How much does a Shih Tzu cost? Market price reference
The Shih Tzu, also known as the lion dog, originated in Tibet, China, in the 17th century and was kept in lamaseries as a watchdog. Manjushri, the god of learning in Lamaism, often carried a small dog that could turn into a lion, and the Lhasa Apso from Tibet, which resembles a lion, is considered closely related to the Shih Tzu. Let's take a look below at how much a Shih Tzu costs!
How much does a Shih Tzu cost?
Generally, the price of a purebred, high-quality Shih Tzu ranges from 1,000 to 2,000 yuan each. The price of a purebred Shih Tzu with a pedigree may be around 4,000 to 6,000 yuan each, and a purebred Shih Tzu of show quality may sell for tens of thousands of yuan. If you find Shih Tzus being sold for only around 200 to 300 yuan, you must be on your guard, because pies don't fall from the sky, and the quality of such cheap Shih Tzus cannot be guaranteed.
How to choose a Shih Tzu
1. A purebred Shih Tzu is a small breed, standing about 27 cm tall at maturity and generally weighing no more than 7 kg. If the build is too large or too small, or the weight is too fat and clumsy or too thin and weak, these are all disqualifying traits. Of course, if a Shih Tzu develops abnormally, you should also have its body checked, and if disease factors are involved, it should be treated promptly.
2. A purebred Shih Tzu has a relatively short and full face, with widely spaced and very expressive eyes. The eyes are large and round, not protruding, with an appropriate distance between them, and very dark in color. Dogs with liver-colored and blue coats have lighter eye color. The nostrils are relatively wide and open, and the nose leather, lips, and eye rims should be black. The muzzle is short and wide but free of wrinkles, the upper lip is very full, the front of the muzzle is flat, the lower lip and lower jaw do not protrude, and the jaw is broad.
3. The most important characteristic of a purebred Shih Tzu is that the entire body is very well balanced, with nothing exaggerated. The join between the neck and shoulders is very smooth and flowing; the neck is long and the body short and compact, with no narrow waist or tucked-up abdomen. The length of the body is slightly greater than the height at the shoulder, and the shoulders are well angulated and lie flat against the body. The length from the elbow to the withers is slightly greater than the distance from the elbow to the ground.
4. In a purebred Shih Tzu, the length from the elbow to the withers is slightly greater than the distance from the elbow to the ground. The coat is double, covering the entire body, very thick and dense, long and smooth, and slight undulation is permitted. Any color is allowed in the Shih Tzu, and all colors are treated equally.
Daily care for the Shih Tzu
1. Ears: A dog's ears are very delicate and fragile, and the Shih Tzu's ears in particular are covered by long hair, have poor ventilation, and get dirty easily, so they need careful and gentle maintenance. When cleaning the ear canal, use a cotton swab and forceps wrapped with absorbent cotton to gently reach into the dog's ear and slowly rotate to clean. A little ear-cleaning solution can be dripped in before cleaning.
2. Eyes: For a dog with big eyes like the Shih Tzu, dust can easily get into the eyes. If dust gets into the eyes, hold the dog's head up and apply eye drops. Use your fingers to lift the dog's eyelid and put in one or two drops. If the areas wet with tears are ignored, tear burns will occur (the hair and skin around the eyes become red and sag). If the area around the eyes is wet with tears, wipe it clean with a towel.
3. Teeth: If food residue and tartar are left untreated, it can easily cause periodontitis, which in turn can lead to internal diseases and damage health, so dental care once or twice a week is indispensable. Moreover, in general, a Shih Tzu's teeth can bite bones, though there are certain requirements for the size of the bone; not just any size of bone will do.
4. Claws: A dog's toenails grow curved inward, and if not trimmed they may grow into the paw pads and cause inflammation. If the toenails are too long, walking is also very difficult. When the toenails are long, the blood vessels at the base are long too. The earlier the toenails are trimmed, the better. When trimming the toenails, be careful not to accidentally cut the nerves and blood vessels at the base; cut in front of the pink part where the blood vessel is visible.
6. Coat: Before washing the dog, be sure to brush the coat to remove attached matter and hairballs. After combing with a round-tipped comb, comb again with an ordinary comb, and if you find hairballs, carefully loosen them with your fingers. For brushing a Shih Tzu's coat, a pin brush or boar bristle brush is recommended, and a detangling spray should be used when brushing, which makes brushing easier and less likely to cause tangles.