The Lion Dog ? The Shih Tzu

The Shih Tzu's traces their origin to Tibet where monks, possibly, had been breeding them. Around the 17th Century these dogs were brought into Peking (China) as gifts for the Emperor. They were an instant hit with the royalty and so they then become their exclusive property. The tiny animals stayed protected by Imperial orders for two long centuries. In the 1930 a pair of these lovable dogs were brought to England and from there they reached the USA soil in 1969. Wherever these dogs went they have conquered hearts. Today, the Shih Tzu is one of the most popular breeds across the globe, both in terms of glamorous looks and as a companion.The Shih Tzu loves to be the center of attraction and hate to share the limelight with anyone. They feel much neglected when children are indulged in their presence. Though they are basically very lovable and calm, they tend to show a tendency of jealousy and latent aggressiveness when attention is shifted from them to anyone else.The Shih Tzu needs very little from you other than love. To keep your Shih Tzu happy, allow it to sleep on your lap, pamper it as often as you can and talk to it all the time. Grooming this dog needs special attention because of its long coat. You need to have it brushed with a hard brush to prevent matting of hair and remove the dust that accumulates on it. You need two separate types of combs ? one long toothed for the overall coat on the body and another shorter and denser for the hair around the face and feet.The Shih Tzu comes in all colors. However, when admitted for dog shows the requirements are that there should be a white spot on the head and the tail to be considered as pure breed. The nose of this dog is flat and begets the color of the coat ? if it is dark it has a black color nose, if it is light colored then the nose too would light in color. People who live with Shih Tzus find these dogs completely adorable. They have a lot of spunk for their size and they carry themselves with great dignity and aplomb. This is one reason why many people call them royal dogs. Since the Shih Tzu is very friendly and receptive, many people prefer to train their dogs themselves and find it is not difficult at all. Just be sure use a lot of patience and many treats.People who have lived with a Shih Tzu are convinced that these dogs are human on the inside, as they reflect in their behavior a maturity and understanding of human behavior that cannot be explained otherwise. If you want a dog that loves you forever and cannot live without you ? the Shih Tzu is your choice.

Training for your Chihuahua

I have heard it said that a Chihuahua is a very difficult dog to train, and this puts a lot of people off of them. But this just is not true. They are great dogs for doing tricks with, they are intelligent, and most importantly, they are highly trainable.And you can train them by rewarding them when they get something right. For example, if you want them to sit when you go to answer the door, then reward them with a treat when they do it, and they will get into the habit of doing that.However, if they get negative results, they are not likely to try something a second time. This is why it is essential that you understand that discipline should not be used when it comes to training your Chihuahua. It simply is not effective at all. And when it does come right then go over the top with your praise, and your treats, and there is every good chance that they will do the same again for you.And another thing to think about is how you plan to give your commands. Will it be by voice, hand signals, or Clicker? Unless you are going to show your dog, I would suggest using verbal commands.Training sessions shouldnt last more than fifteen minutes, but you can have two or three training sessions per day. Be sure not to skip any days, and try to hold the sessions at the same time each day. Start and end each training session with a trick or command that the dog has mastered. Start off your sessions learning some simple commands such as sit and stay, and then when they are mastered you can move on to more complex commands, but remember to do all of this just one step at a time.Remember that these are highly intelligent dogs and the secret to your success in training is to praise them reward them and give them regular treats. At first you will need to spend time on your training, but it will be time well spent.