They will drop their hair around the home, though, so be prepared for that. You may want to head to Amazon or your local pet store to invest in some brushes and other tools like toothbrushes mainly because these smaller dogs can have issues with their teeth and some shampoo.
How much you feed your dog depends on their size. A dog with an average activity level needs about 30 calories per day per pound. So a 5-pound dog needs calories per day, preferably spread between two meals. Look for high-quality food made for toy dogs that has a healthy protein as the first ingredient.
Avoid foods that have lots of cheap fillers like corn or soy. When dogs are bred to be smaller than they normally are, they can have a range of health issues ranging from uncomfortable, like misaligned teeth, to deadly.
For instance, an eight-pound Shih Tzu is probably going to have typical health problems. But a three-pound dog will very likely have one or more illnesses.
Most responsible breeders will refuse to breed a dog that is too small. Exceptionally tiny dogs will likely have a shorter lifespan. The Shih Tzu breed averages a lifespan of about years, but an extremely small dog will probably have a shorter life.
They may also have breathing concerns brachycephaly because of their flat face, eating problems, hypoglycemia low blood sugar , or issues with their bones or organs. For instance, a dog with hypoglycemia needs to be carefully watched. Dogs with breathing problems must be protected from overheating and over-exerting themselves. Imperial Shih Tzu puppies can cost more than their standard counterparts, which is part of the reason that breeders can exploit these tiny dogs.
Some breeders may be aiming for standard-sized dogs, but mother nature might decide that one or two pups are just going to be naturally smaller these puppies are sometimes called runts. Once you find a good breeder and you take your dog home, have it examined by a veterinarian right away. A good breeder will encourage you to do this and will be willing to take the dog back if there are any issues. A good breeder will also be happy to let you meet the parents, answer any questions you have, and show you health certifications.
They will provide the contact information for reputable breeders. When you get your new puppy home, be sure to socialize them and start training right away to ensure that your dog is well-behaved and adjusted.
There are many dogs out there needing a home, and if you adopt an older dog, you have a better chance of knowing what health problems it might have. They love to sit in your lap and cuddle and this is a much better activity for a Teacup Shih Tzu and children. It is important even in those circumstances not to leave young children unsupervised with the dog. The Teacup is not actually a healthy size for a Shih Tzu and therefore he can have many issues.
Because of their size, health and safety issues abound, not the least of which is being stepped on by other animals or people in the family. You have to be very careful in knowing where your teacup is at all times. Health issues include:. Because of these health issues, the vast majority of Shih Tzu breeders will not breed the Tea Cup.
Be prepared for more than usual veterinary bills and be sure to have all recommended tests done to be sure their organs are functioning effectively and their bones are not too brittle. It is true, however, that not all Teacups are unhealthy. Do your homework if you want this size Shih Tzu. Check on the parents, meet them. Make sure your breeder does all the available and expected tests. Ask for the history of the line, how long the dogs have lived and any medical problems they have had.
You will then know as best you can, how healthy the puppy is that you are taking home. The Teacup Shih Tzu is a tiny dog with all the great qualities of the full-size breed. This adorable and cute dog is a part of the Shih Tzu family.
They are loving and affectionate but have a lot of health issues due to their size. They can be stubborn and need a strong alpha you to be in charge. If you are the alpha for your pack, then training should be easy. However, if you are not, they will be stubborn and boss you around.
You might love the Teacup Shih Tzu but remember it has serious health issues brought on by its tiny size. But in the second and third generation of breeding Teacups to Teacups, you will see more and more health issues. The lifespan of a Teacup is many years less than that of a normal sized dog. Living with a Teacup Shih Tzu might not be as easy as it seems. Yet if this is the dog for you, just be prepared for both the good times and the challenges.
This little guy will love you, cuddle you and go with you anywhere you want him to. He might even fit in your coat pocket. Yet he will also not live as long as some other dogs including the full-sized Shih Tzu and may face many medical challenges in his short lifetime.
