Shih Tzu Finding the Perfect Shih Tzu

							Title:
Shih Tzu:   Finding the Perfect Shih
Tzu

Word Count:
626

Summary:
The Shih Tzu is a lively, proud and
 very lovable dog as owners will te
stify. The Shih Tzu is one of the m
ost popular dog breeds on earth for
 good reason. In 1994 the Shih Tzu
was the 12th most popular dog breed
, according to the American Kennel
Club.


Keywords:
Shih Tzu puppies for sale, choosing
 a shihtzu puppy, finding a shihtzu
 puppy, akc shihtzu, dogs, shih tzu
 puppies, shihtzu


Article Body:
The Shih Tzu is a lively, proud and
 very lovable dog as owners will te
stify. The Shih Tzu is one of the m
ost popular dog breeds on earth for
 good reason. In 1994 the Shih Tzu
was the 12th most popular dog breed
, according to the American Kennel
Club.

They are generally friendly and sel
f-assured. The Shih Tzu is the kind
 of dog that expects to be treated
like a king, and wants you to know
it. It is for this reason that ofte
n Shih Tzu's are not a good choice
of dog if you have babies or toddle
rs in the house. They can become je
alous easily.

Shih Tzu's make excellent watchdogs
. Their alert and active nature mea
ns they are excellent good mannered
 companions. Poorly bred Shih Tzu's
 can be noisy and snappy.

If you want a Shih Tzu it's best to
 take a few precautions to avoid ha
lf-bred or genetically faulty Shih
Tzu breeds. Rather spend some time
making a good decision than have to
 regret it later. Unethical breedin
g practices are common and you will
 need to be an informed buyer if yo
u are going to choose the best Shih
 Tzu for you.
Choosing a good breeder is very imp
ortant. You don't want to end up bu
ying a puppy from one of the notori
ous puppy mills. Cross bred varieti
es can produce all kinds of health
and behavioral problems. If you wan
t to be certain that you are gettin
g a genuine Shih Tzu it's wise to c
heck the breed standards before buy
ing.

This means careful attention to the
 look and temperament of a Shih Tzu
. Ask your breeder to show you the
parents of the dog before you commi
t to buying the puppy. Check the pa
rents of the puppy carefully for an
y of the faults outlined. This is
just a guideline; it is not an abso
lute standard for pet quality.

If you intend on showing your dog a
t competitions and shows then an ev
en more careful reading of the bree
d standards are important. You will
 also want to choose a more confide
nt puppy - look for the puppy in th
e litter that seems poised and frie
ndly - and of course good looking!

Some general points to look for
Color, age and size are the most im
portant and immediate things you ca
n check. The puppies will tend to
look like their parents however thi
s is not fool proof.

Shih Tzu's do not have gender relat
ed temperament differences and both
  male and female are equally loving
.

Teacup varieties are not officially
 recognized for good reason. People
 who breed these minute dogs do not
 do so improve the breed; ethical b
reeders breed for that reason.   Te
acups, the ones that will be under
three pounds as adults, have many
problems and usually do not live be
yond the Shih Tzu's that weigh a li
ttle more.

Caring for your Shih Tzu

Usually the major grooming has to d
o with care of the coat. If you do
not have time to groom your Shih Tz
u at least every other day then you
 will need to consider another bree
d. Neglect of the Shih Tzu's coat w
ill lead to skin problems as well a
s a host of other horrifying condit
ions, Painful matting, skin infecti
ons and even maggot infestations ca
n occur if you leave the coat for t
oo long.

The Shih Tzu is also prone to renal
 dysplasia (kidney disease) and sli
pped kneecaps. Because of the shape
 of the Shih Tzu's face the eyes ar
e more prone to injury. The short m
uzzle can mean breathing problems.

Spend some time learning about the
Shih Tzu breed before you commit to
 a puppy. They can make a very nic
e pet for your family. Well looked
 after Shih Tzu's can expect to liv
e a long and healthy life, by your
side.