Does Your Shih Tzu Eat Its Own Stool?

One of the most unpleasant aspects of Shih Tzu breeding or owning a Shih Tzu is the Shih Tzu who takes to eating its stool. The official name for this practice is “coprophagy.” It is one of the unsolved mysteries in the dog world. However, there are several theories.

Some people say nutritional deficiencies. I can honestly say that since I have been feeding my Shih Tzu HealthyPetNet Life’s Abundance food I have seen a remarkable “decrease” in this activity. I can only assume my problem was being caused by inadequate nutrition. Read on at http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com

Imagine Yourself as a Little Dog

Benny pictured here is available from his litter of 3 girls and him. He is a sweet little guy with beautiful coloring in the category of silver/blue. He will lighten to a bluish beige platinum color. He is an Imperial size Shih Tzu.

Your little dog has just as much intelligence and instincts as the larger 150 pound dogs. Sometimes these little dogs forget they are little. When he growls and snaps at bigger dogs it is most likely he figures that he is safer being the aggressor. Your little dog needs extra encouragement to feel safe. Gentle and happy training methods work best for the little dogs. Positive training methods are essential for the small toy breed dogs.

Read on at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com/

First Aid Treatment for Your Shih Tzu

Be prepared for injuries and accidents for your Shih Tzu. Accidents can and do happen. Sometimes they can be quite serious. Being prepared for emergencies can increase chances of saving the life of your Shih Tzu and/or reducing the severity of the injury.

Every Shih Tzu owner should have a basic first aid kit. Items included in the kit should be:

• Ace bandage
• 1-inch adhesive tape
• Anticoagulant powder
• Topical antibiotic ointment
• Bandage scissors
• Betadine soaked gauze sponges
• A 2-1/2 inch gauze roll
• Gauze sponges
• Hydrogen peroxide solution, 3%
• Spoon splint
• Rectal thermometer

Cuts or lacerations are one of the most common accidents. Even though most likely your Shih Tzu will be kept indoors and carefully guarded, there is always the chance of an unpredictable accident or injury. For cuts or lacerations the most important thing to have on hand is bandage material, cleaning material and anticoagulant powder (the kind of powder you and/or your groomer would use for nails being cut too short).

I keep anticoagulant powder always close at hand when I am grooming my Shih Tzu. No matter how careful I am it seems I always cut a nail too short and it makes me just want to cry and scream to see just the least bit of blood coming from my Shih Tzu nails. I reach for the anticoagulant powder and some q-tips while apologizing for the nick. I dip the q-tip in the anticoagulant powder and apply it to the spot that is bleeding, applying as much pressure as possible for several minutes. This same method will take care of most minor wounds. Larger wounds should be seen by a vet immediately. Even a very small wound, other than a toenail cut too short, should be reported to your vet.

Another problem especially with dogs and the Shih Tzu are bee stings. If this occurs your best bet is to call your vet for his advice. You can give Benadryl, but you will need to call your vet for exact dosage and the go ahead to give this. A good plan may be to ask in advance and have whatever the vet recommends on hand in case of a bee sting emergency. It is reported that most dogs do not have a problem with bee stings, but some may have respiratory difficulty. If your Shih Tzu gets a bee sting, by all means carefully watch him or her for at least 24 hours.

Since the Shih Tzu is considered to be a small breed dog, regardless of the exact pounds, the Shih Tzu may have bouts of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Signs of hypoglycemia are the Shih Tzu will be lethargic and weak. You can rub karo syrup on the gums to quickly give the Shih Tzu an extra boost of glucose. I always keep Nutri-cal on hand to use for this with my Shih Tzu. Multiple episodes of hypoglycemia can be a sign of a more serious problem that should be reported to your vet for proper evaluation.

