Breeder & Breed Info.
If you are going to buy a Shih Tzu you want the best example of the breed you can find. A responsible breeder can assure you that the dog you choose is a purebred; he/she will know most of the dogs in a five-generation pedigree, some of them personally. He/she will also know what diseases to look out for and will have tested breeding stock for them whenever possible. He/she will be able to tell you which puppy would best fit your lifestyle based on its personality traits and those of its family. A responsible breeder will require that you spay or neuter your pet. Shih Tzus are known for their even temperaments, floor length hair and of course the top knots. The flat faces and close set eyes make them an adorable breed. Shih Tzus rarely find fault with others and are always eager to make new friends. They associate well with other animals as well as being content on their own. This being the case, it would be a good idea to keep them leashed when outside your home or yard. Despite what I have read in many articles, Shih Tzus are marvelous with children. My two girls have loved Belle & now Caspian since the moment they came home. These dogs have been so much fun to have around. I have also seen personally what this breed can do for the mentally challenged, disabled, or abused. One of my puppies has gone to such a home and the breed is known for encouraging improvement. Those who are challenged and abused find peace and delight in the affection that the Shih Tzu is famous for. They are endlessly patient and seem to realize when one of these special persons are close. Hyper dogs naturally calm down for gentle petting sessions and puppies find a natural comfort in their arms. This breed is recommended for those who need a pet and not a working dog. Their expertise is in calming our spirits. I find this to be so true, I myself had a surgical procedure and Belle layed on my feet ALL day long. She never moved and was quite the comfort to me. Training a Shih Tzu is a lot like raising a child. They are eager to please yet, at the same time, like getting their own way. They also do not immediately realize that your rules would be the same as anyone else's rules. If you train your Shih Tzu to not urinate or defecate in your home do not expect that same rule to apply elsewhere. Much like teaching your kids not to jump on their beds; when you pick them up from a friend's house you find they were scolded for jumping on their friend's bed! Wonderfully, this is easily corrected. Before entering a new place, savvy owners will allow their dogs to be curious and relieve themselves and then keep a quick eye on them and correct any misbehavior before the indiscretion. Shih Tzu coats are different from other animals as they have hair and not fur. This is what leads most people to call them hypoallergenic. I do not like this term as there is no such thing as an hypoallergenic pet. The reason you would not likely be allergic to these dogs is because Shih Tzu hair is one of the closest of all dogs to human hair. They don't shed and release very little dander into their surroundings. They will, however, lose a good portion of their coat during high stress times and breeding. It is highly recommended for anyone allergic to dogs to visit with a friend's Shih Tzu or a breeder before deciding on the breed. It is very rare for someone to be allergic to this delightful breed but it is possible. Dear Lisa: I have a 22-week-old Shih Tzu and he is a great pet and is doing well with his training. He runs up the stairs fast but will not come down the stairs. At this time he is 9.6 pounds and getting heavy for my Mother to lift. I have tried placing treats on the stairs and showing him how to come down but it is not working. He jumps on and off the chairs and sofa with no problem. Does he think he should do the same on the steps? Please note he is the best thing I could have done for my Mother. She is at home alone all day and he has made a big difference in her life, they are great together. – Startled By Stairs Dear Startled: In my experience puppies learn to walk up stairs fairly quickly but it seems to take them longer to learn to go down them. First, let’s make sure we have decent footing on the stairs and properly groomed feet on the puppy. Are the stairs carpeted or bare? If bare, maybe putting some carpet runners on the steps will increase the traction for the puppy. Perhaps they are slippery to the puppy and he is scared of the surface, which is why he is running up them and not walking. You can also trim the hair away from and around his pads so he can grip the stair surface better. Also trimming the toenails will help with his gripping, long nails get in the way of proper traction and walking. Baby Steps If the puppy doesn’t move on his own gently place his front feet on the lower step and then lift his hind end and give him a small push to get him moving. If he resists, then place his hind end on the step yourself and he will have to move his front feet forward. Whenever he moves in the right direction give him lots of praise. If this doesn’t work, move in front of him and coax him down with treats, praise and moving his front feet onto the next step. Once he completes a step successfully and is rewarded, do it again, then stop for the day. The next day start with one step and then increase to adding another step. Once they master several steps they will be on their way to a total staircase descent all on their own.
Since there is no perfect Shih Tzu, our breeding program is aimed at improving each generation. Each litter is planned with the hope of improving or strengthening one or more traits. Hopefully there will be at least one puppy in each litter that we can add to our breeding program after it attains its AKC championship. This usually leaves several equally nice puppies to be placed with loving families. Since we "puppy-sit" any of the puppies we place we also have the opportunity to see how the ones we did not choose to keep grow up. This really helps in evaluating a particular breeding. I keep in touch with other area breeders so I can recommend someone else when we don't have puppies available. All puppies, and occasionally older dogs, are sold with a contract that requires spaying or neutering and guarantees that the puppy/dog can be returned anytime in its lifetime if the need arises.
Shih Tzus were bred among royalty and treated as such. They were pampered in such a way that they believe themselves to be human. They prefer to follow their owners everywhere believing that they are well received everywhere. Exercise includes following your every movement and the occasional walk. Then, of course, there is the favorite pastime of sleeping at your feet when you are working. If anything the Shih Tzu will teach you to watch where you place your feet.
For more information on the breed please visit http://www.akc.org/breeds/shih_tzu/index.cfm.
A segment for "Ask Lisa" of the AKC website.
You didn’t say where you had tried to start training the puppy to go down the stairs. If you tried from the top maybe it was a bit daunting for such a little dog down a big staircase. I would start at the bottom step and train one step at a time, one per day. Since your Mom has time at home with the dog, she could make this a play session twice a day. Have her sit on the second step and place the pup on the first step and then put the treat on the floor at the bottom of the first step. Do these sessions before normal feeding time, that way he’ll be hungry and want that treat. Be patient and the puppy will learn.