My dogs live inside our house. They sleep in our bedroom (on my mum’s bed), eat and drink at our dining area, pee and poo at our sala (yucks!) and run and play around the house. We don’t let them stay outside the house because they might get dirt or sick, waahhh…ang arte! We’re just protecting them, hihihi…..But my mum is planning to buy a nice dog house for them…I’m not ready for it since my dogs are not used to dog houses…..well, actually it’s just a plan…so I don’t need to worry about it, hihihi..,..check this out for Rancho Santa Fe Homes for Sale…here’s a simple tip on planning your dog’s house…hehehe
The most obvious factor - geographic location
If you live in an area with freezing cold winters and plenty of rain you should consider a heated dog house or at least one that is well insulated and waterproof. If it’s really cold you can add in a heated bed or pad. Make sure you use a heated pad that’s designed for animals and not humans, as the latter can get too hot for a dog. Heated pet beds operate safely at a lower voltage and are usually built to be chew proof. Look for cedar chip stuffing, too, as it repels the fleas. If you are concerned that other dogs or critters from the neighborhood will take advantage of this cozy, warm haven, choose a dog house with a magnetic door that allows only your dog to enter.
If you have the opposite problem and keeping your dog cool is more of a priority, make sure you choose a house that is well ventilated and position it in a shaded area of the yard. If your dog is really having trouble with the heat, some manufacturers offer air conditioned dog houses. And you can find specialty dog beds such as the Canine Cooler that help keep you pet feeling comfortable, especially when temperatures head over 100 degrees.
Another important factor is the size of the house
Measure the size of your dog to determine the length and height of the house you need. Your pet should have enough room to be able to turn around and stretch out but not so much space that they can never get warm. They’re really just using the space to sleep so it doesn’t have to be a mansion, just cozy.
Next, decide which material best suit your needs.
You can find dog houses made out plastic, wooden, PVC and galvanized steel. You can choose one that is completely finished, right down to the paint, to some that need partial assembly. And if you are a real do-it-your-selfer you can purchase a set of plans and build your own dog house.
What if your pet refuses to go into the dog house?
Sure, it can be tough convincing your dog that this really is what’s best for him but there are ways to do so even if he is stubborn. Use his new home as a feeding location and he’ll soon grow to love it. As added incentive, leave some treats and toys inside his new abode.
I’ll be leaving so soon… and I can’t bring my pets with me, so my mum will take good care of them while I’m away. It’s safer if they’ll stay at our home rather than bringing them in a new place. They will adjust to everything, and they might have depression….yes, dogs have depression too. They might suffer if they are not used to a certain place, weather, people, etc. Well, I’ll post an article here about dog’s depression so we’ll have an idea on how to handle it if our dogs have problems.
Also, check this real estate agent news..this might help you too..
There are two concepts that mark the posterior development of the puppy: the mother’s dependence and the imprinting. At the beginning the puppy is very dependent of the mother, before the owner comes into the picture. The mother is the first physical image that imprints between the puppy’s third and eighth weeks. This period is known as imprinting, it will allow the puppy to recognize its kind and especially to recognize the later on when mating. If these links have not been established normally, the puppy has no references and that harms its balance. The depressions are usually the last evolving step of anxiety. There are depressions familiar with puppies and those with adult dogs.
The Puppy’s Depression or Indifference Depression: These are very serious problems. The puppy is in the stage of development and any error in its development can lead to fatal consequences. The depressed puppy is very calm. It rapidly shows indifference toward the outer world, it doesn’t look at us in the eyes, runs away from visual and physical contact. The puppy does not stand being held in our arms, it howls and doesn’t play. It will not be capable of going out for a walk and if it does it won’t even move 1 centimeter.
Adult Depression: The dog is completely insensitive to its surroundings and it is incapable of reacting on its own. The following types of depression are show below:
Reaction based depression: it is the consequence of an important shock or a state of stress. It can be due to the loss of a companion, an accident or an important change in the dog’s surroundings. The dog stays still, it doesn’t eat and can be moaning constantly.
