Also at what age in weeks do shih tzu have to leave their mothers.

legally 8 weeks old, puppies should have received at least 1 set of shots and have been de-wormed at 2, 4. 8. and 8 weeks and once a month until the puppy is 6 months old.if possible wait until the puppy is between 10-12 weeks as the puppy is better socialized and has had a additional set of shots. I got my puppies when they were 12 weeks old and they were ready to go fully weaned, and mature.

I have a Shih Tzu who is 1 year old and when i got him as a puppy he had very short hair, and it never grew in. Now he is almost two and still has short hair. I see Shih Tzu's everywhere, and all of them have long hair, or if it is short, they cut it. Is is possible that my dog is not a shih tzu, or are their some shih tzu's who just have short hair?

no, your dog is not a purebred shih tzu

There seems to be a growing trend toward miniature dog breeds in the UK. Miniature and toy breeds of dogs are a great choice for a person or family who living in a flat, apartment or small home. There are many different breeds to choose from so you can choose the one that best suited for you and your lifestyle.

Small dog breeds are great choices for people who want the loyal companionship of a pet but have limited space. They need daily exercise but don’t need a lot of area to make them happy. Small dog breeds love to be held and pampered. No matter what size dog you prefer there are hundreds of breeds to choose from.

Below you will find the description of some of the popular miniature and toy breeds that can make wonderful additions to any family no matter the lifestyle.

Maltese
The Maltese is a cute small dog with a beautiful white coat. They are one of the oldest dog breeds and are also a very hardy breed. They do need daily brushing and grooming to keep their coats healthy.

They are energetic and very playful. The Maltese makes a good companion for retirees, city dwellers and families. They are good with children and enjoy daily walks.

Lhasa Apso
The Lhasa Apso pronounced (lha-sah ap-so) is a tiny, lively and friendly companion. These charming and elegant looking dogs originated in Tibet. They are very loyal and even though they are small they believe they are the protectors of the home. They are active and enjoy daily walks and brushing.

 These adorable little mites have a long dense coat that can be in a variety of colours, including; tan, cream, slate, brown and black and white.  Its head is draped with long hair and has a square muzzle with dark eyes and a beard and moustache. It has a feathered tail which curves over its back.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a great little dog that is a good companion for people who live in cities and are not as lively and energetic as some of the other miniature dog breeds.

They have a very loving nature and easily adapt to any type of household. They do need grooming for their long coat and regular exercise. They are very loyal and a sociable small dog that will fit into most lifestyles.

Miniature Schnauzer
The Miniature Schnauzer is a breed of small dog that originated in Germany in the 19th century. They are highly intelligent and easy to train. They are alert and playful and have high energy. They love attention and like to be right in the middle of all family activities.

They have small square frames with long heads that have a big bushy moustaches, beards and eyebrows. Their coat is usually solid black, salt & pepper, silver and black and sometimes white in colour. They do need to have regular haircuts and need to be brushed often

Welsh Corgi
There are two breeds of Welsh Corgi and they are the Cardigan Corgi and the Pembroke Corgi. Theses are both small dogs with big hearts. They are loyal, alert, and affectionate. They make great family dogs and are good with children. They are active, playful and love to get plenty of exercise.

Both Corgis are powerful and agile and have broad heads and pointed muzzles. They have large pointed ears with slightly rounded tips. The Corgis were first introduced into the dog show ring in 1925. The Welsh Corgi breed is a healthy breed which has few disease problems. They are independent little mites and love attention.

Shih Tzu
The Shih Tzu is a lively and energetic little dog. They can be low-keyed if they are getting the attention they crave. They love to be pampered and love to be held and petted. They have an air of nobility about them and can be haughty at times.

The Shih Tzu would make a good family pet. They are good with older children and adapt well into most enviourments. They make good companions for city dwellers and don’t require much exercise. They require more care than other breeds when it comes to grooming. They need daily brushing and regular haircuts to avoid tangles and matting of their hair. They shed very little dandruff and make a great companion for a person with allergies.

