Arizona Sunrise Shih Tzus & Poos

Purebred Shih Tzu Puppies

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Are Shih Tzus Good Apartment Dwellers

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A Liver Shih Tzu puppy keeping busy with a stuffed Kong.
A liver Shih Tzu puppy enjoying a stuffed Kong

If you’re considering bringing home a Shih Tzu puppy soon you may be wondering if Shih Tzus make good apartment dogs. Many people don’t realize that a Shih Tzu doesn’t need an enormous luxury yard with all the trimmings to be content. According to the AKC, Shih Tzus are a toy breed dog and they don’t require an extensive amount of exercise. As a result, Shih Tzus can be great pets for families that live in apartments. Nowadays more apartments are adopting dog-friendly policies which makes Shih Tzus an ideal apartment companion. 

A Shih Tzu doesn’t need a huge house to be comfortable. But, if you have a large family and other dogs things may get a bit crowded unless your apartment is relatively spacious. If you have a small apartment you can look into space-saving hacks such as hollow end tables that you can tuck a dog bed underneath. Decorative baskets are great places for storing toys for your family pet as well. If you have a balcony this is a bonus. Although Shih Tzus aren’t extremely active, a lot of them love to people-watch outdoors.

You should train your Shih Tzu to use his or her indoor voice if you live in an apartment. Often walls are paper thin in apartment complexes. Most apartment owners aren’t going to be particularly fond of you if your dog is barking all day and night. Dogs often bark out of boredom. Providing your Shih Tzu with interactive toys and enrichment is a good way to occupy your pup’s mind. A stuffed Kong can be a lifesaver! 

Figuring out where your Shih Tzu will eliminate is another dilemma that must be addressed before bringing your Shih Tzu home. If you have a hectic lifestyle an indoor potty system is an option. They have so many different options in today’s market. You can find porch potties, litter boxes for dogs, potty pads with trays, etc. There is also the traditional option of taking your Shih Tzu outdoors for potty breaks if your schedule allows. If not, there are plenty of pet services like Rover ( https://www.rover.com/) that are more than happy to help out. Many pet sitter services will come to your residence and take your dog to the bathroom if necessary. 

A Shih Tzu is a toy breed and doesn’t have the same exercise requirements as a giant breed dog. But, all dogs need some movement to stay fit and healthy. One or two short walks around the neighborhood are usually enough to keep your Shih Tzu satisfied. Walking is also great for warding off the zoomies, especially during the puppy phase. Playing indoors with your Shih Tzu is also a great way to burn off energy. Getting some fresh air on the balcony is a bonus if you have one.

If you live in an apartment and are on the fence about getting a dog, consider the lovely Shih Tzu. The Shih Tzu’s small size and lower-than-average exercise demands make them ideal apartment dogs whether you live in the city or the suburbs. As long as you teach your dog proper manners and map out a potty and exercise schedule things should go smooth sailing. But before you hop on the internet and start searching for Shih Tzu puppies for sale make sure that you read your apartment pet policy in detail. Some apartments have pet restrictions and additional pet fees.

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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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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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Dog Trainers in Arizona

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Baxter & Bella an Online Puppy School Option

Bringing home a new puppy is an exciting time. You have probably already taken the time to safety-proof the home and yard. Your puppy-proofing checklist is most likely in place. Also, you probably have chosen a great veterinarian and dog groomer by this time. But, have you thought about hiring a dog trainer?

Puppies bring us a lot of joy but may become a handful without proper training. Puppies need to learn the rules. It is up to puppy parents to properly teach the rules to their puppy. Unfortunately, a lot of puppy parents work or simply don’t have the time to train themselves. In addition, some families simply prefer to have a professional outsider doing the training.

Hiring a dog trainer is a great option if you have a busy life schedule. Furthermore, a trainer has a strong educational background in training in most cases. This means you don’t have to spend the time learning every specific detail of dog training in the first place. Below, I have put together a list of trainers in Arizona. Check out the following link from BringFido for more trainer options and so much more. https://www.bringfido.com/

Also, there are quite a few online trainers nowadays. Check out the video from Baxter & Bella above for a great online training option. Enter my discount code at checkout: ARIZONASUNRISE for a 25% discount! I hope you find a great trainer for your new puppy.

