Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
[Shih Tzu's hair is very much like human hair. This means that their hair grows, some turn grey with age, must be brushed to avoid snarls, and rarely sheds. You are more likely to find a human hair on our sofas then a Shih Tzu hair and my dogs live right along side us in the house. None of my dogs have shown any signs of shedding in the nine years I have been raising them. (I have heard that they may shed if they are not well, so it would be a symptom worth taking your Shih Tzu to your Veterinarian..) They can carry dust, if not washed and brushed often enough but otherwise, Shih Tzu's seldom cause problems for people who are allergic. I have asthma and I never have any problems with our dogs even though I do with other types of dogs. I do get a little "itchy" after cutting 4-6 dogs at one setting but that may just be from the dust in their hair. They are in my lap whenever I sit down, and one even sleeps on our bed at night. My allergies is the reason I first considered Shih Tzu's since I was told they never caused reactions but I have heard (second hand) that there are people that could have problems with them. Some people have allergic reactions to doggie drool, and anyone who ever had a Shih Tzu can tell you that these dogs do not drool. If you, or anyone else in y our home, have allergies, you should check with your doctor before buying ANY pet. Also, be sure you have a good guarantee that would allow you to return the pet if you have any allergic reactions. There are some sprays on the market that you can spray on an animal harmlessly to avoid allergic reactions to them. I do not know how well they work but I have seen them in regular pet stores and online. Another option if you do seem allergic, would be to use antihistamines on yourself but I have heard some disturbing rumors about their long-term affect. I hope for your sake, you are not allergic to Shih Tzu's since I am sure that would mean any dogs and probably cats and some birds too.
[It is a good idea to get your puppy used to the brush and clippers early so they won't be afraid of it later when their hair becomes longer. Get a soft brush to help train the pup and use it on him/her lovingly and gently every day. You only have to do this for a few minutes but make sure it is a good experience for her. Be sure to praise her a lot during and after you groom her. When she gets older it is important to keep up a daily routine if you want to avoid any snarls. When they are under 3 months I just use water to bathe them and I am very careful to remember their face is shaped in such a way as to make them uncomfortable with water just running over it. Check and recheck often that the water is just lukewarm. Use a clean finger without long nails to wash under their eyes or a soft cotton cloth (like a babies washcloth). Also, be sure they can breath, their little noses are kinda flat and that makes it hard to take the running water. Just take your time and give them lots of lovin'. They are good at cleaning themselves as well, but the younger they are, the more often they will need a rinse (at least once a day for the pups under 4 months). I think of my pups like people, if they have some dirt or other things on them, it may cause a rash or expose their skin to germs that can cause a virus or something. Some dogs love their bath time and others hate it, be patient, remember, they will probably forgive you a thousand times while they are part of your life, so you can afford to be kind to them. If you should happen to have a snarl in her hair, either cut it off (using safety scissors with one side blunt) or use one of the many hair grooming tools you can buy in any pet store or online to comb through a snarl. Try not to be to forceful, but use the tool taking out just one bit at a time while holding the hair closest to her body so it won't hurt her too much. Always be careful not to cut yourself or your dog and if it seems too difficult you can take her to a professional groomer (for about $20). If you plan on using a professional groomer be sure he/she is recommended by someone you trust. Start taking her to the groomer young so she can get used to the routine and the groomer's methods. Ask what methods they use to groom, restrain, calm, dry and check out the facility yourself for cleanliness and compassion. In the news recently there was a horrific tale of a dog that died from overheating from being left in a "drying" pen too long. They were closed down and most groomers use something similar to a hair dryer. Oh, that reminds me! If you dry your own pup, be sure that the heat is less than you yourself could handle so you won't burn the little puppy's brand new skin. I prefer to towel dry them by patting (not rubbing) them down and letting them air-dry but there is always a time when you may be in a hurry. Just keep checking the heat like you would for a baby, and never leave it on with your dog restrained!]
