Arizona Sunrise Shih Tzus & Poos

Purebred Shih Tzu Puppies

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How to Safely Switch your Shih Tzu Puppy to a New Kibble

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A liver & white Shih Tzu puppy on a unicorn bed.

Switching Puppy Kibble

If you recently bought a new puppy and are thinking of switching to a different kibble you need to consider a few things before you make the switch. First of all, you will need to learn how to choose a kibble that your puppy will thrive on. Furthermore, you must learn the process for weaning your puppy off the old kibble and on to the new food. This will help avoid stomach upset if this is a food your puppy has never tried before. 

Deciding the best food for your new Shih Tzu puppy is a tough decision. You want to make sure the new food is nutritious. Not every food on the market is good for your new puppy’s health. Often pet food contains unhealthy additives and chemicals. I’ve written another blog post where I dive deeper into what constitutes pet food as healthy. Click here if you want to learn more about the subject.

Next, you need to learn how to decipher a pet food label. The ingredient list on a pet food label is usually put in order based on weight. The ingredients that make up a large sum of the weight are listed first. Meat should always be the first ingredient unless your dog has some type of special dietary requirement. 

Watch out for products that don’t name the type of meat in the product. For example, meat meals can even include road kill. Often meat meal is sourced from another country of origin as well. All of the ingredients in the dog food should come from the United States in my opinion. 

Have you ever seen the term poultry by-products on a bag of kibble? Poultry-by-products can include anything from chicken feet to turkey feathers. These ingredients are put in the food to boost the protein content while saving money. Poultry-by-products usually contain minimal if any nutritional value. Furthermore, the by-products may cause gastrointestinal issues in your pet.  

When it comes to carbohydrates less is best. Our pets usually do fine with a small amount of natural carbohydrates in their food. But, dogs don’t need a ton of carbohydrates. Some fresh berries and carrots added to the food is typically not a problem. The problem is when pet food companies try to stuff carbs into the food to cut back on healthy protein. A telltale sign for instance is when you see corn on the ingredient list several times in different places. The manufacturer usually plays with the wording to make the obvious less obvious. For example, the words corn, corn flour, and corn meal may all be part of the ingredients. 

Now let’s talk about how to transition your Shih Tzu puppy to a new food. Dogs like humans aren’t always keen about trying something new. Furthermore, if your puppy is trying the food for the first time it is best to go slow to avoid stomach upset. If your dog already tried the food before there is no need to go slow. But, if this is a brand new food, I suggest gradually increasing the new food over a week. 

Step one is to replace about 1/4 of your Shih Tzu puppy’s old food with the new food. If your puppy eats a few times a day simply divide the new food by three and mix it with the old food. Continue feeding the new food at this portion for a few days. Watch out for the following signs of gastrointestinal upset:

  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea 
  • Excessive gas
  • Nausea

If any of the above symptoms develop take a break for a few days. Try to introduce the new food again in a few days. If stomach issues develop again you may want to return to the old food and consider looking for a different alternative dog food. Not every food agrees with every dog.

If your pet is cruising along with no gastrointestinal issues you can move on to an increase of 1/2 new food to 1/2 old food. Once again, follow this regimen for a few days. The next step would be to increase the new food ratio to 75% for a couple of days. The final step to complete the transition would be to offer a full meal of the new kibble as long as your pet isn’t having tummy troubles.

Please make sure to talk with your Veterinarian as well before switching your puppy to a new kibble. Your vet may have specific guidelines that he or she wants you to follow. Also, it is important to make sure that the food you choose to feed your puppy is either for puppies or all life stages. Puppies have different nutritional requirements compared to adult dogs. Also, look for the AAFCO (https://www.aafco.org/) seal on your pet food of choice. AAFCO is responsible for making sure that pet food companies adhere to certain set standards.

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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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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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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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The Array of Shih Tzu Coat Colors & Patterns

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Liver-chocolate and gold-liver Shih Tzu puppies wearing Christmas harnesses.
Chocolate-liver & gold-Liver Shih Tzu Puppies

Shih Tzu Coat Color 101

Shih Tzu coat colors and patterns are often a hot topic. When it comes to a Shih Tzu puppy’s color and markings the outcomes are vast. Shih Tzu puppies can come in a variety of colors and patterns.

The American Kennel Club recognizes 19 different coat colors in Shih Tzus:

Coat colors that the AKC currently recognizes include:
  • Gold & White
  • Liver
  • Liver & White
  • Red
  • Red & White
  • Silver
  • Silver & White
  • Silver, Gold & White
  • White
  • Black, Gold & Silver
  • Black, Gold & White
Common Coat Colors & Patterns

Some Shih Tzu breeders breed for certain colors to produce a chocolate Shih Tzu puppy or even a pure black Shih Tzu puppy for example. When breeders refer to a puppy as chocolate they are describing the coat color. The pigmentation color of a chocolate Shih Tzu is liver. Other Shih Tzu breeders prefer to produce puppies in a variety of coat colors and patterns.

Also, a Shih Tzu puppy may be solid and all in one color. For example, a Shih Tzu puppy may be born all gold with no other color present. Or, a Shih Tzu puppy may have abstract coat coloring. For instance, a chocolate Shih Tzu with a white patch on the chest is known to have an abstract coat pattern.

We must not forget the beautiful Parti Shih Tzu. A Parti puppy’s fur color usually consists of two or three colors. Usually white is the base color of a Parti Shih Tzu. Some of the common color combination outcomes include a chocolate and white Shih Tzu puppy, a black and white Shih Tzu, or a gold, black and white puppy. 

