Arizona Sunrise Shih Tzus & Poos

Purebred Shih Tzu Puppies

Education

What is the Best Age to Take Your Shih Tzu Puppy on a Walk

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Taking your Shih Tzu puppy outside on a walk is a great form of socialization. Socialization is an important part of puppyhood. But, it is best to wait to take your puppy on a walk outside of your home perimeter after the puppy shots are complete. Your Shih Tzu puppy may come in contact with a disease if he or she goes on a walk through the neighborhood before the puppy vaccination series is done at 16-18 weeks.

I recommend outdoor socialization take place in a safe area of your yard until vaccines are complete. You can carry your puppy in your arms during walks off the property to keep all 4 paws off the floor. Or, you can purchase a puppy stroller for trips around the block. The goal is to avoid harmful pathogens until inoculations are complete.

This doesn’t mean you cannot work on leash walking. Feel free to put a harness and leash on your Shih Tzu puppy and start walking around your yard. You will probably notice that your puppy doesn’t know exactly what to do on a walk anyway. This is a good time to teach the basics. By the time basic leash walking skills are understood puppy shots will most likely be complete. 

It is important to also do a quick check of your yard before bringing your Shih Tzu puppy outside. Make sure there are no snakes, scorpions, coyotes, hawks, etc on the property. I always recommend going outdoors with your Shih Tzu. It isn’t safe for your puppy or adult Shih Tzu for that matter to be outdoors alone in Arizona. Check out my article on Arizona wildlife to learn more on protecting your Shih Tzu from animals that may enter your property.

If you live in an area where wildlife may gain access to the yard it may be best to section off a small area of the yard for outside time until shots are done. Animals such as Coyotes may carry Parvovirus which can be deadly to puppies that have yet to complete the vaccine series. It is always better to be safe than sorry.

There are plenty of socialization opportunities that your puppy can participate in while waiting to complete puppy vaccines. Indoor socialization with other dogs is a great way to keep your puppy busy and happy. Check out the video above for instance of a past litter of Shih Tzu Puppies from my breeding program having a puppy party. Although these puppies weren’t yet fully inoculated they were still able to socialize with one another.

It is also okay to socialize your Shih Tzu puppy with other dogs as long as you know their temperament and vaccine status. The goal is to avoid unvaccinated animals until the puppy shots are complete. Just be sure to go slow with dog introductions. Not all adult dogs are fond of jumpy puppies. Feel free to check out my blog article on how to Introduce dogs to one another. Once vaccines are complete, puppy socialization classes and training are a great way to continue the socialization process and set your Shih Tzu puppy up for success! 

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Top 10 Questions to Ask When Looking for an Ethical Shih Tzu Breeder

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A female Shih Tzu puppy from an ethical breeder laying on a couch.
A Shih Tzu puppy from an ethical breeding program.

You have decided you want to bring a new Shih Tzu puppy into the family. Before you start scouring the internet for Shih Tzu Puppies for sale, you must figure out what type of breeder you want to work with. There are a lot of breeders that sell Shih Tzu puppies. But, are they ethical and responsible Shih Tzu breeders? Before you visit a ton of websites looking for available Shih Tzu puppies, read on to learn what questions to ask to help you find an ethical Shih Tzu breeder.

Question 1

Does it almost seem too easy to purchase a Shih Tzu puppy from the breeder? This is often a red flag in my opinion. Most Shih Tzu breeders who care about the future of their puppies don’t just give everyone who applies a puppy. Conscientious breeders often have applicants fill out a questionnaire. If the candidate meets application requirements the breeder usually follows up with a phone call, a video conference call, or even a face-to-face meeting.

It is usually easy to spot a reputable Shih Tzu breeder. They work hard to get to know their puppy applicants before promising them a Shih Tzu puppy. Deciding to trust a family with a puppy isn’t usually an instant decision. Ethical breeders want to be sure that the puppy’s needs will be met by the potential family. Matching Shih Tzu Puppies to the right family is essential to the well-being of the puppy and the family. 

