Welcome to Monica's Shih Tzus

Shih Tzu and Children

Shih Tzu love people and other dogs, and would probably give a burglar a guided tour. Nevertheless, it is still a small dog. Be sure to supervise children when they play with your Shih Tzu. Chasing, teasing, poking, and screaming should never be allowed. Because a Shih Tzu puppy can easily squirm out of someone's arms, it is best to teach children to sit on the floor when holding the puppy. Everyone can practice what we call the "puppy shuffle"--sliding your feet along the floor to avoid tripping over or stepping on a puppy that seems to always be underfoot.

 Ready for a Puppy? Basic Supplies:

These supplies are basic recommendations based on our experience. It will be helpful to have these supplies ready at home before the day you pick-up your puppy. For the first few times the puppy rides in car, they may get carsick. It is normal for little baby puppy, so just having paper towels or Wee-Wee pads just in case for the ride home will be good. Also, being held in someone’s lap can help make your puppy feel comfortable going home and may help prevent car sickness. Car sickness generally vanishes and soon your puppy will look forward to going “For a ride”.

First Few Days

Your puppy might be nervous in their new environment. Everything from sight, smell, people, etc. are strange and very new to them. You have to allow new puppies to explorer the place and encourage them to play. Try not to pick them up too much the first couple days and play with them on the floor in their eye level rather than your couch or table. When you speak to your new puppy, you need to speak quietly and calmly so they can be comfortable with your voice. They will soon be fine and enjoying their new home and family.

The puppy is used to sleeping with several brothers and sisters, so they may feel lonely and cry for the first few couple for nights. When the puppy cries out, simply touch his nose and tell him 'no' in a soft voice. The only thing you can tell them when the new puppy cries out is softly but firmly 'no'. Change of diet or environment may cause diarrhea. If diarrhea lasts for more than 2 days, you have to see the vet immediately. All of our puppies are fed Taste of the wild puppy food. However, if you plan to change the puppy's diet, do so gradually by mixing little of the new food with the food they are used to eating for several days before switching entirely to the new food.

Feeding

We feed our puppies Taste of the Wild puppy food Diet, fresh vegetables as snack, they love mini carrots, small piece of boiled chicken breast. We encourage soaked dry food during the weaning process until puppies are able to eat solid food. (for t-cup size puppies, you have to leave the food out at all times). Then at one year you can leave the food out all times or you can start feeding once daily. NO onion, garlic, grape seeds, apple seeds, chocolate.

Shih Tzu are not picky eaters-- unless they are teething, ill, or spoiled. Please do not feed your puppy table scraps. A good quality small-sized kibble mixed with a bit of meat or canned dog food for flavoring is much healthier. Puppies are generally fed three times a day until they are about six months old, then two meals a day until they reach their first birthday. After that, you may continue twice-daily feedings or cut back to one meal a day. Using a water bottle rather than a bowl will help keep your Shih Tzu's face clean and dry between baths. Small dog biscuits make much better treats than rawhide chews or greenies, and Shih Tzu love to chew on soft plush and hard rubber toys (2010, American Shih Tzu Club).

Hypoglycemia

 Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) is a disorder that occurs mainly in toy breeds between the ages of 5 and 12 weeks. A hypoglycemic attack is often precipitated by stress and can occur without warning. It is a real threat to tiny puppies, watch for your puppy to become tired or droopy. The first signs are listlessness, depression, and muscular weakness. If your puppy has any symptoms of hypoglycemia, you must give Nutri-cal, Nutri-star, honey or maple syrup quickly. It will put the blood sugar level close to normal. You have to keep your puppy in a warm place. Your puppy should be taken to the veterinarian at once. You have to watch out for your new puppy carefully. For the first few days, they can get very sick if they stop eating. Keep dry food and water available at all times. Do not allow the puppy to get stressed or exhausted the first few days.

Shots & Deworming

Always make sure your puppy is current on their vaccinations throughout their lifetime. The puppies have to start with their vaccinations at 6 weeks with a parvovirus and a corona virus. At 9 & 12 weeks, use a combination shot. Also, make sure puppies are current on deworming. If ever your puppy is not his normal self, please DO NOT give vaccines or worm medicine at this condition. If your puppy has loose stool without their diet being changed or if they just don't seem right to you, take them to the vet.

Housebreaking

Playpen Training

Playpen training is the simplest method to train small indoor puppies and the least stressful for the family when the puppy will not have regular access outside your home. Training your puppy to potty on pads inside a small confined area is by far the easiest method of housebreaking, especially since it will come naturally to them not to potty in their bed. The pads also come scented to attract the puppy to potty on the pad. This leaves little room for error when the puppy is in its playpen when left unsupervised for an extended period of time. All of our puppies are partially housebroken to go on potty pads inside their playpen. The only training necessary after adopting one of our puppies is to train them with lots of praise to potty on the potty pads outside their playpen as well. Make sure the first few weeks your puppy spends most of their time in their playpen (their home), otherwise the puppy will be accustomed to being outside its playpen and will not want to go back. Whenever you place your puppy back in the playpen, do not call your puppy by its call name. The best time for training is after the puppy eats or wakes up from a nap. They usually will potty within 10-15 minutes. Keep an eye on your puppy and when they look like they are about to potty, take them to the nearest pad. If they get anything on the pad, give them lots of praise. If the puppy makes a mistake, it is best advised to just clean up the mess and avoid any type of punishment. Often when a puppy is punished, they tend to hide where they potty usually under beds and furniture in fear of being punished again. As long as you are consistent with the training, you should be able to leave your puppy with the playpen open when you are not at home.  This process could take few weeks to a few months, so, like any other training procedure, have patience.

Crate Training

Crate training - while learning not to soil in the house, your puppy also learns to accept the crate as a safe, secure area. Dogs instinctively want a safe 'den' or resting area and usually learn not to soil in it. A crate offers a perfect choice. Many crate-trained dogs will tend to be less anxious when kenneled at the groomer, veterinarian, or boarding facility, because they are familiar with a crate or kennel type environment. It is very important to choose a crate size and type that is appropriate for your pet and uses the crate properly. The goal is to train your puppy to soil only in a designed spot outside, in a litter box or a papered area.

Paper or Litter Box Training

Paper or litter box training is appropriate for small dogs that will not have regular access outside your home. Your puppy should immediately be taken to the designated area upon waking in the morning, and frequently throughout the day. Praise the puppy when they use the area to pass wastes. Do not leave your puppy crated all day. Puppies 6-8 weeks old should be crated for no more than 4 hours at a time.

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