Shih Tzu Puppy Care 101: First 90 Days at Home

Bringing home a Shih Tzu puppy is equal parts heart-melting and chaotic. These small dogs are sensitive, people-focused, and stubborn in all the ways that matter. The first 90 days set the tone for the rest of your dog’s life. If you get the basics right now, you avoid years of preventable issues later.

Setting Up Your Home Before Puppy Arrives

Prepare like you would for a curious toddler. Shih Tzu puppies will chew, explore, and get under things you didn’t know had “under” space.

Safe space: A crate or puppy pen in a quiet corner, with a bed and soft blanket.
Puppy-proofing: Hide electrical cords, remove toxic plants, secure trash cans, and block off stairs.
Flooring reality: Accept that rugs may take a hit during house training. Roll up anything you truly care about.

Daily Routine: Structure Beats Chaos

Shih Tzu puppies thrive on predictability. Set a rough daily schedule and stick to it:

Wake up → toilet break → breakfast → short play/training.
Mid-morning nap in crate/pen.
Midday toilet break → short walk or indoor play → nap.
Early evening walk/play → dinner → calm time → final toilet break.

Consistency makes house training and behavior training 10x easier. Random schedules create random results.

House Training a Stubborn Shih Tzu

Shih Tzus are smart but easily distracted. If you let them wander unsupervised, they’ll happily pee behind furniture and never think twice.

Take your puppy outside every 2–3 hours, plus after waking, eating, and play.
Go to the same spot so the scent triggers the right behavior.
Quiet praise and a small treat immediately after they finish.
Indoor accidents? Clean with an enzymatic cleaner and move on. No scolding after the fact; they don’t connect it.

Early Socialization (Without Overwhelming Them)

Shih Tzus can become clingy and anxious if they only ever see your living room. Controlled exposure in the first months is non-negotiable.

Invite calm, dog-savvy visitors of different ages and appearances.
Short car rides that don’t always end at the vet.
Safe, well-run puppy classes once vaccines are up to date.

For a bigger-picture overview of typical Shih Tzu temperament and social needs, read the dedicated breed guide on MyPetAtlas – Shih Tzu Breed Overview.

Vet, Vaccines, and Insurance – Do This Early

Book a vet visit within the first week. You want a baseline exam, vaccine plan, deworming if needed, and a reality check on breathing, eyes, and teeth. Shih Tzus are brachycephalic and prone to eye issues, so you don’t gamble here.

While you’re at it, decide how you’ll handle future bills. A single emergency surgery can wipe out your savings. Use a neutral comparison tool like the MyPetAtlas Pet Insurance & Pet Care Directory to compare pet insurance options early, before anything becomes a “pre-existing condition.”

Sleep, Alone Time, and Preventing Velcro-Dog Syndrome

Shih Tzus love being near you. That’s cute until your dog screams every time you leave the room. From day one:

Teach your puppy that naps alone in their crate are normal, not punishments.
Drop a chew or stuffed Kong, walk out for a few minutes, come back calmly.
Gradually increase the time away so they don’t panic when you actually have to leave the house.

Non-Negotiable: Handling and Grooming Training

Adult Shih Tzus need regular grooming. If your puppy never learns to tolerate brushing, face wiping, and nail trims, every grooming visit will be a battle.

Touch paws, ears, tail, and face daily for a few seconds.
Pair touching with treats so the experience is neutral or positive.
Introduce a soft brush early; don’t wait until the coat mats.

Summary

Shih Tzu puppy care is a lot of work up front, but the payoff is a confident, well-adjusted companion instead of a nervous, confused dog. Set routines, socialize wisely, build a relationship with a good vet, and consider insurance before problems show up. For more Shih Tzu-specific health, temperament, and grooming detail, keep the MyPetAtlas Shih Tzu guide bookmarked and use MyPetAtlas.com to find local vets, groomers, and trainers who actually understand the breed.