Question 2

Is there a contract with a health guarantee in place? An ethical Shih Tzu Breeder should have a contract with a health guarantee in place. The health guarantee is put in place to protect prospective puppy owners in case the unthinkable happens. What if your Shih Tzu puppy contracts a genetic disease when he or she is 9 months old?  Will the breeder refund you the purchase price? Nobody wants to think of these types of things when they’re searching for a Shih Tzu puppy. But, the reality is that things can happen. Your breeder must be fair and just in these types of situations. A health guarantee helps bring peace of mind to puppy owners. 

Question 3

Do the breeding parents in the program go through health testing before producing a litter? Each breed of dog is susceptible to certain diseases. Responsible breeders should rule out common health conditions in breeding adults before a mating occurs. For instance, Shih Tzus are a pretty hearty breed. The parent breed club doesn’t require any mandatory health testing. But, it still is a good idea to run a genetic panel on adults to be sure there aren’t any hereditary conditions lurking in the lines. 

Question 4

Does the Shih Tzu breeder offer lifetime breeder support?  If you run into an issue with your puppy after go-home day will your breeder be there to help you figure out a plan of action? A good breeder will always be there to help clients through the good and the bad for the puppy’s entire life. An ethical breeder genuinely cares for the puppies and wants to help make sure they’re living their best lives.

Question 5

Find out the type of environment your puppy is being raised in. Are the Shih Tzu puppies living indoors or outdoors? Are the puppies being raised as part of the family? There is a big difference between a puppy that lives in a breeder’s home and is part of the family. Puppies that receive daily human interaction and love typically have much better social skills.

It is also important to find out if the puppy spends his days in a crate or a larger enclosure such as a puppy playpen. If the puppy spends the entire day in a crate alone how will he or she learn about the world? Puppy Socialization is so important in the first few months of life. Make sure your puppy has plenty of opportunities to socialize while under breeder care.

Question 6

What type of food is being fed to the parents and offspring? High-quality food is essential when it comes to optimal health. A breeder who feeds cheap kibble probably isn’t helping set your future Shih Tzu puppy up for success. We are what we eat to a certain degree. The same thing goes for our dogs. A puppy’s delicate gut microbiome blueprint develops during the early stages of life. If your puppy is fed high-end food the benefits may last a lifetime.

Question 7

Do the parents live on the property full-time? Shih Tzu puppies should have access to mom and littermates for at least the first 10 weeks of life. Shih Tzu Puppies learn lifelong skills from their mother and siblings during the important first 3 months of development. Also, find out if the parents live in the home, outdoors, or in a separate building. It is important to know the type of care the parents receive as well.

Question 8

Do the puppies receive a head-to-toe vet check before go-home day? The Shih Tzu puppies should see a veterinarian before they head home. A veterinarian may find something upon exam that the family to be needs to know. An honest Shih Tzu breeder will be transparent with future puppy owners.

Also, all core vaccinations should be given by the veterinarian. Not all vaccines are stored properly. If a vaccine isn’t temperature regulated it may not be effective. Vaccines such as DHPP must be administered properly to protect against deadly diseases such as Parvovirus. Furthermore, make sure the puppy is up to date on deworming.

Question 9

Are the puppies in the litter going through developmentally appropriate socialization protocols? Puppies learn more during the critical socialization period than at any other time in their life. The puppies’ brains are like little sponges during this period of development that takes place from weeks 3 to 12. Shih Tzu breeders must educate themselves on proper ways to socialize puppies during this critical period of development. 

Question 10

Have the parents and puppies gone through temperament testing? It is important to know the temperament of the parent dogs because temperament is hereditary to a certain extent. It is unethical to breed a Shih Tzu with an undesirable temperament. It is also awesome if the Shih Tzu Breeder temperament tests the puppies in the litter. Temperament testing isn’t a guarantee of adult personality but it does give a basic idea of the puppy’s emerging temperament which is nice to consider when choosing a puppy.

To sum things up, when looking for available Shih Tzu puppies remember to search for a reputable and responsible Shih Tzu breeder. Shih Tzu Breeders all sell cute puppies but may operate their program in a very different fashion. You may pay a little more for a puppy from a program with all the extra bells and whistles, but isn’t it worth it in the end knowing that your puppy received the very best care from the start of life? 

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What is a Teacup or Imperial Shih Tzu Puppy?

