Arizona Sunrise Shih Tzus & Poos

Purebred Shih Tzu Puppies

Education

Boutique Pet Shops in Arizona

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Black and white Shih Tzu puppy wearing a dress from a boutique pet shop.
A Shih Tzu puppy wearing a dress from a boutique pet shop.

We all want to feed our dogs right. The chain pet food stores offer an array of natural products that are healthy for dogs. Furthermore, today’s online market has become an amazing alternative to in-person shopping. You can find everything including gourmet dog food, interactive toys, tasty treats, and so much more. But, did you know there is another option for pampering your pet? Boutique pet shops often carry a large assortment of natural products for spoiling your best friend.

Boutique pet stores also carry unique products that you may not be able to find online or at your local chain pet store. For example, I am very picky with the food that I choose to feed to the Shih Tzu Puppies in my breeding program. I try to avoid feeding dog food laced with unnatural chemicals, preservatives, and food dyes to my puppies and adult dogs.

As a result, I often have to purchase food from a boutique pet store. I also love to purchase healthy treats, raw goat’s milk, and freeze-dried dog food from our local boutique pet shop. To learn more about some of the harmful chemicals that may be lurking in your dog’s food check out the following link: How to Choose Healthy Dog Food for Your Shih Tzu Puppy.

Boutique stores for pets often offer other services as well. Some boutique pet stores offer grooming services. There are even boutique-style shops that have a doggy hotel for overnight boarding. If you like to pamper your pooch look for a boutique that has a spa. Let’s not forget that boutique stores often offer special events to the dog community as well. Some of these events include vaccine clinics, dog training, dental cleaning, etc.

I hope you enjoy the list of Arizona boutique pet shops that I have put together for you below:

Petzplace: Goodyear, Arizona

Oh, My Dog Boutique Hotel & Spa: Scottsdale, Arizona

The Pet Shop: Mesa, Arizona

Pratt’s Pets: Glendale, Arizona

Pet Supplies Plus: Surprise, Arizona

EarthWise Pet Supply: Maricopa, Arizona

Noble Beast: Phoenix, Arizona

Pet Planet: Phoenix, Arizona

Bark Avenue Pet Supply: Mesa, Arizona

Red Planet: Litchfield, Arizona

The Fetching Dog: Scottsdale, Arizona

Fetch Natural Pet Market: Phoenix, Arizona

My Pet Market: Chandler, Arizona

Bonnies Bakery: CaveCreek, Arizona

Peoria’s Pet Market: Peoria, Arizona

Desert Pet: Tucson, Arizona

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How to Choose Healthy Dog Food for Your Shih Tzu Puppy

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If you’re wondering how to choose healthy dog food for your Shih Tzu puppy you’re not alone! With so many different options on the market nowadays it can be difficult deciding what your Shih Tzu puppy should eat. After all, we all want to do right by our pets. But, it can be difficult to decide exactly what is right when it comes to dog food options.

Nowadays, there are a multitude of different types of dog food on the market. There are fresh food options, frozen food options, canned food options, etc. Let’s not forget that kibble can come in freeze-dried raw, baked, dehydrated, air-dried, etc. The options can be downright confusing to the first-time pet owner. 

So where does a pet owner start? I suggest starting by looking for a natural option if possible. Chemicals have no place in dog food. There is no reason that dog food needs artificial colors and toxic preservatives in the ingredient list. We love our dogs. They deserve better! I usually ask myself if I would feed the food to myself or my child. If the answer is no, then why would I feed it to my Shih Tzu who is part of my family? 

Feeding your Shih Tzu right may cost more but I believe the benefits outweigh the cost. If you feed your dog right, he or she will most likely have fewer health issues later on in life. Additives in dog food may cause a host of health issues including cancer.

Learning what to feed your Shih Tzu is a process. I have been guilty in the past of not always feeding my pets the best food. It has been a learning curve. There is a lot of misinformation out there. Marketing schemes can make almost every dog food on the market look like the best. It’s important to educate ourselves. Our pets deserve the very best, They trust us to feed them right.

Some common additives in dog food may include:

  • TBHQ
  • BHA
  • BHT
  • Propylene Glycol
  • Food dye
  • Ethoxyquin

Let’s dive a little deeper into these common dog food chemicals to see if they pose a danger to our dogs. TBHQ is a fat preservative that is commonly put in dog food to extend the shelf life. But, did you know that Tertiary butylhydroquinone is also an ingredient in resins and varnishes? TBHQ may increase the likelihood of cancer in your furry friend. There are quite a few natural preservatives that can take the place of TBHQ to extend shelf life. There is absolutely no ethical reason that pet food manufacturers need to use TBHQ.

