You can often hear that the Shih Tzu breed is more similar in characteristics to people than to dogs. And indeed it is. These dogs are very clean, have a complex character and extraordinary intelligence, which in many ways surpasses the mental abilities of dogs of other breeds. They are ideal as a pet, love a lot of attention, and will easily get along with any child. It is worth noting that this breed is considered long-lived and, if provided proper care of Shih Tzu, then they can live with you for more than twenty years. It is quite acceptable to keep such dogs at home, since they do not need excessive physical exertion, and they go to the toilet perfectly even on a special tray. But clean and fresh air will benefit your pet. What else needs to be done and how to do it correctly care for shih tzu, let's talk below.
Grooming
A beautiful hairstyle is the image of a Shih Tzu. To prevent the dog from getting dirty and sweeping the ground with its fur, it needs to be cut and maintain its hairstyle with daily grooming using a comb and a wire brush. When grooming a Shih Tzu, it is important to prevent the formation of tangles - they are difficult to get rid of and in advanced cases you just have to cut them off.
- The most convenient way is to separate the strands of hair on the back with an even parting, and then comb each strand separately. The long hair on the Shih Tzu's face, covering the eyes, is collected in buns so that it does not interfere with the hairstyle. The tangles are removed with a tangle cutter.
It is enough to bathe your Shih Tzu 2 times a month in warm water at 39-40 degrees. It is advisable to use special shampoos for grooming. Before bathing, you need to work with the fur - comb and remove tangles, if any. While bathing, inspect the anal glands and wash them thoroughly; Shih Tzus have a tendency to become inflamed. After washing, dry with a hairdryer and comb again.
The most difficult grooming is for the breed with light hair.
Such a dog looks extremely impressive at an exhibition, and its coat can be given a dazzling color with the help of a special shampoo. Brown streaks and spots under the eyes - traces of tear stone - are eliminated by the owners using boric acid or whitening shampoo and lemon juice.
Keeping a Shih Tzu is not only troublesome, but also expensive. You can create neat hairstyles yourself, but if we are talking about an exhibition, then it is better to use the services of professional grooming.
History of the breed (Origin)
The breed has a long and very difficult history. Shih Tzus originate from Tibet, but the formation and development of the breed took place in China, where Shih Tzus lived in imperial palaces. According to legends, the Shih Tzu accompanied the Buddha on his travels, sometimes turning into a lion so that the Buddha could rest while traveling on the back of a powerful beast. The first name of the breed is lion dog, and in Chinese “Shih Tzu” means “lion”.
According to one version, the ancestors of the breed were the Lhasa Apso and Pekingese; according to another, the Shih Tzu originated from Tibetan terriers. Shih Tzu came to Europe in the 30s of the 20th century and quickly gained popularity. The first club of breed lovers was created in 1933, and the first standard was approved in 1948.
Caring for teeth and gums
Shih Tzus often suffer from tartar deposits, which cause an unpleasant odor. The problem can be prevented by regularly giving your pet solid food - apples or crackers; regular dental care is also recommended.
- Some dog experts advise giving tomato juice or tomatoes 1-2 times a week. The active substances prevent the formation of a stone and thin the existing one, which must be removed by a veterinarian using professional equipment - a scaler.
Regular dental care for your Shih Tzu consists of routine brushing of teeth and gums with special pastes or tooth powder. It is recommended to perform the procedure weekly using a brush or cotton swab. Sometimes, to prevent inflammatory gum diseases, you can massage with propolis.
Possible diseases
The breed has good health, strong immunity and a long life expectancy. Sometimes 15 years is not an age for a Shih Tzu. These small dogs can handle the heat well, and in winter they don’t need to be dressed in overalls to go for a walk. The general recommendations are simple: if you notice that your dog is not acting as usual, contact your veterinarian. Supervise your Shih Tzu when they drink water. Due to the position of their nose, water can block their breathing.
Shih Tzu dogs are predisposed to the following diseases:
- Cataract
- Atopy
- Urolithiasis disease
- Ulceration of the cornea of the eye
- Intervertebral disc disease
- Tracheal collapse
- Kidney disease (underdevelopment of the kidney)
- Chronic heart valve disease
- Ventricular septal defect
- Perianal gland adenoma
- Entropion (inversion of the eyelid)
- Distichiasis (extra eyelashes).
Eye care
Proper maintenance of a dog is not only about its beauty, but also about its health . Proper eye care for your pet is very important. There should be no discharge; most often they indicate an allergy, helminthic infestation, mechanical damage, bacterial or viral infection in the animal.
Long bangs often injure and provoke inflammatory eye diseases, so it is advisable that the animal has the right hairstyle that reveals its muzzle. The strands around the eyes can be pulled to the sides. The folds under the eyes should be treated daily with boric acid powder.