You should be able to distinguish between choking, gagging and coughing. Coughing may be brought on by strenuous exercise and go away once your Shih Tzu has settled down. Gagging may happen if your Shih Tzu swallows incorrectly and gets food caught in the trachea. If this occurs, a modified Heimlich maneuver can be used. Bend over your Shih Tzu, wrap your hands around its chest and do a quick jerking movement. This technique may be enough to dislodge something caught in the trachea. Choking can be caused by either an obstruction or a defect in the trachea. In the case of choking you should get your Shih Tzu to a vet as soon as possible. You might try to open your Shih Tzu’s mouth and remove the obstruction if this is the cause of the choking. Be aware that you could receive a bite; therefore, this is not highly recommended.

If your Shih Tzu is hit by a car, get him or her on a firm surface. If that is not available, put your Shih Tzu in a blanket. You want to move the Shih Tzu in one piece with a minimal amount of motion. In this case, you need to transport your Shih Tzu to the vet as soon as possible.

Poisonings are a major concern. There are three more common types of poisonings in dogs, they are:

• Anti-freeze
• Rodenticide
• Garbage ingestion

In all cases of poisonings, contact your vet immediately, even if you only suspect a poisoning has occurred. It takes 24 to 72 hours for clinical signs of a poisoning to manifest. In your first aid kit and nearby your phone keep the National Animal Poison Control Center number, which is 1-800-548-2423.

The treatment for heat stroke is to soak your Shih Tzu in cool or lukewarm water. Provide water, but do not force feed water. Take your Shih Tzu’s temperature. Normal temperature is 101 F and 102.5F. Contact your local veterinarian for further instructions and treatment.

In all cases of emergency with your Shih Tzu keep your veterinarian informed. He or she will know best as to how to treat your pet once you have administered emergency first aid treatment.

Author: Connie Limon, Breeder of pet and show prospect Shih Tzu in a variety of colors. Visit us at http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com and sign up for our FREE newsletters. Our website provides a wealth of information. Puppies are sold with health guarantee and are bred from champion bloodlines.

This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.

Shih Tzu Eating Feces: Why?

If your Shih Tzu eats its own feces as well as the feces of its companions do not be alarmed and feel as though you have gotten a Shih Tzu from a breeder that was not reputable or some other cause. Behavioral research now says the idea that it is a dietary deficiency or a pancreatic enzyme deficiency is not even the source. Dogs in general are historically scavengers and this is believed to be a scavenger behavior.

I cannot believe how some people who have purchased Shih Tzu will call me immediately and announce: “that dog eats its feces,” or some other negative sounding remark about the Shih Tzu in particular and often they are also referring to me as the breeder as something “guile” now that they witness “that dog eats its feces.” I am forever amazed at how people do not realize dogs and Shih Tzu are “animals,” and they will all have traits peculiar to what people would do. Of course, no human in their right mind would ever eat feces, although this has occurred in the human race as well.

A human eating feces, however, is very abnormal and is a reason to seek help for that individual as soon as possible. A human that eats feces is definitely mentally disturbed. Dogs are animals. They are not humans regardless of how much people domesticate them, they are still animals and will always carry some of their animal instincts with them wherever they go, and for as long as they live.

It is important for Shih Tzu owners and other dog owners to know this behavior is normal for a mother Shih Tzu or mother dog with puppies. Newborn puppies have to learn to urinate and defecate. They are not born able to eliminate their wastes automatically as human babies are.
Honestly, sometimes I feel like saying if you cannot accept that the Shih Tzu is an animal and accept some of its ways as being normal to this fact, then you need to adopt you a real live baby instead of adopting the Shih Tzu or other dogs and then being angry at the dog or the Shih Tzu or the breeder for that dog’s animalistic behaviors. I have even had people to tell me: “since that dog ate its feces, I have been turned against it,” and I sure don’t want that dog kissing me after knowing it eats feces.” Well, if you are a person such as this, you don’t need to adopt a Shih Tzu or any other kind of a puppy. Stay away from them, and if you must adopt something, adopt a human baby. But, I warn you, there will be problems with that as well.

