What is a Shih Tzu?

The Shih Tzu (pronounced /ˈʃiːtsuː/ SHEE-tsoo, from Mandarin [ʂɨ́tsɨ]) is a breed of dog weighing 4–7.25 kilograms (8.8–16.0 lb) with long silky hair. The breed originated in China and is among the earliest breeds. Shih Tzu were officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1969. The name is both singular and plural.



The Shih-Tzu is a small, sturdy dog, with a body that is slightly longer than it is tall. The head is round and broad, wide between the eyes. The square muzzle is short, an inch or less from the tip of the nose to the defined stop. The nose is broad, with well open nostrils. Nose, lips, and eye rims are liver on liver colored dogs and blue on blue dogs and black on all other colors. The teeth meet in a level or under bite. The large, round eyes are dark in color, but lighter on blue and liver dogs. The large, pendant, low-set ears hang down and are covered in abundant hair. The back is level. The muscular legs are straight and well-boned. The high-set tail is carried over the back covered in abundant hair. Dewclaws are sometimes removed. The double coat is dense and long, flowing down over the dog. The hair above the eyes is often tied in a topknot. There is a profuse beard and mustache and the hair on the muzzle is short. Coat comes in all colors.



The Shih-Tzu is an alert, lively, little dog. Happy and hardy, packed with character. The gentle loyal Shih-Tzu makes friends easily and responds well to consistent patient training. They make a very alert watch dog, but would probably rather lick and kiss than fight - however don't under estimate them. Once while walking with my first Shih Tzu we encountered a lose Pit Bull and my little Shih Tzu went into full protective mode. Something that was definetly not in her mannerism. Courageous and clever. Playful and spunky, this affectionate little dog likes to be with people and are generally good with other pets. Some can be difficult to housebreak, while others will take to the potty pad like a fish to water.



Height: Up to 11 inches (28cm.)

Weight: 9-16 pounds (4-7kg.)



This breed is very sensitive to the heat whether in full coat or short trim. This may be due to their short muzzle which makes breathing for them in the heat hard for them. Try as much as possible to keep them cool and out of the heat.



These little dogs require a good daily grooming using a bristle brush otherwise they WILL mat up. When kept in a long coat a topknot is usually tied to keep the hair out of the dog's eyes. Some owners opt to have them trimmed into what is called the Puppy Cut, to make the coat easier and less time consuming to care for. Make sure to keep the ear passages and area around the eyes clean. Shih-Tzu's have very sensitive eyes that need to be kept clean.



This breed sheds little to no hair and are good for allergy suffers if their coats are kept very well groomed, do to the fact that they shed little skin dander.



Life expectancy is about 15 years or more.



The Shih Tzu is good for apartment life. They are fairly active indoors and will do okay without a yard. This breed is sensitive to the heat. However, they do need a daily walk. Play will take care of a lot of their exercise needs, however, as with all breeds, play will not fulfill their primal instinct to walk. Dogs who do not get to go on daily walks are more likely to display behavior problems. They will also enjoy a good romp in a safe open area off lead, such as a large fenced in yard.



Do not over feed this breed or it will quickly become fat.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Females In Heat

So Bonnie-Lass just started her first heat yesterday. So many of you may be asking "What Exactly Happens?"

Heat is the term that is used to describe the time when a female dog goes into her cycle of menstruation. This will be very different than the human female cycle therefore an owner should be informed about all of the aspects.

So When will my Shih Tzu's heat begin?

Your Female Shih Tzu will have her first cycle when she is about 6 months old. Bonnie is now 7 1/2 months old so this is obviously not written in stone. Some dogs enter early and some enter as late as 15 months. If however your Shih Tzu bithc is over 15 months and you have not noticed that she has entered into heat yet, this is a red flag signal to bring her to the vet as soon as possible.

How Will I Know?

You will know that your Shih Tzu dog is in heat from the following symptoms:

•Her vulva will become swollen
•A small amount of blood will be discharged. The amount of blood will be a lot less than one may expect; smaller breed dogs may have very negligible amounts
•Male dogs may seem overly interested in her, even stray male dogs may hang around your yard. Male dogs that have not been neutered will be able to detect that your dog is in heat from as much as 3 miles away!
Will My Dog Feel Pain?

While no one can say for sure, it is suggested from studies that a female dog's behavior shows that she is aware of her cycle and may indeed feel some cramping or discomfort. Many female dogs may "nest", they will want more rest in a comfortable area, sometimes appearing to want to be alone and arranging blankets and other soft items around her. She may spend more time in her dog bed or resting area.


How Long Will It Last?

The average time is usually 21 days and it will happen about 2 times per year. Until you have your Shih Tzu spayed, she may continue to have this for the rest of her life. Usually around day 10 - 14 is when she will start Ovulating and it is around this time that it is very important that you watch her like a hawk as she will get pregnant during this time period It is not healthy for an elderly dog to go through this twice a year phase.

Spaying and Why It Is Important

Unless you serioulsy plan to be breeding all experienced veterinarians, breeders and clinical researchers are in general agreement that Spaying your female Shih Tzu dog will give her a better chance for a healthy life. Many vets recommend having a female spayed even before she enters her first heat and doing so will have no ill affects. So as mentioned above, unless you have serious plans to breed your Shih Tzu, this procedure should be done as soon as possible. Doing so will greatly reduce her risk of getting ovarian and mammary cancer.


It is true that smaller breed dogs like the Shih Tzu do not bleed as much as larger ones. You may want to protect your home and keep your female Shih Tzu clean by having her wear a doggie diaper. I was able to get 2 "Fancy Pants (one pink and one purple) for about $20 at PetSmart. The panty liners are about $4 a pack and are also available at PetSmart.

Keeping Your Bitch Safe!!

If you haven't had your Shih Tzu spayed and she is in heat the number 1 important safety rule is to keep her inside during this time! If she must go outside, you must go out there with her to keep an eye on her and have her on a very short leash! Never underestimate the power of stray, un-neutered male dogs. Such dogs will be able to smell your dog's cycle from as many as 3 miles away! When your Shih Tzu urinates, blood will be mixed into this fluid and will leave the odor in your back yard and even the smallest amount will be enough to trigger a male dog's instinct. That strong urge they will feel will compel them to get to her at all costs. They will jump fences, run across rivers and traverse any terrain to find her. Many owners have siad that they find stray dogs in and around their homes whiule their female is in heat. If she must go out open your door very slowly and have a good look around before bringing her outside to eliminate.

If you have a male as well, Well Good Luck as he will about lose his mind during this time! So far Danny-Boy is behaving very well, but I am prepared for a hard time as the next few weeks go by and under NO circumstances will they be allowed to be alone together without me "chaperoning". I have NO desire to breed them at this time. Females should be about 2 years old before they are allowed to breed as it could kill them if any younger. So Ms. Bonnie and Danny-Boy will just have to wait about another year or so.
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