Shih tzu, lapso or chitzu pups are very small puppies even when they grow as full adult dogs. They have two hair coats and a long hair lined with a wooly fur undercoat. These puppies are notable to be very happy and with great character of being spunky and alert. They are very gentle, loving, and loyal breed.
Chitzu pups are believed to come from Tibet, but it is widely known these days that they originate from China. They were bred to serve as companion dogs for the Chinese nobility and royalty. History outlines that shitzu is also called as Chinese Lion Dog or Chrysanthemum Dog. As time passed, mix-bred shitzu became popular resulting to the birth of new breeds such as Malteser, Teacup Pomeranian, and Chihuahua.
Shitzu puppies can live from 10-14 years provided that they have proper medical care, nutrition, and excellent living condition. They may grow from 8-11 centimeters when they reach their adult age at the withers and may weigh 15.08 pounds. They have large and doomed skull, short muzzle, undershot bite, and pronounced stop. Their coat may come from various colors such as beige, black, white, and red. Like humans, they gradually lose hair rather than shedding in a standard mode.
Generally, they are notable to be attentive, arrogant, loyal, friendly lively, strong, and affectionate. They can be good watchdogs and a good dog for people with allergy. However; they can be stubborn, difficult to housebreak, can make poor guard dog, can quickly gain weight, and their presence may trigger snoring. They are not that outgoing and they seldom bark when compared to any other dog breeds.
This breed of puppies is ideal as a pet or a puppy for apartment living since they are small in size. They tend to be more active when placed indoors making them more comfortable in places with smaller spaces. This suggests that they do not need a garden or yard so long as they have proper exercise. They need daily walk and a lot of play since they do enjoy running around in safe open area.
Just like any other animal breeds, shitzu puppies need to be groomed. Their soft and woolly inner layer should be brushed daily to keep it clean and free from tangles. Their ears should be kept clean and their nails be trimmed regularly. Their teeth should be brushed at least two times in a week using toothbrush and toothpaste specifically designed for dogs.
Chitzu puppies need to be trained too, most especially at their young age when they are still easy to be handled and disciplined. They seemed obstinate, which is beneficial for consistency in the training process. In training, your patience is highly required as housebreaking ma be difficult for these puppies. They should be taught how to be relaxed in their grooming process as this is essential throughout their lifetime.
Are you interested to own a shitzu now? Try to look for chitzu puppies in pet stores or shops, classifieds, or areas with “dog for sale” postings.