Sunday, July 20, 2008

How To Raise Your Shih Tzu Pup

You just brought your new Shih Tzu pup home and now you will spend the next couple of weeks making sure it knows all the rules and that it knows you are the boss, right? Wrong. The Shih Tzu is a very self-assured breed of dog that carries itself in a very confident and regal way. It is a very proud, arrogant, and stubborn pet that will always want things to go their way and could probably care less what you have to say. Ready now?

The first thing you want to do with your new Shih Tzu pup is to let it wander just a little so it knows the house and knows what it will be missing out on when you put it in its pen or crate to housebreak it. Remember that a Shih Tzu does not respond to punishment at all and any punishment can set back the training you've done, pretty much to square one. They respond to praise and positive reinforcement. So if you want them to do something praise and reward them when they do it.
The very first concern of any new Shih Tzu pup owner is housebreaking. This takes months, even in the best conditions, so be prepared and be patient. Find a spot in a room in the house and get the dog a large crate or make a large pen area. Put the dog’s food and bedding in there and play with it while it is in the living area so it feels comfortable there. Then confine it only when you are home.

Every 45 minutes you need to take the dog outside to the designated toilet area and see if it does what it needs to do. If it does its thing in the designated toilet area then praise it profusely. You cannot leave a Shih Tzu caged up for too long or it will start to get confused and anxious and soil its own living area. If that happens you are back to square one so make sure you keep a close eye on your dog while it is in the confinement area.
Grooming and a clean coat are very important to a Shih Tzu pup so be sure to comb or brush the dog’s beautiful coat at least once a day. The dog will probably enjoy this and it will keep the coat from getting tangled. A tangled coat can mean an unhealthy Shih Tzu so make sure you are brushing that coat daily. A monthly bath may not be a bad idea but test your dog’s reaction first. If it seems like the bath will cause problems then contact your breeder for advice.

Your Shih Tzu wants to always be the center of attention so make sure you constantly show it plenty of love and attention and play with your dog a lot. Shih Tzu dogs will require a great deal of your time so be prepared to give up large chunks of your day to paying attention to your dog. But they are also one of the most loyal breeds there is and they return your love right back at you.

You can find helpful information on training Shih Tzu puppies in this article. You can use this article to assist you with Shih Tzu puppy care.

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Shih Tzu Puppies Play Vigorously Inside The Home

Those of you who are familiar with toy breeds will also perhaps have heard of a good example of toy breeds which are the Shih Tzu puppies that are very small in size and which do not weigh much either. These puppies are known to come in a diverse range of colors and the coat of Shih Tzu puppies is very abundant and the hair is a long, dense double coat. The outer coat is luxurious and it is long enough to rub against the ground.

Shih Tzu puppies are small and sturdy and are just like Lhasa Apsos though this breed that looks proud has hair above its nose that grows upwards and is thus sometimes even referred to as “chrysanthemum dog”. A Shih Tzu is also characterized by a round head and a beard and mustache that are profuse lend a good look to it to its face.
Without a doubt, Shih Tzu puppies have a lot of spunk to them even in spite of the fact that they are tiny toy breeds. In fact, they are also known to be very alert and make good watch dogs and they have loads of character. They are certainly very royal as well as dignified in the way they carry themselves about, and courage is another trademark of this excellent breed. Nevertheless, they can also be gentle and also loyal and are known to easily become your friend, though often they can be a bit obstinate.

However, they respond well to training and all it takes is to be patience and they will even learn housetraining. You will have to put up with their pronounced barking, and they are also stubborn, though clever and are known to snap at you if they are surprised or angry about something – so watch out.
After all has been said and done, there is no denying the fact that Shih Tzu puppies are going to make excellent companion dogs, who like to stay indoors and who are most at home when they are around the company of other family members whom they love to distraction. They are also puppies that require a lot of grooming and because of their particular coat require being brushed daily to avoid the possibility of their coat getting matted and tangled up or even knotted.

You also must realize that it is not all that easy to housetrain Shih Tzu puppies, although with crate training you can get around the problem. You also should ensure that it is taken out daily for a walk, though that should not mean that it does not like the indoors – because it is quite at home inside the home as well which is evident when it plays vigorously inside the home.

Because Shih Tzu puppies make excellent companions, you would not mind taking extra care of their thick and abundant coats, which is but a small price to pay for the love and affection that they give you. When you become conversant with the various characteristics of the Shih Tzu puppies, you will come to learn how to bring up and care for these puppies. And this article provides a glimpse of the same so that you can learn how to choose the right Shih Tzu puppy.

Shih Tzu Info