The Dogs Bloggers

Shih Tzu Puppies – What Pet Owners Should Know About

You can adopt Shih Tzu dogs, or if you’re looking for a specific breed, you can buy them. Supposing you are attached to and want a specific breed, then you’d best be in touch with a Shih Tzu breeder. That’s because most animal shelters and Shih Tzu rescues mostly take in abandoned or orphaned adult dogs, and rare are puppies of verified genuine bloodlines taken in. You can get lucky and get Shih Tzu puppies from a shelter, adopting them at no cost, but the chances are slim; you’re better of with a Shih Tzu breeder – but you need to be informed about the possible dangers of buying from a breeder.

1. You may be duped into buying an unhealthy pup or one that’s not from a genuine bloodline. Because they are driven by profit, some breeders that are pare of puppy mills, defy the usual Kennel-approved breeding guide and breed runt to run to come up with designer dogs smaller than the already small Shih Tzu, and these puppies are often unhealthy. That means you could be told lavish tales about a pup’s breeding line and be shown fake documentation, and worse, falsified schedules of inoculations and deworming sessions. So that you’d get a list of breeders that are most likely legitimate, you want to start by using the referral services or list of recommended breeders on reputable sites – if a breeder is member of a breeding club, you can check his background and talk to people who can vouch for him.

2. Even if you find reputable breeders, you have to be prepared to shell out a great deal of money for pure bred and healthy Shih Tzu dogs. This breed does not come cheap, and when you’re particularly attached to a breed, money may not be a stopping point. This love for this breed is one reason there are a lot of puppy mills waiting to con pet owners of their good money. After some hunting around for vouched-for breeders, you need to be prepared to part with a sum of money to get the Shih Tzu you love. But if you are the type that enters your toy dog into dog shows, you should really find a breeder, as the reputable ones know exactly what breed you need to pass conformation standards.

3. Raising a Shih Tzu pup can be a challenge if you’re new to this; raising several can be a nightmare. You must be financially prepared to shoulder the expenses this breed can dent in your finances. For one thing, there are the veterinaty expenses ranging from, but not limited to, check ups and inoculations. You will need to train the pup to pee and poop where and when expected, by setting up a schedule. This includes right after the pup wakes up from a nap, and after every meal.

Think this over seriously, whether you are prepared to bring home and take care of several Shih Tzu puppies; keep in mind that there are some advantages to adopting instead of buying, and of choosing an adult dog to puppies. You’re in luck with adult dogs, as they are often already potty-trained; so no more mess to clean up all the time at home, no more potty accidents. Also, you will be helping the shelter or animal rescue take in more orphaned dogs when you adopt from them.

yorkie puppy good to knows? feeding schedule?

I am most likely getting a yorkie for my birthday, in 3 weeks time, and I was wondering what are some good things to know about them. I know the basics, such as they can have teeth problems, so it is best to feed them dry food, they need to be brushed everyday, and you shouldn’t bathe them too often or they will get itchy skin. If it helps, I am getting a female, and it is NOT going to be a teacup because I know they are runts and can have really bad health problems because of their size. Also, does anyone recommend how often to feed the puppy, and at what times, I have hears several different things. I can’t leave the food out 24/7 because our other dog would get to it; he is a pig.

Congrats on learning about the yorkie breed, kudos to you!!!

A feeding/watering scheduling really helps house training. The schedule can be dictated by your own personal schedule, like if you have school,etc. Keep in mind that puppies need to be let out at least every 4 hours since they have uncontrollable bladders. Puppies under 6 months old, need to be fed 3 times a day and after 6 months they are fed twice a day, unless you are told different by a veterinarian( some dogs need more/less).

You need to be there for the feedings because you want the puppy and his entire body on a set schedule. This is best accomplished by feeding the pup what he will eat at specific times on a specific schedule. Puppies under six months of age should be fed three times daily; after 6 months they may be fed twice daily.

By feeding on a set schedule, the dog will then go to the bathroom on a more set schedule and make housetraining easier and faster.

Make it a habit to give the puppy some quiet time after the meal. Do not play with her for about an hour after eating, as it can lead to some stomach upsets the can be very serious sometimes. She still need to be taken out though to do her business.

My yorkie was on a food/water schedule and was house trained by crate training. As a puppy he needed to be let out at least every 4 hours. We started the schedule because he seemed to have a very bad leaking problem and would gulp down a bowl of water in like 1 minute or less. After time, he didn’t finish the water in one gulp.

Heres a link that helped me with crate training my dogs, even my yorkie, maybe it will be of some help to you as well:
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/dogs/tips/crate_training.html

As to the times, that’s up to you. You’ll have to find the times that are best for you and your family to feed/water your dog, since your probably in school each day for about 8 hours. Is there someone that is always home that can help you in your food/water schedule?

When I was in school, my dogs were fed in the morning/watered in the mornings and I took them out to do their business before I went to school, so of course I had to get up a bit earlier- about 6 am.

My aunt was a stay at home mother and she would come over and water/feed/let out the dogs when my mother couldn’t( she done it on her lunch breaks). It was much easier when the puppies were adults and completely house trained( where they could hold their bladder for more then 4 hours).

When I got home from school they were fed again. When they were puppies, someone came home to feed them during the 8 hours I was gone. After they were adults, they were fed/water once I got home. They had access to water for a few hours after I was home. Before I went to bed, the large bowl was replaced by a smaller one, for them if they got thirsty. Some say not to do this, but I always have it for just in cases. In any case I never had an accident happen from having a little water available if the dogs were thirsty, of course I got up earlier to take them out and they were let out right before my bed time.

So maybe you can have something like morning, afternoon and night. You will need someone to come in during the day while your at school( if you are in school) to take him out and feed him. He’ll probably need to be let out to pee/poop about every 4 hours- so twice in your school day while your gone.

Usually after 30 minutes after my dog ate, he needed to get relieved. About 10-20 minutes after drinking he needed to pee. So he was fed first- little water available- and after eating he was given more water. 10 minutes after the water he was taken out and he done poop and pee.

Tobi the Terror