BHA is another problematic additive that may be lurking in your dog food. BHA also known as Butylated Hydroxyanisole may reproductive disorders in animals. California has even gone as far as to list BHA as a chemical that may cause cancer as well. Many natural, non-toxic preservative options are much safer for our dogs to consume besides BHA.

BHT which is also commonly known as Butylated Hydroxytoluene is another preservative in dog food. Unfortunately, BHT may increase the risk of cancer for your pet as well. BHT is often put into dog food to prevent spoilage. Once again, there are less toxic options available. Did you know that BHT is commonly found in embalming fluid and jet fuels as well? Furthermore, BHT has been rightfully banned in several countries.

Have you ever heard of Propylene Glycol? Propylene Glycol is a chemical that is often found in antifreeze. Propylene Glycol is useful in dog food because it helps the product retain moisture. Chronic exposure to Propylene Glycol may cause an increase in risk for blood disorders in certain animals. Small amounts of Propylene Glycol may not cause immediate harm to your dog, but chronic exposure to this harmful additive may put your pet at risk. Many pet parents feed the same food to their dogs every day. This could lead to frequent Propylene Glycol exposure.

Food dyes are also often found in dog food. Food dye may cause everything from allergies to cancer. Most of the time dog food manufacturers add food dye to make the kibble appear more pleasing to the eye. The funny thing is that your dog probably could care less what color the food is. If color is necessary for marketing, there are natural alternatives that can produce more enticing colors.

Ethoxyquin is another preservative in dog food. Manufacturers often use Ethoxyquin to make rubber. Ethoxyquin is also often used as a pesticide. Ethotoxyquin may lead to liver problems and cancer in dogs. Frequent exposure to this chemical could make your dog very ill. It is best to avoid Ethoxyquin whenever possible. 

Now back to the question about what you should feed your Shih Tzu puppy. In my opinion, it doesn’t matter if you feed your Shih Tzu fresh food, dry food, frozen food, or a combination. What matters most is that you feed your Shih Tzu a diet free of toxic chemicals that may lead to health deterioration. 

With that being said, I currently feed all of my Shih Tzu puppies and adults in my responsible breeding program on a rotation diet. I rotate through fresh food options, frozen food options, raw food options, and basic kibble options. I feel a rotation diet allows my dogs to get the benefits from a variety of food options. A rotation diet allows your Shih Tzu to obtain nutrients from a variety of sources.

I also work hard to educate myself in regards to which dog foods are going to promote good health and longevity in my Shih Tzus. I currently stay away from dog food options that contain harmful chemicals whenever possible. I’m not going to lie, it has been trial and error. As I mentioned above, at one point I did feed my dogs less than ideal options on occasion. It has been a learning process. I never thought that harmful ingredients could be lurking in my dogs’ food. But, then I realized that dog food can and does contain toxic ingredients just like human food.

Some of my favorite dog food brands to rotate through with my adult dogs and Shih Tzu Puppies include:

  • Primal Kibble in the Raw for Puppies
  • The Simple Food Project
  • Sunday’s for Dogs
  • Carna 4
  • Portland Pet Food Company

To sum things up, it is up to the consumer to weed through products and find the very best for their dog. Not all companies invest equally in your dog’s health. There are unfortunately pet food companies out there that just want your money. Please carefully consider your Shih Tzu’s health when choosing dog food. Purchasing high-quality food for your dog will be worth it in the end. Furthermore, your dog will hopefully be less likely to succumb to illness. This alone will save you on veterinarian bills down the road. Our dogs aren’t with us for nearly long enough. Let’s try to make each day count by providing them with the healthiest lifestyle possible.

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Dog Trainers in Arizona

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Baxter & Bella an Online Puppy School Option

Bringing home a new puppy is an exciting time. You have probably already taken the time to safety-proof the home and yard. Your puppy-proofing checklist is most likely in place. Also, you probably have chosen a great veterinarian and dog groomer by this time. But, have you thought about hiring a dog trainer?

Puppies bring us a lot of joy but may become a handful without proper training. Puppies need to learn the rules. It is up to puppy parents to properly teach the rules to their puppy. Unfortunately, a lot of puppy parents work or simply don’t have the time to train themselves. In addition, some families simply prefer to have a professional outsider doing the training.

