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The Good and Bad Points of Owning a Shih Tzu as a Pet
The Shih Tzu is among the most popular of dogs and ranks quite high in ownership according to the American Kennel Club. Even though it is highly ranked as dogs adopted or purchased each year, there are some pluses and minuses to owning this particular breed of dog as a pet. Below you will find some of the more important reasons for and against owning one these lovable little pets.
Pros:
A Shih Tzu is a highly outgoing and friendly pet with everyone they come into contact with. They will almost turn themselves inside out when attention is paid to them. This particular breed is also very loyal to their owners and loves to please them. They are going to get along with nearly every type of animal that it comes into contact with as well.
One very good trait this breed of dog possesses is that they don’t bark as much as some of the other breeds of toy dogs. Most other toy types of dogs will bark at everything and everyone while the Shih Tzu normally only barks when needing attention or when attention is paid to it.
Another plus for a pet Shih Tzu is that they will require little exercise. This makes them an especially good pet for someone that isn’t very active. If you are someone looking for a companion dog and have little space in your home or apartment, this would be a good breed of dog for you. Aside from walking the dog on a daily basis, the dog has little interest in participating in other activities. This does not mean that they do not enjoy a good ball game every now and then but that they simply do not require much more than that.
Because they aren’t as active as other dogs, they will eat less and along with the fact they are generally hardy little guys, means they usually cost less than other dogs to maintain.
Cons:
A Shih Tzu is going to crave attention from you and can become quite jealous of other individuals and pets. This can become a problem over time and therefore is more enjoyed as a companion for someone who is single or who lives on their own. If you introduce a puppy to your family at a young age, you will likely have less problems than if you wanted to acquire one at an age of 5 years or older.
If you have children and have an older Shih Tzu, at times this pet can be snappy towards them. This is especially true when they want to play with them and your pet doesn’t want to be bothered or the kids play too rough with them. This can be a problem and may be one of the reasons that many older persons that don’t have children around very much choose them as the ideal pet.
Another thing you want to consider is that you will require constant grooming of the Shih Tzu. You will find that if the dog is not brushed daily and groomed weekly, your pet’s coat can become tangled and knotted. Many owners have their pets coats trimmed so they are easier to care for.
Some of the medical problems with Shih Tzus are that they may develop ear infections and eye problems and can have early tooth loss. They do tend to wheeze and snore and may develop respiratory problems. These dogs should not be overfed as they gain weight easily.
Even though there are several cons to owning these adorable little dogs I believe the pros outweigh them by far. Even though they aren’t the ideal older pet for a young family this can usually be overcome by getting a puppy and then teaching the children how to treat the pet and at the same time teach the dog how to interact with its humans. Ask a Shih Tzu owner about their pet and you will probably get rave reviews and many reasons why you should get one.
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