[They do grow just like people's fingernails grow and they can curl under and cause a lot of pain for your puppy or grown pup. They need to be trimmed once a month or so, but for the first few months, I would leave that up to the Veterinarian. If their nails are cut too close to the body, it can injure the vein that replenishes nutrients to the toe. When they are older it is easier to see the vein and you can cut above that point. This should reduce that threat of injury, but you should never attempt this before having your groomer or Veterinarian teach you how to do it. Also, you should have a toe clipper for dogs and some styptic powder. Styptic powder can be used to stop any bleeding if you accidentally cut the vein. You just apply some to the area and put some pressure on it about 20 seconds and the bleeding will stop. {don't use it for bigger cuts, those would require a Veterinarian visit). These dogs are little and a lot of bleeding would not be good.
[ We want you to take your pup in within a week after you purchase her if you can. This way you can get a full check-up and know if there is any problem that you should return her to us for a refund. This must be done before the 30 day guarantee or we can't give you a full refund. Be sure to bring a note from the Vet explaining the problem.]
Be sure to get your dog in for all the vaccinations she needs according to your veterinarian. If you have any questions, you can call us or come online and post the question on our discussion board. But, if your dog is suddenly acting different (listless, crying out, making repetitive odd movements, bloody stools or urine, limping or seeming to have a hard time breathing even after you calm him down for a few minutes, not eating, throwing up without hairball in it more than once, blood in vomit, uncontrollable bleeding) take him into a Veterinarian. They have all night facilities in most areas, though they do cost more than having a regular appointment. A rule of thumb is, if you are in any doubt, CALL your veterinarian and if you can't reach her, call another one! A dog has many the same frailties that a human has, if they are in a lot of pain, they could go in shock so keep them warm and get them help. Don't try to cure your puppy on your own anymore than you would a baby!
When faced with the question....can we afford this?...Remember, losing a Shih Tzu can be very traumatic. They get into your heart and everyone in your family will love that little pup because they are built that way. All they want from you is love but if you can't give them that, they will still love you. Their love is unconditional and always will be. Please don't harm or hurt such a kind little angel, I am sure if you can't afford or want to help your puppy, there will be someone else that would. I recommend buying dog insurance that you can get through your veterinarian, it is well worth the money. There will be many moments that your little Shih Tzu will come to you and comfort you when you need it and that is true for other people in your family too. You just can't put a price on that. (did you know that studies show that people with dogs have less risk of heart attacks and cancer?)
[The Veterinarians would tell you that it could save your pup a lot of pain and even possible gastrointestinal problems, not to mention cutting down on viruses. There are lots of products on the market to assist or even replace the need for brushing. I am bad about this myself and just use some toothpaste on my finger and rub around their teeth. I do it the same time I groom them but it is not always easily done. Just start her out young as with other grooming activities and you should be okay. But read up on it and form your own opinion. Like I said, I have not been as good about it as I should be. I also use some of those biscuits they sell at pet stores to "keep their breath and teeth clean". Be careful which chewables you buy for your pet, there have been horror stories about some of them being so hard to digest that they can get lodged in the intestines and cause huge problems. So far, I haven't had any problems but that doesn't mean I won't in the future. I hope I don't get many emails from dentists about this....sigh. If I do, I will let you know the outcome.]
[Shih Tzu's sometimes are born with part of their nasal anatomy underdeveloped and it can cause an asthma-like reaction to stress or excitement. Many of the breed's puppy's are born this way and in time it disappears due to the opening and elongating of the nares as the puppy ages. There are many that are not born with this where some don't show a problem until a few months later, but it is preferable to buy a puppy that is free of the problem since a small percentage can have more difficulty in the future with hyperventilating.