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A tiny chocolate Shih Tzu puppy playing with toys.
A Standard Chocolate Shih Tzu Puppy

A Teacup or Imperial Shih Tzu puppy is a Shih Tzu puppy that weighs below the breed standard when fully mature. Typically a standard-sized Shih Tzu puppy weighs between 9 to 16 pounds as an adult. A Teacup Shih Tzu puppy or Imperial Shih Tzu puppy usually weighs less than 9 pounds when fully grown. It isn’t unheard of for Teacup Shih Tzu puppies to weigh less than 6 pounds as adults. 

Imperial Shih Tzu puppies are popular because of their small size. Their tiny stature makes them conveniently easy to carry around. Teacup Shih Tzus are often very popular among the elderly as well.  It is sometimes difficult for the elderly to lift a large dog. The pint-sized Teacup Shih Tzu puppy is often very light which helps in this matter. Teacup Shih Tzu puppies are also popular with families that travel a lot. A Teacup Shih Tzu puppy fits perfectly under the seat in a travel bag. 

Unfortunately, the really small Imperial and Teacup Shih Tzu puppies are sometimes more prone to health issues in adulthood. It isn’t uncommon to see a Shih Tzu puppy that falls a pound or two above or below the breed guidelines for weight. These slight weight fluctuations are merely part of Mother Nature doing her job. These minor weight discrepancies don’t typically lead to any adverse health risks. The health risks are more apparent when a Shih Tzu weighs much less than the breed standard. For instance, if a Shih Tzu puppy weighs a mere 3 pounds when fully mature health issues may arise. 

Teacup Shih Tzu puppies are often much smaller at birth which is a health risk in itself. As a standard-sized Shih Tzu Breeder, my puppies weigh a mere 4-8 ounces on average at birth. If a Shih Tzu Breeder pairs together two four-pound Shih Tzus for breeding the result will often be Shih Tzu puppies that weigh very little at birth. As a direct result, there are more chances that the Teacup Shih Tzu puppies may have trouble latching for nursing and controlling their body temperature and blood sugar. 

Shih Tzus are a brachycephalic breed. This means that they have a very sensitive airway to begin with. Teacup Shih Tzu puppies are even more at risk from airway complications because of their small stature. Teacup and Imperial Shih Tzu puppies are also more likely to suffer from organ disease when compared to standard-sized Shih Tzu puppies. 

The above health risks are why I choose to only breed standard Shih Tzu puppies. Most of my purebred Shih Tzu puppies for sale weigh between 9 to 16 pounds. Mother Nature has thrown a few 5 to 6-pound puppies my way but I don’t intentionally try to breed Imperial Shih Tzus. All of my adult female and male Shih Tzus in my responsible breeding program are currently at least 11 pounds. While Teacup Shih Tzu puppies may be adorable and in high demand, I choose to avoid the possible health risks associated with breeding super tiny Teacup or Imperial Shih Tzu puppies. 

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How to Protect your Shih Tzu from Food Poisoning

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A black Shih Tzu puppy wearing a light gray hoodie with ears.
Shih Tzu Puppy Cuteness Overload

Have you ever wondered if your Shih Tzu is susceptible to food poisoning? Well, the short answer is yes. If your Shih Tzu eats something with mold, bacteria, or another type of toxin, he or she may become ill. Most of the time the symptoms of food poisoning in dogs are mild but serious illness may occur.

Dogs are notorious for eating off-limits things. There is a reason they came up with the term garbage gut. Most dogs wouldn’t mind fine dining on stale garbage, a dead bird carcass, and a host of other off-limit delicacies. Let’s not forget dog food recalls. Often dog food is recalled because of pathogens.

Some of the symptoms of food poisoning in your Shih Tzu include the following:

  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Lethargy
  • Loss of appetite
  • Dehydration 
  • Loss of balance
  • Seizures
  • Collapse

If you think that your Shih Tzu might be a victim of food poisoning, I suggest consulting with your veterinarian right away. If it is after hours, try contacting the poison control center for advice: https://www.aspca.org/. If your pet is sick for less than 24 hours, you can try offering a pet-safe electrolyte solution until things calm down as long as your vet is on board. If you’re dealing with a Shih Tzu puppy or your pet isn’t able to keep down electrolytes a visit to urgent care may be necessary. Shih Tzu Puppies and small dogs can dehydrate quickly. Your Shih Tzu may need IV fluids to prevent dehydration.

