Because of the incredible thickness and length of the Shih Tzu’s cuddly coat, pets and breeding dogs need to be kept clipped. This saves the owner an incredible amount of time and worry. Having short hair rather than long hair does not bother the Shih Tzu. The Shih Tzu is bothered when their coats are matted and dirty and soon become miserable. Keeping your pet’s coat tangle free is the goal of Shih Tzu daily grooming.
The Shih Tzu puppy cut is the usual style that pet Shih Tzus are kept in. They usually get their first trim at three or four months of age, and then about every four to six weeks for the rest of their lives. You can choose to take your Shih Tzu to a professional groomer, or you can try to give it a go yourself after seeing how it is done a few times. You also need to be sure your dog will sit still for you.
Your Shih Tzu grooming supplies should be for daily maintenance and for giving a Shih Tzu puppy clip. They all can be found wherever pet supplies are sold. Shih Tzus really don’t need anything breed-specific in the way of Shih Tzu grooming supplies. For the puppy clip, you need electric clippers with a number four length blade and sturdy scissors you are comfortable with maneuvering around small areas.
Daily maintenance grooming equipment includes, at the least, a soft brush (that looks like a body brush for horses), a pin or slicker comb, a flea comb and nail clippers. Any white areas around the eyes, nose and mouth usually never stay white. This is normal. Just make sure these stains don’t smell and don’t have food or other material trapped in the coat. Brush with the soft brush and attack tangles gently with the slicker brush or the flea comb. Clip nails only when needed.
Watch videos or professionals clipping dogs into a Shih Tzu puppy cut. Put up pictures of the finished Shih Tzu puppy cut to help serve as reminders when the time comes for you to clip your dog. Your dog will need clipping about every six weeks, at least. Their coats grow thick and fast. Using a number four blade, hold the clippers like a pencil, as lightly and firmly as you can. Sweep the dog’s coat with the clippers in this position. Leave really sensitive areas like the anal region and face for scissors. Practice makes perfect. Keep a special treat to be given to your dog only after a grooming session.
The first time is always the worst for learning the Shih Tzu puppy clip. Your dog might give you a funny look if the results are not quite what you expected, but your dog will forgive you. Besides, in a month it’ll need trimming again anyway! Giving your Shih Tzu a puppy clip gets easier with practice.
There would be fewer Shih Tzus abandoned if all owners knew about their Shih Tzu grooming options. Lovers of this bred can be found collecting everything connected with Shih Tzus, including Shih Tzu grooming supplies.
Monday, August 4, 2008
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Why Choose Puppies From Shih Tzu Breeders And Rescues
Shih Tzus make fabulous pets, especially for those living in small homes and don’t have a lot of time to play with their dogs. Shih Tzus make ideal companions for the elderly and for children. It’s no wonder that Shih Tzus are so popular. Unfortunately, this popularity has also lead to some Shih Tzus being treated very cruelly in the name of making a steady buck. Here is the Shih Tzu information your local pet store, selling Shih Tzu puppies, does not want you to know.
These torture chambers for dogs are called puppy mills. There, dogs have no exercise, usually no vet care and live in tiny wire cages until they can no longer breed, then they are shot or pummeled to death. One central Pennsylvania puppy mill worker defended puppy mills as saying that “Puppies are biodegradable.” (Source: Philadelphia Inquirer.) Very rarely do people buy directly from puppy mills – they buy indirectly through pet stores that sell puppies and through web sites.
Although animal rights activists and politicians like Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell (D) work hard to stop puppy mills, they can’t get them shut down if the puppy mill owners keep getting paid. Those payments come from puppies bought in pet store or Internet sites that only ask you where to ship the puppy and what your credit card number is.
The big advantage to getting your puppy from a reputable Shih Tzu breeder is that you can see the parents of the Shih Tzu puppies. You can also meet the first humans your puppy will be in contact with and help shape their attitude towards life. You can also get to tour the kennel or home of a Shih Tzu breeder to see if the dogs are happy, healthy and treated humanely. Not only is humane treatment of dogs the right thing to do, it also makes for a healthier, better mentally adjusted dog.
If you remember only one thing from this article, please remember this – ALWAYS buy your Shih Tzu puppy (or ANY puppy) from a reputable Shih Tzu breeder. Puppies are not like fish or mice which are very social and don’t need a lot of exercise. All pet store puppies do twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week is sit in a cage and occasionally get to be handled for a few minutes by shoppers. For those of you who are up on your Shih Tzu information, you know this is the WORST possible treatment of a potential pet.
Puppies are highly impressionable from two to four months of age. Whatever they learn during this period usually stays with them the rest of their lives. This is the perfect time for them to be housetrained, leash-trained and trained for all the things they need to know for their lives as companion animals. With Shih Tzu breeders, the puppies get the education they need at such a critical time.
The best way to stop puppy mills are to only buy puppies from reputable Shih Tzu breeders or adopt from shelters. This auhtor is currently working on a book about all dogs, including a chapter devoted to Shih Tzu information.
These torture chambers for dogs are called puppy mills. There, dogs have no exercise, usually no vet care and live in tiny wire cages until they can no longer breed, then they are shot or pummeled to death. One central Pennsylvania puppy mill worker defended puppy mills as saying that “Puppies are biodegradable.” (Source: Philadelphia Inquirer.) Very rarely do people buy directly from puppy mills – they buy indirectly through pet stores that sell puppies and through web sites.
Although animal rights activists and politicians like Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell (D) work hard to stop puppy mills, they can’t get them shut down if the puppy mill owners keep getting paid. Those payments come from puppies bought in pet store or Internet sites that only ask you where to ship the puppy and what your credit card number is.
The big advantage to getting your puppy from a reputable Shih Tzu breeder is that you can see the parents of the Shih Tzu puppies. You can also meet the first humans your puppy will be in contact with and help shape their attitude towards life. You can also get to tour the kennel or home of a Shih Tzu breeder to see if the dogs are happy, healthy and treated humanely. Not only is humane treatment of dogs the right thing to do, it also makes for a healthier, better mentally adjusted dog.
If you remember only one thing from this article, please remember this – ALWAYS buy your Shih Tzu puppy (or ANY puppy) from a reputable Shih Tzu breeder. Puppies are not like fish or mice which are very social and don’t need a lot of exercise. All pet store puppies do twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week is sit in a cage and occasionally get to be handled for a few minutes by shoppers. For those of you who are up on your Shih Tzu information, you know this is the WORST possible treatment of a potential pet.
Puppies are highly impressionable from two to four months of age. Whatever they learn during this period usually stays with them the rest of their lives. This is the perfect time for them to be housetrained, leash-trained and trained for all the things they need to know for their lives as companion animals. With Shih Tzu breeders, the puppies get the education they need at such a critical time.
The best way to stop puppy mills are to only buy puppies from reputable Shih Tzu breeders or adopt from shelters. This auhtor is currently working on a book about all dogs, including a chapter devoted to Shih Tzu information.
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