Hiring a dog trainer is a great option if you have a busy life schedule. Furthermore, a trainer has a strong educational background in training in most cases. This means you don’t have to spend the time learning every specific detail of dog training in the first place. Below, I have put together a list of trainers in Arizona. Check out the following link from BringFido for more trainer options and so much more. https://www.bringfido.com/

Also, there are quite a few online trainers nowadays. Check out the video from Baxter & Bella above for a great online training option. Enter my discount code at checkout: ARIZONASUNRISE for a 25% discount! I hope you find a great trainer for your new puppy.

Dog Trainers

Mak Pak Dog Training & Boarding: Tempe, Arizona (602) 374- 3388

Smiles Dog Training: Scottsdale, Arizona (602) 962-8764

Arizona Dog Smart Academy: Phoenix, Arizona (602) 237-6775

East Valley K9 services: Chandler, Arizona (480) 382-0144

Towse K9 services: Queen Creek, Arizona (480) 606-8755

Top Dog Boarding & Training: Gilbert, Arizona (480) 650-1650

Sublime Canine: Oro Valley, Arizona (520) 975-0878

Partners Dog Training: Scottsdale, Arizona (480) 595-6700

Bark Busters: Goodyear, Arizona 1 (877) 500-2275

Positive K9 Trainers: Goodyear, Arizona (623) 337-6977

FurBabies & Friends: Glendale, Arizona (612) 352-8239

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Should I Buy a Male or Female Shih Tzu Puppy?

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A gold female Shih Tzu puppy resting on a pink blanket.
A Female Shih Tzu Puppy

Are female Shih Tzu Puppies better than males?

As a Shih Tzu breeder,  I often have clients tell me that they have heard that female Shih Tzu puppies are more affectionate than male Shih Tzu puppies. You may be asking yourself if there is any truth to this claim. Or, is this simply another myth that has been passed down over time? The best way to find out if there is any truth to this claim is by looking at the various myths circulating and seeing if there is any truth behind them. 

The first thing I hear a lot from puppy clients is that female Shih Tzus are more lovable and make better lap dogs. I’m here to tell you that this is not true. I own quite a few adult Shih Tzus in my responsible breeding program. I raise my Shih Tzus as family members in my home. As a direct result, I get to see firsthand just how lovable and affectionate they are. I have both male and female Shih Tzus that behave like velcro dogs. Velcro dogs love nothing more than spending time cuddling with their favorite human. I also have both male and female Shih Tzus that don’t mind cuddling here and there, but also like alone time. 

So as you can see both male and female Shih Tzus are capable of showing affection. The key lies in the Shih Tzus temperament, not gender! All of the male and female Shih Tzu puppies raised in my breeding program go through Temperament testing. I test for certain traits, one of them being human focus. If a Shih Tzu puppy scores high for human focus then he or she is more likely to be that perfect lap dog that clients are often looking for, regardless of gender. 

That being said, temperament testing isn’t a guarantee. There are a lot of other things that go into an adult Shih Tzu’s personality. One must consider how the Shih Tzu puppy was raised, environmental factors, life experiences, etc. For example, if a Shih Tzu puppy is raised in a cage and never has time to bond with humans during the critical socialization period, he or she may coined as less lovable. In reality, this puppy wasn’t properly raised! You must get to know your Shih Tzu breeder. Make sure that your puppy is receiving plenty of love and human attention daily.

There is also the issue of bonding. Often a Shih Tzu will bond to a certain individual in a household regardless of gender. Many times this person is the primary caregiver. Or, your Shih Tzu may simply have a favorite human. Shih Tzus often has human preferences. There isn’t much we can do to control this type of situation if it happens. 

Another old wives tale that I hear a lot is that female Shih Tzu puppies are easier to potty train. Once again, I’m here to tell you that this isn’t the case in most situations. My male and female Shih Tzus potty trained with equal success rates. The key was being consistent in potty training expectations.

One issue that may make potty training more difficult for a male Shih Tzu arises from not neutering the dog by the time he reaches sexual maturity. Some male Shih Tzus may mark their territory around the time of puberty. Not all male dogs display this behavior but some may mark. This situation can be avoided by talking with your veterinarian about the ideal time to have your male Shih Tzu puppy neutered.

I’ve also had clients tell me that they prefer a female Shih Tzu puppy because males are more aggressive. Once again, this isn’t a gender-related trait but is a temperament issue. All I can say is get to know your Shih Tzu breeder!

