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Brown Shih Tzu Names for Your New Puppy

Looking for creative brown Shih Tzu name ideas?

Well, you’ve come to the right place! 😉🤎🐾

Here at Sunnybelle Shih Tzus, we’ve been raising brown Shih Tzu puppies for over twelve years (and counting!) During that time we have probably exhausted all the possible chocolate and coffee-themed names you could think of!

In this blog post, we won’t just give you the basic brown puppy names you can find all over the internet! We have quite a few creative twists in store for you!

However, any chocolate-inspired list of brown Shih Tzu names has to include “Coco,” in our opinion!

“Sunnybelle’s Coco Truffle” (or “Coco” for short) was our first ever Liver Shih Tzu. Coco has a gorgeous dark chocolate coat, but her brown (aka chocolate or liver) points (her nose, skin, and paw pads) are what qualify her as a true liver Shih Tzu.

Coco is the mama that started our whole chocolate breeding program! Many of our moms here at Sunnybelle are her daughters and granddaughters.

Coco is now retired and she spends her days playing with her favorite ball in our kitchen and napping on her throne (er, chair!) next to Molly every morning during breakfast. She’s queen of the kitchen and living the good life!! 😉

AKC Chocolate Shih Tzu Breeder in East Texas - Sunnybelle Shih Tzus

If you decide you’d like to name your puppy something more creative than “Coco” or “Brownie,” this list is for you!!

We have chocolate-inspired puppy names, coffee-inspired puppy names, names inspired by brown things and animals in nature, (don’t worry, they’re much cuter than “Muddy!” Although, if you want to name your dog Muddy, then we won’t judge! 😅😂) beautiful, brown-inspired names from different languages, and even brown bear species inspired names for you!

Ready to name your brown Shih Tzu puppy?

Let the brainstorm begin! 👇🏼

Chocolate Inspired Brown Shih Tzu Names

  • Baby Ruth
  • Cadbury (chocolate brand)
  • Chocolate Chip (call them “Chip” for short!)
  • Ferrero (short for Ferrero Rocher chocolate brand)
  • Fudge
  • Ghira (pronounced “gear-ah” – short for Ghirardelli)
  • Guylian (pronounced “gee-lee-ahn,” a Belgian chocolate brand famous for making chocolate shells)
  • Heath
  • Hershey
  • JoJo (a chocolate company and also reminiscent of a cup of jo!)
  • Kinder (chocolate brand geared towards children)
  • Kisses
  • Kit (short for KitKat)
  • Chocolate Mousse (“Mousse” for short!)
  • Patchi (a Lebanese chocolate company – wouldn’t this one be cute for a chocolate and white parti puppy?)
  • Reese
  • Ritter (German chocolate brand Ritter Sport)
  • Rocky (for the Rocky Mountain Chocolate brand)
  • Romolo (chocolate brand)
  • Russell (based off the chocolate brand Russell Stover)
  • S’more (wouldn’t this be SO cute for a chocolate and white parti puppy too?!)
  • Snickers
  • Toblerone (Swiss chocolate brand – could call them “Toby” as a nickname!)
  • Truffle
  • Whittaker (like Whittaker’s chocolate brand. Could call them “Whit” for short!)
Sunnybelle Shih Tzus - AKC Brown Shih Tzu Puppies for Sale

Coffee Inspired Brown Shih Tzu Names

  • Bullet (a nod to bulletproof coffee)
  • Cappuccino (could call them “Cap” or “Cappu” or “Cino” – pronounced “chee-no” for short)
  • Caribou (a coffee brand with the motto “Life is short. Stay awake for it.”)
  • Chicory (an herbal coffee substitute)
  • Cortado (a type of coffee drink with espresso and milk)
  • Dunkin’ (after Dunkin’ coffee)
  • Folger (after Folgers coffee)
  • Henry Nestle (or “Nestle” after the man who established the Nestle brand)
  • Java
  • Jo (registered name could be “Cup of Jo,” and call them “Jo” for short!)
  • Kirk (short for Kirkland – coffee brand)
  • Latte
  • Maxwell (after Maxwell House coffee brand. Full registered name could be “Good to the Last Drop ‘Maxwell'” like the Maxwell House tagline)
  • Misto (a half coffee half cream Starbucks drink)
  • Mocha
  • Nitro (a special type of cold-brew coffee)
  • Romano (a special coffee drink made with espresso and lemon juice! We think it would be so cute if you called the puppy Roman for short!)
  • Sumatra (it’s a type of coffee!) 
  • Tucket (short for Nantucket blend coffee)

