you are looking to save a few dollars on your Shih Tzu puppy but still get a dog that you can feel good about then perhaps you should contact your local animal rescue organization and see if they happen to have a Shih Tzu puppy for sale. You won’t pay as much as you would if you bought it from a breeder but it will have been checked over by a qualified vet and you will have the satisfaction of knowing you saved a rescued animal.

There are many ways for you to get your new Shih Tzu puppy and they all have their good sides and bad sides. However you do it, always keep in mind that owning a Shih Tzu puppy is a big responsibility as they need ongoing care, maintenance and will need to get to the vet regularly as well. But in the end they are very much worth any effort as they make wonderful pets.

There is great information on buying Shih Tzu puppies in this article. You can use this article as a way to find places that sell Shih Tzu puppy supplies.

Monday, June 9, 2008

A Shopping Guide To Shih Tzu Puppies For Sale

If you are looking for your first Shih Tzu puppy, the absolute best place for you to look for Shih Tzu puppies for sale is with AKC licensed Shih Tzu breeders. Not only will you get a Shih Tzu puppy that is healthy, sane and under warranty, but you also get access to the advice of the Shih Tzu breeder. They have lived with Shih Tzus a long time and know the quirks of this independent but loyal breed. If you have never had a Shih Tzu before – let alone a Shih Tzu puppy – then the support from the Shih Tzu breeder will be worth every penny.

You can search on the Internet or information from the American Kennel Club (AKC) to find Shih Tzu puppies for sale in your area. Since Shih Tzus are the ninth most popular breed in America (according to the AKC), you should have no problem finding a reputable Shih Tzu breeder around where you live.
When you find a likely kennel offering Shih Tzu puppies for sale or a rescue that has older puppies, you should never be asked for monetary information first. You should have to fill out an electronic adoption form, or some other form of application. If you don’t fill out this form, a reputable breeder or rescue will never get back to you. They need to know just as much about you as you need to know about them.

Why all the fuss and time? They do this to be sure you are matched with a puppy that matches your personality and lifestyle. They also want to know and help you with all of your questions on Shih Tzu puppy care so your puppy has a forever home with you. The biggest reason pets are abandoned is that the owners didn’t know what they were getting into before they brought the pet home.
When you do find the right Shih Tzu puppies for sale expect to be quizzed thoroughly by the breeder or shelter worker about your knowledge of Shih Tzus and Shih Tzu puppy care. You might have to have your home inspected, or fill out a stack of paperwork, or even give personal references. This is because breeders want to be sure you know what you are getting into so the dog will not wind up abandoned. And the animal shelters don’t want the puppy to come back.

The biggest reason dogs and older puppies are abandoned is that their owners did not take the time to find out about the breed. Someone who buys a Shih Tzu puppy for sale and wants a dog that doesn’t have to be brushed or trimmed often is in for a big shock. A Shih Tzu breeder or rescue shelter will let you know right away that the time to grooming Shih Tzus is intense. With a breeder or shelter, you will not only know what you are getting in for, but you should be allowed to call them with questions whenever you need to.

This author has written hundreds of articles on dogs, including where to find the best Shih Tzu puppies for sale. Shih Tzu puppy care is not as hard as caring for a newborn baby, because puppies are trainable right from the start.

Shih Tzu Info