Also, if you truly suspect that your Shih Tzu is a victim of food poisoning, I recommend that you contact the Food and Drug Administration: https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary. There is a form that you can fill out electronically to report and investigate food poisoning. If pet owners don’t report food poisoning incidents many more pets may become ill. It is also a good idea to contact the dog food company and let them know of the adverse reaction. 

It is important not to confuse food poisoning with the ingestion of a toxic substance. A great deal of human food is highly toxic to dogs. For example, grapes, chocolate, and xylitol are capable of making your Shih Tzu very ill. The great outdoors is another place where your furry friend may nibble on something toxic. Did you know that many leaves and plants are poisonous to your pet? If you will be getting a new puppy soon check out my post on how to safety-proof your home to avoid toxic food and plant poisoning.

As you probably already know, dogs are curious creatures that have no problem nibbling on just about anything. It is important to observe your pet for serious signs of toxicity if food poisoning is a possibility. Seek medical care right away if your Shih Tzu is lethargic, dehydrated, or isn’t improving within 24 hours. Be sure to report incidents of possible food poisoning to the FDA promptly to help ensure that more pets aren’t put in harm’s way! 

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The Pros and Cons of Crate Training Your Shih Tzu

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Should I crate-train my Shih Tzu?

Deciding whether or not to crate-train your dog is a personal decision. If you’re in the market for a new puppy you have probably read a lot of hype around crate training. There are the die-hard advocates who think you will ruin your puppy if you don’t crate train. Then we have the middle-of-the-road people who feel that crate exposure is necessary for certain occasions like a vet visit or a car trip. Finally, some individuals don’t feel that crate training is necessary under any circumstances. 

Pros of crate training:

  • Crates are a safe place for your puppy during travel.
  • If there is ever an emergency such as a fire or flood a crate is a safe place for your puppy.
  • Crates keep puppies from destroying things in the home when supervision isn’t possible.
  • If your puppy ever needs an overnight stay at the vet clinic or boarding a crate is necessary.
  • Crates are a good way to keep your puppy away from house guests when necessary.
  • Helps some dogs to settle down.

Cons of crate training:

  • Some pet owners confine their dog to a crate for too long which is unhealthy and counterproductive.
  • Crates can cause anxiety in some dogs that have low nerve strength and aren’t comfortable in small spaces.
  • If a crate doesn’t have adequate ventilation respiratory distress may occur.
  • Dogs that are left in a crate too long may suffer from depression or behavioral issues.
  • If a dog suffers from boredom from extensive crate time he or she may chew on the crate which could be harmful.
  • Obsessive licking or other self-mutilating behaviors are common in dogs that spend too much time in a crate.

As a Shih Tzu Breeder, I find myself somewhere in the middle when it comes to the great crate debate. I am not a die-hard advocate of the crate. I prefer to raise my puppies in a playpen where they have more room to move around. To date, I have never had a puppy that was more difficult to potty train because I didn’t use a crate.

Crating doesn’t speed up the potty training process according to studies. If a puppy has a full bladder he or she will relieve himself even if he or she is in a crate. Puppies have small bladders. The key is to take the puppy potty often and to be consistent and patient. On the other hand, I do feel the crate has a purpose. The crate is a great asset for road trips, veterinarian visits, and boarding purposes. 

Most dogs will have to spend time in a crate at some point in their life. Dogs spend time in a crate after medical procedures such as a spay or neuter. Or, your dog may need to sit in a travel crate during an airline flight. As a result, it is important that your Shih Tzu feels comfortable in a crate to avoid anxiety when crate time is necessary. In my responsible breeding program, all of my Shih Tzu puppies for sale learn to feel safe in a crate. Although my puppies spend their days and nights in a playpen, they are exposed to an open crate.

All crate sessions should be positive to create a good association with the crate. I give my Shih Tzu puppies a yummy treat such as a stuffed Kong during crate exposure time. I feel it is important for breeders to expose puppies to a crate before the go-home day. Puppies are less likely to be fearful of the crate if they receive positive crate exposure time when they’re young.  Puppies go through a critical socialization period between weeks 3-12 where fear is low minus short fear periods. I take advantage of this developmental opportunity by exposing puppies to new things such as a crate during low periods of fear. 