Nature Inspired Brown Shih Tzu Names

  • Acorn
  • Amber
  • Auburn
  • Autumn
  • Bambi
  • Canyon
  • Cedar
  • Cinnamon
  • Clove
  • Copper
  • Dusty
  • Fawn
  • Ginger
  • Hazel
  • Hickory
  • Macadamia (Mac for short would be cute!)
  • Maple
  • Moose
  • Nutmeg (Meg for short!)
  • Puddle (ok, this one may be a stretch, but puddles can be brown if they’re muddy, right?? LOL! Brown-inspired or not, this was such a cute name idea we had to include it!)
  • Rocky
  • Rusty
  • Sorrel (a reddish brown horse color)
  • Teak (like teak wood)
  • Woody
  • Wren
shih tzu puppy

Brown Shih Tzu Names Inspired by Brown Bear Species:

  • Bear
  • Cantabrian (one of the smallest brown bear subspecies)
  • Gobi (an extremely rare brown bear species that lives in the Gobi desert!)
  • Grizzly
  • Kodiak Bear
  • Sitka Bear

How’s that for a brown Shih Tzu name brainstorm? Are you feeling inspired yet? We sure hope so! But wait—there’s MORE! 🥳

We have a few more ideas to share, especially for those of you who love creative and less common names!

Gorgeous AKC Chocolate Shih Tzu - East Texas Shih Tzu Breeder

…and MORE Brown Puppy Names!

  • Allaq (Greenlandic name meaning “brown bear.” Pronounced the same as the more common name “Alec.”)
  • Armona (beautiful Hebrew word meaning “chestnut color of brown”)
  • Charlie Brown
  • Chewbacca
  • Cola (like Coca Cola)
  • Brandy
  • Braunee (a word that originated in India and means “brownie” — how cute is that?)
  • Braunle (Yiddish for brownness)
  • Brina (Yiddish for brown)
  • Bronson (means “son of brown”)
  • Bruna (brown in Italian)
  • Brunlocc (Old English for “brown curls of hair”)
  • Bruno (German for “a brown haired man”)
  • Burnell (German for “small and brown-haired one”)
  • Burnett (similar to our English word “brunette” this name comes from the Old French word “burnete,” Burnett means “woman with dark hair and eyes and of a dark complexion.” It’s also a word that was used to describe a dark brown wool cloth of superior quality. We think it would be super cute to call them “Burnee” for short if you use this name!)
  • Byrna (Old German word meaning “brown”)
  • Donnan (Irish for “a brown-haired man”)
  • Donnel (Scottish for “brown-haired warrior” or “ruler of the world” perfect for a chocolate Shih Tzu who rules the roost! 😂)
  • Donovan (means “brown-haired chief”)
  • Dune (Gaelic for “brown-haired man” or “soldier with brown skin”)
  • Dunham (Celtic for “a brown-haired man”)
  • Dunstin (means “from the hill of brown stones”)
  • Gravy (I mean, c’mon…it’s so cute!)
  • Hanja (Swahili for brown)
  • Jack Daniel’s (brand of Tennessee whiskey)
  • Kahlua (a Mexican coffee flavored liquor)
  • Kapila (Sanskrit meaning “a reddish-brown color”)
  • Kionna (a beautiful name with Native American roots that means “brown hill”)
  • Komo (a Native American name that means “brown hawk”)
  • Lebron (French for “brown-haired man”)
  • Meatloaf (the meat is brown, right?! But wouldn’t this be a cute and quirky name for a chunky little boy puppy?)
  • Morena (means “a brown-haired woman” in Spanish)
  • Oreo (super cute for a chocolate and white parti puppy!)
  • Penny
  • Porter (Black Butte Porter is a beer with rich chocolate and coffee flavors made by Deschutes Brewery! Such a cute name idea from one of our Sunnybelle puppy parents!)
  • Russet (means reddish-brown in color)
  • Sienna (means reddish orange-brown or delicate — what a sweet combination for a brown baby girl puppy!)
  • Soren (Swedish meaning “one with reddish brown hair”)
  • Tawny (describes a brownish-orange or light brown color — sometimes used to describe a lion’s coat!)
  • Teddy (short for Teddy Bear)
  • Terava (pronounced like a combination between Teresa and Ava, Terava is Tahitian for “a dark or brownish woman.”)
  • Whiskey
  • Wicket (name of the head ewok in Star Wars! 😉 People ALWAYS tell us our chocolate Shih Tzu look like ewoks!)
  • Wookiee

We hope this was an inspiring springboard for you as you search for the perfect brown Shih Tzu name for your puppy!

