How to Care for Shih Tzu Puppies

Shih Tzu puppy

The Shih Tzu is a popular breed of dog well suited to families with children who are old enough to be gentle with a fragile puppy. Because of their small stature and hair-like coat, a Shih Tzu puppy requires a few additions to their care regimen that another breed such as a boxer might not need. Shih Tzu’s make loving pets and can be kept healthy and happy with a little bit of breed-specific care.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Puppy food
• Bowls
• Small toys
• Brush
• Dog bed
• Leash

1. Select a high-quality dog food formulated for small-breed puppies. Shih Tzu puppies require food with higher protein and fat content that larger puppies, and higher concentrations of Omega 3s in small-breed puppy food will keep their unique coat healthy and shiny. Follow the feeding guidelines on the food bag to ensure proper nutrition for your puppy. Keep a small bowl of fresh clean water available to your Shih Tzu puppy at all times.

2. Remove any ingestible objects from areas your Shih Tzu puppy roams. Get down on its level and look for anything your puppy might try to pick up, including loose carpet strings or dropped earrings.

3. Provide your Shih Tzu puppy with size-appropriate toys to keep it happy and entertained. Puppies adore both soft fluffy toys and solid rubber toys to exercise their growing jaws and keep them occupied. Look for rubber toys specifically made for small-breed dogs as your Shih Tzu's jaw is not nearly as strong as those of larger breeds.

4. Introduce your Shih Tzu puppy to grooming immediately. Begin with a light combing or brushing for a few minutes and work your way up to once-daily brushings to maintain a healthy, shiny and tangle-free coat. Because of the hair-like nature of your Shih Tzu's coat and its lack of shedding , matting and tangling can quickly become a problem for an ungroomed Shih Tzu. Caring for a Shih Tzu puppy’s coat must be part of your daily routine.

5. Create a quiet area for your Shih Tzu puppy to retire to when it becomes tired or overwhelmed. Place a small soft dog bed and a favorite toy in the area to reinforce the feeling of a respite for your puppy. Shih Tzu's can succumb to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) if not provided adequate sleep time to rejuvenate.

6. Walk your Shih Tzu puppy in the yard every two hours while it is young to allow it adequate bathroom time and encourage supervised exploration. Shih Tzu's have very small bladders that require frequent emptying.

Tips & Warnings

• Proper care of your Shih Tzu puppy includes allowing it to sleep whenever it feels tired, so make sure all family members know to leave the puppy alone when it is in its quiet area.

• Avoid the temptation to bathe your Shih Tzu often. Bathing more than once a month can lead to dry skin.

References

• Official Shih Tzu Guide: General Principles of Shih Tzu Care