Do you want to learn more about Shih Tzu puppy care tips? Then, you’re in the right place!
In this post, we’ll talk about Shih Tzu care tips, feeding and grooming a Shih Tzu, and frequently asked questions.
Shih Tzu Puppy Care Tips
If you are familiar with Shih Tzu puppy care, owning a Shih Tzu puppy will be a wonderful experience for your family.
Shih Tzu puppy care needs a huge amount of affection, patience, attention, and tender loving care.
It is only the beginning of getting to know your puppy’s personality. Everything becomes real in the next part.
Don’t worry! We will tell you everything you need to know about caring for your Shih Tzu puppy throughout his first year of life.
10 Care Tips
Practice early socialization
Although Shih Tzus are naturally friendly to strangers, early socialization is important. If you don’t give him enough opportunities to socialize with new people and dogs, he can grow shy or irritable, just like any other dog.
Allow your puppy to interact with family, neighbors, relatives, and friends, as well as other well-behaved dogs, so that he or she can learn to play well. Early socialization can help in the development of a well-rounded Shih Tzu puppy.
Use a harness when on leash
The Shih Tzu is a small dog breed prone to the collapsed trachea and a brachycephalic breed prone to respiratory problems. When compared to a collar, a harness is the greatest option since it distributes pressure over the back, shoulders, and chest, which are all stronger and more muscled areas.
Have general training
Although Shih Tzu puppies are known for their stubbornness, that doesn’t mean you should give them any reason to misbehave. Remember to establish yourself as the household’s leader and to be firm, consistent, and patient when you begin training.
Take advantage of the opportunity to train your Shih Tzu puppy if he shows unacceptable behavior. Get his attention by clapping your hands or yelling “no,” then distract him with acceptable behavior like sitting or chewing on a toy, and lastly praise him for being a good puppy.
Crate training
Your Shih Tzu puppy can assist in housetraining, make traveling easier, and provide a haven for your puppy.
Keep his crate somewhere in the house where someone can supervise it, but not in an area that is too public or chaotic for him to feel threatened. You should also keep one or two of his favorite toys in the crate in case he becomes bored.
Make sure your puppy is on his best behavior even when he’s in the crate. If you respond to your dog’s negative behavior in the crate by letting him out, he may develop bad behaviors.
It’s also not a good idea to leave him in the crate all day because he may become destructive and angry. Allow your puppy to go outside and praise him once he has calmed down or shown good behavior.
Potty training
A tiny puppy has a tiny bladder, which means a lot of toilet breaks. You’ll need to take your Shih Tzu to the bathroom every two hours or so until he’s about six months old.
Take your puppy to the designated potty spot regularly and praise him when he uses it correctly. Potty training will be much easier if you choose a designated location rather than the entire backyard.
The key to successfully housetraining your Shih Tzu is to keep an eye on him and look for warning signs. Circling, kneeling, or sniffing your puppy could be a signal that he needs to go.
It’s also a good idea to attempt to stick to a routine, such as putting your puppy outdoors 20 minutes after feeding because that’s when he’ll need to relieve himself.
The key element is to remain constant, aware, and patient. While it may appear that he is attempting to be naughty by leaving a mess on your floor, he is probably unable to contain his emotions.
Keep an eye on your puppy until he hasn’t had an accident in at least six weeks to reduce the amount of waste cleanup on your part.
Prepare for teething
Teething normally begins between the ages of 3 and 4 months in Shih Tzu puppies. Fill your house with hard rubber toys to keep your dog from chewing up all your shoes and furniture.
Remember that teething isn’t an excuse for inappropriate behavior, even if your dog is having a difficult time. If you want to keep your Shih Tzu puppy from developing negative habits, stick to the house rules even when he or she is teething.
Coat care
Grooming a Shih Tzu’s luxurious coat is an important part of caring. Your puppy will only have one coat of beautiful, fluffy fur for the first 7 months or so, which you will need to brush a few times a week and wash every couple of weeks or anytime his fur becomes dirty or stinky.
During the transition stage, when your puppy’s second layer of fur begins to develop, you’ll need to perform brushing to protect his fur from matting.
Things become a little easier to manage once this stage is completed. The most important thing is to make grooming a happy experience for the dog, with caressing and praising.
Because your Shih Tzu will be brushed and groomed for the majority of his life, it will go a lot more enjoyable if you both like it.
Supplements when needed
Dietary supplements aren’t necessary for all Shih Tzu pets. But, this can be an advantage.
Fish oil can help with skin and coat difficulties, and it’s beneficial if your Shih Tzu has allergies. Probiotics can benefit those with digestive problems, such as sensitive stomachs.
Give quality food
Your Shih Tzu puppy needs nutritious food that is best for their diet. Make sure to consult your veterinarian on the food that you will give to your puppy.
Regular veterinary check
To avoid issues, your puppy should be vaccinated at a young age. You’ll be able to have them examined by your veterinarian to ensure they don’t have any health issues.
Feeding A Shih Tzu Puppy
Age | How Often | How Much |
1-3 months old | Free feeding | 30 calories per pound of weight |
3-12 months old | 3 meals per day | 40-55 calories per pound of weight |
Grooming A Shih Tzu Puppy
Grooming Tasks | How Often |
Bathing | You can only start bathing your puppy once he reaches 2 months old. You can wash him every 3-4 weeks. Frequent dog washing can reduce the coat’s natural oils, making the dog itchy. Only wash your dog when necessary, such as when it is dirty or smelly. |
Brushing | You should brush your puppy’s hair every couple of days, regardless of the length of the coat. Brushing or combing can have a specific purpose, such as removing hair mats or helping your dog in shedding his seasonal coat, but most of the time you will be brushing or combing for general purposes. |
Hair Trimming | Regular hair maintenance is needed for a Shih Tzu puppy. A good rule of thumb in trimming your puppy’s hair is once a month or every 6 weeks. It is also a perfect time to trim when their hair is already touching its eyes, to avoid irritation. |
Nail Trimming | Dog nails should be trimmed or clipped about every two weeks. It is also a perfect time to trim if you notice that your dog’s nails are already touching the ground when standing. |
Teeth Brushing | Your Shih Tzu puppy needs frequent tooth brushing because their teeth are jammed into a smaller space. Plaque and tartar development are more likely as a result of this. |
Ear Cleaning | Cleaning your dog’s ears once a week is recommended. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Shih Tzu puppies be left alone?
You can certainly leave your Shih Tzu puppy, but not for too long. Shih Tzus are most likely to experience separation anxiety.
General training and treatment are important at this young age to develop your dog’s good behavior and him being used to being left alone.
Can a 1-month-old Shih Tzu take a bath?
Bathing your puppy during the first month of his life is not recommended till he is 6-12 weeks old. At that age, the little pup has difficulty regulating his body temperature and can become chilly.
Can I give milk to my Shih Tzu?
Yes, but in small quantities.
Milk is high in fat and natural sugars, which is a reason to not feed them excessive amounts to avoid obesity and pancreatitis. Some dogs are also lactose intolerant which it is hard for them to digest milk.
Conclusion
There are many advantages to raising a Shih Tzu puppy, but there will also be many challenges. So, the next time you find your favorite pair of shoes torn to shreds and yet another messy accident on your bedroom carpet, remind yourself why you did it in the first place.
Hug your cute Shih Tzu, and remember that all puppy needs love, care, and patience to make you the perfect puppy parent.
Thanks for reading! You can get many more tips and tricks for your Shih Tzu here.