Even if you don’t plan on using a crate, I suggest new puppy owners continue exposing their Shih Tzu puppy to the crate on occasion once home. Place your puppy in the crate with a yummy treat a couple of times per week for about 15 minutes. This will help the puppy remember the crate as a safe desirable place to relax. This will help tremendously when you have to place your puppy in a crate for the trip to visit the groomer or veterinarian.

So as you can see, crate training is a great option under certain circumstances such as travel or boarding. There are plenty of benefits in having your puppy feel comfortable in a crate just in case a situation arises where the crate is necessary. But, in my honest opinion, a puppy or adult dog for that matter shouldn’t be confined to a crate for a long time. Dogs are social creatures that need ample time moving around and spending time with their family.

Placing a dog in a crate for 8-plus hours isn’t a quality life for a dog. If you work and need another option consider a puppy playpen. Another option is a small room that is safe for your puppy to roam. These alternatives will give your Shih Tzu puppy more room to move around instead of being confined to such a small space for so long. You may also want to consider having a pet sitter stop in during the day to check on your puppy if you have a long work schedule. Rover has a great deal of local pet sitters if you don’t have friends or family available: https://www.rover.com/.

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Are Dog Treats Healthy For Your Shih Tzu?

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Homemade teddybear shaped dog treats.
Homemade Dog Treats

Are all dog treats created equal?

Who doesn’t like rewarding their pooch with a special treat? We love our dogs and want to give them the very best in life. This often includes store-bought treats. But, did you know that not all dog treats are created equal? There are healthy treats and not-so-healthy treats on the market. Some treats are downright harmful to your pet.

Let’s start with how to choose healthy treat options. A healthy treat for your dog should contain all-natural ingredients. If you want to take it a step further make sure that the ingredients are organic. Treats shouldn’t contain harmful chemicals, food dyes, or unnatural preservatives. If you want to take it another step in the right direction try making homemade dog treats. Making homemade treats is a lot more simple than you think. For example, if you have some whole wheat flour, peanut butter, pumpkin, and eggs on hand you can easily find a recipe for homemade dog cookies on the internet.

I used to purchase most of my dog treats for my Shih Tzus from the store or online. Recently, I had a scare where my dogs became sick after consuming chicken Jerky that I purchased from our local store. The Jerky had very few ingredients so I thought it was fine. Unfortunately, after eating the jerky treats my dogs became ill. They were vomiting and having episodes of diarrhea. This went on for a few days until I noticed the correlation between feeding the treats and the ill effects. Fortunately, once I took the jerky away my dogs got better.

Jerky treats are a hot topic of debate these days. Many dogs, especially small breed dogs may experience ill effects after eating jerky treats. Jerky treats that are made in China are of special concern. There have been reports of dogs that ate jerky made in China developing a syndrome similar to Fanconi Syndrome. Fanconi Syndrome is a rare disease that leads to kidney disease in dogs. Most dogs recover after the jerky treats are removed from the dog’s diet. Unfortunately, some dogs have died as a result of jerky poisoning.

Some of the other ill effects that dogs may suffer after eating tainted jerky include:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea 
  • Lethargy
  • Excessive thirst
  • Frequent Urination
  • Kidney failure

If your dog is a jerky fan like my Shih Tzus there is a solution. Buy a food dehydrator and make your jerky for your pet. Making jerky is a relatively simple procedure. Furthermore, you have control over what ingredients go into the jerky. I recently started making jerky for my dogs. I include one ingredient in my homemade jerky and that is meat. It isn’t necessary to add anything else to the treat.

If you have a busy lifestyle and homemade treats aren’t an option please consider buying treats that are not jerky-based. If you must buy jerky for your pet make it an occasional treat. Furthermore, the jerky should come from meat that is sourced and made in the U.S.A. This goes for dog food as well. To learn more about healthy dog food options check out my blog post by clicking here.

All in all, you must feed healthy treats to your dog. Your dog can suffer ill health if he or she eats unhealthy treats frequently. It is simple to make homemade treats for your pet if time allows. On the other hand, there are safe treat options on the market. I adore the Vital Essentials treat line! Just make sure to do your homework and educate yourself on what companies have your dog’s best interest at heart. Our dogs depend on us to make decisions for them since they have no voice. 

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