Shih Tzu Care & Maintenance Tips - Complete Guide 2024

Written By: Ethan Anderson

Team My Angel Shih Tzu

Being a proud parent of a nationally recognized Shih Tzu dog breed is the most satisfying feeling for a pet owner. The Chinese toy breed is exceptionally glamorous, with long, shiny hair, mohair, and puffy eyes. Moreover, taking Shih Tzu care of the maintenance of beauty becomes tricky. This breed requires daily grooming.

According to estimates, more than 50% of pet parents prefer Shih Tzu dogs, as this toy breed, with its affectionate nature and lovely behavior, is one of the best companions. To care for a Shih Tzu, you need special dental, hair, and body grooming tips, along with pro tools to make your pup healthier and cleaner.

Let’s cuddle your furry fellow by taking proper care of him. For the convenience of furry fellow owners, I have made a complete guide about caring for this toy breed. Let’s check it out!

Basic problems and Importance of Shih Tzu dog care

While this toy breed is unmatched for its shiny hair and beauty, it becomes tough for parents to take care of their beautiful hair daily. Their hair grows frequently or intermingles, causing fungal diseases like skin rash and scabies

Picture Credit: Woofblanket – Yandex

According to an estimate, shih tzu hair grows about one and a half inches every month, and this dog breed hair becomes 10 to 30 inches if it is not cut. Further, their beauty can be increased if toy breed canines are properly healthy and groomed!

It is important to remember that dogs’ hair growth and beauty depend on their diet and genetic factors. Let’s see what problems pad parents face while caring for Shih Tzu dogs.

 Shedding They shed 25% more than other dogs.
 Mating The fundamental problem is the tangling of long hairs.
 Infections Long hairs are the best site for dandruff and fungal or bacterial infections.
 Retarded growth If proper body cleaning of toy breeds is avoided, dental problems and other common diseases will result.

As pet parents, we should follow all the guidelines listed below to enhance beauty and  the healthy life span of our Shih Tzu furry fellow.

Super Grooming tools and techniques for toy breed dogs

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Pet parents have always misunderstood bathing their dogs as cleaning them, but this seems wrong. Daily bathing, trimming, and hair maintenance can improve dogs’ physical and mental health.

By the way, there are special dog groomers or veterinarian centers in the USA and other countries that focus on your dog’s grooming, but their costs are so high that it is difficult for every pet parent to afford them.

So, we have searched for some grooming tools that you can use to maintain your beloved dog’s physique and beauty at home. Let’s read about these tools and tips.

  • Brushes(Bristle or pin brush)
  • Combs(detangling comb)
  • Clippers nail trimmers
  • Scissors
  • Nail trimmer
  • Ear cleaning solution
  • Shampoo
  • Conditioner

Grooming techniques:

Picture Credit: Pupvine – Yandex

Here are some super easy and up-to-date grooming techniques for Shih Tzu that will help pet parents to keep their pal neat and clean.

 Brushing Remove dirt and debris and make hairs tangle-free using a spaced bristle brush and combs.
 Bathing
 Allow your dog to bathe after three days by applying specific shampoo and conditioner. Trim extra hairs from the eyes and ear areas.
 Trimming Use an electric nail clipper or trimmer to cut the nails of the shih tzu.
 Dental care Train your pal to brush teeth regularly to avoid dental loss. Also, use an ear-cleaning solution to clean your ears.

Shih tzu Health Maintenance to avoid infections

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There is no doubt that a pet owner’s most beloved creature is his companion dog, which he likes to cuddle on vacations, during his daily routine, or in his free time. 

  • So, vaccination is essential for your dog’s health maintenance. Try to take your dog to the vet for regular check-ups, and if any vaccine is left, get it done.
  • Also, if you think your dog is showing retarded growth, take care of your dog’s diet or add additional supplements. Health supplements for Shih Tzus meet the deficiency of vitamins, macro and micronutrients, and improve pal health.