Not everyone is able to be a Shih Tzu owner or dog owner. For those of us able to bear some of these less tasteful annoyances, hooray for us, because there is so much more to enjoy about the Shih Tzu and being a dog owner than there are those things that are negative.

A mother Shih Tzu licks the bottoms of their newborns. This licking stimulates the newborn to urinate and defecate. The Shih Tzu mother then consumes the newborn puppies’ excrement, which in the dog kingdom and as order of Mother Nature serves two protective purposes which are:

• It keeps the den area clean
• It removes smells that could attract a predator

A lot of Shih Tzu puppies and other breeds of puppies learn the behavior of eating feces from their mother and will stimulate themselves and consume their own feces. A person could go a little further and speculate the puppy is continuing the tradition of its mother to keep itself and its environment clean and to help ward off predators from its immediate environment. In the doggie kingdom, this would be considered “highly intelligent” behavior, rather than something so very awful and disgusting as it is in the world of humans. Most Shih Tzu puppies will eventually stop this behavior.

Adult Shih Tzu can learn this behavior from other adult Shih Tzu. In some cases it may also be an attention-seeking behavior, or due to anxiety or boredom. Animal behaviorist for the most part says though motivation for eating feces is just not known.

I have watched how my own Shih Tzu will follow me around when I am scooping feces, and some of them will try to get the feces up before I can get to it. In this case, I really feel they are playing a game with me, as if to say, I can get those feces before you get it. I can sit and look at the same section of feces, and nobody touches it, until I grab the scoop to get it, then there is a crew right there, ready to pick it up “first.” I call this behavior just plain “comical antics of the Shih Tzu.”

Eating feces is still a problem in that it exposes the Shih Tzu to parasites and diseases. The behavior is easier to prevent than cure. Do not allow the opportunity to arise. Keep the Shih Tzu’s area as clean as possible and dispose of feces promptly. This is probably the best possible solution for the problem.

You should also consult with your vet about other possible solutions to the Shih Tzu eating its own feces, and/or the feces of other dogs.

Author: Connie Limon, breeder of pet and show prospect Shih Tzu in a variety of colors. Website provides a wealth of information. Please visit us at http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com/ and sign up for our newsletters. Puppies are sold with health guarantee and are bred from champion bloodlines. Visit our Shih Tzu Article collection for FREE reprints to your newsletter, website or blog at http://shihtzuarticles.com

This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.

Breeding to the AKC Shih Tzu Standard

Photo: Duke of Stain Glass Shih Tzu


There is more than one area of the Shih Tzu that is considered in terms of “breeding to the AKC Shih Tzu Standard. I have been on Shih Tzu Puppies for sale websites in which they will state: “We breed to the AKC standard.” We do not breed “imperial or teacup” Shih Tzu. Our Shih Tzu weighs 9 to 16 pounds. They do not weigh below the AKC standard of 9 pounds. And they will go on to say: “My goodness, why in this world would anyone want to steer away from the AKC Shih Tzu standard.” If you take a quick look at the pictures of some of the Shih Tzu they are breeding from you will see rather quickly that most of them have excessive eye white (which shows very plainly in the picture). Excessive eye white is not breeding Shih Tzu to the AKC standards. There should be very little if almost no eye white at all showing on a perfect example of an AKC standard Shih Tzu. You might have the right weight there, but if the rest of the standard is missing, “you are not breeding Shih Tzu to the AKC standard.”

If you are truly breeding to the AKC standard you must also produce the Shih Tzu AKC standard in all other areas besides “weight.”

The following is a description of all else you must include in your Shih Tzu breeding program while breeding for the AKC standard:

General Appearance:

• Sturdy
• Lively
• Alert
• Long Flowing Double Coat
• Compact, solid, carrying good weight and substance.

Size:

• Height at withers is 9 to 10 ½ inches, but not less than 8 inches or more than 11 inches.
• Ideal weight of mature dogs 9 to 16 pounds
• Length between withers and root of tail is slightly longer than height at withers.
• Shih Tzu must never be so high stationed as to appear leggy or so low stationed as to appear dumpy or squatty.

