How to Care for Shihpoos
You can care for your Shihpoo by grooming it regularly to keep its coat healthy. To do this, brush its fur daily to keep its coat tangle-free and bathe it about once a month. Additionally, you should trim the fur around its face, since it can irritate its eyes. If you don't have time to regularly trim its fur you can also secure the hair on top of its head in a topknot to keep it out of the way. When it comes to food, you should pick a dry food, since Shihpoos have a high risk of dental problems, and the crunch of dry food will help keep its teeth healthy. Just make sure to feed it the recommended amount of food, since it's easy for shihpoos to eat too much and gain weight.
Adopt a Shihpoo if you are a first time dog owner. Both the Shih Tzu's and the poodle's good nature means the Shihpoo is likely to make a good dog for first time owners. The breed is very adaptable, affectionate, and social. Understand that Shihpoos are very affectionate. Shihpoos are extremely affectionate dogs. They love to cuddle and make good lap dogs. They are usually very accepting of strangers, though some dogs might be shier than others. Most Shihpoos want to sleep with their owners at night. Consider a Shihpoo if you live in a small space. The Shihpoo loves the comfort of the home. His small size means he adapts well to apartment living. He is very friendly with others, so he will do well if you are around other people where you live. He adapts well to any living situation, and can be content running around a yard or living room. Shihpoos do not make good guard dogs because they are not extremely territorial and because of their friendly nature. Shihpoos do not do well living outdoors. They need to be indoor dogs. Choose a Shihpoo if you are single, a senior, or have children. The Shihpoo is energetic and fun-loving, and loves playing the clown. He is good at cheering people up and helping anyone not feel lonely. He is good with families, but he is also great for singles because he is perfectly happy with one attentive owner. Shihpoos are also great for seniors. Shihpoos are great with children, as long as children are supervised and taught to handle the dog gently. Shihpoos don't like having their hair pulled, so make sure your children know not to do this. Consider a Shihpoo if you want a low exercise level dog. Shihpoos don't need long walks to tire them out because they don't need long walks. They are extremely energetic though. Playing with them in the house or apartment, or giving them toys, should be enough. They will run around your house, play with stuffed animals, and chase balls. Short, brisk walks twice a day is great exercise for a Shihpoo. They also like running around yards or parks. If your aim is to have a dog to get out and about to meet people, or to exercise with, a Shihpoo may not be the dog for you. Be aware the Shihpoo is not hypoallergenic. The Shihpoo is sometimes promoted as a hypoallergenic dog, meaning people say he is a breed that people with dog allergies can tolerate. However, this is not true. The Shihpoo is just as likely to trigger allergies as other breeds. If your main consideration for getting a Shihpoo is this, be aware you are likely to have allergy problems. Know that a Shihpoo may be difficult to house train. The Shihpoo can inherit characteristics from either parent. While the poodle is considered highly intelligent and easy to train, the Shih Tzu has a laissez faire attitude. The Shih Tzu has a reputation for being slow to house break, so this might mean your Shihpoo can have difficulties training. This doesn't mean if your Shihpoo inherits the Shih Tzu's character he is impossible to train, but the owner has to be prepared to be patient and give out clear consistent messages when you are house training him. You must be prepared for accidents indoors and know that punishing the dog is inappropriate. Choose your breeder carefully. Do your research thoroughly in order to find a responsible breeder. Speak to owners of Shihpoos and find out who their dog's breeder was. If you don't know any owners, speak to your vet who may be able to put you in touch with someone who is prepared to help you. Check out the breeder's reputation online. Visit the breeder. Before you buy your dog, call the breeder and ask to visit. Pay attention to the breeder's attitude. They should ask you as many questions as you ask them. A responsible breeder will want to know their puppy is going to a good home. Make sure your puppy is socialized properly. Socialization is crucial to the future character of your Shihpoo. If he is raised in an isolated environment, such as an outdoor kennel, or taken from his mother too early, like in a puppy farm, then he is likely to grow into a dog that has behavioral issues. The breeder should make efforts for as many different people as possible to meet the puppies from around three to four weeks of age, so the young dogs are used to people of different heights, appearances, and tones of voice. Never buy a puppy from a puppy mill. A puppy mill breeder makes an excuse as to why the mother dog is not available to view. This trade is unethical and immoral, and should not be encouraged by buying these puppies and creating a demand. Ask what tests they give their puppies. Ask the breeder what tests they voluntarily give their dogs. These tests help identify certain breed specific diseases. Be aware that good breeding stock does not guarantee a healthy puppy, but it goes a long way to reducing the risk of a sickly dog. The genuine breeder will be able to produce certification to backup their claims. The tests currently available for breeding dogs include tests for renal dysplasia and juvenile renal dysplasia; hip dysplasia; portosystemic shunt; and progressive retinal atrophy. Be aware of breed specific