Shih Tzu – Correct Management/A bit of Shih Tzu Legend

Be cautious about the dangers of dampness and violent
temperature changes when it comes to the living quarters for
your shih tzu. With a heritage of luxurious living in the
palaces of the Orient, the domesticated dogs of today for the
most part share the lovely homes of their owners in our affluent
society but still must be protected against sudden change in
temperature or weather conditions, particularly true with
puppies. The Shih Tzu is a rugged little dog, it is sheer folly
for a dog to sleep indoors by the stove, fireplace, or beneath a
comforter on his master’s bed one night, and then be expected to
spend the next night outdoors in a dog house or in a drafty
garage. Shih Tzu do have a way of choosing their own beds, and
it will probably be the same as yours!

Probably about the most important of all aspects in the care and
health of your Shih Tzu is diet! My Shih Tzu has thrived better
on HealthyPetNet Life’s Abundance. Fresh water available at all
times is also a diet essential. Be careful about the extras you
choose to feed your dog. Try to be certain that everything he
eats is safe and nutritious. Again, I recommend using
HealthyPetNet treats, the dental cookies, the skin and coat bar,
the Porky Puffs, etc. As a breeder, I recommend and prescribe
the diet I prefer using for my own dogs and that has worked best
for me. I cannot say enough “good” about HealthyPetNet Products.
I can’t imagine anyone not liking them after once trying them.
Yet…..I do realize other breeders will have their own
recommendations. And, as always, your own personal vet should be
included in your final decision about your shih tzu’s diet. The
capacity adn size of the individual shih tzu determines the
amount of food he/she should consume each day. Labels on the
food itself give good guidelines to follow. For my puppies
before they leave home, I keep food out at all times. This can
change, according to the new owner’s preferences. A healthy dog
should eat the approximate same amount every day, and will be in
good flesh without going to fat. Table scraps are out of the
question. Never feed your shih tzu table scraps. Shih Tzu are
acustomed to best and it seems this part of their heritage never
fades away. Feed your Shih Tzu the very best of Premium Dog
Food.

The Chinese tell a story of Ch’en, of the town of Chiang Chou as
an illustration of the perfectly brought up household. Ch’en not
only preserved harmony among the 700 members of his family but
also had the family dogs so well trained that, if one was late
for dinner, the other 99 waited for him!

No explanation was given how this was accomplished and the
stories are legend, of course, but another Chinese sage, Chang
Kung-i of Shantung, provided a clue……..questioned by a T’ang
Emperor how he kept nine branches of the family together, Chang
gave an answer often quoted in China, by writing one word a
hundred times – - “jen-mai,” meaning “patience” or
“forbearance.”

The stories being legend, there is nothing to prove that the
Ch’en family dogs, if they even existed, were Shih Tzu Kou. Such
tales do draw attention to the fact that the Shih Tzu can be
trained in obedience since they are highly intelligent,
remarkably responsive, and unusually quick to learn.

Training a Shih Tzu does call for patience, however, since a
common trait of the Shih Tzu is a “strong self- willed streak.”
One fact noted by many Shih Tzu Fanciers is: Shih Tzu can
occasionally be very stubborn.

So….keep that in mind when training your Shih Tzu, and
remember, none of us are without downfalls. The Shih Tzu with
all its other wonderful qualities far outweighs this one aspect
of their personalities.