All of my adult dogs drink from a pet drinking fountain.
All of the Shih Tzu puppies in my responsible breeding program will be trained to use both the water fountain and a water bowl. This method helps to make it easier for new puppy owners when puppies go home. But, I do find the water fountain to be more hygienic, less messy, and better at preventing facial staining.
A water fountain keeps water cleaner because your Shih Tzu’s face never enters the bowl. Harmful bacteria that may be lurking on the beard and face never come in contact with water in a fountain. A bonus is that water doesn’t end up everywhere which is common when using a standard water bowl. Shih Tzu puppies are especially notorious for playing in the water bowl.
In my experience as a Shih Tzu breeder, the water fountain also does an excellent job of preventing facial staining. If your Shih Tzu’s face is constantly in direct contact with water the minerals in the water may cause tear stains to develop. Another option is to use water that has been filtered if you suspect the water in your area has high levels of minerals. We have a reverse osmosis system in our home which helps a great deal.
Furthermore, I haven’t had a Shih Tzu puppy yet in my breeding program that hasn’t preferred the drinking fountain over the water bowl. You can find one on Amazon, Chewy.com, or your local pet store. I have posted the water fountain I used with the Shih Tzu puppies in my breeding program under my Instagram highlight “Favorite Things.” Simply click on the Instagram Icon located on the header and footer of my website.
Whether you decide to use the water fountain or the water bowl with your new Shih Tzu puppy is a personal choice. My goal as a responsible Shih Tzu breeder is to set my puppy families up for success by providing as much puppy-rearing information as possible.
Regardless of what method you decide to use, please remember to wash out the water fountain with soap and a baby bottle brush every couple of days. The fountain may collect bacteria over time if not cleaned properly. I also recommend cleaning water bowls and food bowls often as well.
Head over to my Amazon wishlist if you would like to see the drinking fountain I use with my Shih Tzu puppies and adult dogs: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/31T4PG3CU0ND3/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_4.