An aggressive temperament is hereditary to some degree

A responsible Shih Tzu breeder will not breed Shih Tzus with aggressive temperaments in the first place. Aggressive behaviors can also be brought on by negative life experiences and environmental factors. For example, if you take your Shih Tzu puppy to a dog park and another dog attacks your Shih Tzu, your dog may become aggressive towards other dogs. 

Hopefully, you can now see that male and female Shih Tzu puppies can both make outstanding pets. Both genders are capable of affection and highly trainable under the right circumstances. If you’re looking for certain temperament traits like high human focus, work with a breeder that temperament tests puppies. Breeders that temperament test usually know which male and female Shih Tzu puppies are most affectionate. You should choose a Shih Tzu puppy that will match your lifestyle regardless of gender.

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Small Animals and Wildlife Desert Dangers

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A bobcat in our front yard in our suburban neighborhood. Watch your pets!
A Bobcat Visiting Our Suburban Neighborhood

Dog Dangers in the Desert

The desert is home to an array of beautiful wildlife and captivating natural beauty. Unfortunately, wildlife dangers are a real threat to small animals. Some of the wildlife we coexist with don’t always have the best intentions when it comes to your Shih Tzu. Arizona has an abundant population of rattlesnakes, coyotes, bobcats, poisonous frogs, scorpions, killer bees, spiders and the list goes on and on. All of the critters mentioned above may pose a serious risk to your pet Shih Tzu. 

Shih Tzus is a relatively small toy breed dog. They don’t stand a chance against a coyote that may jump your block wall fence looking for dinner. I can say with certainty that they can and will jump a 6-foot block wall. I’ve seen it with my own eyes. I’ve also had a bobcat walk right past me in my front yard in broad daylight. (Check out the photo above!) 

You may think you’re safe because you live in the suburbs. I live in the suburbs too! I have seen coyotes and bobcats walk through my neighborhood on more than one occasion. Humans have built suburbs closer and closer to the desert. We have spectacular views but at the cost of being in closer proximity to dangerous desert animals. Animals such as coyotes are also able to pass on dangerous parasites and viruses like parvovirus to your pet. Parvovirus is a real concern here in Arizona and many other states. 

I am a Shih Tzu breeder. My Shih Tzu puppies wouldn’t stand a chance against a coyote. Because I live in an area where it isn’t uncommon to see a coyote or bobcat jump a wall, I need to be extra cautious. When I take Shih Tzu puppies outdoors, I look for predators before I bring the puppies outside. If you have bought a Shih Tzu puppy from me, you know I’m not a risk taker. The health and safety of my dogs comes first!

The Sonoran Desert Toad is another critter that you need to be on the lookout for in your yard. I always recommend walking through the yard before bringing your dog outside. Bullfrogs are notorious for coming out in abundance during monsoon season when it rains a lot. 

We had a bullfrog sunbathing near our pool this summer after a heavy rainfall. When my husband tried to catch it with a net to release it into the desert it took a quick swim across our pool first. If a dog licks a Sonoran Desert Toad they will ingest the toxic substance found on their skin. It is important to rinse your dog’s mouth out immediately and seek veterinary care. 

Scorpions, snakes, and poisonous spiders are common predators in the valley as well. Dogs may see snakes, scorpions, and poisonous spiders as a simple game of chase. The problem is that all of these creatures release toxic poison into their victims.

My husband was once out playing with the solar lights in the evening when he got bit by a brown recluse. The bite got bad and he had to go to the hospital. The area started to turn black, and necrotic and swelled up quite a bit. He ended up needing to take antibiotics for 6 weeks. Imagine how much worse a Brown Recluse bite would be in a Shih Tzu puppy! Symptoms may range from tissue destruction to death.

I almost forgot to mention owls, hawks, and eagles when it comes to small-breed pet dangers. A hawk may confuse your small Shih Tzu for a bunny and attempt to carry him or her away. The hawk is simply looking for a meal and doesn’t know the difference between a rabbit and a Shih Tzu puppy! Unfortunately, the talons of some birds can do serious damage to a toy breed dog. Just google hawks and dog attacks if you don’t believe me. Pet supervision is key when it comes to avoiding bird attacks.

As you probably can already see after reading this blog post, wildlife is abundant in Arizona. Unfortunately, not all of the wild animals in Arizona have your pets’ best interests at heart. They’re simply trying to survive the best way that they can. This often means venturing into the suburbs or visiting your yard.