- Regression depression: the dog seems like its back to its infancy and has forgotten everything it has learned. This usually happens in the old dog that enters the phase of senility. The animal is dirty and doesn’t stop moaning.
Antidepressants have good results, as long as the owner has the patience to wait a little. It is clear that prevention is the way of avoiding these types of problems, which can lead to aggressiveness.
Aggressiveness: This is another type of behavioral upheaval which is very feared by the owners. It can be expressed in different ways and have different etiologies. A normal type of aggressiveness exists; it is an instinct of survival that works when the dog is in its wild state. Aggressiveness is not harmful for the rest and its objective is not to rebel against the rules. We have to be able to differentiate between the inter-specific and the intra-specific conducts of aggression.
The Intra and Inter Specific Aggressions: Intra-specific aggression defines the threat and clash behaviors between 2 individuals of different species. A clear example is the relationship between the predator and the prey, which is not the case of aggressiveness toward humans. The inter-specific aggression concerns the individuals of a same species while defending a territory, hierarchical position, etc.
Aggressive Attitude: Independently from the motive of aggression, the dog usually presents the same attitudes: prickled hair, retracted lips and growling. If the dog is sure of itself, the tail is straight up; if it is scared, its tail will be down. The most dangerous dogs are the ones that show no signs before they attack.
I was attracted to their hair. So, I decided to get two shih tzus, hihihi..
I tried to maintain Sushi’s long wavy hair; I bought lots of combs and brushes, different types of dog shampoo and conditioner and sent her to the dog spa almost every two weeks. But, as time went by her hair was tangled and matted and it became worse! Then her groomer suggested to give her a puppy cut, buh bye long hair….but her new cut was soo nice, it looks good on her J good thing she doesn’t need a hair transplant on the matted portion of her hair, hihihi
An article that would help us to care for our shih tzu’s hair, taken from ezrine articles.
The standard coat of a Shih Tzu should be luxuriously long and dense with a good wooly undercoat. The hair on top of the head may be tied up. When a Shih Tzu is completely brushed and combed the Shih Tzu should have a sleek look. The beard come to a point and a long, luxuriant moustache flows over the beard.
Method of making a Shih Tzu or Shih Tzu puppy topknot:
1. Part the hair from the ear on both sides of the head.
2. Gather up in one hand the hair in the middle and slip on a latex band at the base.
3. The band may have to be wrapped around twice to make it secure.
4. A ribbon or barrette is recommended to be attached to latex band.
How to make your own Shih Tzu or Shih Tzu puppy bows:
1. Cut one yard of ribbon. The ribbon can be any width you desire.
2. From this yard of ribbon, cut another piece about 5” long. Splice this in half lengthwise.
3. Cut the remainder of the yard in half. This material should give you enough for two ribbons or bows.
4. Wrap one of the long pieces around two fingers. Slip the folded ribbon off your fingers and double it over.
5. With a utility scissors, snip off a piece at the corners in a “V” shape, but not a sharp V, for you will lose any thread of support. There should be a piece of ribbon left at the centerfold to hold it all together.
6. Take one of the spliced pieces (5”) and tie the ribbon at the centerfold securely.
7. Separate each fold by gently pulling out and twisting each fold out from the center. Do both sides. When all the folds are pulled out and twisted, the bow is completed. All that remains is to fasten the bow to a tuft of hair, using the ends of the center splice to tie the knot. Cut off any excess ribbon that remains.
Care of the Shih Tzu or Shih Tzu puppy’s ears:
Because of the long hair covering the Shih Tzu puppy’s ears, problems can develop when the ear gets little air. Clean the excess hair out of your Shih Tzu puppy’s ear canal (not the ear flap) to improve air circulation and help prevent infection.
Care of the Shih Tzu’s eyes:
Shih Tzu generally have large eyes with shallow sockets. A Shih Tzu’s eyes are more prone to injury than most other breeds. If your Shih Tzu puppy’s eyes are red or cloudy or tear excessively, or if your dog squints and rubs at his eye, have a vet look at your Shih Tzu puppy’s eye to determine the cause.
