He stares at you longingly, his big dark eyes glistening with love. She gazes at you, the god of her universe, and then shakes her long golden hair. Irresistible, coy, and flirtatious, yet passionately devoted to you . . . is this the love of your life? Maybe a fluffy, cuddly, sweet-faced Shih Tzu would make the perfect dog for you. Maybe, just maybe, Samson really is the pet you’ve always dreamed of. Maybe spunky little Lola really is your canine match made in heaven. Or, maybe the little lion dog really isn’t suited to be your next great love, because you aren’t crazy about grooming or need a high-energy dog to go running with. Whether you’re still deciding on the right breed or you just want to know more about the little fella on your lap, this chapter serves as your broad survey of this most adorable of the toy breeds. Consider this article your crash course in Shih Tzu . You don’t have to bend over much to pet a Labrador Retriever on the head, but with a Shih Tzu, you need to get down on the floor to pet him. His short legs don’t get him much higher than about ten inches, so to admire all his wonderful features, you have to take yourself to his level.
The show-dog Shih Tzu has specific features, but show dog or not, all Shih Tzu have basic physical and personality traits in common, and the most noticeable trait is weight. Shih Tzu are heavier than they look and not as delicate as some finerboned toy breeds. But despite the heft, Shih Tzu are perfectly sized for a lap or a handbag not for hunting or tracking, pulling a sled, treeing a raccoon, or guarding a farm.Shih Tzu don’t herd sheep or win races, and they certainly don’t swim. Shih Tzu just don’t have the body or the attitude for work, and although they can scare off a mouse in the house, chances are, they won’t bother.
The Shih Tzu is built for one job and one job alone: to accompany you on your journey through life as your close personal friend. But having a Shih Tzu isn’t all about you. Your Shih Tzu needs some very important things from her human caretaker in order to thrive and be a happy, healthy dog. Considering all she does for you, you must be willing, as a responsible and dedicated pet owner, to give back to your Shih Tzu the things she needs. This little dog’s needs aren’t complicated and can be summarized with one word: You! Okay, that’s not very specific, so this section details your responsibilities to your little one.
A dog bred for companionship must be allowed to do his job, and his job is to be with you. You have to be available and present for him to feel like he has a purpose. When you aren’t home, your Shih Tzu waits for you. If you leave him alone most of the day, he spends most of his time waiting for you. Shih Tzu don’t like to be alone all the time, and being alone is no life for a companion dog. Plus, Shih Tzu are social animals. They love to play and be with people, other dogs, and even cats. If you work all day, your Shih Tzu will be much happier with another pet friend, a visit on your lunch hour, or even spending the day at a nice doggy daycare facility. Spending time around other people and other dogs teaches the Shih Tzu about the world, and this kind of experience makes your Shih Tzu a more well-adjusted and friendly pet.
If you work at home, you can probably manage a schedule of work and play and potty breaks for your dog, but if you work away from your home, you need to make arrangements for someone to give your Shih Tzu a potty break. At the end of the day, be prepared for her to want to play and snuggle and just be with you. A Shih Tzu needs warm, safe shelter. Just remember the following if you want a Shih Tzu:
1. Shih Tzu can’t live outside. Their short noses and heavy coats make hot humid weather dangerous, and a Shih Tzu stuck outside in the sun all day (or even in the shade when the humidity soars) is in serious danger of heatstroke.
2. Shih Tzu aren’t suited for cold weather. Shih Tzu may be descended from Tibetan temple dogs that lived in frigid, snowy climates, but those dogs were larger and heartier than today’s dog, so forget about giving a Shih Tzu a doghouse and leaving him at the mercy of the elements. Sure, your Shih Tzu may enjoy a short romp in the snow, but be sure to dry him when he comes in (and maybe snuggle by the fire for awhile, too).
So you know your Shih Tzu needs a warm safe place indoors, but you can’t just let your Shih Tzu lie on the cold, hard floor, can you? I suppose you could, but here’s a head’s up: This dog is a royal dog. She expects a little luxury in her life. Is that really so much to ask? For example, your Shih Tzu loves to lounge on soft furniture, and she’ll probably prefer to sleep with you, if you let her. Whether you let your little dog into the bed or not, you also need other comfortable spots for your Shih Tzu to lounge when it’s not bed time. Try out a soft dog bed, a safe crate or kennel, and access to other furniture (check out Chapter 5 for adding some luxury).
You may like the idea of a Shih Tzu, but if you aren’t the only one in your home, you have to consider the environment as a whole. Is your home Shih-Tzu friendly? The following sections help answer this overall question.
Your two year old wouldn’t intentionally hurt a flea, but a young child can’t understand that a Shih Tzu isn’t a stuffed animal. If you have very young children, think twice about getting a Shih Tzu. Young children can be too rough on a puppy, and a Shih Tzu may even feel forced to nip or bite to defend herself from a child’s harassment. If a puppy is dropped or fallen on, the puppy can be seriously injured. Even an older Shih Tzu can be injured by a child or may be less patient with a child’s poking and prodding, although older Shih Tzu who’re used to children are a much better bet as a companion to children. Older kids, on the other hand, tend to be great and helpful companions to Shih Tzu if they’re taught how to handle the dog safely and gently. They can walk, groom, and play with the dog.
Although the friendly Shih Tzu loves to hang with other dogs or cats, some other breeds aren’t so dog-friendly. Some dogaggressive terriers and guardian breeds can attack a Shih Tzu or mistake her for a prey animal. Or, a large dog may injure the Shih Tzu during innocent roughhousing. However, some large dogs do well with small dogs and often defer to their leadership. You must know your big dog very well before taking that risk, and supervision is extremely important. Shih Tzu normally get along with other small dogs, especially other Shih Tzu, as long as the other dog is friendly, too. Even so, the bottom line is your Shih Tzu would rather spend time with you than anyone else.
Some Shih Tzu may chase small animals like ferrets, hamsters, rabbits, or birds. Others ignore these animals completely or try to make friends. Be sure your home situation is safe for your new Shih Tzu, as well as for your other pets before bringing a Shih Tzu home.
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