No matter what size of dog you have you should consider buying pet insurance. It is like having health insurance on yourself, it is there when you need it for those unexpected large health-related bills. By having this kind of insurance you can ensure that your pet will get the best treatment if they are ever injured or seriously ill. They don’t have to be puppies to be eligible; as long as you keep the premiums up they will be covered for their lifetime.

Karen Corey
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/the-growing-popularity-of-miniature-dog-breeds-in-british-homes-751388.html

My BFF just rescued a male Shih Tzu from the Humane Society. The employees there told us that he dislikes men. Since we left the Humane Society, he has barked at every single man in passing. My BFF wants to break the habit because she has a younger brother and male friends. Any useful advice would be greatly appreciated.

well, i would suggest that your bff start with having the younger brother feeding the dog treats. food is one surefire way to get a dog to trust you. have him hold a treat in his hand and sit on the floor waiting for the dog to come to him. if that doesn't happen, then have him lay the treat down on the floor and take a few steps back. then have him do it again, but no go back as far…this might take a while. you may even have to delay feeding the dog for a day, so it is hungry and more willing to take the treats. good luck.

I have a 1 year old female shih tzu who is seadily gaining weight. I meaure her food and exercise her regularly. She currently eats Artemis Dry dog food fresh mix. However, I think she needs a low calorie food. Any suggestions? I want a quality food that will help her live a long healthy life!

i feed my shi tzu nutro natural choice small bites lite for less active over weight dogs [[dry]] it helped him alot hes back to his right weight

Can i know its not a full breed shih tzu just by checking the height? Nose? And stuff like that? Hope professional breeders could help me differentiate a full breed shih tzu from a mixed breed?

The only qway to know for sure is if the dog is from a reputable breeder and has a legitimate Kennel Club resgitration certificate (AKC).
#
Just because a dog is purebred does not mean it is a good specimen.

How To Effectively Housebreak Your Shih Tzu by JANET COMBS - http://www.shihtzufoundation.com With Over 40 Years of Personal Experience, and over 14 Years as a Professional Breeder, and with the Ideas Developed from Extensive Research over that time Here are My Recommendations For Every Pet Lovers.

Duration : 24 sec

More on How To Effectively Housebreak Your Shih Tzu

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The Shih Tzu is one of the rare breeds that actually have hair like humans instead of fur. A Shih Tzu's hair is its crowning glory.

Blow-Drying:

The reason for blow-drying your Shih Tzu's hair after a bath is to get the coat as fluffy as possible. You want a lush, powder-puff look. To blow-dry a Shih Tzu's hair:

1. Place the damp dog on the table.
2. Work from rear to front.
3. Hold the dryer in one spot. As the hairs blow apart, brush the Shih Tzu's coat out once again.
4. Brush until the area is completely dry.
5. Move on the next spot.

To get a good blow-dry of your Shih Tzu's hair be especially systematic. Otherwise, some areas will look kinky and curly. If the Shih Tzu's hair dries too quickly, dampen the kinky areas and blow them dry.

If your Shih Tzu's coat is heavy and thick, you will need a stronger dryer with a more powerful air flow to achieve the desired look. Do not brush your Shih Tzu's hair heavily while blow-drying. Light, quick strokes are best.

If you have your Shih Tzu's hair cut short, you can use a regular cage and towel dry.

Types of Dryers:

There are at least four types of dryers you can use at home for your Shih Tzu the same as a professional would use. These are:

1. A cage dryer.
2. A floor dryer.
3. A wall dryer.
4. A Pet dryer.

Cage Dryer: After your bath your Shih Tzu, towel-dry and place your Shih Tzu in a cage. A professional cage dryer will hook onto the cage. Set the dryer to either warm or hot. Your Shih Tzu should dry in a short period of time.

