Bringing your puppy home

A small Shih Tzu puppy is a lot like a human baby: they don't know what can hurt them, but they know when they're loved. These are the few things we ask every new owner to do. They're simple, and they prevent almost every problem we've ever seen.

1. Collar and tag on day one

   A collar with a name tag and your phone number, before anything else. Puppies are fast and small.

2. Lots of love and attention

   Shih Tzus are companion dogs through and through. Hold them, talk to them, and include them. A puppy that feels secure settles in faster and is easier to train.

3. Stay home until the vaccines are finished

   Parvo is a serious problem in the Phoenix area. Until your vet confirms the full series of shots is complete, no pet stores, no groomers, no parks, and no contact with unknown dogs. Cats can carry the virus without getting sick, so even your own yard may not be safe. Carry your puppy when you're out.

4. Quality food, on schedule

   Feed a high-quality puppy food such as Purina Pro Plan Puppy, and stick to the feeding notes we give you. We also recommend keeping a tube of Tomlyn Nutri-Cal on hand. A dab on the gums brings a small puppy's blood sugar up quickly if they've gone too long without eating.

5. Vaccines and a vet you trust

   Choose a vet in the first week, bring the records we send home, and keep the vaccination schedule. A routine now saves worry later.

6. Trim the eyes and the rear end

   Their hair grows about as fast as yours. Every couple of weeks, use small round-tip scissors to trim the hair around the eyes and around the bottom. Hair around the eyes is irritating, and hair around the rear can trap stool and cause an impacted bowel, which is a real danger for this breed. A quick trim puts a smile on both ends.

7. Pools, driveways, and stairs

   Puppy-proof the way you would for a toddler. Show your puppy the pool with you in it, so they learn it's wet and that they may not be able to climb out on their own. Let them see and hear a car in the driveway from a safe spot. Block stairs until they can manage them.

8. Know what the guarantee covers

   Every puppy is covered until six months old with a full refund or credit toward another puppy, but we don't pay vet bills, and the guarantee assumes you follow the basics on this page. Details are on the guarantee page.

9. Enjoy your puppy

   That's the whole point. Send us a photo now and then. We're related by Shih Tzu now.