How to care for a shih tzu

1

In addition to offering him a quality diet appropriate to his age, giving him fresh water daily and providing a comfortable space at home for him to sleep and rest, it is important that you focus on the proper care of this breed.

Shih Tzu are a long-lived breed that can reach 15 years of age or older, provided they receive adequate care and attention. This dog, originally from Tibet, has an affectionate character with its owners, it loves to be in the company of the family and is very open to games and fun, so it usually gets along well with children. However, if he is not properly trained, he can be suspicious of strangers, overly protective and a bit suspicious, which becomes a problem when we bring people home.

To avoid this, it is best to socialize it from a puppy, that is why it is recommended to take the dog for a walk, allow it to play with other animals and get used to the presence of strangers, this will help turn it into an animal with a more given and friendly character. .

2

Even if it is a small breed, you should know that the shih tzu loves walks, go out, run and play outside, so it is highly recommended that you take him out of the house as soon as he has his basic vaccines complete. This will also help, as we explained in the previous step, to socialize with people and animals.

Give your animal the opportunity to do at least 30 minutes of exercise a dayApart from that, you should take it out 3 times a day to do your basic needs. Keep in mind that due to the shape of its snout, this breed can suffer respiratory problems, so they should never go out in the hottest hours of the day and should be kept adequately hydrated during their walks.

3

Although the shih tzu has very short hair during the first weeks of life, from the seventh it will begin to grow. Despite its large mane, this animal does not shed hair, which is great news for cleaning the home, however it requires important care.

To begin with, it is important that, as a puppy, get your animal used to brushing, which you must do at least every two days to avoid the formation of knots and to guarantee that it does not have parasites. In our article how to brush the dog’s hair we explain the keys to do it, it is important that if in the process you find knots you avoid cutting them, it is best to open them with your fingers and try to undo them.

It is also necessary that cut her hair with a certain frequency, because because it does not release the hair, it will be much easier to notice when it is too long or abundant. It is recommended to hold your bangs to favor your vision in case you do not want to cut the fur in that area.

4

Another aspect that deserves attention when it comes to caring for a Shih Tzu are their eyes. This area is delicate and can be prone to the accumulation of lagañas and dirt, so it is recommended clean your eyes daily or every other day with a damp cloth. You can use this same cloth to remove any residue of food or dirt that may have remained from his face.

Their nails also require attention, cutting them approximately every month, since if they grow too large they could cause damage to the animal in their delicate eyes while handling them.

5

A frequent question that owners of this breed ask themselves is how often to bathe the dog. The answer will depend on several factors:

• The length of the animal’s hair
• Whether you brush it or not
• If the dog goes outside or if he is always at home.

A short-haired dog that never leaves the house can bathe every 6 to 8 weeks, if the hair is medium between 4 and 6 weeks, but if it is long and the dog also goes for a walk outside, then it will be necessary to bathe him once a month. In the case of having long hair, it must always be perfectly untangled before bathing, in this way annoying knots will be avoided.

In our article how to bathe my dog ​​at home we give you the keys to achieve it, although you can also leave this task in the hands of professionals.

6

Of course, and as with any other race, the shih tzu appreciate affection, pay attention to them and give them all the love in the world. But it is important that this love does not translate into sweets, excess food or giving food for human consumption, because this breed is prone to obesity so overfeeding them will only lead to creating a vice in which your pet will constantly ask for food, in addition to affecting their health.

7

In addition to all these tips, it is important that you take your pet to your veterinary check-ups, that you guarantee that he receives all his vaccines and boosters and that you provide him with good food and a loving environment so that he can grow up healthy and happy, keeping you company for years and years.

If you want to read more articles similar to How to care for a shih tzu, we recommend that you enter our category of Pets.