Head:

• Round
• Broad
• Wide between eyes
• The size of the head should be in balance with the overall size of dog being neither too large nor too small
• Fault: Narrow head, close-set eyes
• Expression: Warm, sweet, wide-eyes, friendly and trusting.
• Eyes: Large, round, not prominent, place well apart, looking straight ahead. Very Dark. Lighter on liver pigmented dogs and blue pigmented dogs. Fault: Small, close-set or light eyes, excessive eye white.
• Ears: Large, set slightly below crown of skull; heavily coated.
• Skull: Domed. Stop – There is a definite stop.
• Muzzle – Square, short, unwrinkled, with good cushioning, set no lower than bottom eye rim, never down turned. Ideally no longer than 1 inch from tip of nose to stop, although length may vary slightly in relation to overall size of dog. Front of muzzle should be flat, lower lip and chin not protruding and definitely never receding. Fault: Snippiness, lack of definite stop.
• Nose: Nostrils are broad, wide and open. Pigmentation: Nose, lips, eye rims are black on all colors, except liver on liver pigmented dogs and blue on blue pigmented dogs. Fault: Pink on nose, lips or eye rims.
• Bite: Undershot. Jaw is broad and wide. A missing tooth or slightly misaligned teeth should not be too severely penalized. Teeth and tongue should not show when mouth is closed. Fault: Overshot bite.
• Neck, topline, body: Of utmost important is an overall well-balanced dog with no exaggerated features.
• Neck: Well set-on flowing smoothly into shoulders; of sufficient length to permit natural high head carriage and in balance with height and length of dog.
• Topline: Level.
• Body: Short-coupled and sturdy with no waist or tuck-up. The Shih Tzu is slight longer than tall. Fault: Legginess.
• Chest: Broad and deep with good spring-of-rib, however, not barrel-chested. Depth of ribcage should extend to just below elbow. Distance from elbow to withers is a littler greater than from elbow to ground.
• Croup: Flat
• Tail: Set on high, heavily plumed, carried in curve well over back. Too loose, too tight, too flat, or too low set a tail is undesirable and should be penalized to extent of deviation.
• Forequarters: Shoulders: Well-angulated, well laid-back, well laid-in, fitting smoothly into body.
• Legs: Straight, well boned, muscular, set well-apart and under chest, with elbows set close to body.
• Pasterns: Strong, perpendicular.
• Dewclaws: May be removed.
• Feet: Firm, well-added, point straight ahead.
• Hindquarters: Angulation of hindquarters should be in balance with forequarters.
• Legs: Well-boned, muscular and straight when viewed from rear with well-bent stifles, not close set but in line with forequarters.
• Hocks: Well let down, perpendicular. Fault: Hyperextension of hocks.
• Dewclaws: May be removed.
• Feet: Firm, well-padded, pointed straight head.
• Coat: Luxurious, double-coated, dense, long, and flowing, slight wave permissible. Hair on top of head is tied up. Fault: Sparse coat, single coat, curly coat.
• Trimming: Feet, bottom of coat, and anus may be done for neatness and to facilitate movement. Fault: Excessive trimming.
• Color and Markings: All are permissible and to be considered equally.
• Gait: The Shih Tzu moves straight and must be shown at its own natural speed. Smooth, flowing, effortless movement with good front reach and equally strong rear drive, level topline, naturally high head carriage, and tail carried in gentle curve over back.
• Temperament: Outgoing, happy, affectionate, friendly and trusting towards all.

Next time you run upon a Shih Tzu salesperson or Shih Tzu website who tells you they are breeding to the AKC standard, because they have Shih Tzu who are not Teacups or Imperials and who are 9 to 16 pounds, check to see if all the above is true also. If it is, then you can conclude they are breeding Shih Tzu to the AKC standard.

If you find deviation from the above then you can conclude that Shih Tzu salesperson or website is not breeding to the AKC standard regardless of their “size of Shih Tzu being 9 to 16 pounds.” People who breed to the AKC standard means they are producing Shih Tzu with all the above attributes, not just the right weight.