Let’s start by discussing the gold Shih Tzu. A gold puppy is usually a dark gold color at birth. An all-gold Shih Tzu puppy may or may not have a black mask. It isn’t uncommon for black tipping to appear on a golden puppy’s coat. Often the tipping goes away gradually when the coat is cut.

Furthermore, a gold Shih Tzu can come in a solid, abstract, or Parti pattern as mentioned above. A gold Shih Tzu puppy’s coat color often lightens with maturity. I have had the honor to raise several abstract gold Shih Tzu puppies in my breeding program. All of their coats got considerably lighter with age. An adult gold Shih Tzu can range in color from dark gold to a light fawn color. The intensity gene is often responsible for determining the shade of gold. 

A red Shih Tzu puppy is typically born with a gorgeous dark orange color. A Shih Tzu puppy that is red is sometimes confused with a gold puppy. Red Shih Tzus tends to be a darker deep orange. Shih Tzus with a red coat is also prone to coat color changes with age. A Shih Tzu with red coloring may have a black mask or another color present throughout the coat. 

Solid black Shih Tzu puppies are rare. A Shih Tzu puppy may appear to be solid black at birth but often changes color over time. It isn’t uncommon for a Shih Tzu puppy to be all black at birth only to develop patches of another color as the coat matures. It is more likely to find a black Shih Tzu puppy with a white patch on the chest or a black and white Parti Shih Tzu puppy. That being said, solid black Shih Tzus do exist. They just aren’t as common as a black Shih Tzu with another color mixed into the coat.

I have been fortunate enough to raise several black Shih Tzu puppies in my Shih Tzu Breeding Program. Often a black Shih Tzu will have a silver or sable undercoat visible in puppyhood. Or a black Shih Tzu puppy may develop patches of white or silver on the coat over time. It is really difficult to predict a Shih Tzu puppy’s adult coat color. As the Shih Tzu puppy matures the adult coat slowly grows in and may go through many color changes.

Solid white Shih Tzu puppies are uncommon as well. An all-white Shih Tzu puppy’s coat will often have at least a splash of another color somewhere on the coat. A solid white Shih Tzu is often genetically cream or the result of the extreme piebald gene. The piebald gene causes the coat to be comprised of a white base color with patches of a secondary color seen throughout the coat. To complicate things further, a pure white Shih Tzu puppy may truly be a silver Shih Tzu. Often the silver sheen on a Shih Tzu puppy’s coat isn’t apparent until adulthood.

Silver Shih Tzus often looks white at birth. Sometimes a silver Shih Tzu puppy will have another color running through the coat such as black or white. A lot of individuals mistake the silver undercoat in a Shih Tzu for white. If you look closely in the sunlight you will see that a silver coat has more of a shimmer.

Brindle Shih Tzu puppies typically have a coat that is one color with another color flowing through the coat. The streaking can be subtle or very obvious. A brindle coat may not be noticeable in a Shih Tzu Tzu puppy until the adult coat grows all the way. The streaking of the other coat color may become more obvious when the puppy gets a haircut. Many of the Shih Tzu puppies in my breeding program that were nearly pure black at birth ended up being black brindle Shih Tzus. The silver undercoat in the puppies just took time to grow in. 

A liver Shih Tzu is a bit more tricky to explain. The American Kennel Club considers any Shih Tzu puppy with a liver nose to be liver regardless of the coat color. Liver Shih Tzu puppies may come in just about any color other than black. All black becomes brown in a liver Shih Tzu. For example, a chocolate Shih Tzu and a gold Shih Tzu are both liver if the nose, paw pads, and eye rims are liver in color. If you want to learn more about the different pigmentation that Shih Tzu puppies may be born with click here.

Blue Shih Tzu pups are born with blue pigmentation. Blue refers to the pigment once again and not the official coat color. Shih Tzu puppies that are blue often have a charcoal pigment color. A blue Shih Tzu may be solid, abstract, or a combination of two or three colors as well. If a liver Shih Tzu has the dilute gene responsible for blue pigmentation the pigment will take on an almost lavender color. This lavender color is often known as Isabella.

As you can see after reading today’s blog post, Shih Tzu coat colors and patterns are vast. Whether you’re looking for a chocolate-liver Shih Tzu puppy or a pure black Shih Tzu it is important to always remember to choose a breeder that puts health and proper socialization first! Shih Tzus can come in an assortment of beautiful colors. A Shih Tzu puppy’s coat color may change over time but your Shih Tzu’s unconditional love for you will always remain the same! 

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Creative Ways to Keep Puppies Busy and Happy

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A busy puppy is a happy puppy. We all know that puppies can be a handful from time to time. Puppies often suffer from boredom just as we humans do. The difference is that when puppies get bored they usually find something to do. Unfortunately, we may not always be fond of their ways of receiving boredom. Chewing on your end table or tugging on your kitchen curtains are less than ideal-boredom busters.

I hope the list below gives you some great ideas on how to keep your puppy busy in an appropriate and mentally stimulating manner. Check out my Amazon page link below for more ideas on keeping your puppy occupied. (https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/31T4PG3CU0ND3/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_4)

Creative ways to keep your puppy busy:

  • Puppy puzzles
  • Snuffle Mats
  • Treat dispensers
  • Scavenger hunts
  • Go on a walk
  • Tug of War
  • Play fetch
  • Chew toys
  • A ball pit
  • Teach your dog a trick
  • Frisbee
  • Treat dispensers
  • Obstacle course
  • Lick mats
  • Puppy playdate
  • Training sessions
  • Go on an outing
  • Slow feeder bowls
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