Toy breed dogs face many health issues with their growing age, such as dental issues and respiratory tract infections, which are common health problems that can be diagnosed in time to take care of your dog’s health.

Note: If your shih tzu is facing breathing problems & as a pet owner you want a proper cure for this you can check our article on shih tzu breathing problems.

Healthy Nutrition Demands of Shih Tzu

Monitoring your dog’s caloric intake closely is essential to keep his muscles robust, internal immunity strong, and organs working well. I have created a complete Shih Tzu dog care guide for you to follow.

Diet and feeding schedule:

Picture Credit: Evsanvidanjor – Yandex

The Shih Tzu needs 80-140 percent calories according to body weight, so try to fully satisfy this canine’s nutrition demand to boost his body growth.

 Age Food needed Calories
 One year Max 2 oz per day 55 per pound of body weight
 1-9 year Max 3.4 oz per day 140 per pound of body weight
 Above nine years Max. above 3.4 oz per day Above 140 per pound of body weight

Note:

  • Try to feed puppies 3-4 times a day.
  • For dogs of 7 years, always feed. Just give a meal two times a day.
  • For a senior dog, it is better to feed it only once.

Recommended food for Shih Tzu:

Preferred Food:
Shih Tzus shouldn't eat:

Daily Exercise Routine for Shih Tzu

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The most significant disadvantage of toy bread is that they gain weight very quickly, due to which they become prone to obesity, diabetes, and heart problems. A suitable exercise routine for Shih Tzu dogs can prevent these canines from weight gain. Also, set aside a specific time, about 30-60 minutes, to include playtime activities with your dog, such as playing with the ball and crossing different scenarios. Hence, the little fellow enjoys it, and his body excellently circulates blood to boost immunity and reduce anxiety.

Remember, by providing a safe and appropriate exercise space, you will enable your dog to explore the world in a better way that will improve his mental health.

Why Training and Socialization are Essential for Shih Tzu

Picture Credit: Pawrade – Yandex

Try to start training your dog between 8 and 10 weeks because this is when his brain is better at accepting the environment and realizing the best things for him.

  • Follow the Basic Training Methods for Shih Tzu, such as interactions and a positive attitude. Also, Teach your dog to understand basic commands such as sit, stand, stop, run, and no.
  •  Further, socialize your dog so that he can interact well with people, not be bothered by noise, and explore new parks by admitting new people. As a pet parent, read socialization tips and treat your canine to every excellent activity.

 Try to make your dog’s interactions with other pets and humans positive so that he doesn’t become afraid of people and go wild in public!

Ideal Living Environment for Toy Breed Dog

Shih Tzus are amiable and loving dogs that cuddle with humans. So, provide your dog with a safe home setup for optimal development. Ideal living conditions, like a clean, peaceful environment and a neat living space, can extend your dog’s lifespan.

According to research, a tzu dog needs about 12 to 16 hours of sleep so that its muscles can relax properly. Therefore, make your dog’s sleeping arrangements so he can sleep comfortably.

Moreover, if the environment’s temperature increases, the dogs become restless, so you should control the temperature in their living place.

Essential tips for Puppy Care and growth

Picture Credit: Littlehappypaw – Yandex

By the way, these Shih Tzu breed dogs do not grow much in size; they all look puppy-type. But a dog from one to twelve months is called a puppy, and it needs a special diet and more attention.

Meeting a puppy’s unique care needs is essential because its growing existence needs love and the best food. Try to make a Nutrition and exercise chart for puppies and follow it strictly so that the furry fellow does not gain weight and his body can grow better.

Conclusions:

Finally, having a healthy Shih Tzu companion at home will be awesome. After reading the detailed review, I hope you are clear on how to care for a Shih Tzu. Moreover, you can be a great parent by using proper grooming tools, following proper health maintenance tips, and providing a clean environment for your dog. Visit our official website to learn more astonishing facts about the toy breed!

Reviewed By: Jason Reynolds

Team My Angel Shih Tzu

References

Research By: Brian Mitchell

Team My Angel Shih Tzu

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