Let us know – are there any names you can think of that we didn’t mention here? Comment your ideas below and help your fellow puppy parents out!

Want more?

We created a resource for you to make shopping for your new Shih Tzu puppy SIMPLE and FUN!

With our “New Puppy Guide,” you can be confident you have everything you need before bringing your new puppy home!

In the guide, we share our favorite potty training tools, our favorite healthy dog food, the best toys for teething, and more.

Enter your info below and we’ll send you the PDF Guide ASAP! 🤗

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5 Tips for Raising a Shih Tzu Puppy to Protect Them from Parvo

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

Walk-through gate opens either direction and swings closed automatically behind you, making it super functional for high-traffic areas! We have two of these in our kitchen and we love them!

…and this free-standing gate!

We love how beautiful this free-standing gate looks in our home and it’s the perfect length to stretch across the room in bigger areas. We use it to divide our kitchen from our living room.

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!!

Want More Tips for Raising a Shih Tzu Puppy?

If you’d like more tips on raising a Shih Tzu puppy, sign up to get our New Puppy Guide below! Inside the New Puppy Guide, we share all of our BEST resources for raising your puppy with ease!

With love,

Sunnybelle Signature

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6 Home Remedies Every Shih Tzu Parents Should Know - Shih Tzu Care Tips - Sunnybelle Shih Tzus

The Shih Tzu Parent Survival Guide: 6 Home Remedies Every Shih Tzu Parent Should Know

6 Home Remedies Every Shih Tzu Parents Should Know - Shih Tzu Care Tips - Sunnybelle Shih Tzus

Over our 10+ years as East Texas Shih Tzu breeders, we have learned some natural home remedies for the most common Shih Tzu health issues. Today we’d like to share some of those natural remedies with you! 

While we always recommend checking with your vet whenever you’re concerned about your dog’s health, there are times when your Shih Tzu has diarrhea from a stressful day, won’t eat because they’re nervous, or just needs a little help with itchy skin so they don’t get a hotspot from licking and chewing.

Having some of these home remedies in your back pocket can help them recover quickly in times like these, and might even save you a trip to the vet!

Think of it like putting together your very own Shih Tzu puppy First-Aid kit!

1. Coconut Water

Coconut water helps with dehydration for Shih Tzus!

Coconut water is a natural electrolyte rescue to fight against dehydration when your dog doesn’t want to eat or drink. It’s the next best thing to Sub-Q fluids from the vet!

If your Shih Tzu is acting a little lethargic or hasn’t eaten in more than 24 hours, it’s a great time to give them some coconut water as a pick-me-up.

The good electrolytes can help them regain some energy and eventually feel like eating again.

We like to give coconut water to our dogs (slowly) using a syringe, being careful not to accidentally cause them to aspirate.

We only give 100% coconut water to our Shih Tzu (no added sugar.)

DISCLAIMER: If your puppy is vomiting, has diarrhea, and is lethargic, they could have parvo and you should take them to a vet immediately.

2. Canned Pumpkin:

Canned pumpkin is a natural remedy for dogs with mushy stools.

The fiber content in pumpkin is what helps firm up the stool.

Sometimes diarrhea points to a serious issue like giardia, but most of the time it’s something mild (like nerves from environmental stress.) These everyday cases can be treated simply with a home remedy like pumpkin.

Canned pumpkin is great for puppies too!

Our vet has told us it is very common for puppies to have soft stools on and off for a myriad of reasons. He always suggests we try canned pumpkin before giving a more targeted medicine (like Flagyl or Metronidazole) that can be hard on their little immune systems.

Note: Watery stools are different than the “soft” or “mushy” stools we’re referring to here. Watery stools are not as common and usually mean there’s a more serious problem that needs to be addressed by your vet.

Most of our dogs love pumpkin and will eat it off a plate! You can also try encouraging them to lick it off your fingers.

If that doesn’t work, try gently squeezing a tiny bit at a time in the corner of their mouth using a syringe and see if they will start to accept it and swallow. (Don’t continue to force feed if they refuse to swallow.)

As with coconut water, always look for 100% canned pumpkin (no sugar added) when buying pumpkin for your dogs.

If giving pumpkin doesn’t make a difference within about 24 hours, try Kaopectate.

3. Kaopectate

Kaopectate medicine for Shih Tzu with diarrhea.

Kaopectate is a good option for treating diarrhea when pumpkin doesn’t work.

Our vet told us that Kaopectate is also a safe option for dogs when you don’t want to give them antibiotics (such as nursing moms or young puppies.)