Sources: American Kennel Club Shih Tzu Breed Standard

Author: Connie Limon. Visit us at http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com and sign up for our helpful newsletters. I raise Shih Tzu puppies in a variety of colors at reasonable prices for pet or show prospect. Puppies are sold with a health guarantee.

This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.


.

Pancreatitis in the Shih Tzu

Pancreatitis in the Shih Tzu
by Connie Limon (Email: connielimon@yahoo.com)

It is very important to feed your Shih Tzu a well-balanced diet of pet food and not table scraps. Pancreatitis is a severe inflammation of the pancreas that can result from feeding your Shih Tzu table scraps.

A Shih Tzu with pancreatitis may suddenly vomit, become dehydrated, be lethargic and have diarrhea. These symptoms are common to a lot of different canine diseases; therefore, the diagnosis of pancreatitis is very difficult for a vet to make. He will depend a lot upon a good history from the Shih Tzu owner.

Please read on at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com
http://shihtzuarticles.com

Basics of a Shih Tzu Dog Show

Basics of a Shih Tzu Dog Show
by Connie Limon (Email: connielimon@yahoo.com)

Photo: Olive Oil, Teacup Shih Tzu, of Stain Glass Shih Tzu. Olive was born to our Danny Boy and Gidget. She is soooo adorable. She will turn to a solid silver with black mask and some white accents. She is mine!

If you have never gone to a Shih Tzu or any breed dog show you might wonder exactly what the judge will be doing.

The judge will look into the mouth of the Shih Tzu or other dog breed to check for the correct number of teeth and the bite. I mean after all, do you ever see a winning Miss America with no front teeth? The same holds true for Shih Tzu and other dog breeds in the show ring. Missing teeth is a disqualification in many of the breeds.

He will also check a male to be sure he has two testicles. A missing testicle is a disqualification.

During this inspection the judge will feel various parts of the Shih Tzu or other breed of dog, searching out the angles of the shoulders and hips, the head and ribs. This is especially true with the heavily-coated breeds like the Shih Tzu. You can't tell exactly what the structure of a heavily-coated Shih Tzu is without hands-on examinations. Some of the smaller breeds are examined on a raised table. If you see a handler lift the Shih Tzu or other dog breed from the table to the ground with one hand under the chin and the other hand using the tail, they do this to avoid messing up the Shih Tzu's hairstyle. It is not uncomfortable for the dog at all.

The hands-on examination tells the judge a lot about the Shih Tzu or other dog breed, however, seeing the Shih Tzu move tells him even more. This is called "gaiting." The judge will determine how the Shih Tzu move around the ring, whether it be all together or one at a time, up and down or around and around. There are a lot of variations in how the judge performs the gaiting. The judge wants to see the Shih Tzu move from the rear, from the front and from the side. The judge has an experienced eye and seeing different views of the Shih Tzu in motion reveals different things.

In the AKC and UKC rings, all Shih Tzu or dog breeds are shown at a trot. In England and some other countries dogs and the Shih Tzu are often walked around the ring. There are many different handler "styles" when gaiting a Shih Tzu show dog.

After examining and moving all the Shih Tzu, the judge might just point to the winners, or he might place the winning Shih Tzu at the front of the line and have them all go around the ring one more time before pointing to the winning Shih Tzu.

How does the judge make a decision? He considers how closely each Shih Tzu comes to its own breed standard. There are many, many aspects to the Shih Tzu breed standard in which the Shih Tzu must pass in order to win in the show ring.

When you first start going to shows try to consider them as an exploration of new activities. Think more about how you feel about the sport in general. Notate the sport's good and bad aspects and not so much about your hopes to win once you get into the ring. The absolute best part about Shih Tzu dog shows is doing something with your Shih Tzu.

Author: Connie Limon. Visit us at http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com and sign up for our newsletters. I raise Shih Tzu puppies for pets or show prospects. Puppies are sold with a health guarantee.