Floor Dryer: A floor dryer is used for blow-drying. A floor dryer will usually have a stronger blow than a cage dryer. Floor dryers are usually mounted on a movable stand. You can move the dryer in a variety of positions.

Wall Dryer: A wall-mounted unit is also available. The maneuvering for blow-drying is done with a hose. There are several advantages to this type of dryer. They are:

1. Does not take up space on the floor.
2. The hose is easy to maneuver.
3. Since the blow is stronger through the hose, the dryer requires less electricity.

Pet Dryer: Just about any human hair dryer can be used as a pet dryer. Some companies manufacture special made pet dryers. They work fine, but will not give you the same look as a professional dryer.

Connie Limon
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/all-about-blowdrying-your-shih-tzus-hair-10908.html

I have a 6 month old baby shih tzu right now (he's name's Roi), and since he gets really lonely, I was thinking of getting him a buddy. I was thinking of getting a baby Siberian husky, but I got worried because of their size difference. A husky can get really large and intimidating, so I don't know if my shih tzu can handle it even if they are raised together.
Is it okay to raise them together?

Definitely. I have 2 huskies myself and am a pet groomer as well. both of my dogs grew up with strange small dogs. my biggest husky "Jagger", his best friend is a chihuahua. the chihuahua would even sleep on his chest while he slept upside down. the smaller dogs will usually rule over the large dog no matter what breed they are, but the big guys will protect the little ones.

He is a 9 week old pure breed shih tzu. Some times my 4 year old daughter old my 10 year old or my wife wanna pick him up he starts growling and tries to bite them. Also at night he he poopoos out side he's cage. What & how should I do to prevent those bahaviors?

With the growling, they need to respect him when he starts to growl. These are his warnings, and you don't want to get after him for warning because if you do then he will learn not to warn and just to bite. You want these warnings. Instead, they need to respect his space and sit down with him and invite him up on their laps.

Other ways to make him like them more and to help encourage no biting is for them to handfeed him his meals (you hold the hand of the child so that they don't close their hand too much.) If anyone feels anything but tongue, then the food is taken away and "ouch" is said. After 3 ouches, that meal ends. Plan on 3-5 meals a day so that if he has to skip one it's only 3 hours to the next meal and won't hurt him, but it will make a huge impact.

Try to find a trainer in your area that will help you train him, since this will help you help THEM to train him and make him like them even more.

As for pooing outside his cage, as long as he's not going in the cage you're good. Do NOT under ANY circumstances hit him or get all physical like some people are saying. If you do that, you teach him to not poo in front of you, and that will mean a puppy who hides behind your couch or under your child's bed to poo, where you can't see him. Your best bet is to wake up earlier so you have more time to take him out, and then take him DIRECTLY outside. When he poos outside, celebrate it and pay attention and give treats. If he starts pooing inside, pick him up mid-poo and take him outside, not saying a thing.

When you get back inside, put him where he can't see you and clean up the mess using an enzyme based cleanser (Nature's Miracle is the best, but there are good knock off brands just about everywhere even Wal-mart. Just make sure it says "enzyme based" since the enzymes eat the protein bonds that make the smell, even smell you can't smell yourself. He can smell it.) It's important for him not to see you cleaning it up, since that gives him permission to go there again (you're cleaning it up for his use next time.)

For long periods of time he needs a long-term confinement area. Ie, a kennel large enough for his bed, for a spot for him to pee/poo without breaking his housetraining, toys, and water.

Do not use ANY method that your 4 year old cannot execute perfectly. In other words, the Cesar Millan methods tend to be very physical and your 4 year old is too young to do them. It would put her in danger since eventually the dog would use physical force against her… ie, a bite. It's far better to make them friends than to buy into the whole "dominance" theories which have been proven false. Also, I don't know about you, but around my house little kids make all sorts of noises that sound a lot like Millan's "sst" sound. I don't want my dog to think they're in trouble for hanging around the child or feel like they have to defend themselves.