For example, sometimes our Shih Tzu moms have soft stools after giving birth, and we know giving antibiotic medicine would be dangerous for the nursing puppies.

This is one of the times we pull Kaopectate out of our pantry!

For Kaopectate, give 1 tsp (5ml) four times a day for a 5-10 lb Shih Tzu.

(Keep in mind, it may take 2-3 days before you see improvement.)

We always buy the vanilla flavor since that’s what our dogs like.

Don’t be surprised if your Shih Tzu is a bit constipated for a couple of days after you’ve stopped giving the Kaopectate.

That just means the medicine is doing its job. They will be on a regular schedule again after a few more days.

4. Nutri-Cal Gel:

Nutri-Cal is a high-calorie nutritional gel supplement that can help prevent hypoglycemia.

Hypoglycemia, (a condition caused by low blood sugar) is a common and dangerous issue for small breeds like the Shih Tzu, especially for young puppies. 

Supplementing with Nutri-Cal gel will stabilize your pup’s blood sugar when they’re not eating well.

For example, we give Nutri-Cal to our puppies anytime we travel with them.

We also ask our Sunnybelle puppy families to get a tube of Nutri-Cal before bringing their baby home, since puppies don’t always want to eat right away while they are still adjusting to their new environment. 

We recommend giving a pea-sized dose of Nutri-Cal to your puppy twice a day for the first week, then once a day the second week after bringing them home.

And Nutri-Cal isn’t just for puppies! Feel free to give your adult Shih Tzu a dose of Nutri-Cal anytime they aren’t eating well and need a blood sugar boost. 

5. Probiotics

Probiotics are super important for your Shih Tzu’s gut health.

Giving your pup probiotics with their daily meals promotes good digestion, which helps soothe upset tummies.

In addition, whenever your dog has taken a major antibiotic like Flagyl, it is essential to follow up with a multi-strain probiotic (like Gastro Pro Plus) to restore their healthy gut flora.

There are two probiotics we always have on hand.

The first is Gastro Pro Plus, a digestive enzyme and multi-strain probiotic which includes the prebiotics that probiotics feed on.

We sprinkle a half capsule of Gastro Pro Plus on our Shih Tzu’s kibbles daily to support their overall health.

Another probiotic we always have handy is FortiFlora.

FortiFlora is a single-strain probiotic with an irresistible taste (liver flavor) that you can sprinkle on your dog’s kibbles to entice them to eat if they don’t have an appetite.

6. Skin Support Plus Spray

We couldn’t leave Skin Support Plus spray out of our pet first aid kit!

Skin Support Plus is a natural remedy for itchy, red, or irritated skin. It works as a natural antiseptic to keep cuts or abrasions clean — WITHOUT stinging.

We love that it’s made up of only three ingredients: tea tree oil, aloe vera, and chamomile.

These ingredients work together to soothe, heal, and clean the skin all at the same time!

We pull it out anytime our dogs have a topical skin issue, like a raw spot from scratching, licking, or chewing. (Which could be the beginnings of a hotspot.)

Simply spray the affected area with Skin Support Plus 1-4 times a day. We can usually see improvements by the next day after using the spray!

It’s so good, we even use it on ourselves sometimes! 🙂


Bonus Pantry Item – Oral Syringes:

You’ll need an oral syringe to give coconut water or Kaopectate. (You can also syringe-feed pumpkin if your dog won’t lick it off of a plate, as we mentioned earlier.) 

Sometimes your vet will give you an oral syringe if you ask. However, we recommend ordering this variety pack from Amazon to keep in your handy-dandy Shih Tzu First-Aid kit. It’s so nice to have several different sizes on hand!

These syringes can be washed and reused. (Pro tip: Washing them with warm water instead of hot water will make them last longer.) 

We hope having these pantry items on hand and knowing how to use them gives you confidence that you can help your pet. 

Although these home remedies aren’t meant to replace your veterinarian’s care and expertise in the case of an emergency, they can be incredibly helpful when your Shih Tzu is dealing with discomfort from everyday stressors.

Want more?

We created a resource for you to make shopping for your new Shih Tzu puppy SIMPLE and FUN!

With our “New Puppy Guide,” you can be confident you have everything you need before bringing your new puppy home!

In the guide, we share our favorite potty training tools, our favorite healthy dog food, the best toys for teething, and more.

Enter your info below and we’ll send you the PDF Guide ASAP!

Much love,Sunnybelle Signature

6 Home Remedies Every Shih Tzu Parents Should Know - How to take care of a Shih Tzu

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