You must secure and safety-proof all outdoor areas that your Shih Tzu may have access to. Start by covering all gaps in fences. We have installed chicken wire on are slotted fences as a safety precaution as well. But, most importantly, I recommend never leaving your small Shih Tzu outdoors alone in Arizona. I also suggest doing a checkover of the yard before going outside with your pet. It is better to be safe than sorry!

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How to Avoid Puppy Scams

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Scam free certified breeder badge from Tell Tail.
Scam Free Certified

Would you like to learn how to avoid puppy scams?

Well, I am here to help. Did you know that I am a Scam Free certified Shih Tzu breeder? You may be asking yourself exactly what does this mean. Let’s start by going over what a puppy scam is in the first place. A puppy scam is when someone pretends to be either a puppy buyer or a puppy breeder to retrieve money or information unethically. I will give a few examples to make things more clear. 

One example of a puppy scam is when a puppy buyer tries to purchase a Shih Tzu puppy off of the internet. A puppy buyer may find a spectacular website offering Shih Tzu puppies for sale at an unbeatable price. I am here to tell you that most responsible Shih Tzu breeders invest a great deal of time, money, and commitment into proper puppy raising. These types of Shih Tzu breeders cannot afford to produce cheap Shih Tzu puppies. 

The problem is that puppy scammers often do a great job of looking legitimate. The Shih Tzu puppies look amazing in the website photos and everything seems too good to be true. This is because it is too good to be true! There is a reason why transactions are handled through email or text with these types of scammers. They only want your money and never intend to deliver a puppy in the first place.

A reputable Shih Tzu breeder will want to get to know puppy buyers personally. Most breeders set up phone calls, video calls, or in-person visits. A puppy scammer will most likely ask you to wire funds or pay through an app. Most of the time you never even get a chance to have a conversation with this this type of puppy scammer. This is a huge red flag!

Another example of a puppy scam is when a potential puppy buyer calls, texts, or sends an email and asks the breeder if he or she has any Shih Tzu puppies available. The potential buyer may ask for specific details about the puppy. The buyer may even ask the breeder to send photos or videos of the puppy.

In this type of scam, the puppy scammer who has posed as a puppy buyer then takes the photos and information and uses it to create fake puppy listings. Often the scammer will use the photos and videos the breeder has shared with them. The scam listing may show up on the internet, Facebook, Instagram, etc. Essentially the scammer is impersonating the real breeder. 

I recently have become a victim of a similar type of scam. Nobody has stolen my photos but someone is posting website URLs and using my business name in their description on the internet to deceive clients and improve their Google click rate. This scammer isn’t only targeting me but is targeting a multitude of breeders. I have contacted Google and many other agencies to try and remove these scammers. Hopefully, they will be removed soon. If you ever find any fake listings or notice someone impersonating someone else it is essential that you report the fake account right away.

There are ways to protect yourself from cyber scams. My first word of advice is to get to know your Shih Tzu breeder! Set up a phone call, video conference call, and maybe even a face-to-face visit. Also, ask to see the puppies during your video chat or face-to-face visit. As a Shih Tzu breeder, I don’t even consider accepting a deposit until both the potential puppy owner and myself have gotten to know each other well. I want to know the individuals that are taking home my puppies on a personal level! After all, they’re taking home a piece of my heart and legacy. 

Another thing that I have done to set myself apart from potential puppy scammers is to apply for a Scam Free certified badge through Tell Tail. Tell Tail- (https://www.telltail.com/scamfree) is a legitimate trusted breeder community that provides breeders with a unique ID number and badge that can be shown to potential puppy families. To qualify for the badge, breeders must be interviewed and accepted into the Tell Tail responsible breeding community. All breeders applying for the badge are thoroughly vetted by Tell Tail. Breeders must also provide identification to prove they’re not a scammer.

I also belong to GoodDog- (https://www.gooddog.com/) another well-known and trusted platform where responsible breeders may list a litter of puppies. I went through an interview process and showed identification to become part of GoodDog as well. Puppy buyers are even welcome to use GoodDog’s secure platform to pay for a puppy. GoodDog protects both breeders and buyers from puppy scammers.

As you can see, there are ways to avoid a puppy scam in the first place. It is important for puppy owners to get to know the breeder and for breeders to get to know their puppy buyers. If something seems off it is important to investigate further before committing to a puppy. Do your homework and ask a lot of questions. An ethical breeder will be more than happy to provide all the proof you need to make sure they’re legitimate.

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