Hello everyone!

Hello everyone!
I am new! This is a wonderful site!
I have wanted a puppy for years, and eventually decided that if I was to be a dog-owner then it would have to be a shih tzu! I have only ever had cats. My most recent was Buddy. My partner had him for 15 years (He was 17 yrs old) and he was such a clever cat. We organised a puppy viewing for this Friday to hopefully find a friendly doggie to keep him company. However he got poorly this week. We took him to the vets on Monday where they said his kidneys were failing. On Monday night we had to have him put down. We have been very sad and miss him terribly. However he was a loving cat with a huge heart and would have wanted us to be happy (as crazy as it sounds). So on Friday I'm going to be viewing my first shih tzu puppy! We have so much love to give and cant wait to find a new friend/companion to share our lives with!
Being a first time dog owner is quite exciting! And I can see from this site that this is the place to come to for advice and to share experiences. So sorry for going on, but HELLO!!!
xxx

You've certainly come to the right place and are very welcome. Ask all the questions you need.
So sorry to hear about your little cat though, sounds like she had a long and happy life with you.

Hi from us too

How exciting for you! Would love to see photos!!!

You will find Whispers a friendly place and lots of love for all shih tzus!
Victoria, Rooney and Roxy

Hello love and welcome to the forum Sorry to hear about your old boy but you are right he would want you to be happy (I remember my friend saying that to me 5 years ago whenI had lost my two beautiful babies and was thinking of maybe getting another puppy but also feeling guilty!).
I have just gone through a loss myself and recently had a new puppy who is helping me overcome my grief.... it gives you something to focus on a little life that needs you... it doesn't take all the pain away but it helps come to terms with it!

Bless you and I hope your puppy viewing goes well and the little one that is meant to joi your family is waiting for you there xxxxx (and if he/she is we would need to see some photos )

Thanks so much everyone for your kind words. I have never had to have a cat put down before and it was all so sudden! I never want to replace Buddy but really want my shih tzu puppy, and the home is so quiet now!
So roll on Friday and I desperately hope "the one" is there!

Is there anything in particular I should be looking for in a puppy?
I have created a checklist (quite sad I know! But want to get everything right), but is there anything that you guys in particular would look for? As experienced shih tzu owners?
xx

Make sure you can see the mother (though that can be faked with puppy farmers anyway) the pup should have clean fur with no evidence of flea dirt, clean bright eyes and feel sturdy with a full tummy (but not pot-bellied). If you have the choice of more than one observe the puppies together and also look to see how bold some are and how shy others, see which one comes to you - I am a great believer in letting the puppy choose you if you can. Its rear end should also be clean with no evidence of the runs. Look at the conditions they are kept in and see if they are used to being handled. Ask lots of questions and if the breeder is not happy to answer them then think seriously about it!
Find out about the pedigree and teh papers. The KC are acting quite quickly nowadys with online registration so if the pups are KC registered you should really be getting the change of ownership papers with the puppy as well as some food to tide you over until you can get some of your own. Find out when the puppy was wormed, how often ad also if it has been vaccinated at all.

As for breed specifics nice domed head, round dark eyes short nose with s slightly tip-tilted expression, teeth/mouth level or slightly undershot (which I prefer because it gives the nice expression) that means the lower jaw comes out further than the top jaw slightly! Tail should be carried over the back in a tea pot handle - but this might be difficult to see in a puppy and is only really important if you want to show it. Watch its movement - puppies usually have a swagger and look as if they are the most important thing in the world

Hope that helps - sure I will think of loads more but you don't want to get too bogged down xxxxx

I cannot remember how I chose Rooney from 6 puppies.....I made the right one though...some how.

With my second one it was a choice of two and I loved Roxy's colouring and how petite she was.

This is probably not the expert way of choosing one but I think when you see them there should be one that catches your eye and your heart lol.

There is a bug with shih tzus, once you have one, you will want a family of them lol x

I have found that my first one who was on his own for 4 weeks, is more sensitive to us (knows when your feeling sad) then Roxy.

You see from Lesley's response above mine - I wish I had known Lesley before lol xxxx Though I would not change mine for the world!

The queen of shih tzus!

Sorry to hear about you poor cat, saying goodbye is the worst feeling in the world, but I am sure Buddy wants you to be happy and is happy for you to look for a new fur baby to love.

Whatever Lesley says listen to her, she is the expert and knows exactly what to look for. Also don't be put off if the breeder asks you loads of questions about you and your lifestyle. If they are genuine about their pups, they want them to go to good loving homes so will want to check you out as well. I usually watch the pups, for a bit, then get down on the floor with them, and see who comes to me.

Whatever you do, don't just pick a pup because you feel sorry for it, because it is quiet, doesn't look happy or if instinct is telling you something is wrong. We walked away from one litter because it just felt all wrong. It may have been as right as ninepence, but something didn't feel right to both my my Mum (whose pup it was to be) and myself. We went to look at another litter and it was a totally different story. From the minute we walked in, Simba chose us.

You have chosen the best breed to be your friend. Shih Tzus are lovely, friendly, playful, full of mischief, and so full of love. I am not sure how they manage to pack so much love into a small body but their hearts must fill most of it.

Hope you have fun on Friday, and as Lesley says the only requirement for being part of our family on whispers is loads and loads of photos!

Thanks ladies queen of shih tzus did have me laughing and boy do I need that this week xxxxx

You all have the most loving and perfect families - you all chose well (or rather you were chosen!) Isabella was the prefect addition to my family and not only was she meant to be with us she was named as well!! I am hopeless with names and lots of people were making suggestions (most of which I had already used for dogs before her) then someone suggested Isobel and it clicked - not only clicked it rang in my head all through that night and the following morning! Then I asked mum what she thought of it and she wasn't fussed! I was gutted because I could not think of another name! Went to see the puppies and really expected to come away with the sister BUT I picked up my Isabella and she just kissed me and loved me and said I am coming home with you and that was that! Then I told the breeder I didn't have a name yet and she said they had already named her not that I had to keep that name but she was responding to it already so being at a loss myself I said "What name have you called her then?" and they replied Bella!! Providence or what?? And Isabella is most definitely Isabella!

Something to add to the description of character above is that shih tzu are quite cat-like in the way they play and I think you will enjoy that with your new baby! xxxx

I had the same sort of experience when naming Poppy, I had quite a long list of names and Poppy wasnt on it, when we went to collect her, Poppy just came into my head, when I told the breeder that was what I was going to call her she said that her Mum was called Poppy and then had called her Poppy too as she was the first born pup, sometimes it seems it is just meant to be! Good luck with your new pup you will have the best fun with a Shih Tzu x