The product is mixed with natural skin secretions, then the entire mixture is removed with a soft grooming brush with natural bristles. Before bathing, it is advisable to use eye drops so that the shampoo does not irritate the mucous membranes.
If an inflammatory process is still detected, before going to the veterinarian, you can rinse the Shih Tzu's eyes with a solution of boric acid, carefully moving from the outer corner of the eye to the nose. Some owners use sleeping tea, but tannins can only worsen the pet's condition.
Organization of sleeping area and toilet
At home, providing a Shih Tzu with proper care and maintenance is not so easy. Such dogs do not need a lot of space, so an apartment is an ideal habitat for them. In order for a light dog to feel comfortable, it is very important to create a cozy place for him where he can sleep and spend time, as well as toilet train him. Designate a well-lit, warm place for this area.
You should not place a Shih Tzu bed near a window, heat sources (radiators or heaters), or in drafts or in the hallway near the front door. A neat kennel bought or made by hand will serve as a house, but you can get by with an ordinary lounger. A toilet should also be placed nearby. Immediately make sure that stainless steel bowls for food and clean water are located near the Shih Tzu's sleeping area. Think in advance about how to toilet train your dog so that there are no unpleasant surprises later.
Ear care
Shih Tzu ears should be treated once every 1-2 weeks. The dog will not be happy with such grooming, so you need to start gradually. To do this, use tweezers dipped in a solution of boric acid to remove long hairs from the ear canal, and wipe the ears with a cotton pad soaked in hydrogen peroxide (10%) and drip a couple of drops of the solution inside. Then knead the ear from the base for about a minute, so that excess fluid flows out.
You can clean your ears with a special gel or chlorhexidine, and before plucking, pour ear powder consisting of boric acid and an antiseptic into the canal to disinfect and anesthetize the procedure. For light-colored Shih Tzus, the area around the base of the ears is sprinkled with boric acid powder to remove stains on the coat.
Breed characteristics
Any description of a Chinese decorative dog includes qualities such as cleanliness and a sharp mind. Shih Tzus have gained popularity not only due to their beautiful appearance, but also because of their compact size: these creatures can even fit in a handbag. The chrysanthemum dog gets along well with all family members, including children. It is ideal for keeping in an apartment; the dog does not need serious physical activity, and the Shih Tzu can relieve itself in the tray if necessary.
However, you cannot completely deprive your dog of walks in the fresh air: to maintain a good mood, the animal needs to be taken outside 1-2 times a week, where outdoor games can be played with it. Pets are not at all noisy, unlike other small breeds, and they bark only in puppyhood. Adult dogs are silent, playful and very devoted to their owners. Shih Tzus are easy to train, have a calm disposition and are excellent home guardians.
Left without an owner for a long time, the chrysanthemum dog becomes very bored because it suffers loneliness. At home, the pet follows its owner everywhere, without boring him with his presence. Representatives of this breed are hardy, reliable companions. Buddha's dogs get along well in families, because they are loving and know how to share their affection with all the inhabitants of the home, without choosing one owner. Such gullibility, sociability and kindness do not allow the Shih Tzu to play the role of a guard.
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Exterior of a lap dog
According to modern standards, the height of the breed at the withers should be no more than 27 cm, and the weight of an adult varies between 4.5 and 8.1 kg (on average up to 7.5 kg). The animal's fur is dense, straight and long, similar in structure to human hair. The undercoat of the Chinese dog is not fluffy, and the main coat does not restrict movement. An important parameter of the breed is the length of the body, which exceeds the height of the animal at the withers.
Breed standard
This is an energetic, lively little dog with a beautiful, elegant appearance. The Shih Tzu has a short muzzle and straight, long, thick hair. The breed is compared to a chrysanthemum flower due to the hair growing upward and to the sides on the bridge of the nose. The Buddha dog standard includes the following parameters:
- Head. Relatively large, voluminous, but not heavy. In females and males, the coarseness and volume of the head are somewhat different. The line of the animal's forehead is not very wide, the head is rounded, and has smoothed edges. The chewing muscles and cheekbones are well developed, but do not stand out on the face. The transition between the forehead and muzzle is sharply defined, while the bangs pinned at the top should emphasize it without exacerbating it. When viewed from above, the nose is in line with the lower eyelids.
- Teeth. The bite is straight, the teeth are set evenly and tightly to each other.
- Nose. It has a proportional size and wide nostrils. The back of the olfactory organ is free from folds. The pet's breathing is even, deep, and without snoring. In dogs that are pure brown or interspersed with patches of color, the nose has a liver color. In dogs of blue or gray color, the lobe may be richly gray, but this type of pigmentation is not welcome.
- Eyes. Not convex, have an expressive rounded shape. The color of the irises is dark brown, but lighter pigmentation may occur in gray, brown and blue dogs. The eyelids fit tightly to the eyes and are colored to match the nose.
- Ears. Set above the eyes, but below the crown, large and decorated with thick long hair.
