Bichon Shih Tzu - The New Improved Shih Tzu
No commentsIf you’re looking for a little dog with an enormous personality, the Bichon Shih Tzu mix is the dog for you. This sought-after breed is a cross between the French lap dog, the Bichon Frise, and the Chinese lap dog, the Shih Tzu. Breeders have refined both breeds for centuries to create happy canine companions who want to be the center of your world.
Some toy dogs are nervous and high strung, but the Bichon Shih Tzu has a fun, carefree personality. The Bichon Shih Tzu wants to spend its every waking moment with its owner. This is not a breed that should be left at home all day while you’re at work. Take your Bichon Shih Tzu with you whenever possible. The dog will charm everyone it meets, and both you and the dog will enjoy spending time together.
If you look at Bichon Shih Tzu pictures, you can easily see that the mixed breed’s flat facial features come from the Shih Tzu, and the fluffy coat comes from the Bichon Frise.
The Bichon Shih Tzu loves the camera, and if you like digital photography, the hard drive on your computer will soon be full of Bichon Shih Tzu pictures. Be sure to take plenty of shots during each photo session to ensure that you get one or two good portraits of your dog.
Some of the best dog portraits are created when the dog is tired or sleepy, so play with your dog to encourage sleepiness, then grab your camera and start snapping when your dog starts to yawn. Get down to your dog’s eye level, even if it means lying on your stomach on the floor. Take a variety of shots of your dog looking at the camera as well as candid shots of the dog at rest or at play.
Some of the most appealing photos are taken when the dog looks directly into the camera. Holding one of your dog’s favorite toys or treats behind the camera will encourage your dog to look into the camera lens.
Whether you get your Bichon Shih Tzu from a rescue club, a shelter, or a breeder, a veterinarian should see your new dog as soon as possible. If you don’t already have a veterinarian, talk to friends and family who have pets-especially those with small dogs-and ask them to recommend a veterinarian to you. On your pet’s first visit to the vet, the dog will be examined for any obvious health defects and given any vaccinations it needs. Your vet will also establish a schedule for ongoing visits to ensure your dog is the perfect Bichon Shih Tzu picture of good health.
Because the dog does not shed, it requires regular, specialized grooming to keep its coat from getting too long and overwhelming the dog. A short, perky cut will give your dog the fluffy look typical of the breed and let his personality come shining through. Most Bichon Shih Tzus love the grooming process and will gladly prance around the house to show off a new clip. The Bichon Shih Tzu has the best of both breeds. Its tear ducts and longer nose eliminate the watery eyes and breathing problems that some Shih Tzus have, and the cross-bred has fewer of the skin problems that seem to plague the purebred Bichon Frise.
Friday, June 6th, 2008 at 11:46 am and is filed under Dog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
