Tibet probably sent dogs to the Chinese royalty as gifts. The Shih Tzu was likely given this name because of its association with the Tibetan Buddhist God of Learning, who, according to legend, traveled with a small lion dog that could transform into a full-sized lion.
This may not have actually been caused by communism; a contributing factor was the death of the Dowager Empress Tzu Hsi, who supervised a world-renown breeding program of Shih Tzu, Pekingese, and Pugs. When she died, the breeding program fell apart, and it became nearly impossible to get a Shih Tzu. Because their numbers dwindled down to almost nothing during the first half of the 20th century, every Shih Tzu alive today can be traced to one of 14 dogs — seven males and seven females — that were used to rebuild the breed.
American soldiers stationed in European countries took Shih Tzu back to the United States with them in the late s and s. Given the long flowing coats of Shih Tzu show dogs, we tend to think of this breed as more glamorous than sporty. But underneath that gorgeous coat is a muscular body that can perform well in agility.
Many Shih Tzu have won agility competitions. In , a Shih Tzu became the first of his breed to win both a champion title and an agility title. It is very important to keep the invitation to approach appealing, in a high-pitched enticing voice, and lower your height. You can then take them to the treat jar and treat them, but this must only be after they have been praised for coming when called.
Never chase your dog if it refuses to approach you. That will only cause your dog to run away and possibly hide, causing a bad association. It is better to move backwards and away, while lowering your height, or even lay down. As we have said, the Shih Tzu does not have many behavioral issues like other breeds, but their barking can seem out-of-control. The Shih Tzu is a breed prone to barking.
They tend to bark at people and dogs passing the window, or off in the distance when walking. They love to bark at the front door when visitors arrive as if saying please pet me, bark. Barking while travelling in the car can be a problem that is easily rectified. You could try adding a crate to your vehicle and popping your dog in their crate while you travel. To address barking, you must catch your dog in the act and let them know, via communication that what they are doing is wrong.
We have seen great success with the Bark Busters style of training to stop inappropriate and unwarranted barking. When we see a tough case where a dog has become over-stimulated to the level of fixation, we have had success with a product called a Calming Cap available at many stores when coupled with our training.
There are many places to acquire a puppy where you can be sure you are getting a puppy that has the proper breeding. Be sure to check out your local rescues and shelters, because they have some amazing dogs and puppies there desperate for a forever home. These organizations test their dogs for temperament and soundness. By adopting, you will be helping a dog in need, one that wants nothing more than to be in a loving home.
Did you know that approximately 1. Bark Busters encourages you to visit one today. When you are at the shelter, try to avoid selecting the fearful or over-zealous puppy, but at the same time, consider that the dog might just be traumatised by their surroundings. All those barking dogs cause timid dogs stress and quite often you will see a different dog if you can get the staff to bring him away to a private viewing section for you.
Animal Welfare and Rescues do amazing work in trying to save dogs and match breeds to the right owners, so consider that option when looking for a new puppy.
Select the Puppy that Suits your Personality and Lifestyle. Bark Busters have saved hundreds of dogs through our volunteer rescue program. View all interaction between the pups since this will tell you a lot about their personality. Look out for those assertive types if you want a dog that is going to be good family dog that is good with children. We are often asked by prospective dog parents if they should get one or two puppies.
We always answer the same way -- only if you want two dogs! Dogs are pack animals and they love having company, but the selection of two dogs is something that must be carefully thought through. Two neutered males can cohabit without too many issues if their doggie parents treat them equally and do not display any favoritism.
Unequal treatment is usually behind most Sibling Rivalry cases. A male and a female of equal energy can also cohabit — this is the best match of all -- providing that the female and male are equally matched in size. If they are differing sizes, its best that the male is the larger of the two. Make sure that the female is spayed or problems could occur if a large male tries to mate with a smaller female.
Two females are not always the perfect pair as females invariably want to rule the household. When you have two females in a household, they both might try to be the boss, which can lead to fights.
Without a doubt, toilet training a puppy has its challenges and can try your patience. You need to be observant and begin as soon as the puppy is home with you. Bark Busters will make sure the process is not stressful for you or your puppy!
When puppies are first born, they relieve themselves in their den but their mother is there to clean them. Therefore, there is no scent of urine or feces where the puppies eat, sleep and play.
As they get slightly older, they learn to imitate the mother when she goes outside. This way the puppy becomes conditioned to never eliminate in their dens. If you are crate training, you will find that puppies will avoid toileting in their crate at all cost!