Breeders will then mate the runts from these litters of this reduced size, making even smaller dogs. The process then continues until the desired size of dog is being produced. The main problem with this method is that the runt of a litter is usually smaller than its siblings because of an underlying health problem. Whatever it is, it will be passed on to the next generation along with any health issues suffered by the other parent, compounding the problem.
These issues will then be passed on to the next generation where they will become further compounded, and so on. By allowing a shih tzu to mate with a smaller dog, the resulting litter may turn out to be of smaller sized puppies than a shih tzu, though this is never guaranteed. As long as healthy dogs are used for the breeding process, this is a much safer method of producing a healthy teacup sized dog than the mating of two runts. The big drawback with this method is that it is all down to luck what the puppies will look like and act like.
Whatever traits the puppies inherit they will never look exactly like, nor act exactly like a shih tzu. As one of the smallest breeds, the chihuahua is often used to mate with slightly larger breeds such as the shih tzu to produce a dog somewhere between the two, usually between 5 and 12 pounds 2.
The shichi or chi-tzu can inherit the short coat of the chihuahua or the long coat of the shih tzu. Despite their similar sizes, crossing a shih tzu with a bichon frise often produces smaller sized shichon or zuchon puppies. As the bichon frise needs more exercise than a shih tzu, prepare to be more active if you adopt one of these mixes.
The shorkie , or shih tzu and Yorkshire terrier mix is another popular cross, the smaller size of the Yorkie bringing down the size of the shih tzu. The similar characteristic of these two dogs means you will probably have a puppy that behaves very similar to a pure shih tzu. Because of the successive breeding of runts, the smaller a teacup shih tzu is, the more likely it is going to have health problems. If you really want a dog that is 5 pounds 2. I totally sympathize with you, though, if you find adopting a shih tzu difficult to resist.
A reputable breeder will not sell you the offspring of a liaison between two runts. What you will be able to buy from a bona fide source is a shih tzu, or shih tzu cross if you are choosing this method, just under the breeding standard weight that will reach 7 to 8 pounds 3.
These undersized puppies occur naturally even with the best breeders and will be just as healthy as their larger siblings. If this puppy happens to be the runt, a reputable breeder will inform you of this and the dog will not be allowed to reproduce.
It may only be possible to see the mother but at least that will give you some idea of how healthy she is, how she is being looked after and cared for and also it will give you an indication of the type of character the puppy may develop. For extra peace of mind, also ask about the grandparents, how old are they or, if they have passed away, how old they were when they died and what did they die of.
If the breeder cannot answer your questions, cannot or will not show you the parents or cannot supply any health screening information, then you are probably dealing with a disreputable breeder and possibly a puppy mill. These breeders mate two runts together to make whole litters of under standard sized dogs.
Some even keep the puppies looking as small as possible by underfeeding them to stunt their growth. If you have the misfortune to discover one of these establishments, please resist buying any of the puppies, no matter how appealing they look to you.
Instead, please inform your local or national animal welfare organization who will hopefully shut the place down and find the dogs new, forever homes.
Also, beware of buying puppies over the internet, especially if you cannot see them in person before you buy. For a teacup shih tzu or shih tzu crossbreed you can expect to pay to 2, USD or the equivalent and that is for a responsibly reared puppy. They are not rare and there is no need to pay such an exorbitant price for a puppy.
The teacup shih tzu can be susceptible to all of the same problems that a standard sized shih tzu could face but one or two health issues can become more prominent because of its smaller size. For general health problems that may affect a shih tzu of any size, click below to take a look at an earlier post of mine:. Shih Tzu Common Health Problems.
Hypoglycemia, or a low blood sugar count, is more likely to occur in a teacup shih tzu than in a standard sized one. Dogs diagnosed with this ailment will need to be fed more often, say between 3 and 5 times per day.
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