The average puppy or Shih Tzu puppy?s eyes open between 12 and 15 days of age. The ear canals open soon thereafter, usually within a day or two. All puppies are born with their eyes and ears sealed shut. Do not try to open them. If you force or pry open the puppy?s eyelids during any development stage, you can cause the puppy irreversible injury. Shih Tzu puppies are unable to see or hear before this time. Shih Tzu puppies are receptive to the stimuli of light and dark, nois...

It is not difficult to learn the correct tube feeding procedure. Purchase the tube feeder through your veterinarian, who will be able to equip you with the correct diameter catheter and syringe size for your Shih Tzu. Sterilize both catheter and syringe between early feedings. The syringe will have graduated markings on the side to record accurate intake. You will need a bowl or large measuring cup for warm water, a candy thermometer and a nontoxic indelible pen or dull knife...

If you want to save your orphaned Shih Tzu puppies you must be totally dedicated to them on a 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week basis for the first few weeks of life. Raising orphaned Shih Tzu puppies is the most challenging and taxing task any Shih Tzu breeder could undertake. Success is gratifying. Maintain the Shih Tzu puppies in an incubator environment with a temperature of at least 90 degrees Fahrenheit to start out. Reduce the temperature to 85 degrees after three or four...

If this is your Shih Tzu matron?s first litter she may become nervous or even terrified. Your attitude at this time is very important. The manner in which a Shih Tzu matron accepts or rejects her offspring is often in direct response to your attitude or even the whelping box site. Normal Shih Tzu puppies are plump and firm at birth. They have good muscle and skin tones. The skin on the abdomen, feet and mouth is pink. If Shih Tzu puppies cry continuously or constantly...

Your Shih Tzu matron will keep her whelping box clean the first few weeks. She will stimulate her Shih Tzu puppies to eliminate and ingest their wastes. Newborn Shih Tzu puppies are born incompletely developed. The Shih Tzu matron must stimulate them to urinate and defecate or the puppies become toxic and die. The whelping box still needs to be cleaned and disinfected daily. Use ¾ cup Clorox bleach to one gallon of water. Clorox bleach is highly effective against Parvo vir...

What sets the Shih Tzu apart from other breeds? The Shih Tzu is mysterious and charismatic. Its charm, self confidence and alert countenance is certainly very alluring. The Shih Tzu is highly intelligent. The Shih Tzu?s outgoing personality, big eyes with that warm and trusting expression is so hard to resist. Is a Shih Tzu going to be the right dog for you? First of all, the Shih Tzu want to be with their people more than anything else in their lives. They do not do well ...

While your Shih Tzu is doing her part with the delivery, you can gently but firmly grip the Shih Tzu puppy?s sac with the aid of a towel or diaper. Hold the Shih Tzu puppy in a position of presentation to prevent it from being withdrawn back into the birth canal. Each time your Shih Tzu matron has a contraction the Shih Tzu puppy is closer to birth. You, as a Shih Tzu mid-wife need only to the hold the Shih Tzu puppy to prevent withdrawal and allow Nature to work. Sometime...

The Shih Tzu has long been prized solely as a companion. The Shih Tzu?s temperament is of the utmost importance. It is the Shih Tzu?s unique head and expression that actually distinguishes the breed from two other related Oriental breeds, the Lhasa Apso and the Pekingese. Shih Tzu are alert, arrogant, full of playful antics, and affectionate. Dog show judging is based on how closely each Shih Tzu entered approaches the ideal picture described in the breed standard. Muc...

Several theories exist as to how the Shih Tzu was created. It has been reported that around the year 1650 the Dalai Lama visited China and brought along three ?holy dogs? from Tibet. The Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama was believed to be a reincarnation of Buddha. Tibetan monks were devoted to breeding ?holy dogs? to resemble their perception of lions. Based upon this theory, it is believed the three ?holy dogs? were interbred with Pekingese to create shorter muzzles, broader head...

There is a highly important article presented by a Norweigan Shih Tzu fancier of which the author?s name is not given. It is thought to be almost certain, however, the article was written by Dr. Walter Young, author of Some Canine Breeds of Asia. The article was published in Peiping shortly before the first Peking Kennel Club Show. The articles states: ?at least as common as good Pekingese in Peiping are the Tibetans, the shock-headed long-coated little dogs which came to ...