How many times should you walk a Shih Tzu
How Often Should You Walk a Shih Tzu?
A common question that Shih Tzu owners have is how often they should walk their dog. The answer to this question depends on a variety of factors, including the age and health of your dog, as well as the climate and size of your neighborhood.
Lets look at the perfect daily routine and how often should you walk a Shih Tzu, so you can ensure that he or she gets enough exercise and stays healthy and happy!
How Often Should You Walk a Shih Tzu?
The first thing to consider is your dogs age. Dont start taking your puppy out for walks until they are fully vaccinated, usually around the 8-week mark. Puppies under the age of six months should not be walked for more than 20 minutes at a time.
For adult dogs, a good rule of thumb is to walk them for 30 minutes to an hour each day, though anything over an hour will probably be overdoing it.
Remember, Shih Tzus have short legs and generally tire easily. If you notice your Shih Tzu starting to pant, refusing to walk or lay down, thats a sign that the walk is too long. You can always try breaking up the walks into 15-minute increments throughout the day.
Tips For Walking a Shih Tzu
When it comes to walking your Shih Tzu, there are a few things to keep in mind. If you live in a hot climate, it is important to walk your Shih Tzu in the cooler hours of the day, such as early morning or evening. If you live in a cold climate, make sure to bundle your dog up in a warm coat before heading out for a walk.
Another important factor to consider is the size of your neighborhood. If you live in a rural area with plenty of space to walk, your dog will likely be able to handle a longer walk than if you live in a crowded city.
In general, it is best to let your dogs energy level be your guide. If he or she seems tired after a shorter walk, then stick to that distance. If your dog has plenty of energy and wants to keep going, feel free to extend the walk.
If walking on trails or in forests, be careful that there arent any of those tiny, sticky bur-bearing plants around while walking near trees or bushes. Burrs are seeds of plants that have pointy spikes around them.
These little barbs or spikes tend to bend towards the end of the plants which makes it really easy to adhere well to your dogs coat and paws. If any of these burrs get stuck between the toes, it can be painful, and you will notice your pup limping.
They can be removed gradually and gently with tweezers or a dog brush. If you find you have to stop frequently to remove these burrs, it may be best to walk in an area that is free of them.
Consider your dogs health. If your Shih Tzu has any medical conditions that make walking difficult, such as joint pain or arthritis, you will need to adjust the length and frequency of your walks accordingly.
Always check with your veterinarian before starting a new walking routine.
What To do If Your Shih Tzu Wont Walk
There are a few things you can try if your Shih Tzu doesnt seem interested in walking.
First, try using a different leash or harness that is more comfortable for them.
You can also try using treats or toys as a motivator. Offer plenty of praise during and after the walk.
Second, try breaking up the walk into shorter segments so your dog doesnt get overwhelmed.
Finally, make sure you are walking at a pace that is comfortable for them. If they are constantly lagging behind or trying to turn around, its likely they are not enjoying the walk.
If all else fails, consult with a veterinarian or professional trainer for additional help.
The Importance of Exercise for Your Shih Tzu
Exercise is important for all dogs, but it can be especially beneficial for Shih Tzus. This breed is known for being relatively calm and low energy, which means they may not get as much exercise as other breeds.
Walking them regularly can help to keep them healthy and fit, both physically and mentally.
How to Know if Your Shih Tzu is Getting Enough Exercise
There are a few signs you can look for to see if your Shih Tzu is getting enough exercise.
For starters, they should have plenty of energy and be enthusiastic about walks or other activities.
Next, they should be able to maintain a healthy weight without difficulty.
They should also have regular bowel movements and not seem constipated. If you are concerned that your dog is not getting enough exercise, consult with a veterinarian for additional guidance.
How to Make Walks More Fun for Your Shih Tzu
Going for walks with your Shih Tzu should be a fun and enjoyable experience for both you and your pup. There are a few things you can do to help.
Try varying the route you take so they can explore new smells and sights. As mentioned earlier, you can also bring along their favorite toys or treats to keep things more fun and help with motivation.
Make sure you are walking at a pace that is comfortable for them so they can enjoy the experience.
Try to keep a positive attitude and be patient if they need to take a break. Remember, we want this to be a fun experience and not stressful.
Safety Tips for Walking your Shih Tzu
Safety should always be a priority when out walking with your Shih Tzu.
Make sure you are using a leash or harness that is comfortable for them, fits them correctly and that they cannot easily slip out of.
Choose a route that is safe and free from hazards. Be aware of your dogs body language and look for signs that they are getting tired or uncomfortable.
If you are walking in an area with other dogs, always keep them on a leash and under control at all times. Be prepared to scoop up your dog if necessary.
