Adult or Puppy Shih Tzu?
There is a little question as to why four out of every five people desiring to purchase a dog begin by looking or a puppy rather than an adult dog. Just one look at a litter of Shih Tzu puppies will tell you why. How can anyone resist wanting one after they see those tiny, clumsy balls of fur frolicking with their littermates in such a carefree manner? A single glimpse can melt the coldest heart.
Indeed, one of the greatest pleasures of owning a Shih Tzu puppy is to watch her grow from small, delicate bundle of energy into a proud, dignified, and intelligent member of the family. This, however, takes a lot of patience, time, and energy. Puppies need constant care. They must be fed more frequently and watched more carefully than adult dogs, and need to be housetrained.
For those who cannot give a puppy all that she needs, choosing an adult would be much more advantageous. By getting an adult dog, you can free yourself from the drudgeries of housetraining chores and rigorous feeding schedules. The adult Shih Tzu would also be a benefit to anyone who does not have enough flexibility in their daily schedule to accommodate a puppy's needs.
An adult Shih Tzu will usually adapt easily to a new owner and environment, and would make an ideal pet for the elderly, or anyone else for whom raising a puppy would be too much work. The greatest drawback to buying an adult Shih Tzu is that it may be difficult to correct any bad habits that she may have previously acquired.
The choice, then, is evenly divided between obtaining an older dog that would doubtless be easier to care for, or getting a puppy and raising her to adapt to one's own lifestyle. If you are looking to obtain a show dog, however, the choice may become one of monetary feasibility.
There is certain amount of luck involved in buying a potential show puppy. While you can check the puppy's lineage, and you can see the conformation of the dam (mother), you cannot be sure that the puppy will grow up with the desired looks and temperament. In fact, the Shih Tzu does not reach full maturity or beauty until the age of almost three years. On the other hand, if you wish to purchase a proven adult show dog, it will cost a significantly greater amount of money.
Male or Female Shih Tzu?
Source: Jaime J. Sucher Shih Tzu - A Complete Pet Owner's Manual
Indeed, one of the greatest pleasures of owning a Shih Tzu puppy is to watch her grow from small, delicate bundle of energy into a proud, dignified, and intelligent member of the family. This, however, takes a lot of patience, time, and energy. Puppies need constant care. They must be fed more frequently and watched more carefully than adult dogs, and need to be housetrained.
For those who cannot give a puppy all that she needs, choosing an adult would be much more advantageous. By getting an adult dog, you can free yourself from the drudgeries of housetraining chores and rigorous feeding schedules. The adult Shih Tzu would also be a benefit to anyone who does not have enough flexibility in their daily schedule to accommodate a puppy's needs.
An adult Shih Tzu will usually adapt easily to a new owner and environment, and would make an ideal pet for the elderly, or anyone else for whom raising a puppy would be too much work. The greatest drawback to buying an adult Shih Tzu is that it may be difficult to correct any bad habits that she may have previously acquired.
The choice, then, is evenly divided between obtaining an older dog that would doubtless be easier to care for, or getting a puppy and raising her to adapt to one's own lifestyle. If you are looking to obtain a show dog, however, the choice may become one of monetary feasibility.
There is certain amount of luck involved in buying a potential show puppy. While you can check the puppy's lineage, and you can see the conformation of the dam (mother), you cannot be sure that the puppy will grow up with the desired looks and temperament. In fact, the Shih Tzu does not reach full maturity or beauty until the age of almost three years. On the other hand, if you wish to purchase a proven adult show dog, it will cost a significantly greater amount of money.
Male or Female Shih Tzu?
Another choice you will have to make when choosing your Shih Tzu is whether to get a male or a female. This is usually an easier choice, for it is more a matter of personal preference. In Shih Tzu, there are only slight differences in the temperaments of males and females. Females are usually more even-tempered except when they are in season, while males may become more irritable from time to time. There is little difference when it comes to training, although females do tend to be slightly friendlier, while males will be more ruggedly independent. These differences are so slight that unless you have raised both sexes simultaneously you might not even notice them.
Where the choice of male and female becomes more important, however, is if you decide that you want to raise puppies. If you are considering starting a kennel, then you would want a female. If you plan to buy a second Shih Tzu and you already have a male, sometimes brining a second male home may lead to fights (although bringing home a female may lead to other obvious problems). If you have a female you can get another female without worries.
If you select a female and have no intention of breeding her, then have her spayed. There is an alarming number of unwanted and homeless dogs in the United States, and every precaution a dog owner can take to prevent unwanted pregnancies should be taken. The spayed female is also less likely to suffer from breast tumors, ovarian cysts, false pregnancies, and other ailments. Likewise, male dogs should be neutered. Neutered males are less likely to develop testicular or prostate cancer.
If you plan on entering a conformation dog show, do not have your dog spayed or neutered because it will be immediately disqualified.
Source: Jaime J. Sucher Shih Tzu - A Complete Pet Owner's Manual
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