The Shih Tzu, also known as the Chinese lion dog, originated in China. Many people enjoy keeping pet dogs, and some people are especially fond of the Shih Tzu. Here are several practical points on how to raise one.
1. When a Shih Tzu first arrives in your home, it may feel panicked and afraid because it has just left its mother and entered a strange place. A common sign is frequent crying or barking, especially at night. Usually this gets better after a few days. During that time, the owner should play with the puppy more and hold it more often to help it feel secure.
2. A small pet dog should mainly eat dog food, though some owners may also give small amounts of staple foods such as steamed bread or rice mixed with egg or a little sausage. Soup should never be too salty. The portion should not be too large at one meal, because a Shih Tzu can tolerate a little hunger better than overeating. This breed does not naturally know when it is full, so overfeeding is dangerous. Also remember never to feed chicken, duck, or fish bones, because a puppy's digestive system is not fully developed and bones can easily injure it seriously.
3. Do not bathe a puppy too frequently. Once a week, or even once a month in some cases, can be enough, especially when the weather is cold. In summer, bathing every three to five days may be more acceptable.
4. Do not take the puppy out to play too early. Its resistance is still too weak, and it can easily catch infectious disease. Wait until it is a few months older before taking it outside regularly.
5. In spring, summer, and autumn, bathing can be arranged according to the temperature. If the weather is cool, bathing every two or three weeks may be enough. If the weather is warmer, once a week can work. During very hot summer weather, every three to five days may be necessary. Before bathing, you can plug the ear openings with absorbent cotton to prevent water from entering the ear canal and causing otitis or similar problems.