In Conclusion
Remember, the key to a happy and healthy Shih Tzu is finding the perfect walking routine for your pup! By taking into account your dogs age, health, and the size of your neighborhood, you can ensure that your Shih Tzu gets the exercise he or she needs.
As always, if you have any concerns about your dogs ability to walk safely, consult with a veterinarian.
So, get out there and enjoy some quality time with your furry friend!
Complete Shih-Tzu Guide
So you need to know how often do Shih-Tzus pee? In this article we will look at how often they need to go out and what can affect this
Perhaps you are trying to organise regular daily walking times or trying to find a good routine that is fair for your Shih-Tzu. Simply put an adult Shih Tzu will need to pee around 3 times a day but lets take a little look into Shih Tzu toilet habits and see what works best for you and your Shih-Tzu in the hope that we can avoid any unwanted accidents.
Each persons situation may be different and there may be certain times when you will need to leave your Shih-Tzu alone. Please see http://completeshihtzuguide.com/can-shih-tzu-be-left-alone/
In this article we will delve into how often puppies, adolescent, adult or aging Shih-Tzus will need to pee. We will list various toilet training methods for puppies and what can be done if your Shih-Tzu is having any accidents.
How long can Shih Tzus hold their bladder?
Most Shih-Tzus will be similar in respect to how long they can hold their bladder, but there are a couple of different factors that can affect this. The first being age. Puppies wont be able to hold their bladder as well as adult dogs for instance. Another thing would be any medical condition. Lets breakdown different age groups
Shih-Tzu Puppy
As you may expect Shi-Tzu puppies will need to pee regularly. As a new-born they are likely to go once or twice per hour. At this stage they are not old enough to go out yet and should be with their mum anyway. If you have a new puppy that has left its mum for the first time I would generally expect that the puppy is likely to need to go around once every hour or two so it is important to be around to let them take regular trips outside.
The older the puppy is the longer you can expect them to go without peeing but you will need to housebreak them over time. Here are some housebreaking tips for Shih-Tzu puppies
- Create an area that your Shih-Tzu can go to pee inside the house with puppy pads or newspaper if needed. If your puppy does go inside the house it is important not to shout or get angry at them as the can not help it at this stage. their bladders are not strong enough so accidents will happen.
- Take your Shih-Tzu puppy out very regularly and if they go outside then you should praise them for it. Using treats and positive reinforcement will help speed up the process.
- Having meals at the same times during the day will speed up the process of needing to go toilet. After a meal it is important to take them outside at this time.
- Regular positive reinforcement when a successful toilet trip is made outside will get them used to do doing this and over time it should become second nature
- Have patience! Your Shih-Tzu will learn over time but accidents will happen.
As an adolescent Shih-Tzu (6-12 months) you can generally expect that they hold their bladder for around 3-5 hours or so.
Adult Shih-Tzu
An adult Shih-Tzu can hold their bladder for around 8-10 hours. Possibly even longer, although you would not want to leave them to wait any longer as that would not be fair to them. It is recommended that you let your adult Shih-Tzu go outside to pee 3 times a day. Whether that be for a walk or just outside in the yard or garden.
Ideally, your Shih-Tzu would get walked or let out first thing in the morning to do their business, once at late afternoon or very early evening and then again before bedtime. This breaks up the day for them and allows them plenty of opportunity to pee and get exercise.
Sticking to regular toilet times is important for your Shih-Tzu. It means that they become accustomed to it and are less likely to worry about the next time they can get to the toilet. If you was to change their toilet times dramatically and regularly you are much more likely to step in a wet patch at home, and it would not be the dogs fault. Something that nobody wants!
Aging Shih-Tzu
As with humans, Shih-Tzus can often start to struggle a little more to hold their bladder the older that they get. Toilet trips are likely to need to be made available a little more often. Dependant on your dogs age and needs this can change. This is something that you will need to keep an eye on, especially the older the Shih-Tzu gets.
Unfortunately your Shih-Tzu can start developing health issues the older they get and this can often have an effect on their bladder strength. If your Shih-Tzu is starting to lose bladder strength suddenly then I recommend you check with a vet that there is not underlying health issues.
Final Thoughts
Whilst this article aims to be informative and helpful, it is by no means more important than veterinary advice. If you find that you are struggling with your Shih-Tzu and they are having any accidents after using this advice, I would always recommend speaking to a vet to find out if there are any underlying health issues that could be causing problems.
On a side note I think it is important to know what to do if your Shih-Tzu does have accidents, whether they are a puppy or an aging dog with health issues. Whilst it can be frustrating if there is a puddle in the kitchen and you may have multiple things on your mind. The most important thing to remember is to keep calm and not get angry with your Shih-Tzu.
Shih-Tzus are very human orientated and the thought of being in trouble with you will break them and cause them all sorts of stress. This needs to be avoided for the benefit of a happy Shih-Tzu.