Dog Trainers

Mak Pak Dog Training & Boarding: Tempe, Arizona (602) 374- 3388

Smiles Dog Training: Scottsdale, Arizona (602) 962-8764

Arizona Dog Smart Academy: Phoenix, Arizona (602) 237-6775

East Valley K9 services: Chandler, Arizona (480) 382-0144

Towse K9 services: Queen Creek, Arizona (480) 606-8755

Top Dog Boarding & Training: Gilbert, Arizona (480) 650-1650

Sublime Canine: Oro Valley, Arizona (520) 975-0878

Partners Dog Training: Scottsdale, Arizona (480) 595-6700

Bark Busters: Goodyear, Arizona 1 (877) 500-2275

Positive K9 Trainers: Goodyear, Arizona (623) 337-6977

FurBabies & Friends: Glendale, Arizona (612) 352-8239

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Should I Buy a Male or Female Shih Tzu Puppy?

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A gold female Shih Tzu puppy resting on a pink blanket.
A Female Shih Tzu Puppy

Are female Shih Tzu Puppies better than males?

As a Shih Tzu breeder,  I often have clients tell me that they have heard that female Shih Tzu puppies are more affectionate than male Shih Tzu puppies. You may be asking yourself if there is any truth to this claim. Or, is this simply another myth that has been passed down over time? The best way to find out if there is any truth to this claim is by looking at the various myths circulating and seeing if there is any truth behind them. 

The first thing I hear a lot from puppy clients is that female Shih Tzus are more lovable and make better lap dogs. I’m here to tell you that this is not true. I own quite a few adult Shih Tzus in my responsible breeding program. I raise my Shih Tzus as family members in my home. As a direct result, I get to see firsthand just how lovable and affectionate they are. I have both male and female Shih Tzus that behave like velcro dogs. Velcro dogs love nothing more than spending time cuddling with their favorite human. I also have both male and female Shih Tzus that don’t mind cuddling here and there, but also like alone time. 

So as you can see both male and female Shih Tzus are capable of showing affection. The key lies in the Shih Tzus temperament, not gender! All of the male and female Shih Tzu puppies raised in my breeding program go through Temperament testing. I test for certain traits, one of them being human focus. If a Shih Tzu puppy scores high for human focus then he or she is more likely to be that perfect lap dog that clients are often looking for, regardless of gender. 

That being said, temperament testing isn’t a guarantee. There are a lot of other things that go into an adult Shih Tzu’s personality. One must consider how the Shih Tzu puppy was raised, environmental factors, life experiences, etc. For example, if a Shih Tzu puppy is raised in a cage and never has time to bond with humans during the critical socialization period, he or she may coined as less lovable. In reality, this puppy wasn’t properly raised! You must get to know your Shih Tzu breeder. Make sure that your puppy is receiving plenty of love and human attention daily.

There is also the issue of bonding. Often a Shih Tzu will bond to a certain individual in a household regardless of gender. Many times this person is the primary caregiver. Or, your Shih Tzu may simply have a favorite human. Shih Tzus often has human preferences. There isn’t much we can do to control this type of situation if it happens. 

Another old wives tale that I hear a lot is that female Shih Tzu puppies are easier to potty train. Once again, I’m here to tell you that this isn’t the case in most situations. My male and female Shih Tzus potty trained with equal success rates. The key was being consistent in potty training expectations.

One issue that may make potty training more difficult for a male Shih Tzu arises from not neutering the dog by the time he reaches sexual maturity. Some male Shih Tzus may mark their territory around the time of puberty. Not all male dogs display this behavior but some may mark. This situation can be avoided by talking with your veterinarian about the ideal time to have your male Shih Tzu puppy neutered.

I’ve also had clients tell me that they prefer a female Shih Tzu puppy because males are more aggressive. Once again, this isn’t a gender-related trait but is a temperament issue. All I can say is get to know your Shih Tzu breeder!

An aggressive temperament is hereditary to some degree

A responsible Shih Tzu breeder will not breed Shih Tzus with aggressive temperaments in the first place. Aggressive behaviors can also be brought on by negative life experiences and environmental factors. For example, if you take your Shih Tzu puppy to a dog park and another dog attacks your Shih Tzu, your dog may become aggressive towards other dogs. 

Hopefully, you can now see that male and female Shih Tzu puppies can both make outstanding pets. Both genders are capable of affection and highly trainable under the right circumstances. If you’re looking for certain temperament traits like high human focus, work with a breeder that temperament tests puppies. Breeders that temperament test usually know which male and female Shih Tzu puppies are most affectionate. You should choose a Shih Tzu puppy that will match your lifestyle regardless of gender.

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