I am looking to get a new shih tzu puppy. I am devoted to giving it the best care and love possible. I am just curious so i can know what to expect.
How much time should i expect it to take up out of my day? For example, taking it outside for restroom breaks, walks, feeding, and playing? Also, what are my rights if buying from a pet store and the puppy is sick?
Thanks.
If you are thinking of dogs in these terms I really question whether you are prepared for a dog. A dog is a full-time responsibility, and owning one is like having a child that never grows up.
Any puppy is going to take up virtually all of your free time in the beginning. In addition, a dog like a Shih Tzu can require daily grooming for the rest of it's life.
Generally speaking, for a Shih Tzu I would expect the following:
In the beginning you'll need to take her out every 2-3 hours, for up to 15 minutes at a time, until she's house trained.
If you keep it's hair long you'll need to brush her for at least 15-20 minutes every day. If you want to keep it groomed short you'll be spending $50+ every six weeks for grooming.
You'll need to walk it for at least 45 minutes twice a day.
Plan on spending 15-30 minutes playing each day.
So, I would say in the neighborhood of 3+ hours until it's housebroken.
ABSOLUTELY UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU BUY YOUR SHIH TZU FROM A PET STORE.
Due to a limited gene pool, pure bred dogs are inherently more prone to genetic disease and defects. Reputable breeders will make some effort to ensure they are minimizing these issues by only breeding the healthiest dogs with the best genes. The type of breeders who sell their dogs at pet stores see dogs as a commodity and usually make no effort to make sure their dogs are healthy. Contact your local shelter, or Shih Tzu rescue group to find a dog that needs a home, and may already be house trained which will save you a lot of time.
Good luck,
Matt
Hahaha – about 16 hours out of 24 hours basically! You might get away with 8 hours sleep, after the first couple of weeks.
In other words, this is a 24/7 commitment, for his whole life, decreasing in intensity as he matures.
DO NOT BUY FROM A PET STORE. Find a reputable breeder (via a Breed Club) or you will be buying into a load of expense and many vet trips.
References :
I'm not sure about the time for a puppy because I've adopted adult dogs, but please do not buy from a pet store!
Pet stores get their puppies from puppy mills (and they will LIE and say they don't, but no reputable breeder would sell to a pet store because a reputable breeder would not want their puppies to fall into the hands of puppy millers and ANYONE can buy a pet store puppy if they have the money).
Puppy mills treat their dogs horrible… they live in disgusting conditions. There are photographs that will turn your stomach. While you are enjoying your adorable puppy, that puppy's parents will be suffering with no dental care in feces ridden cages…. it's really pathetic.
Don't support cruelty. Don't support puppy mills……….
References :
Pictures of a Shih Tzu Momma Dog from a Puppy Mill
http://www.petshoppuppies.org/photosforPSP1/8.JPG
Cherie's Story of a Shih Tzu Rescue from a Puppy Mill
http://www.shihtzu-rescue.com/CheriesStory.html
A Shih Tzu puppy should be carefully supervised inside the house until he has not eliminated indoors for at least four to eight weeks. Crate training is helpful for housetraining and provides your dog with a quiet place to relax.
References :
http://dogtime.com/shih-tzu.html
If you are thinking of dogs in these terms I really question whether you are prepared for a dog. A dog is a full-time responsibility, and owning one is like having a child that never grows up.
Any puppy is going to take up virtually all of your free time in the beginning. In addition, a dog like a Shih Tzu can require daily grooming for the rest of it's life.
Generally speaking, for a Shih Tzu I would expect the following:
In the beginning you'll need to take her out every 2-3 hours, for up to 15 minutes at a time, until she's house trained.
If you keep it's hair long you'll need to brush her for at least 15-20 minutes every day. If you want to keep it groomed short you'll be spending $50+ every six weeks for grooming.
You'll need to walk it for at least 45 minutes twice a day.
Plan on spending 15-30 minutes playing each day.
So, I would say in the neighborhood of 3+ hours until it's housebroken.
ABSOLUTELY UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU BUY YOUR SHIH TZU FROM A PET STORE.
Due to a limited gene pool, pure bred dogs are inherently more prone to genetic disease and defects. Reputable breeders will make some effort to ensure they are minimizing these issues by only breeding the healthiest dogs with the best genes. The type of breeders who sell their dogs at pet stores see dogs as a commodity and usually make no effort to make sure their dogs are healthy. Contact your local shelter, or Shih Tzu rescue group to find a dog that needs a home, and may already be house trained which will save you a lot of time.
Good luck,
Matt
References :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shih_tzu
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixed-breed_dog
http://www.netpets.org/dogs/dogresc/doggrp.html
http://adopt-a-shih-tzu.adoptapet.com/
It is usually 1 hour for each month of age, plus 1 hour, so a two-month-old puppy can only be alone/hold its potty for three hours at the most. I have a cavie puppy right now and she is going potty every 2 hours day and night. So you need to keep that in mind, so you will have to come home during lunch to let it out, or get a dog walker, pet sitter, family help, something like that. I allow 20 to 30 minutes for potty breaks. I make them potty first, then play time, in case the potty isn't all done, and so they don't think they go potty and right back in the crate. Now my cavie will go potty and right back in the house, but my shelties liked to potty and play time. I think at first walks would be 30 minutes working up to an hour as it gets bigger. (I practice walks in the fenced backyard first, when they handle all the stress of the yard, they can graduate to walking in the street. Feeding, at first you will probably feed 3 times a day, I would leave the food down for 20 minutes at first, check with your vet or breeder on this. I put training into my potty time. Potty, training and play. You have to be careful at first that you do not overwhelm the puppy. Too much training can be overwhelming, so I would go with 20 or 30 minute sessions throughout the day. You have to check with the pet store to see if they guarantee the pets they sell. It is likely that they get their puppy from puppy mills, and there is no health guarantee. Some breeders provide health warantees and some don't so research your breeder well.
References :