When we are ready, our next dog will be a Shih Tzu. We plan on getting a pup. We already have a number of "puppy/dog" things, since we were (key word "were) going to get one before leaving Florida. Fortunately, I thought twice about driving from Florida to Colorado with a pup and we decided against it. We can no longer handle a dog like our last one, which was 1/2 Malamute and 1/2 Siberian (Husky). She was three years old and, somewhat, a hand-full. Had her when we lived here in Colorado before and she absolutely loved the snow. So, does anyone on the forum have a Shih Tzu and, would you recommend that breed to a Senior couple in their early 70's?
I have friends who have a Shih Tzu and he's adorable. A very nice dog and sociable. Good with kids too. Big dogs are a handful at any age, Cody, so you probably would enjoy this type of dog.
I don’t have a Shih Tzu now, but I have had one in the past, and they are loving and intelligent little dogs. They have a laid-back and easy going personality, and I think that a Shih Tzu would be perfect as a dog for a senior. They are small enough to carry when you want to pick them up, but large enough not to be fragile, like a Yorkie or Chihuahua would be. Personally, I would get an adult dog and not a puppy, because for the first 1-2 years you will have intensive care and training while you are raising a puppy and getting him/her through the potty-training stage and the chewing up everything stage. I just don’t want to be having to clean up after all of those little puppy accidents, or rushing him outside at least once each hour, and an adult dog is so much more calm than any puppy would be. But that is just me, and not how most people would feel. When we got Rusty, Bobby’s Red Heeler, Bobby absolutely would not consider an adult dog because he said he could only bond with a puppy, so that is what he got. Rusty is about 3 now, and has finally stopped chewing everything up, but I still keep away from him because he would knock me over with his jumping around, so he is totally Bobby’s dog. After I lost my beloved little Yorkie-poo, Chipper, I eventually got Poodle as a companion dog. He was an adult dog, and kind of a rescue dog; so we bonded right away. I am really happy that I decided to get another little dog; so I think that you will be really happy with your Shih Tzu when you get one, @Cody Fousnaugh . ‘This is a picture of Chipper and Fazoli, our Shih Tzu.
Mine is a Shih Tzu mix but looks more like a Shih Tzu. I hope you can rescue a grown dog. They're great little dogs, very affectionate and love people.
This is sort of long, so please bare with me. Don't necessarily want to go to a Rescue. We tried that once with two, brother and sister, Alaskan Malamutes, from a Husky Rescue. That was when we had our last house here in Colorado. Wife and I walked both and they got along fine. Put them inside the Topper of our old Dodge Ram 1500. I slid open the window in the Topper inside the cab and both dogs tried to put their head into the opening at the same time and got into a fight. Was able to separate them and neither got hurt. I shut the window and they were fine going back home. Wife kept an eye on them. Put them in the backyard, which definitely was big enough (house was on 1/4 acre with large backyard). They started playing and barking.....ok. Then it was time for feeding. Four different bowls (eating/drinking). I was watching while wife put food in each. Let them in and both went to the same bowl and a fight followed. Wife got scared out of her wits. No blood, no injury and got them both back outside. The both barked part of the night. Called the Rescue the next day and took them back. One other time: Checked out a Golden Retriever at a Rescue. This Retriever looked beautiful, but the owner of the Rescue told us (outright), "if you get him, don't take him to a Dog Park, Petco or PetSmart because he will try to attack other dogs." Well, that was the end of that! We got Nikki, the 3-yr. old Malamute/Siberian Husky mix at the County Shelter. We had the same house as above. Put her in the backyard and she seemed fine. Had tickets to see the Rockette's Christmas Show in Denver that night. When we got home, she had dug a hole under the gate and half of her head was sticking out. Took care of the hole and decided to put up an electric dog wire on the lower perimeter of the backyard. Before doing this, she was trying to dig other holes along that perimeter. Found them when I got home from work. She was absolutely beautiful and we both loved her, but she was an "escape artist" and we not only read about that, but experience it. The last time she got loose, local P.D. picked her up and took her to a Shelter some 40 miles from our house. I did go get her, but we decided "enough is enough" and we took her back to the County Shelter we got her from. Yes, we both cried, but. Have numerous pictures of her on our boat (wearing a "Doggy Life Vest") and even a picture of her and us we sent out as a Christmas card.
Don't intend to be mean Cody,but given your history maybe you should not get a dog at all. I love dogs, have always had at least one probably always will. If you are going to have a dog,you must understand and accept that they are filthy destructive little beasts that will always do stupid things. Our dogs and all of our animals have always been forever. We would not consider getting rid of one of them any more than we would one of our children. When one is "naughty" or destuctive, we just worked harder and gave the animal whatever special attention he needed to get around the problem.
Agree. Plus a full blooded Shih-Tzu will cost a pretty penny, with vet bills, grooming and other expenses to properly care for a little dog. Dogs deserve a forever home, not a "we decided we don't want you" home.
I knew we were going to get criticized for taking the Husky back to the County Shelter, but there are those that would totally understand why we did. I didn't say it was an easy choice, but sometimes people simply "have to do what they have to do". So..... Another thing to remember, not all dogs get along with their new owners and not all owners get along with a new dog. Of course dogs want a "forever home", but there are times that that can be impossible. But, being "impossible" sure doesn't mean that the person/persons shouldn't have a dog.
@Cody Fousnaugh I totally understand that some breeds or even personalities of dogs don't end up working out with the owners. My parents were actually given as a gift a Jack Russell Terrier. He was the cutest thing and they loved him, but the older he got, the more ambitious and rambunctious he got. They simply couldn't keep up with all his energy, so they ended up having to give him to a neighbor. He was a wonderful dog, but not quite right for them. I think Shih Tzu's are absolutely one of the most beautiful dogs ever!! If I could afford one, I would consider it myself.
I couldn't agree more, Yvonne. Older dogs are sometimes a handful at first, but learn quickly and are loyal as can be.
The Husky needs a younger owner who can work with him. I'm sure the shelter will find someone, Cody. My dog is a Shollie, which is part German Shepherd and Welsh Border Collie. She had been abandoned and was adopted out a couple of times to young folks who left her alone and went off to work. Well their homes were a wreck when they got back and one guy beat her and took her back to the shelter claiming she was a menace. She had separation anxiety and acted out when left alone. They tagged her for euthanasia but Orphaned Pets, Inc. found her and fostered her. We adopted her and I trained her. She was a handful at first, but this dog just needs to be around people, and loved. What a lovely disposition she has and follows me everywhere. She is great with people. So, I think your Husky will be fine and you'll enjoy your "Daisy."
My oldest son stopped by yesterday and had his dogs with him. The Shih Tzu was really friendly. The fox terrier was a bit too much for both of us.
We read that Husky's are really great "escape artists". Nikki didn't mind being at home alone; that we could tell anyway. We had bought a Doggy Door and installed it in the sliding door in the kitchen. We had also put a couple of older sheets on our couch for her to lay on. At night, we'd always keep the Doggy Door up/unlocked so she could come and go as she wanted to. She loved sleeping on the couch at night, even though I built her a nice dog house that was sitting on a cement slab by the Doggy Door/sliding glass door. We fed her excellent wet and dry dog food (checked what was at the top of the ingredient list), took her down the street (on a leash) to get our mail, took her to local dog park and on our boat. Actually, one day that wife and I had off from work, took her to my job to show her off to my co-workers and supervisor. One time, when we went to Las Vegas for a weekend, took her to Camp Bow Wow and she was fine. Was able to see her, from our hotel, on their online camera playing with other dogs. We were in Vegas and she was at Camp Bow Wow in Castlerock, CO.