Knowing when your puppy is likely to relieve themselves by reading their body language is the key to success. Have you ever taken your puppy outside for a walk only to find him relieving himself as soon as he gets back indoors? To avoid this, walk the puppy directly to the area you have designated him to toilet. Stand still and stay with him, so the puppy no longer shows interest in you.
Do not sit down as this will only encourage the pup to jump on you and forget what he is out there for. Praise him if he performs. NEVER scold or rub his nose in any mistakes as this will teach your puppy to move out of sight or wait until you are not watching! Your puppy does not possess human logic, but will begin to form good habits through structured routines. Positive reinforcement when he does the right thing in the right place is the best and quickest toilet training method.
Do your own research on what diet is best for your dog. Remember that top quality is always best. Your dog needs a place to call its own, a bed of its own or a place where it can feel safe such as a den-like crate that is warm and cozy. You need to ensure you provide education and guidance for your dog, based on patience, understanding and communication. A dog can suffer feelings of insecurity if it perceives that it has no leader.
Your dog needs to be entertained to reduce boredom. Toys and activities are essential to keeping your dog stimulated and busy and to ensure that your dog is less destructive. Bored dogs misbehave! Be sure to provide your Shih Tzu with some soft chewy toys. You have to be mindful of the games you choose to play with your Shih Tzu as you are dealing with a canine that can be easily influenced by what you are teaching it to do.
For example, a game where you chase your dog is not a good game to play as this only encourages your dog to grab something and run like your shoe, a precious item or something breakable.
Hide and seek is a great game too. These are games where you hide things from your dog: food, toys or a tennis ball and then encourage them to go find them.
You can increase the degree of difficulty as your dog gets better at the game. Hide and Seek is a game best played where you have another family member or friend to help you. Remember to give your dog praise when he finds it. These sorts of games are great entertainment and offer mind exercises for your dog that will tire them as quick as a walk. They are far better than those type of games that encourage your dog to become over-excited or possessive of its toys.
Never let your children pick the dog up by its fur as this will really hurt! A Shih Tzu is also not a doll whose hair need to be styled! Bark Busters has the ultimate toy for all dogs that provides dogs with several options. There is nothing more upsetting than losing your dog — the trauma is unbearable. This pet identification tag is free to all Bark Busters clients and this brightly coloured tag cannot be missed by the finder. The finder simply needs to scan the tag, which sends a text message directly to the dog owner and several other nominated people.
One of your contacts could be your vet for cases where your dog might have a medical condition. Dogs are reunited quickly with their family. We have several success stories where dogs were reunited with their owners before their owners knew that their dog was missing. We launched the tag at the Western Vet Conference in in Las Vegas and most of the vets told us that they loved the tag and that it would make their job easier.
The general consensus was, that although the micro-chip was great it has some short comings. First a scanner is required which are not standardized , the dog has to be transported to a vet clinic or facility and the owner must be contacted. Unfortunately, dogs get lost outside the hours of operation for many vet clinics and the dog is in the midst of strangers.
Then the dog has to be accommodated somehow until the owner can be contacted. This could be overnight or for a few days if the owner is on vacation. With today's dog owners having such busy lifestyles, more and more dog owners are turning to dog parks as a way of socializing and exercising their dogs. While this is great fun for most dogs and dog owners, not every dog will do well in this environment.
Some high energy large breeds have little or no regard for little shy or reserved dogs and will think nothing about bowling them over and showing them who is boss of the doggie park.
If your dog doesn't enjoy this type of rough and tumble, or is traumatised by it, then you might have an issue the next time you try to visit the park. The best way to prevent this behavior is to see if there is an option at your doggie-park, to match size and personality, away from the boisterous dogs.
If that is not possible, try visiting the dog park in off peak hours and practice gaining focus from your dog before you allow him to run off and play. Toggle navigation Menu.
Shih Tzu Management. Points of interest Loyal, trustworthy and affectionate Confident and outgoing Great family dog Lap dog, loves to be pampered Good energy levels Not typically aggressive unless provoked May want to guard their toys and possessions, fixed easily with training Cute as buttons, little or no shedding Highly intelligent and adapts to training if you are persistent Level of barking is high with this breed No shedding, but coat needs regular grooming and clipping.
As a brachycephalic dog breed, Shih Tzu are prone to breathing issues. If they try to keep up with a faster speed than what they are normally used to, they may experience breathing problems. Shih Tzu should not be a running or jogging companion. The daily walk at a leisurely pace is enough for the Shih Tzu. Try these fun dog activities which are not only physically stimulating but also mentally challenging. They are great bonding moments with your Shih Tzu.
0コメント