Connie Limon asked:


House training a Shih Tzu puppy is one of the first, and one of the most important things, that any new Shih Tzu puppy owner must do. It is easy to get frustrated if you do not understand the basics of this important process, so we have put together a few tips to make the process of house training your Shih Tzu puppy a little easier.
It is vital to establish good toilet and hygiene habits in the Shih Tzu puppy when he is young, since the patterns that are established in those first few months can last a lifetime. When you consider that house training issues are the number one reason why dogs are surrendered to animal shelters, it is easy to see why house training is so extremely important.
In most cases, a Shih Tzu puppy will not be completely house trained until he or she is six months of age. That is because Shih Tzu puppies younger than six months often lack the bowel and bladder control that they need in order to be reliably left alone in the home all day.
Shih Tzu puppies younger than six months should be confined to a single, small Shih Tzu puppy proofed room any time the owner is not available to supervise the animal. The entire floor of the room should be covered in newspaper or other similarly absorbent and cheap material. At first the Shih Tzu puppy will go everywhere and anywhere in the room. As the Shih Tzu puppy gets older and begins to display better bladder and bowel control, the amount of paper used is slowly reduced, until the puppy goes only on the established “toilet” papers. This toilet area will form the basis of later house training.
House training the Shih Tzu puppy – what to do:
Provide the Shih Tzu puppy with constant, unrestricted access to the toilet area that has been established.
Take the Shih Tzu puppy to the toilet area every 45 minutes when you are at home.
When you are away from home, or when you cannot supervise the Shih Tzu puppy, it is important to confine the Shih Tzu puppy to a small area that has been puppy proofed and covered with newspaper.
It is important to be sure that the toilet area does not resemble anything in the home, such as carpet or hardwood floor. Once the Shih Tzu puppy is used to eliminating on a particular surface, such as grass or blacktop, he will want to eliminate on that time of surface.
Always provide lots of praise when the Shih Tzu puppy does its business in the established toilet area. The Shih Tzu puppy needs to learn to associate eliminating in the established area with positive things like treats, toys and praise from you.
It is important to keep a set schedule when feeding the Shih Tzu puppy, and to provide ready access to fresh, clean drinking water at all times. Providing a consistent schedule for feeding will help you learn to anticipate your puppy’s toilet needs.
Using a crate can help the Shih Tzu puppy to develop much needed self control. Shih Tzu are naturally very clean animals, and they will try their best not to soil their bed area.
And finally, it is vital to employ patience during the house training process. House training can take as long as several months, but it is much easier to house train right the first time than to retrain a problem Shih Tzu.
House training the Shih Tzu puppy – what to avoid
Do not punish or reprimand the Shih Tzu puppy if it makes a mistake. The Shih Tzu puppy will not understand the reason for the punishment, and he may become nervous and agitated. This could set the training back even further.
Do not give the Shih Tzu puppy constant access to food. Keep the Shih Tzu puppy to a set feeding schedule instead of leaving food out all the time.
The Shih Tzu puppy should not be given the run of the house until he has been thoroughly house trained.
House training a new Shih Tzu puppy is not always easy, but it is important to persevere. By exercising patience, and rewarding your Shih Tzu with lavish praise every time he does the right thing, you will have your Shih Tzu puppy house trained in no time at all.

Dog Lovers Mega Pack

Hidden24 asked:


I am getting a show American Bulldog pup, and he is registered by the NKC. What can I do to get involved in dog shows? Please ANY info would be great. Two main states are Maryland and Indiana.

Dog Lovers Mega Pack

Dianna asked:


I noticed about two days ago that my five year-old Yorkshire Terrier had a slightly different walk/gait. He also has been holding his right front leg up on occasion and sometimes seems to place it out further, more to the side, when he is standing. He has not yelped, I see no swelling. I’ve felt his legs up and down and compared and cannot find any differences. He doesn’t act like he’s in pain at all. He is jumping, running, playing, eating… as usual. I’ve just noticed the small difference in his stance and his gait. So, I’m not sure if I should wait a few more days… or if I should take him to the vet. now? I know a vet. visit will be a couple hundred at least, because of the cost of just taking him, probably x-rays and at the minimum an anti-inflammatory; more if he would have a hairline fracture or something more serious. Just not sure if I should wait a few more days because he’s had no change in his behavior… opinions? Similar situations? Maybe a bruise? Sprain?
Everyone that I know personally is telling me to wait it out and not take him unless it worsens. I tend to overreact and I’ve spent quite a bit of money just having a vet. tell me to ‘bring him back in a week if he’s still doing it.’ And I’ve never had to bring him back. So, I do know how fragile he is; although he’s not a teacup. He’s a 10-pounder (no, not overweight… yes, AKC registered, just a big boy), but he is still very small. I just, worry a lot. He jumped down onto the hard porch a few nights ago and I kind of wonder if he stubbed it then? He has little landing pads of pillows all over the house, but he got excited over a dog passing by the house and jumped onto the porch, no yelp and no sign of distress then. Just, looking for some similar situations… what you did, what happened, etc. Thanks so much!
It’s not his rear legs, which is where they usually have the luxating patellas. He had to have a femoral osteotomy so his femur could fit into his hip as a pup and is on meds. to keep arthritis at bay. His back legs are checked frequently, two to three times a year. It’s his front little right leg this time. He has piles of pillows all throughout the house because I can’t monitor all his jumping and he’s very active; so I just try to cushion as much as I can and let him be a playful pup. Thanks though. I’m planning on a vet. appt. tomorrow (Friday) if I can get in, or on Monday.
Last update! Took him to a groomer/country animal vet. Pulled nail! Nothing broken, nothing fracture. Didn’t think to pull on each of his nails individually; pulled on the hurt/pulled one and he let us know it hurt! He’s got numbing/anti-inflam. ointment and is already showing a good difference in the way he’s walking. We have berber carpets and was told they are prone to get curved paws hung in it. (His nails are cut regularly, just had them cut two weeks ago).

