The first two to three months raising a Shih Tzu puppy after getting them from your breeder is when it’s critical to protect them from the Parvovirus.
(Read our blog post “How to Protect a Puppy from Parvo” if you aren’t sure what Parvo is or how puppies get Parvo.)
Since you can’t put them down on most surfaces until they’ve completed at least three sets of shots, you have to get creative in order to potty train, play, and travel with your puppy.
To be sure, it can be hard waiting to do normal things with your puppy like taking them on a walk or letting them play on your floor without disinfecting it first. We understand since we’re living it in our home raising our own Shih Tzu puppies.
Just remember, it’s only a short season!
After your puppy has finished their last round of vaccines, you will be free to walk and play with a healthy puppy anywhere you like for the rest of their lives.
However, while you’re still in those first two to three months, we have some tips for you to make this season of life a little easier.
Here are our tips for raising a Shih Tzu puppy while you’re being extra careful to protect them from any contact with the Parvovirus:
Tip #1: Get the Right Cleaning Tools to Protect Your Puppy from Parvo
We highly recommend you get a top-quality disinfectant that is not only safe for pets, but also promises to kill tough viruses like the Parvovirus.
It’s best if the disinfectant bottle even mentions “kills parvovirus” specifically.
Our favorite is this heavy-duty disinfectant to thoroughly clean any hard surfaces where puppies will be and Clorox wipes in Fresh Scent for any quick spot cleaning.
In addition, you may want to invest in a good steam-cleaner! We love our Shark steam-cleaner and use it all the time.
With a disinfectant you can trust and a powerful steam-cleaner, cleaning any floors you plan to let your puppy walk on is a breeze!
Just be sure you tell all your family members to take off or disinfect their shoes before walking in the area your puppy will be.
Tip #2: Use Pet Gates and Playpens to Segment Off Areas of Your Home
Another essential is having a pet gate or playpen handy so you can easily partition off parts of your home.
For example, we love letting puppies play in our kitchen. It’s a central location where we hang out often so they get to be with us and the tile floors are easy to clean.
To keep puppies (and our adult dogs) in our kitchen area, we use a combination of a couple different pet gates that we absolutely LOVE!!
Not only are they tastefully designed rather than being an eyesore–but also they are easy to use and have held up well for us under constant use.
Some of our favorite pet gates we use DAILY are this walk-through gate…
…and this free-standing gate!
In addition, we love playpens with waterproof pads under them for carpeted areas or anywhere you can’t disinfect the floor.
This is our favorite playpen that is easy to assemble, clean, and adjust to whatever size you need by adding more panels.
We use this 47” square washable waterproof pad for a four panel, square playpen, and this 48.5″ x 73″ rectangle washable waterproof pad for a six panel, rectangle playpen.
Tip #3: Carry Your Puppy with You As Much As Possible
We recommend holding your puppy as much as you can during those first few months.
You can carry them in one arm while you get things done with the other arm or you can even tuck them into a jacket or robe so you can have both hands free! (It’s lots of fun!!)
If your jacket or robe won’t work, consider investing in a doggy swaddle or sling carrier for your pup so you can carry them hands-free.
Not only does carrying your puppy keep them off of harmful surfaces, but also it’s great for bonding with your new puppy!!
You might not be able to get quite as much done during those first several weeks, but trust us–it’ll be worth it!
You can also use a clean towel and a few toys to make a cozy spot for them to play and cuddle next to you whenever you sit down on the couch.
Tip #4: Use Soft Carriers and Doggy Strollers Instead of Walking on a Leash
We love a good soft carrier you can wear on your shoulder in a grocery store or anywhere else you need to carry your puppy with you.
Soft carriers are also awesome for taking your puppy on a car ride so you can focus on driving and know they have a safe and cozy spot to ride. (Car seats are also a great option for making car rides safe for your pup.)
Another idea one of our past puppy moms shared with us is getting a doggy stroller to take your puppy on walks.
We love this idea!!
As a bonus, you can continue using the stroller when they’re older, since Shih Tzu often get tired easily on long walks because they have such short little legs.
We love this dog stroller on Amazon.
Tip #5: Crate Training & Indoor Potty Pads Instead of Going Outside
Until it’s safe to take your puppy outside, you’ll need a way to begin potty training while you’re waiting for your puppy to complete their last set of shots.
We love using a combination of crate training and indoor potty pads to begin potty training a Shih Tzu puppy.
Once your puppy is safe from Parvo, you can still transition them to going outside to potty. However, it’s an extra bonus if they’ve also learned to use a potty pad indoors for rainy or snowy days!
Finally, these PawTrax trays are your new best friend while you’re potty training your puppy indoors. Not only do these trays hold potty pads securely in place, but also they come with a snap-in, mesh guard to keep your puppy from chewing or digging the potty pad and ripping it to shreds!
(Note: the disposable potty pads we’ve linked in this post are the perfect size to fit your PawTrax tray!)
We hope these tips make raising your Shih Tzu puppy easier for you during those first few months after bringing them home!
Although it can be a challenging season while protecting your puppy from Parvo, it’s also a joy taking care of your new furry family member!
And there will be plenty of snuggles, puppy breath, and kisses along the way that remind you it’s so worth it!!
In addition, you’re not alone since we are here to help you and your Shih Tzu thrive through every stage of life.
Please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below if you have any questions about raising a Shih Tzu puppy that we didn’t cover here.
We love hearing from you!!
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With love,
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We have a 13 year old Shih Tzu which is fortunately in good health but we can’t imagine living without one in our house. This is our 3rd one and we love them like children. We are both retired and I’m trying to scout out a puppy before ours gets too old and then we will be in such shock, we will probably end up at Canton buying the first dog we see and I don’t want a puppy mill dog. Can you give us an idea of the prices for your puppies? Since we’re both retired and apparently we aren’t going to travel because we would rather be home with our Shih Tzu . Sounds crazy but it’s true.
Thanks, Larry Morris, Harleton,Tx C903-738-6458
Larry, We have our Belle who is also 13yrs old. Where does time go??? I think it’s a great idea to be looking for another Shih Tzu to love while you still have yours. I will send you a text with our website’s FAQ page that has our prices and other helpful information. Molly https://akcchocolateshihtzus.com/faq/