The Shih Tzu dog breed is a well-known breed of small dogs in the dog world; these dogs are increasingly seen in homes around the world due to their friendliness and vitality.
Shih Tzu dogs come from China; it is believed that they are descendants of a branch of the Tibetan Lhasa Paso breed due to their great resemblance, being crossed with some breed of small Chinese dog. Shih Tzu’s were used as pet dogs by kings of the Ming dynasty and were brought to the West by English soldiers in the 1940s during World War II.
Since then their number has not stopped growing, more and more people have Shih Tzu as a pet and it is a good choice, the problem is that this breed requires certain special care that you have to take into account to guarantee its good health and that there is a good coexistence between the dog and you.
If you are going to adopt a Shih Tzu and you don’t know how to take care of him, we are going to offer you a series of tips on how to take care of Shih Tzu dogs.
What do you need to take care of Shih Tzu dogs?
- Dog shampoo
- Scissors and brush
- Dog food
- Pay special attention to these instructions
Instructions for caring for Shih Tzu dogs
- Food: Shih Tzu are small dogs that do not need large amounts of food, however they love to eat and they will always ask you for more and more food because it is in their nature to eat without knowledge. What you should do is not fall for the whims of the dog and regulate yourself the amounts of food that the animal needs, otherwise it could have obesity and heart problems. As for the type of food, in principle it would be worth with foods for small dogs, meats such as rabbit or chicken or rice, what you have to take into account is to see if the food suits your pet, if you see that it feels bad a certain brand or type of food change it for another.
- Activity: The Shih Tzu is a very energetic and friendly dog, the Shih Tzu loves to play and needs daily physical activity, make sure you take your pet for a walk at least 3 times a day and always for a good time and play with him at home using some kind of toy that can bite. As for the relationship with others, he is a dog that has no problem with strangers, being very affectionate and having no problems relating to other dogs, with few exceptions.
- Health and maintenance: Shih Tzu is a strong breed in general, but it has some rare diseases such as vision problems or hip dysplasia, first of all you should keep the dog with a minimum grooming, using shampoo every 15 days and brush your dog daily so that the hair does not curl, if you want a hair that is easier to care for, you should keep it short, to do this use scissors very carefully or if you do not dare go to a dog grooming salon where they will provide you with a professional hair care service. Finally, make sure that the dog is up to date with his vaccinations, check-ups and chips and take him to the vet every time he gets sick and follow the treatment given to the dog to the letter.
Tips for caring for Shih Tzu dogs
- Training: These dogs, due to their open nature, are an ideal dog to take to a dog trainer who can make your pet an exemplary dog. In the first place you must take him before he turns 18 months, the sooner you take him the easier it will be for him to learn, secondly the trainer will teach him obedience and will order you to do some exercises with your dog daily and you must pay attention to him, finally with time he will learn the basics and he will see you as his master and therefore he will appreciate you as well as respect and obedience. Once you have learned the basic tricks, there are other courses that teach more advanced things such as searching for objects using your sense of smell or defense techniques, but that is your personal choice.