Start a Doggie Daycare

John Burns asked:


Deciding to buy a puppy should be a careful, well-thought out decision. A dog can be the most rewarding of pets, but also one of the most demanding. Before you buy a puppy, please think first. Is there really time for a dog in your life, and can you give a commitment that might for 12 years, possibly more?

Do you have the time to provide the exercise and training that a dog requires throughout its life, provide a safe and secure home and afford a suitable and nutritious diet that will ensure the very best of health?

You should also take into consideration your health and age. Do you want an active or sedentary animal? Some dogs require almost constant attention, lots of exercise and stimulation. Others are more laid back; therefore you need to research which dog will suit you and your family’s lifestyle. For instance if you live in a flat and have limited free time, a Border Collie or Springer Spaniel would not be such a good idea, and would probably lead to behavioural difficulties, not only for the dog!

You will naturally want a puppy with a good temperament who will adapt happily to life as part of the family. Buying a puppy that has been home reared; exposed to everyday sights, sounds and smells should help the transition from life with Mum and litter mates to a new home and environment.

If you’re buying from a breeder make sure that they will let you come and see the puppies with their Mum and will answers all of your questions. Never ever let anyone bring the puppy out to you – you really do need to see the puppy and Mum together. If the person selling you the puppy tells you that this is not possible then just walk away.

This might seem like common sense, but the sad fact is that too many people are persuaded to buy a puppy at under 4 weeks of age, maybe without even seeing the mother. Then there are tales of woe from new owners who bought from a pet shop or puppy farm where the pup had been exposed to illness, fear or stress, and then wonder why they are experiencing health or behaviour problems later.

There are arguments as to the best time to separate a puppy from its mother.

The optimum time for socialisation is between 6 – 8 weeks when the puppy’s instinct to make friends with strangers overcomes its natural wariness, and this is generally considered the ideal time period for removing a puppy from its litter mates and mother.

For a puppy, being taken away from its mother and placed into a strange environment where nothing is familiar can be a frightening experience. Spend the first few days welcoming the puppy into your family, giving it lots of attention and mental stimulation and showing it the basics of what’s right and what’s wrong, where it can eat, sleep and go to the toilet.

Create a positive experience at all times. The escape and fear response has not fully developed in the first 12 weeks of development and so things out there in the ‘big wide world’ will not be so scary. Puppies do need to get used to the various stimuli that they will encounter in everyday life as early as possible. These include car rides, household and other strange noises, other animals, water and traffic.

Puppies go through many changes in the first 12 months of their lives and most of their learning and behavioural patterns are learnt in this time. Teach the puppy to socialise with humans and other dogs as soon as possible. A puppy has a short attention span so all training sessions should be frequent but brief. Simple obedience and the discouragement of unwanted behaviour will help to show you are ‘worthy’ of the puppy’s respect. Praise is important!

The earlier the training the better, even if it’s just the basics.

Vaccination is important to prevent your dog from becoming ill from infectious diseases. It stimulates the body’s own defence system to produce protective antibodies in the blood. The micro-organisms that cause disease can be widespread in certain areas of the U.K and unvaccinated dogs are at risk from a range of life-threatening diseases such as canine distemper, parvovirus, leptospirosis, infectious canine hepatitis and kennel cough.

A course of vaccinations will be needed for your puppy. These are usually given at around 9 and 12 weeks of age.

Worming is also important. It is possible that your puppy already has worms, which have been passed from its mother, and worming should be done every month until the puppy is 6 months old and then every 3-6 months.

It is important to choose the correct diet for your pup. Rapid growth can cause health problems in later life, so it’s best to feed a high quality, low protein and low fat food, such as BURNS Mini Bites, to enable your puppy to grow strong but steady. Avoid the temptation to fill the puppy with treats and sweets on top of his daily allowance, and if you do then take what ever treats are given out of the total food given in the day. Always provide a ready supply of fresh drinking water.

Puppies need lots of time, care and patience. Follow these guidelines and your efforts will be positively rewarded.

Sit Stay Fetch, good Dog!

Courtney S asked:


I have a German Shepherd pup(who by the way does great in her crate now, thanks to all that helped), and I was wondering if the notorious GSD stance could be taught or is it something that just comes naturally to them? I see pictures of pups that are weeks old already doing that stance. How can I have my pup stand like that sometimes?
If they are taught, how can I teach mine?

Dog Lovers Mega Pack

meandean asked:


i got myself a cairn terrier on the weekend its a 15 week old bitch. shes a lovely little dog .but what i need to ask is is there anyone have any hints tips or proven remedys for training your pup to go to the toilet outside. tried a few things but she is doing it inside a lot any answers welcome thank you.

Start a Doggie Daycare

Dogluvr456 asked:


I do not want commercial dog food like Beneful or anything like that. She is a cream longhair dachshund pup.

Dog Lovers Mega Pack