Shih Tzu Puppy Care and Training

Feeding a Shih Tzu Puppy

After a puppy has been fully weaned from his mother, until approximately three months of age, he needs to be fed four times a day. In the morning and in the evening, offer kibble (dog meal), soaked in hot water or broth, to which you have added some canned meat-based food. At noon and bedtime feed him a bit of kibble or moistened cereal. From three to six months increase his portion size and offer just three meals. At six months two meals are sufficient. At one year one single meal can be given, supplemented with a few dry biscuits in the morning and evening. During the colder months, you might want to mix in some wheat germ oil with the meal to add extra calories. Remember to keep a bowl of cool fresh water on hand to help your dog regulate his body temperature and to aid in digestion.

Be sure to read the labels carefully before you make your dog food purchase. Most reputable pet food manufacturers list the ingredients and the butritional content right on the can or package.

If you MUST feed a commercial diet, look for one that is "all natural" and does not contain Ethoxyquin or BHT as a preservative. Look at the quality of the ingredients and the palatability. Price should be a minor consideration. These diets will cost more to feed but you will use less and the improvement you see in your animal will be worth it. You may also benefit from less medical problems and less veterinary bills.

There is another popular diet called the BARF diet. This stands for Bio Active Raw Food (I used to think it was Bones and Raw Food and that also works). This is a diet based on the book "Give Your Dog a Bone" by Dr. Ian Bilinghurst and has been popular since 1993. It has a large following and consists of feeding raw meaty bones and a veggie mix.

Try to serve your puppy his meals at the same time each day and in the same location so that he will get used to his daily routine and develop good eating habits. A bit of raw egg, cottage cheese can be offered from time to time, but never accustom your dog to eating human food. Avoid offering spicy, fried, fatty, or starchy foods.

Hard foods, such as biscuits and dry dog food should be offered regularly. Chewing on these hard, dry morsels helps the dog keep his teeth clean and his gums healthy.

Teaching Basic Commands

When you begin giving your puppy simple commands, make them as short as possible and use the same meaning at all times, for example, "heel", "Sit", "Stay". You must be consistent, otherwise your Shih Tzu puppy will become confused. The dog's name should prefix all commands to attract his attention.

"Come" Command

Introduce the "Come" comand by calling your Shih Tzu puppy when his meal is ready. Once this is learned, you can call him any time, always remembering to praise him for prompt obedience. Don't switch to "Come here" or "Come boy" as this will always lead to confusion.

Punishment is very ineffective in training. If your Shih Tzu puppy runs away instead of coming to you, it is absolutely senseless to punish him when he eventually comes back. He will connect the punishment with his return, not with running away and he will soon learn not to come to you when you call him.

"Sit" Command

This is one of the easiest command to teach your Shih Tzu puppy. You will need a leash, a collar and a few tasty biscuits. Take your dog for some exercise before the meal. After about five minutes, call him to you, praise him when he comes to you and slip his collar on him. Hold the leash tightly in your right hand; this should force the dog's head up and focus his attention on you. As you say "Sit", in a loud clear voice, with your left hand press steadily on his rump until he is in a sitting position, praise him and give him a biscuit. Now wait for a few minutes and repeat the routine. Through the repetition, your puppy will associate the word with the reward. Eventually your praise will be reward enough for your Shih Tzu puppy.

"Heel" Command

When you walk your dog, you should hold the leash firmly in your right hand. The dog should walk on your left so you have the leash crossing your body. This enables you to have greater control over the dog.

Let your dog lead you for the first few moments. If he starts to pull in one direction, just stop walking. He will soon find that he can't walk any further. He will then turn and look back at you. Just stand there and stare back at him. Repeat this routine. If he starts to pull and jerk, just stand there. After he quiets down, comfort him, as he may be frightened. Keep up this training until he learns not to outwalk you.

Once the puppy obeys the pull of the leash, start teaching "heeling". Start off walking briskly, saying "Heel!" in a loud firm voice. Pull back with a sharp jerk if he lunges ahead, and if he lags repeat the command and tug on the leash. After the puppy has learned to heel at various speeds on leash, you can ramove it and practice heeling free, but have it ready to snap on again as soon as he wanders.