If you analyze the “Right vs. Wrong” post about the breed, you might think your Shih Tzu isn’t a real Shih Tzu. For example:
“I think my Shih Tzu isn’t a Shih Tzu because the post says it needs to be a certain height and weight… and there you go, the person starts getting paranoid. It’s not like that, folks. Many details exist, but you should see it as a parameter…”
What you need to know before buying a Shih Tzu
The idea is to get a Shih Tzu puppy that is over 90 days old (even though most breeders want to deliver them earlier to avoid giving more than one vaccine because of the cost or for some other reason). Okay, and if you don’t take it, someone else will. And the breeder knows they must give at least 2 doses before delivery.
The vaccines are in 3 doses: the 1st at 30 or 45 days, the 2nd 21 days after the 1st, and the 3rd another 21 days after the 2nd, simple as that. And then annually. Deworming is given from infancy, every month until 6 months, and then every 3 months.
About the teeth: All baby teeth should fall out by 6 or 7 months of age, and yes, some may be crooked, crowded, or not fall out at all (in which case they can be removed). If they stick out a bit or appear with the mouth closed, it’s not a problem; they don’t stop being pure because of that. And yes, their lower jaw is more forward than the upper one (prognathic), and if it’s the other way around, it may fix itself over time or not (retrognathic).
Eyes: They can be light (green) in the case of liver Shih Tzus and chocolate (those with a brown nose and truffle). For other colors, the eyes are black.
The Nose: They have a flat nose, some more than others. It’s not because it’s not super flat that it’s not a Shih Tzu, okay? Of course, if it has a nose like a Lhasa Apso, it’s a Lhasa Apso, not a Shih Tzu. It all depends on the proportion.
Weight: They are indeed heavy, with large bones and developed muscles, so don’t be surprised if your 60-day-old puppy weighs 2kg. And, of course, there are Shih Tzus that weigh less, but it depends on their structure. They could be from small (light) parents or grandparents because that’s genetic, excluding micro ones (Shih Tzus born from siblings, which is wrong). These are very small and sometimes “quirky” and usually sick.
Temperament: They are calm, don’t bark much, and sleep most of the time, BUT not puppies. They don’t bark but cry, and the earlier you bring them home, the worse because they cry, not while you’re home but when you leave (most of them). And they also chew… slippers, shoes, wires, chair legs, your feet, carry socks around the house, anything they can grab and run with…haha. Around 4 months, they stop crying (but continue chewing until around 6 months).
Feeding: I used to leave food for puppies, especially if you’re away for a long time. Always leave water and food. If you’re home, you can control it. They can eat fruits: banana, papaya, apple, melon… those are the ones I recommend. And snacks in moderation.
About Neutering: I recommend neutering, especially for females because of the common breast cancer; ideally, neutering before 6 months (before the first heat). For males, I recommend it because of territory marking, but if he lives alone, it’s very difficult to mark (no reason).
Where to buy a Shih Tzu puppy: If you buy from a breeder, they must deliver the pedigree or at least the protocol. The breeder must be a member of the kennel club in the city they reside in. If you buy from an individual, the pedigree depends on the person; the Shih Tzu may not have a pedigree and still be pure. The person may have bought the Shih Tzu from a breeder knowing it had a pedigree but didn’t care or forgot to ask and bought it without one, and the Shih Tzu is pure (this can happen).
I don’t recommend buying from a pet shop because they buy for a very low price (usually from a backyard breeder), for example, 400.00, and sell it for 2,000.00, promising a pedigree to justify the price, and you don’t get the pedigree because the breeder who sold to the pet shop is a backyard breeder and doesn’t have a pedigree. Because such breeders are not members of any kennel club, they breed to survive and not to improve the breed. Selling puppies in pet shops is not good; puppies stay there all day, sleep there, locked in a glass box. Please boycott this. And demand a purchase and sale contract (an additional guarantee).