Frequently Asked Questions About Shih Tzu Puppies In India
The cost of a Shih Tzu puppy in India would cost you anywhere between ₹25,000 and ₹1,00,000. Owing to the breed being rare in a country like India, the price of a Shih Tzu puppy is often on the higher end of the spectrum. The cost of the pet would depend on the kind of breed you are looking for. If you want to bring a purebred Shih Tzu home in India, it would cost you more than getting yourself a crossbred puppy. However, always make sure that you get in touch with breeders and pet stores that are genuine and ethical.
The normal weight of an adult Shih Tzu is around 9 to 16 pounds. Shih Tzus are fairly light in weight and compact in size. They often appear taller and heavier than they are due to their long tail that is curved over their backs. If you are willing to maintain the weight of your Shih Tzu puppy and keep them fit, it is advisable to feed them a balanced diet and cater to their medical needs on a regular basis.
Ideally, a Shih Tzu can be considered to be fully grown by the age of 10 months. If you are willing to train your pet, it us always advisable to do so before it reaches its maturity. While a Shih Tzu is younger, it is easier to inculcate specific habits and manners in them. This also helps you make your pet learn innovative tricks. Once a Shih Tzu is 10 months old, it becomes slightly more difficult to provide them with any training.
On a daily basis, it is advisable to feed a Shih Tzu ½ to 1 cup of high-quality dry dog food. Make sure that the food you provide to your pet is spaced out evenly throughout the day to keep them fit and healthy. Some of the food items that are ideal for feeding a Shih Tzu include fish, organs (liver and heart), lamb, blueberries, green beans, sweet peas, sweet potato, and white chicken meat. Make sure you feed them a balanced diet that has sufficient portion of whole protein.
Ideally, it is advisable to feed your Shih Tzu at least three times a day. This allows them to digest the food they eat well and keep themselves energized throughout the day. If they are still young, they may need 4-6 meals a day. This is essentially because the breed is susceptible to hypoglycemia. As they have a fairly fast metabolism rate, it becomes difficult for Shih Tzus to hold an energy reserve for a longer period of time before re-filling their tiny tanks with food at regular intervals!
Yes, Shih Tzus can survive in India, only if you take immense care of them and keep them in healthy surroundings. Originally from Tibet, Shih Tzus are not built to survive extremely hot climates. If you are planning to get a Shih Tzu in India, take extra care of your pet during the summer. Do not take it out for walks when the weather is too hot and keep it in a cool environment. As long as you can keep a Shih Tzu safe during summer, you can definitely get one in India.
Shih Tzus come in a variety of different coat colors, including black and white, brindle, golden, brown, light brown, and a combination of many other colors. You can always reach out to a dog breeder and give them your preferences to bring an ideal Shih Tzu puppy home.
Several different factors play a role in finalizing the price of a Shih Tzu in India. Some of these factors include the reputation of a dog breeder, coat color, age, size, lineage, and location. Each of these factors can influence the price of a Shih Tzu puppy in India.
This is a tricky question to answer! Shih Tzus are very intelligent but equally stubborn. This can make training your pet a little difficult. Things can get easier if you choose to train your Shih Tzu at an early age. Young puppies tend to resist less and form habits more effectively. Also, it is advisable to take a professional trainer’s help in providing obedience and socialization training to your Shih Tzu. Such training helps your pet grow into a well-behaved adult.
The best approach to training a Shih Tzu is positive reinforcement. Give our pet their favorite treat every time it follows a command. Repeat the gesture to condition your pet’s responses to your commands. Do not resort to training approaches like punishment and negative reinforcement as your Shih Tzu may not respond well to them.
There are pros and cons of feeding both wet and dry food to your Shih Tzu. While wet food seems to be a more appealing option for most dogs, it often does not prove to be as beneficial to their teeth as dry food. Dry food, on the other hand, is great for your Shih Tzu’s teeth. It is also good for filling treat-dispensing toys and gives your pet healthier stools. Overall, it is better to feed dry kibble to your Shih Tzu.
Here are some of the most common homemade food items or ingredients you can feed your Shih Tzu:
• Liver
• Heart
• Veal
• Lamb
• Fish
• Sweet peas
• Sweet potato
• Whole yogurt
• Brown rice
• Blueberries
• Raspberries
• Baby carrots
Here are a few food items you should not feed your Shih Tzu along with the reason why they are unhealthy: • Grapes and raisins often lead to critical kidney damage • Chocolate may lead to complications like seizures and coma • Onions can damage your Shih Tzu’s red blood cells • Beverages like tea, coffee, and soda can cause seizures and coma • Large quantities of salt can lead to kidney-related issues • Artificial sweeteners like xylitol can also lead to undesirable health complications Consult a vet if you fed any of these items to your Shih Tzu by accident.
If your Shih Tzu is not eating enough, the first thing you should do is check what you are feeding your pet. Also, make sure the food bowl for your pet is not too high or wide for it to eat. Do not feed it a lot of snacks as they will reduce its appetite. If none of this helps, take your Shih Tzu to a vet for better assessment.
You can bathe your Shih Tzu once every month. However, whenever you do, do not forget to clean its ears to prevent infections.
While Shih Tzus do not have any other behavioral issues, they do bark a lot. It is a common concern raised by several Shih Tzu parents. Their barking can get out of control when the dogs start barking out of the blue. Your Shih Tzu can also bark at strangers or anyone it is not comfortable with.
The best way to control a Shih Tzu’s barking is to provide it with extensive socialization and obedience training while it is young. This will make your pet follow your orders when you ask it to stop barking and make it more social.
While Shih Tzus are wonderful playmates for children, it is not advisable to keep them alone with your kids for too long. Especially if your pet is not trained, make sure the two parties are always under adult supervision. If the interactions are not supervised, one of the two parties can end up hurting the other.
Shih Tzus have long, thick, and elegant coats that require regular grooming. If you have enough time at hand, you can groom your furry friend at home. While brushing its coat every day is a must, it needs regular cleanups and bathes. However, if you want your Shih Tzu’s coat to look impeccable at all times, pay a professional groomer a visit every four to six weeks.
A Shih Tzu may bark at night if it does not exercise enough during the day. A lack of exercise can make your pet feel energetic at night, making them bark uncontrollably.
Shih Tzus make good therapy dogs only for their owners. They may not respond well to strangers unless they are trained extensively for socialization. As far as your mental health is concerned, coming home to an adorable Shih Tzu and cuddling it on the couch can instantly calm you down.
As Shih Tzus were bred to be companion dogs, they suffer from separation anxiety if left alone for too long. With a Shih Tzu at home, make sure you give it the love, time, and attention it deserves.
If your Shih Tzu is suffering from separation anxiety, the first step you should take is to go for a 15–20-minute brisk walk with your pet. Adorn your Shih Tzu with hugs, kisses, and cuddles, making it feel special again!
Shih Tzus have always been around humans and served as lap dogs for more than a thousand years. This tends to make them naturally clingy. You can expect your Shih Tzu to follow you around at all times, yearning for attention.
Shih Tzus make great first pets for people living all over the world. They can be accommodated in smaller apartments and do not throw tantrums if trained early in their lives. Their feeding requirements and behavioral issues are also minimal. You can always start your journey as a pet parent with a Shih Tzu puppy!