This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.

Breeding to the AKC Shih Tzu Standard

There is more than one area of the Shih Tzu that is considered in terms of "breeding to the AKC Shih Tzu Standard. I have been on Shih Tzu Puppies for sale websites in which they will state: "We breed to the AKC standard." We do not breed "imperial or teacup" Shih Tzu. Our Shih Tzu weighs 9 to 16 pounds. They do not weigh below the AKC standard of 9 pounds. And they will go on to say: "My goodness, why in this world would anyone want to steer away from the AKC Shih Tzu standard." If you take a quick look at the pictures of some of the Shih Tzu they are breeding from you will see rather quickly that most of them have excessive eye white (which shows very plainly in the picture). Excessive eye white is not breeding Shih Tzu to the AKC standards. There should be very little if almost no eye white at all showing on a perfect example of an AKC standard Shih Tzu. You might have the right weight there, but if the rest of the standard is missing, "you are not breeding Shih Tzu to the AKC standard."

Read on at: Stain Glass Shih Tzu

Tips on How to Become a Successful Shih Tzu Show Dog Breeder

If you decide to enter the show ring with your Shih Tzu one of the greatest benefits will mostly likely be an enhanced appreciation for the sheer beauty of the Shih Tzu. Just think about it, even if you only own one Shih Tzu yourself, at the shows you will see dozens and hundreds of Shih Tzu. Most of these Shih Tzu will be in prime health and perfectly groomed. By observing, and asking questions when the opportunity arises, you will begin to see some of the differences in the Shih Tzu that you may not have noticed without going to the shows. You may be surprised at how much you learn about the Shih Tzu and maybe even your own Shih Tzu during these events.

Shih Tzu showing should also teach you some facts about yourself. You might think you will be a nervous wreck on stage in front of all those people, but then find yourself not at all that nervous, but full of pride and poise that your Shih Tzu shares in some of the qualities of the other Shih Tzu. Or you might feel like you will never lose it at a Shih Tzu dog show no matter what happens, and then the first time, someone else says a slightly less than kind remark about your very own beloved Shih Tzu, that you just fall to pieces and tear out in a rage at that person

Read on at: Stain Glass Shih Tzu

The Shih Tzu Belongs to the Toy Group

Photo: Ginger of Stain Glass Shih Tzu


How did our different dog breeds come into existence? People created each breed by choosing dogs with the desired qualities and breeding them to each other. People designed some dogs to hunt, others to herd, some to guard and some for companions. Our Shih Tzu is in the companion group of dog breeds.





According to the American Kennel Club a breed is defined as: "A relatively homogeneous group of animals within a species developed and maintained by man."

The Biggest Event in the Dog Kingdom

Photo: Ginger of Stain Glass Shih Tzu (Just look at that face, looks almost human.....


What is the biggest event in the dog kingdom? A dog show is the answer to this question. It is also called the "breed ring" or "the fancy." Thousands of dog shows takes place in the United States every year. Thousands of Shih Tzu are entered into these dog shows. There are only a few countries in this world that are not involved in the dog show sport. So you can imagine just how many dogs and owners are traveling to a show on any given weekend. The number has to got be absolutely astronomical!





Just what is the reason for all these people/dogs/Shih Tzu teams to leave their warm and snug homes to go to a dog show that might be held in rain, sleet or snow? Well, if you think about it, why do people go to baseball games, and basketball games and foot ball games? Probably very much the same reason people travel far and near through all kinds of weather to a dog/Shih Tzu show. There has to be more in it than just a tiny piece of silk ribbon or a trophy. And there is more to it for those who enjoy this type of sport. Many people just love the breathtaking beauty of the Shih Tzu show dogs. Others enjoy the adrenal surge when they step out into the ring for a chance to prove their Shih Tzu is the very best Shih Tzu. A person has to have a competitive side to their personality to be a part of the Shih Tzu Show Dog World.

Read on at: Stain Glass Shih Tzu