There is nothing more exciting than when you decide to grow your family with a furry new friend. A dog is a unique creature. For most people, interacting with a dog is an instant mood changer. If you were having a stressful day, coming home to see their excitement and smile will improve your mood for the rest of the day.
Why Choose A Shih Tzu
If you are looking for a small breed of dog, you will find there are many options. Each species has different characteristics in appearance and temperament. Decide what you want in a dog because it will be forever once you bring the puppy home.
A Shih Tzu is an excellent option for any dog lover says Pumpkin.com.
Appearance Of A Shih Tzu
The Shih Tzu is a toy dog averaging 9 to 16 pounds. This lightweight pup is surprisingly solid for a dog of its size. This breed has a beautiful coat that may need weekly maintenance like brushing and the occasional grooming. The Shih Tzu is not a heavy shedder, so you do not have to worry about vacuuming every day.
Temperment Of A Shih Tzu
This type of dog is bred solely to be companions. The Shih Tzu shows affection, love, and obedience. This dog will follow you around the house and aims to comfort you. This dog will be friendly to both family and strangers.
Caring For A Shih Tzu
The Shih Tzu breed is perfect for those who live in an apartment or do not have a yard. This breed needs minimal walking throughout the day and will have plenty of playtime inside the home.
In Shih Tzu history, these dogs would sit around the Chinese Palaces and enjoy a lavish lifestyle. This breed is excellent with children of all sizes and is sturdy enough to be around younger children.
Health Of A Shih Tzu
Overall the Shih Tzu is a typically healthy breed. They do have some of the health concerns that are found in most small dog breeds.
Since the breed is small, their mouth is also tiny. This may cause the teeth to be misaligned and eventually need to get extracted.
This dog could get renal dysplasia which means the kidney stays at an immature age and can not keep up with the demands of an adult size body.
When looking for a Shih Tzu, make sure you only adopt from breeders that have a good reputation for creating healthy pups.
Adopting A Perfect Shih Tzu
There are many ways to go about finding your perfect Shih Tzu. Whether you are looking for a breeder or exclusively at rescues, there are many ways to find the ideal Shih Tzu—
Where To Find a Shih Tzu
The first resource to check out would be the American Kennel Club Breed Clubs or an American Kennel Club Breed Rescue Group.
Cost of A Pure Bred Shih Tzu
The average cost of a purebred Shih Tzu is $1,200. If you are looking for a specific color of dog, you may have to pay more. If you are looking for a dog to enter into dog shows eventually, the costs will rise even more.
Get Ready To Snuggle Your New Pup
Now that you have the tools to help you understand the best way to approach Shih Tzu pet adoption, it is time to start looking. Once your new dog is welcomed into its forever home, the new pup will quickly get acclimated to its new surroundings. Be prepared to spend lots of time snuggling on the couch with your new puppy.