A Shih Tzu dog is probably one of the proudest and most intelligent dogs that there is in any breed. As intelligent as the Shih Tzu is, even a Shih Tzu gets traumatized by having to be rescued from an abusive owner or being abandoned by someone who doesn’t care about them. Because they are intelligent the Shih Tzu understands when they are being left behind and they can also hold a grudge against the species of animal that abused and abandoned them – humans.
Luckily for you they are also smart enough to give people a second chance and a Shih Tzu rescue dog can be one of the most loyal pets you ever had as long as you give it a chance. Of course the degree to which they were abused can determine how they react to your care and some mental and even physical scars never heal, but if you give a Shih Tzu rescue dog a second chance it will give you a chance as well.
When you start out your new life with your Shih Tzu rescue dog you are going to need good advice from experienced and professional people on how to communicate and care for your recovering pet. Your vet is an invaluable resource when it comes to that kind of information and they would be more than happy to educate you on the things you need to do for your Shih Tzu rescue dog.
A breeder not only sees pups all day long but they are also caring for Shih Tzu dogs that are abandoned by their previous owners as well. A Shih Tzu breeder has a great deal of experience in caring for a Shih Tzu rescue dog that you can benefit from, so do not hesitate to call a local Shih Tzu breeder for advice on your Shih Tzu rescue dog. As much as a breeder knows about raising new pups they also know about getting through to Shih Tzu rescue dogs as well.
By their very nature a Shih Tzu dog can be very difficult to train. Housebreaking alone can take as long as six months. When you add to that the trauma of a previous owner’s abuse, it makes the job that much more difficult. You need extreme patience to get through to a Shih Tzu rescue dog as they are very intelligent and can tell when something is going wrong. Positive reinforcement and a lot of love should help you get through to your dog.
Congratulations on your Shih Tzu rescue dog and you should be thanked by all animal lovers for what you are doing. Your Shih Tzu wants to thank you too but you have to remember that it is adjusting to something new from a life where all it knew was abuse so they will make mistakes. Never punish the Shih Tzu rescue dog, as they don’t understand punishment and punishment may push them even further from you. Be patient.
This article contains helpful information on raising a Shih Tzu rescue dog. You can use this article as a great resource for Shih Tzu information.