I had a Shih Tzu 9 years ago that I bought from a pet store with AKC papers that had this trait. His grandfather was a champion at dog shows as was his great grandmother and great grandfather. I bought him for $750 (which was a lot in those days, now you would be lucky if under $1200). Every time he, Arthur, got excited or scared, (he hated storms), he started the grunting and we would stop and calm him down and his breathing went back to normal. As he got older we just let him work it out and he did. He never stopped from playing hard or anything and continued to greet us at the door grunting away from excitement. It always calmed down when he did. He was 7 months old when I bought him and he stopped the nasal grunting by his first year birthday. It never became a serious problem for him and our Veterinarian told us not to worry about it from the first day I brought to the doctors'. The veterinarian said it was VERY common with Shih Tzu's and other dogs with flat-like faces. I started out as a breeder a year later, and didn't realize that this was a trait I probably should not have encouraged by having pups by Arthur, but if I did know, I never would have had his son, Merlin, who was a wonderful and sweet baby. Then there was Pappy who I have now that practically talks and is at my side at every moment of every day. By the way, Merlin and Pappy and most of my pups never had the nasal trait that Arthur did. Pappy is the father all our pups at this point and he is a beautiful reddish shih Tzu with a medium build and good shaped head and body, but most important: He is almost human in his ability to understand what I need, when I am in pain and how to communicate his needs to me is uncanny. He really does almost speak words! What great traits to pass on!
In order to compete in one of these shows, a dog must be "full" AKC. In other words she must have been judged good enough by the person that bred her, pure Shih Tzu enough, without any negative traits.....to be considered a perfect representative of the breed standard. The people that show dogs, pay a LOT of money for their dogs and buy from very specialized breeders that also show their dogs. When they sell a puppy of champion show dogs, they charge a lot of money, because their is a huge market for them by people who also want to show their dogs. I have seen dogs go up to $5000 in price because they are born of 2 champions. When a puppy is claimed to be a "full" AKC, it means that puppy can breed AKC pups with another full AKC of the same breed and that she can be shown at a dog show. This is why we charge a little more for a full AKC than a limited AKC. But, we don't have champions in our background within 3 generations, so we do not charge a great price for them.
We like selling our pups to families that want them just to love them and be loved by them. Also, my wife is not well enough to take on the huge responsibility of showing any dogs. She has Fibromyalgia and is a retired RN. But, I don't think we would want to even if she could. The dog show business is a world unto itself with a lot of stress and politics.
A "limited" AKC is still showing a strong pedigree. It proves that this particular pup has 2 parents that are "full" AKC. It also may mean that she has some flaw. Perhaps her tail isn't curved well, or she is a bit bull-legged, or some breeders have trouble with "wall-eyes". Sometimes, the people who buy the pup, just doesn't want to pay the extra money but they can come back later and change that if they wish as long as there isn't any problem with the pup, most breeders will comply. A "limited" AKC can still have puppies, but it is discouraged because it means there is a flaw (usually) and the original breeder didn't want to pass that on. If she has puppies, which somehow happens without our consent, giggle), her puppies can not be AKC at all. Those pups have no pedigree. Also, if the people that bought her didn't want to pay for the full AKC, it is too late if she gets pregnant before they fix that. The mother AND father must be full AKC for the pups to be eligible for the AKC pedigree and one usually can not sell them for even the family AKC prices.
Do I need to do anything with AKC for my puppy to stay AKC?
When you receive your AKC litter registration papers from the seller you must fill out the remainder of the form (that which is not filled out by the breeder) and send it in with the cash required. This is to ensure that the registration is transferred from the breeders/sellers name into your name. It is very important that you are careful when you fill out the form since I have heard they sometimes send back forms with errors on it. Make sure your seller filled it out as you both agreed and that you put the name you want on the puppy's papers exactly as you want it to be on her registration. Be very clear with your writing, since they have been known to make mistakes in interpretation. And, you must send it in in a timely fashion or else it will cost you a lot more. Do not lose your form. There are lots of options available to you, be sure to read them through. You can also do it on the internet if you wish, that is one way to make sure they get the name right. After a month or so, you will get your puppy's own AKC forms and not to be lost or given away unless the puppy is given or sold, then you must sign it over to the new owner. To be safe, write down all important information like numbers and exactly how the owners are spelled out, because that is very important if you sell her or have puppies by her.
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