The Ultimate Guide for New Shih Tzu Owners - Copyrighted © 2014 – Furry Joy 2 Table of Contents About the Authors ....................................17 Introduction .............................................18 Legal and Copyright Notice ......................19 1. HISTORY and BREEDING ......................20 The Royal Palace Dog .........................20 Foundation of the Gene Pool ...............22 Kennel Club Recognition .....................23 Temperament ...................................................................................... 25 Regal Appearance .............................................................................. 26 Amazing Colors and Qualities ....................................................... 27 Is the Shih Tzu Right For You? ....................................................... 28 Noble Breeding ...................................29 Showy Dogs ....................................................................................... 33 Loving Companionship .................................................................... 33 Locating a Reputable Breeder ......................................................... 34 American Shih Tzu Club .................................................................. 35 ASTC Code of Ethics ......................................................................... 35 Ask the Right Questions .....................37 Medical Questions ............................................................................ 37 The Ultimate Guide for New Shih Tzu Owners - Copyrighted © 2014 – Furry Joy 3 Temperament Questions .................................................................. 37 Guarantee Questions ........................................................................ 38 Return Policy Questions .................................................................. 38 Testimonial Questions ..................................................................... 38 Breeder Reputation ........................................................................... 39 Meeting the Parents .......................................................................... 40 Choosing the Right Shih Tzu ........................................................... 41 Pet Store Problems .............................42 Pregnancy for Profit ......................................................................... 43 Rescuing a Shih Tzu ............................44 Shelters ............................................................................................................... 45 Online Resources............................................................................................... 45 Canine Clubs ...................................................................................................... 45 Rescue Check List ............................................................................................. 45 Shih Tzu Vital Statistics ......................46 Country of Origin .............................................................................. 46 Height and Weight ............................................................................ 46 Temperature & Heart Rate .............................................................. 46 Litter Size ........................................................................................... 47 Lifespan .............................................................................................. 47 Smarter Than You Think .................................................................. 47 2. HEALTH and CARE Guide ......................49 The Ultimate Guide for New Shih Tzu Owners - Copyrighted © 2014 – Furry Joy 4 Common Concerns ..............................49 Allergies .............................................................................................. 49 Environmental Allergies .................................................................................. 49 Junk Food Allergies ........................................................................................... 50 Breathing Problems .......................................................................... 51 Eye Problems ..................................................................................... 52 Infections ............................................................................................................ 52 Corneal Ulcers ................................................................................................... 52 Cataracts ............................................................................................................ 53 Entropion............................................................................................................ 53 Epiphoria ............................................................................................................ 53 Protective Eyewear ........................................................................... 53 Back Problems ................................................................................... 55 Teeth Problems .................................................................................. 55 Ear Problems ...................................................................................... 55 Hereditary Concerns ...........................55 Epilepsy .............................................................................................. 56 Hip Dysplasia .................................................................................... 56 Hypoglycemia .................................................................................... 57 Hypothyroidism ................................................................................ 57 Patellar Luxation .............................................................................. 58 Portosystemic Shunt ........................................................................ 58 Stenotic Nares .................................................................................... 60 The Ultimate Guide for New Shih Tzu Owners - Copyrighted © 2014 – Furry Joy 5 Tracheal Collapse.............................................................................. 61 Von Willebrand Disease ................................................................... 61 Medical Care .......................................62 Choosing a Veterinarian .................................................................. 62 Health Emergencies ........................................................................... 64 Poison ................................................................................................................. 64 Seizures ............................................................................................................... 64 How to Recognize a Seizure ............................................................................ 66 Snip Snip - Ouch! .............................................................................. 66 What is Neutering? ........................................................................................... 66 Neutering Males ................................................................................................ 67 What is Spaying? .............................................................................................. 67 Spaying Females ................................................................................................ 68 Effects on Aggression........................................................................................ 68 Effects on General Temperament .................................................................... 68 Effects on Escape and Roaming ...................................................................... 69 Effects on Problem Marking ............................................................................ 69 Possible Weight Gain ....................................................................................... 70 Sharp Needles and Why ......................70 When Is a Puppy Vaccinated? ......................................................... 71 DAPP Vaccinations .......................................................................... 71 Distemper ........................................................................................................... 71 Adenovirus ......................................................................................................... 72 The Ultimate Guide for New Shih Tzu Owners - Copyrighted © 2014 – Furry Joy 6 Parainfluenza Virus .......................................................................................... 73 Parvovirus.......................................................................................................... 74 Other Diseases and Viruses ................75 Anaplasmosis .................................................................................................... 75 Coronavirus ....................................................................................................... 75 Ehrlichiosis ........................................................................................................ 77 Leishmaniasis .................................................................................................... 77 Leptosporosis .................................................................................................... 78 Lyme’s Disease .................................................................................................. 79 Rabies Vaccinations ........................................................................................