HeartyShihTzu.net – Real-World Care Guides for Shih Tzu Owners
Shih Tzus are not “just small fluffy dogs.” They’re brachycephalic, high-maintenance, sensitive companion animals that can live well into their teens if you do things right—and cost you a fortune if you don’t.
HeartyShihTzu.net exists to give you blunt, practical advice on every stage of Shih Tzu life: choosing food, grooming without mats, dealing with barking and separation anxiety, caring for seniors, and more. No sugar-coating, no fantasy Instagram version—just what actually works in real homes.
Use this homepage as your hub. Each section below links to a focused guide so you can go deep on the specific problem you’re dealing with today.
Start Here: New Owner & Puppy Foundations
New Shih Tzu Owner Checklist
This is your launch pad if you’ve just brought a Shih Tzu home—or you’re about to. We walk through what you actually need (crate, grooming tools, insurance plan, vet setup), what’s optional fluff, and the admin tasks you cannot skip. If you only read one page before puppy arrives, make it this one.
Shih Tzu Puppy Care 101
The first 90 days determine whether you end up with a confident, well-adjusted dog or an anxious, confused mess. This guide covers routines, house training, socialization, crate training, and how to prevent “velcro dog” behavior from Day 1.
Coat, Skin & Everyday Care
Shih Tzu Grooming Guide
Shih Tzus are grooming-heavy, full stop. Here you’ll find everything from daily eye and face care to full coat vs puppy cut decisions, how often to bathe, and how to work with a professional groomer so your dog doesn’t end up shaved to the skin because of mats.
Shih Tzu Nutrition & Weight Management
One extra scoop “because he was begging” is how you get a round, wheezing Shih Tzu with joint and breathing problems. This guide breaks down appropriate weight ranges, portion control, treat rules, and how to adjust diet without wrecking their stomach.
Health & Vet Realities
Common Shih Tzu Health Problems
Eyes, breathing, teeth, skin, and knees—these are your main danger zones. Learn the early warning signs you absolutely cannot ignore, what counts as “vet today, not tomorrow,” and why pretending your dog is “fine” is how small issues become emergencies.
Senior Shih Tzu Care
After 8–10 years of age, the game changes. This guide covers senior checkup schedules, pain management, home adjustments (ramps, non-slip rugs), and how to realistically plan for the medical and financial side of having an older Shih Tzu.
Training, Behavior & Mental Health
Training Your Shih Tzu: Barking, Housebreaking & Basic Manners
If you don’t train your Shih Tzu, they will train you. This page dives into housebreaking in a small dog, controlling barking without crushing their personality, and the handful of commands that actually matter in real life.
Shih Tzu Separation Anxiety & Alone Time
Companion breed + no alone-time training = chaos. Learn how to prevent and manage separation anxiety, what’s “normal upset” vs real anxiety, and when you need a trainer or veterinary behaviorist instead of “hoping it goes away.”
Shih Tzu Exercise & Enrichment
“He doesn’t need much, he’s small” is how you get a bored, barking dog with zero impulse control. This guide shows you how much exercise is actually healthy for a Shih Tzu, plus easy enrichment ideas (sniffing games, food puzzles, micro-training sessions) that burn mental energy without overdoing it physically.
Life With Your Shih Tzu: Beyond the Living Room
Traveling With Your Shih Tzu
Taking your Shih Tzu on the road? We cover car and plane travel for a brachycephalic breed, hotel and Airbnb realities, health prep (documents, meds, emergency vet info), and how to decide honestly whether your dog should travel at all or stay with a sitter.
Use External Resources the Smart Way
HeartyShihTzu.net focuses on blunt, owner-tested advice. For broader breed background and tools, you should also keep a few external resources bookmarked:
- MyPetAtlas – Shih Tzu Breed Article – deep dive on temperament, health risks, grooming needs, and typical lifespan, written from a veterinary and behavior perspective.
- MyPetAtlas.com – directory to find local vets, groomers, trainers, boarding, and pet insurance options that actually match your dog’s needs instead of guessing.
Use this homepage as your map: click into the specific guide that matches whatever problem is screaming the loudest today—puppy chaos, grooming, health, training, or senior care—and work through it step by step. Your Shih Tzu gets a better, safer life. You get less stress, fewer nasty surprises, and a dog that’s actually fun to live with.