Raising A Shih Tzu Rescue Dog
Tuesday, February 17th, 2009The Shih Tzu dog is very intelligent and very capable of understanding its own situation and they are also capable of holding a grudge as well.
The problem is that a Shih Tzu never forgets and it can hold a grudge against humans for a long time and justifiably, but there is always a chance to show a Shih Tzu rescue dog that not all humans are bad and that the little dog does have a chance at being loved.
As able as they are to retain memories and hold a grudge the Shih Tzu rescue dog also wants a chance at a happy life just like any other living creature. It wants to be loved and, when it feels it is safe and comfortable, it wants to love back as well. Just like in any other situations sometimes the physical scars of abuse never heals and the mental anguish may be difficult to overcome as well but it is always worth a try to give a Shih Tzu a second chance.
A Shih Tzu rescue dog requires a lot of specialized care and attention and one of the places you can get advice on that kind of care and attention is your vet. Your vet deals with abused animals all day long and they are trained to not only care for the animals but to also communicate with them.
One great source of advice is your vet because your vet has seen all manner of abuse and they are trained on how to reach abused animals and gain their trust. Your vet can be a valuable resource here.
A Shih Tzu breeder not only deals with new Shih Tzu pups but they also deal with abandoned and abused Shih Tzu dogs as well. Part of an agreement that the Shih Tzu breeder has with its customer is that it will take back a Shih Tzu if the owner no longer wants it or cannot care from it. A Shih Tzu breeder will know how to care for a Shih Tzu rescue dog.
By their very nature a Shih Tzu dog can be very difficult to train. Housebreaking alone can take as long as six months. When you add to that the trauma of a previous owner’s abuse, it makes the job that much more difficult. You need extreme patience to get through to a Shih Tzu rescue dog as they are very intelligent and can tell when something is going wrong. Positive reinforcement and a lot of love should help you get through to your dog.
Congratulations on your Shih Tzu rescue dog and you should be thanked by all animal lovers for what you are doing. Your Shih Tzu wants to thank you too but you have to remember that it is adjusting to something new from a life where all it knew was abuse so they will make mistakes. Never punish the Shih Tzu rescue dog, as they don’t understand punishment and punishment may push them even further from you. Be patient.