Are You a Match for a Shih Tzu Washington DC

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To spin off one of the world’s greatest writers: To get a Shih Tzu or not to get a Shih Tzu? That is the question. Don’t take this decision lightly. You’re embarking on a lifetime (at least your dog’s lifetime) commitment, and you want to make sure you, your lifestyle, your family, and your home all are good matches for a Shih Tzu. This section takes a closer look to see if a Shih Tzu is the match for you.

Why a Shih Tzu may be perfect
They’re short. They’re sassy. But are they right for you? A Shih Tzu might be your perfect dog if you

Love to brush dogs: Shih Tzu need a lot of grooming!

Think flat-faced dogs are just too cute: The Shih Tzu doesn’t have a long slender profile. He has an adorable short nose.

Enjoy being worshipped: Your Shih Tzu thinks you’re all that.

Think pampering and cuddling a small dog is fun: Your Shih Tzu needs a lot of one-on-one cuddle time to be happy.

Like to take your dog with you whenever you can: Your Shih Tzu is always ready to hit the road with you.

Work at home or come home frequently during the day: Bred to be a companion dog, the Shih Tzu needs to spend most of her time being a companion, not sitting alone.

Think lying around on the couch makes the perfect weekend: Shih Tzu aren’t athletic dogs. They prefer to hang out and relax.

Can’t stand hot weather: Your Shih Tzu can’t stand it either. In fact, Shih Tzu are prone to heatstroke.

Or why a Shih Tzu may not be your ideal dog
Shih Tzu are cute, but that criterion isn’t all that you should go on. A Shih Tzu probably isn’t the best breed for you if you

Get impatient brushing your own hair: If you don’t like to waste time grooming yourself, you certainly won’t have time to groom a Shih Tzu.

Don’t like the sound of snoring and snuffling: The Shih Tzu’s short nose creates a certain amount of nasal noise.

Prefer an independent dog that isn’t too clingy. Shih Tzu want to spend time with you.

Think that because you have to work, your dog should make himself useful, too: This dog’s job is to be with you. She’s not interested in retrieving or pulling a sled or guarding the house.

Aren’t home very often: Shih Tzu need people, not alone time.

Have several small children: Do you really have time to take care of a Shih Tzu if you have small children? Probably not. Plus, small children can accidentally injure a small dog.

Like to go running, biking, swimming, or spend your weekends training for a marathon and think it would be fun for the dog to come along, too: Unless you want to stick the Shih Tzu in a doggy backpack, you can forget your dreams of a marathon-training buddy.

Love the heat and can see yourself relocating to a tropical island: Your Shih Tzu would prefer a cabin in the mountains. He doesn’t do tropical.

Quick Questions to Ask Yourself
If you read the preceding section, you may think you’ve decided that a Shih Tzu is perfect for you, but wait! You still have a few more topics to consider. Ask yourself the questions in the following sections, and spend some serious time considering your answers.

Why do you want a Shih Tzu?
What about a Shih Tzu really appeals to you? If you want to replace a former Shih Tzu, you already have a good idea about what a Shih Tzu is like, so getting a new Shih Tzu puppy may not seem so scary. On the other hand, all Shih Tzu have their own, unique personalities, and your new puppy won’t be exactly like your beloved former pet. Are you ready to accept your new dog? If you haven’t had a Shih Tzu before but you just love the way they look, that’s a good start. Much of her appeal is in her charming and unique appearance. But you still have to be prepared for the grooming requirements and the attention your Shih Tzu needs. If you know a Shih Tzu but never owned one yourself, then you already know how the adults look and act. Just remember that an adult Shih Tzu is more likely to be calmer and less likely to cause mischief than a feisty little puppy. Your Shih Tzu puppy will take at least a couple of years to grow up, and you need to be patient.

Are you a homebody, a couch potato, or an amateur athlete?
People often love the look of the Shih Tzu but just don’t realize how physically limited this breed is. Shih Tzu simply can’t exercise too long, run very far, or even stay outside for extended periods in hot weather. If you like to be at home, however, your Shih Tzu will be your happy and enthusiastic friend, companion, and armchair buddy. And if you want to watch sports, your Shih Tzu will be more than happy to help you cheer for your favorite team. One exception is the competition Shih Tzu — some people train their dogs to compete in obedience (a highly competitive sport that measures how well a dog can follow commands) or agility (a super-active obstacle course sport), but these dogs are like professional athletes. If you want an exercise buddy, consider a sporting or herding breed instead.

Is your home Shih Tzu-friendly?
You may like the idea of a Shih Tzu, but if you aren’t the only one in your home, you have to consider the environment as a whole. Is your home Shih-Tzu friendly? The following sections help answer this overall question.

Do you have young children?
Your two year old wouldn’t intentionally hurt a flea, but a young child can’t understand that a Shih Tzu isn’t a stuffed animal. If you have very young children, think twice about getting a Shih Tzu. Young children can be too rough on a puppy, and a Shih Tzu may even feel forced to nip or bite to defend herself from a child’s harassment. If a puppy is dropped or fallen on, the puppy can be seriously injured. Even an older Shih Tzu can be injured by a child or may be less patient with a child’s poking and prodding, although older Shih Tzu who’re used to children are a much better bet as a companion to children. Older kids, on the other hand, tend to be great and helpful companions to Shih Tzu — if they’re taught how to handle the dog safely and gently. They can walk, groom, and play with the dog.

Do you have other pets?
Although the friendly Shih Tzu loves to hang with other dogs or cats, some other breeds aren’t so dog-friendly. Some dogaggressive terriers and guardian breeds can attack a Shih Tzu or mistake her for a prey animal. Or, a large dog may injure the Shih Tzu during innocent roughhousing. However, some large dogs do well with small dogs and often defer to their leadership. You must know your big dog very well before taking that risk, and supervision is extremely important. Shih Tzu normally get along with other small dogs, especially other Shih Tzu, as long as the other dog is friendly, too. Even so, the bottom line is your Shih Tzu would rather spend time with you than anyone else. Some Shih Tzu may chase small animals like ferrets, hamsters, rabbits, or birds. Others ignore these animals completely or try to make friends. Be sure your home situation is safe for your new Shih Tzu, as well as for your other pets before bringing a Shih Tzu home.

Do you like to do hair?
This article contains many references to the Shih Tzu’s significant grooming needs, and that’s no accident. You really do need to spend time grooming your dog every day. Even if you cut the dog’s coat short, it continues to grow. You really have to like doing hair (or be able to afford a professional groomer) to appreciate a Shih Tzu as a pet.

Can you afford a Shih Tzu?
A Shih Tzu is such a little dog, but he does incur some big expenses. The average dog owner spends about $6,000 on a dog over the dog’s lifetime (which can be anywhere from 12 to 18 years), including the cost of the dog, food, supplies, and standard veterinary care. If you factor in the Shih Tzu’s longer-than-average life span, the cost of monthly grooming, and any additional vet care your Shih Tzu may need if he ever gets sick, you can go well over that figure. Even an adopted older Shih Tzu can cost a lot in vet care and supplies. Consider the price of your time, too, because your Shih Tzu takes up a lot of it. Can you afford all that? If it simply isn’t in the budget, perhaps you should wait awhile until you’re in a better position to afford a dog. Despite the expense, the emotional, psychological, and physical benefits of having a loving companion dog offset the financial costs of pet ownership. Experts say petting a dog actually lowers your blood pressure, and pet owners are generally healthier and live longer than people without pets. Considering how much you get back, you may realize that your Shih Tzu is worth every penny.

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For Dummies is a registered trademark of Wiley Publishing, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Used here by license.

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