- Body. The withers are moderately pronounced, the back is straight, the chest line is slightly lowered in comparison with the elbows, the neck is of medium length with an expressive bend.
- Limbs. Round, strong, relatively wide. The dog's shoulders are inclined towards the body, the forearms are as vertical as possible. The hind legs have balanced angulations and the thighs are muscular. The hands are well chosen, the fingers are compressed, the claws are arched, the pads are strong and convex.
- Tail. Due to the set and long, abundant hair, the tip of the tail is level with the top of the head, giving the dog a proportional appearance. The tail is carried over the back.
Coat type and color
The Shih Tzu breed has thick, long, coarse hair that falls over the face, as a result of which the animal develops a mustache and beard. The beautiful silky flowing wool is similar to human hair. It grows very quickly, so the pet needs regular haircuts. In everyday life, bangs are pinned up, and beautiful hairstyles are formed from them for exhibitions. To prevent the animal from getting disturbed by its fur and not getting tangled in its own bangs, it needs systematic care, including weekly combing. Shih Tzus have the following colors:
- cream;
- golden;
- ginger;
- chocolate;
- black;
- light (pure white color is rare).
Paw and claw care
The delicate skin on the paw pads is the animal’s most vulnerable spot. After walking, there may be cuts and other injuries.
If the dog has come into contact with chemically active substances - salt or fuel oil, then it is necessary to wash the paws, disinfect the skin and lubricate it with a rich cream or oil. Grooming cream can also be used to prevent the skin on the paws from drying out. The hair around your fingers should be trimmed periodically to prevent it from matting and accumulating dirt.
Claws that are too long can break. On the fifth toe, the claws often bend and grow in, and the periungual fold often becomes inflamed, which prevents the animal from moving normally.
Therefore, the claws must be periodically trimmed with pedicure tweezers below the living part, and then filed with a nail file. If the living part is damaged, blood will appear, which can be quickly stopped with ferrous sulfate by applying the powder for a few seconds.
- In light Shih Tzus the living part is pink, in dark ones it is difficult to distinguish it, so the manipulation must be done extremely carefully so as not to injure the animal. If a dog walks a lot on asphalt or hard surfaces, its nails will wear down naturally.
Getting to know the breed
The Shih Tzu is a small, long-haired dog whose appearance combines an arrogant expression, an intelligent look and elegant, smooth movements. Turning to the description of this breed, we can say with confidence that these miniature animals have practically no disadvantages, but they have a lot of undeniable advantages.
The following dog breeds are often chosen for keeping in an apartment: Yorkshire Terrier, Chihuahua, Toy Terrier, Pomeranian Spitz, Jack Russell Terrier, Pug, French Bulldog, Dachshund, Pekingese.
Standard and photo
Country: China.
Height: up to 30 cm.
Weight: up to 8 kg.
Life expectancy: from 16 to 20 years.
Color: a combination of brown, white, red and black. It is extremely rare to find blue or brindle.
Coat: long, silky texture.
Litter: 3-4 puppies.
Did you know? Dog lovers and people who don't like loud barking will be pleasantly surprised by the fact that Shih Tzu dogs are quiet, especially as adults. Only occasionally can you hear some quiet and restrained sound from them.
Character
Despite the very pronounced “toy” appearance, Shih Tzu dogs cannot be called decorative, but on the contrary – social, loving the company of people and other animals. But you should still pay attention to some character traits:
- It's quite difficult to toilet train. Therefore, you need to be patient and not let the acquired puppy break the rules until he gets used to it.
- During the hot summer period, it is not only undesirable to walk your dog at the hottest time of the day, but also be sure to keep it in an apartment with air conditioning. This is directly related to the special shape of the skull, due to which these dogs have increased sensitivity to heat and heat stroke.
- Puppies of this breed are very fragile, they can suffer from too active children's handling and play.
- They get along well with other animals and are not wary of strangers.
In addition, tame Shih Tzus are absolute extroverts who will delight their owners throughout their lives with an optimistic mood, mischief and an easy-going, balanced temperament.
Shih Tzu food
The appearance of your pet depends entirely on proper nutrition. For the first 2 months, a Shih Tzu puppy is fed 6 times a day using special mixtures. Then up to six months - 4 times a day, up to a year - 3, after a year - 2.
Puppies are fed porridge, cottage cheese, boiled eggs and cheese, broths with chopped chicken, veal or fish. You can give pieces of apples or carrots, add oils and vitamins. From 4 to 6 months, solid food should not be given to the puppy, so as not to spoil the bite.
- In addition to all of the above, an adult dog eats raw lean meat, raw sea fish, and dairy products. Not allowed: lentils, pearl barley, raw liver, pasta, river fish, legumes, potatoes, corn, sweets and smoked meats.
Some owners prefer to feed dry food. For drinking, it is better to use an automatic drinker.
