Preparations for your new Furbaby

As with any new puppy, there are some preparations that you need to make before bringing your cute little ball of fur home. Before you pick up your pet, you need to make sure your Furbaby has everything he/she will need to settle into your home.

One of the most important things your Shih Tzu will need is a safe and secure place to stay when you cannot be around to supervise play and potty time. Yes, we're talking kennel. Some of you may think this to be 'prison', but your puppy will not look at it like this. Your Furbaby may give a few wimpers at first, but soon will look at this as their own personal safe and quiet place to be. It is important for your puppy to be able to 'get away' when he/she needs some rest and wants to be alone. It is a crucial part of the house training process as well. Most of us cannot be at home with our babies ALL the time and sometimes even when we are, we get side tracked on doing chores and what not and forget about potty time. Oops can be avoided during these times with your puppy's kennel. You must remember that a puppy is still a baby and needs your guidance and protection. When you can't supervise what your puppy is nawing on or getting into, the kennel is the safest place for your puppy. You may have done everything you can to 'puppy proof' your home, but something as simple as the electrical cord from your T.V. can pose a danger. If you can't watch your puppy, please put them in the kennel. It is way better to be safe than sorry on this one and you can do so knowing it is best for your puppy's well being. Think of it as a playpen for your baby, not a prison.

Okay, so what's puppy proofing? It's mostly common sense in reguards to household items you don't want your puppy to chew, eat, or have an accident on between potty trips. Electrical cords should be at least tucked out of site. Household plants shouldn't be in your puppy's reach and hazardous household products should be put away. Anything that is possible to put away that you wouldn't want your new baby to chew on or put in his/her fragile mouth should be put away. Puppies want to chew. When they go to your home they are teething and chewing makes the gums feel better and the teeth grow properly. You should provide your puppy with toys to play with and chew on. This will help keep their mind off your shoes and whatnot. It is always better to prevent a bad habbit and it's a lot easier than breaking one!

Your puppy also needs something to sleep on in their kennel. This can be a baby blanket or towel for small puppies as they sometimes have trouble climbing in and out of a commercial doggy bed. You'll want to have it big enough for your puppy to lay on, but small enough for your puppy to not want to soil the sleeping area. Newspaper or puppy pads work well to catch the soil in front of the sleeping area of the kennel when you are not around.

Of course your puppy will need food. Dry food is best at this time. It will help your puppy keep a firmer stool and also help with teething. Protein is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT at this time. Purina Puppy Chow is a good food. Sometimes we tend to look at price instead of ingredients, but at this fragile time of your puppy's growth, ingredients are essential! A high protein puppy food will help start your Furbaby on the right track. You can add in vitamins, but it is a good rule of thumb to consult with your vet before starting any regiment.

Water should be available at ALL times for your puppy. You can get a doggy bowl (I recommend stainless steel as it is easier to clean and more sterile) or you can use a bottle waterer which can be purchased at your local pet store. I like to use bowls with puppies because sometimes it takes a little while to get use to the bottles (rabbit and small animal waterer) and you don't want to risk dehydration of your baby. The bottles to help to keep a clean face later on, but puppy fur doesn't tend to stain as easily as grown Shih Tzu hair.

I also recommend that you go ahead and find yourself a vet if you don't already have one. Go and visit, get yourself use to the process and aquainted with your vet. Most owners find they tend to prefer one vet rather than another and it's just a lot better if you can figure out that preference early on rather than having to transfer your puppy's information from place to place. It is also a good thing to find out if your vet has an emergency number and write it down incase something should ever happen that you need your vet's advice or assistance after hours. We all hope and pray nothing happens to our pets, but accidents can happen and it is better to be prepared in that critical time.

The next thing your puppy will need is something that cannot be bought. Your puppy needs your love and support to help him/her through the transition to a new home and a new world. Praise your puppy. Shih Tzu crave attention and will go to great lengths to get your praise and it is by far the best method to teach your Furbaby anything! It's a new time for the both of you. Get to know each other. Talk to your Shih Tzu. Treat your baby with love and kindness and you will never be able to replace the relationship that will form.



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