Your Shih Tzu is full of energy and curiosity. She is also endowed with a terrific sense of smell. She also loves to get acquainted with every new member of your family, including other pets in the household. Here are some tips on how to introduce your new Shih Tzu.
Try your best to make sure that introductions are done safely and slowly. Do not expect your Shih Tzu to become friends with another dog or a cat right away.
Other household pets will approach the newcomer cautiously, and they may become jealous of the new pet.
A bitter cat can inflict severe injuries on dogs, especially puppies. Eye injuries from cat scratches are among the most prevalent injuries experienced by dogs.
Also, an older dog in the household may become jealous of the attention you are showing your new Shih Tzu companion.
If your Shih Tzu is a puppy, do not let other pets in the household play too roughly with her, because she may get injured. An adult Shih Tzu is a sturdy little dog, but a puppy is fragile.
New Puppy Introduction
The best way to introduce your new Shih Tzu is to put her in an area where she is safe from other animals. However, they should be able to see and smell each other.
An excellent way to do this is to place your new arrival into a laundry room and place a portable pet gate to prevent her from running around the house. Doing this will allow your Shih Tzu to adapt to her new home while your other pets get accustomed to her.
Make sure that your Shih Tzu cannot escape the barrier and harm herself. The mesh should be small enough to prevent this from happening.
You can also place your new puppy into her crate for a few days. This will keep her safe from other household pets. And allow them the opportunity to see her and smell her.
Please pay close attention to your other pets, and make sure that they are not jealous. It can be a daunting task to pay equal attention to all of your pets. It is assuring them that you love them all equally. This is crucial if your other pets are also Shih Tzus.
Dealing with aggression in a Shih Tzu puppy
For the most part, animals learn to live together within a household. However, there are situations when your new pet may be the aggressor.
Shih Tzus are not aggressive by nature; however, there are certain character flaws associated with this breed, and aggression is one of them.
If you introduce your new Shih Tzu and it is aggressive towards other animals in the household, then neutering (spaying or castrating) your dog may help solve the problem. It would be best if you recognized aggressive behavior early because neutering works best at a young age.
Unfortunately, a sign of aggression in a Shih Tzu is considered a severe fault in their character.
Pets to avoid matching with your Shih Tzu
There are some pets that your Shih Tzu should never get familiar with. This list includes small mammals such as hamsters, mice, rats, ferrets, guinea pigs, birds, and reptiles.
The Shih Tzu was not bred to hunt, but they’re still dogs, and behind that cute cuddly exterior lay the instincts of their primitive ancestors.
Your Shih Tzu may not consider these animals as food, but she will consider them cute cuddly toys, and the Shih Tzu can play rough.
These pets are also capable of sensing when a dog is in the room and may become stressed when their cage is approached.
Make sure that you close the lid or the door on your pet’s cage because Shih Tzus are quick and witty. Place the cage where the dog cannot get it.
Do not hide them and think that your dog cannot find them. Shih Tzus have an excellent sense of smell and will locate your pets if you hide them. Therefore, put your pet’s cage somewhere that your dog cannot reach it.
Hopefully, this information is helpful when you decide to introduce your new Shih Tzu.