diseases. Because the Shihpoo is a cross between a poodle and a Shih Tzu, know they may have problems of both breeds. The problems associated with the Shih Tzu include patellar luxation, juvenile renal dysplasia, dry eye, hip dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy, umbilical hernia, allergies, and portosystemic shunts. The genetic diseases linked to poodles include dilated cardiomyopathy, sebaceous adenitis, retinal atrophy, anal sac disease, underactive thyroid glands, Cushing's disease, Addison's disease, and luxating patellas. Vaccinate your puppy. Your puppy will need to be vaccinated against various canine infectious diseases. Exactly which diseases depends on which infections are prevalent in your area, and so your veterinary surgeon is best placed to advise on the best protocol for each individual. The breeder should have already taken your puppy to the vet and started his vaccinations. Find out when he started so you can give this information to the vet so they can schedule follow-up vaccinations. The diseases against which vaccination may be given include distemper, parvovirus, canine adenovirus, leptospirosis, infectious canine hepatitis, parainfluenza virus, and Lyme disease. A vaccination against rabies is obligatory in many states and you will be breaking the law not to comply. The first dose is given after 12 weeks of age. Deworm your puppy. Your Shihpoo will need deworming. These medications come in a wide variety of forms, including tablets, oral liquids or granules, and spot products. Talk to your vet about which medication is right for you. Flea and tick prevention is also pivotal. Talk to your vet about which medicine is appropriate for your dog. You should check your dog every day for ticks and remove them with a tick hook. Neuter or spay your dog. Desexing your puppy should be discussed with your veterinarian. It is usual to operate on females from four to six months of age, and males around six to 10 months of age. This age varies depending on the individual vet clinic. Neutering and spaying prevents unscheduled breeding. Spaying protects the female dog against mammary cancer, if surgery if performed before the second heat. Feed your dog quality food. Give your Shihpoo a good quality food. Look at the label on the bag and make sure a named meat is the first and second ingredient on the bag. It can include meat byproducts or grains, but it should be farther down the list. The Shihpoo should be fed dry kibble because the breed has a high risk of dental problems. Use the amount recommended on the pack as a starting point. Shihpoos love to eat and can over eat easily, so you have to monitor his food intake. Regularly weigh your dog to make sure he is not gaining too much weight. Your dog should have a waist line when viewed from above or the side, and you should be able to feel his ribs easily, but without the ribs standing out through the skin. A Shihpoo can be fed once or twice daily, according to your personal preference. Never exercise your dog immediately after eating. Wait for at least 90 minutes before exercise. There is a risk of the dog's stomach flipping over and becoming twisted, which is a life-threatening condition called bloat. Groom your Shihpoo. Grooming your Shihpoo will depend on his coat type, which could be curly or long and smooth. Brushing your dog daily in order to keep the coat in good order and knot free. This also conditions your dog's skin. Bathe your dog once a month because Shihpoos can have skin conditions. Trim the genital area on your Shihpoo. The long hair can get urine and feces caught in it. You can also get a groomer to shave the lower area. If the Shihpoo grows long fur on their face, it can get in his eyes and cause irritation or act as a blindfold. Either keep their face trimmed short, or gather the long fur up in a topknot to keep it away from their eyes. Check your dog over after each walk. Look for grass awns that may be lodged in fur around the ears or paws. Brush your dog’s teeth. Take care of your dog's teeth by getting into the habit of regular tooth brushing. Use a special dog toothbrush or a finger mitt. Wet the brush with water and gently rub it on the outer surfaces of the teeth. Once the dog is happy with this, you can introduce a blob of dog toothpaste onto the brush. You can do this once a week. These pastes are tasty to dogs, don't need rinsing and are free from substances harmful to dogs if swallowed, such as fluoride. Never give a dog human toothpaste. Use reward-based training. Use reward-based training with your Shihpoo. Find what he is prepared to work for, such as his favorite treat, toy, or even affection. If his attention span is short, opt for shorter but more frequent training sessions, such as five minutes, four times a day. These are going to be more successful than less frequent shorter ones. If you are struggling to housebreak your Shihpoo, know that you must not punish him for having accidents in the house. Instead, give him plenty of opportunity to go outside and stay with him so that you are there spot to reward him when he does go in the right place. 
Adopt a Shihpoo if you are a first time dog owner. Understand that Shihpoos are very affectionate. Consider a Shihpoo if you live in a small space. Choose a Shihpoo if you are single, a senior, or have children. Consider a Shihpoo if you want a low exercise level dog. Be aware the Shihpoo is not hypoallergenic. Know that a Shihpoo may be difficult to house train. Choose your breeder carefully. Visit the breeder. Make sure your puppy is socialized properly. Ask what tests they give their puppies. Be aware of breed specific diseases. Vaccinate your puppy. Deworm your puppy. Neuter or spay your dog. Feed your dog quality food. Groom your Shihpoo. Brush your dog’s teeth. Use reward-based training. 