Typically a dog-friendly breed, the Shih Tzu usually enjoys canine playdates and can even make a good therapy dog. on the old time radio channel on Sirius/XM. The name ‘Shih Tzu’ translates to little lion, yet this toy breed is anything but ferocious. She shows a remarkable ability to be friendly with people of all ages and handles herself like a pro. I think there are some things you can't teach a dog, for example not getting spooked by a dropped chair or being friendly with strangers. The Maltese Shih Tzu is an adaptable dog who can change his habits to reflect the home that he lives in. Therapy Training & Programs - To start on the road to your Shih Tzu becoming an official therapy dog, you may wish to register with a large, country-wide organization or with one of the over 100 smaller groups that are centered in cities and districts around the U.S. History of the Shih Tzu. Gracie's owners, Steve and Carol Tamerius of Glendale, California, were kind enough to answer some questions about their Shih Tzu's work as a therapy dog: Hi guys, thanks so much for introducing us to Gracie. In a perfect world, they would never become ill! • The dog cannot have bitten anyone in the past, Gracie, 2 years, 10 months old, ready to see patients at the hospital, o. Lhasa Apso vs Shih Tzu: can you tell the difference? Glory Ridge produces intelligent, loveable little dogs that don't shed and are tolerated well by people with allergies. She never barks, other than to let us know that a stranger is at the front door. This is to keep the dog safe since a patient could accidentally offer medicine to a dog instead of an actual piece of food and liquid on the floor could be hazardous. Posted on 23 June 2015. Being calm also includes the ability to handle sudden noises (hospital buzzers, loud voices, etc.) SHIH TZU: Born To Be Therapy Dogs. You will learn about the breed's long illustrious history. I continue to enjoy being a “grandpawrent” to my daughters’ dogs: Elphie (Dolly’s sister), Rafael (four-year-old Shih Tzu), and Auggie (two-year-old Cardigan Corgi). If a Shih Tzu is cut out for this sort of work, he/she will naturally be alert to the needs of others… the dog will initiate contact with those that are shy and truly enjoy making connections that bring joy to others. Incorporated in the USA. Then we go to the various floors to visit with those patients who desire to see her. There is a still risk that your mixed breed will inherit these problems. As their mixed breed offspring, the French Bull Tzu will inherit a lot of those traits- both good and the bad. This includes those in wheelchairs (the dog is put on laps for some of this), with crutches and with walkers. The first step should probably be to take an obedience class to learn the required commands and to socialize your dog. And you will meet Lion Dog lovers eager to share their touching, funny, often surprising stories with you. As you start to get a feel as to whether or not your Shih Tzu enjoys this sort of volunteering, you can then plan on having your dog earn his/her certificate to make things official. Aside from being friendly and good-natured, Shih-Tzus are also highly adaptable. Once we're in the hospital, she make a bee-line for the administration offices where she greets everyone. Unless your Shih Tzu is a show dog, simple grooming methods in the home will suffice. Comments Off on How To Do A Maintenance Topknot. And since that time, the idea of this has really taken off. All products mentioned on this web site are registered trademarks of their respective owners. • There will be a 3 minute period when the owner must step away out of sight. It is our goal to continue this legacy by providing as much information and education as possible to ensure that purebred Shih Tzu and their owners will always be held in the highest esteem by all who encounter them. Therapy dogs are dogs of any breed, including mixes, that 'work' to provide comfort to people. This can include such things as someone dropping a heavy object or even someone skateboarding up behind the dog as he is being walked. The Shih Tzu is a sturdy, lively, alert toy dog with long flowing double coat. she is a certified therapy dog currently working at a hospital http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hana/155689267806556?v=photos The Shih Tzu must not even lick the food being offered and cannot lap at the water at all, or he/she will fail the test. . • The Shih Tzu will be tested regarding distractions and his/her ability to stay by the owner's side and maintain his/her composure. Gracie earned her Canine Good Citizen award from the AKC soon after that, which allowed her to become a therapy dog at Glendale Memorial Hospital in March, 2014. She has quite a personality. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. But underneath that gorgeous coat … How long did you practice for this? With timely training and socialization, French Bull Tzu will be a friendly, sweet pooch with a lot of love for everyone they meet. She was so good with the people that we began going regularly. Gracie seems to be a natural for this type of work. The Bichon Frise/Shih Tzu mixed breed, a.k.a. Compare Beagle vs Shih Tzu Dog Breed and find features which are most important for you and which is the best or Suitable Beagle and Shih Tzu at DogSpot.in Compare the features of these dog Breeds and find the best suited for your home The members of the American Shih Tzu Club welcome you to the wonderful world of Shih Tzu! A bath once a week is a must for Shih Tzu dogs. They will get along with older, respectful … More photos of Maltese Shih Tzu. There are over 25,000 dogs currently registered with them. As soon as Gracie received her required vaccinations as a puppy, we enrolled her in an obedience class and began taking her with us wherever we went to acclimate her to various situations, sounds, surroundings, and people. • The Shih Tzu must allow the evaluator to check all areas of the body, including paws and tail and the dog must show that he/she is fine with being touched. Studies have proven that animal companionship offers many benefits to people struggling with illness, recovering from injury and/or coping with negative feelings such as loneliness. Sometimes you discover that the patient has a dog at home that they dearly miss or that they recently lost their pet. You can do this at home; however enrolling your dog into group training classes may be the best course of action, as this will add the elements of being with other dogs and other people, learning with distractions, and so forth. Ultrasound Therapy in Dogs. I saw how much joy it brought to the patients and I always thought that if I got a dog I would like to do that. Most of what she learned in the classes was what was required for the test. While it is common for a dog to be brought to the same hospital or other setting on a regular basis, the dog must be up for anything… and able to be comfortable around people of all ages without needing to warm up to anyone. The long hairs of this dog breed require patient grooming and upkeep. Unbeknownst to us, the test had actually begun when we checked in. Q: The testing to become certified with TDI sounds rather intense. And if your Tzu someday becomes a volunteer worker, it can be a great way to give back to the community and share some love. For a Shih Tzu to work as a therapy dog, he or she must have a happy outlook towards everyone that they encounter, no matter the situation. The idea of therapy dogs originated in 1976 with a registered nurse named Elaine Smith, who created the very first training program for dogs to visit hospital patients. As a side note, this is a good first step if you plan have your dog perform in AKC events such as obedience, agility or performance. She visits both senior citizens and hospital patients, showing an extraordinary level of empathy and affection. Even spoken from the grave. All text and images are protected by copyright laws. In all, there are 13 tests, divided into 2 phases. There are a few guidelines…let's take a look at some of them: • The dog must have a clean bill of health and be up-to-date with all vaccinations. The Shih Tzu is a generally healthy breed with an average lifespan of 13-15 years. When you mix nature and knowledge with dreams, you get a specially designed dog! She is a relatively low-maintenance dog, which makes her the ideal companion for somebody who lives alone. Some Shih Tzus like cats and others don’t, but that seems to be an individual preference, rather than a breed trait. For me, I just love seeing the pleasure she gives to patients and the smiles she puts on their faces. The Maltese Shih Tzu (which is often misspelt as Maltese Shitzu) is a crossbreed or hybrid breed of domesticated dog. At the hospital a few weeks ago, she visited one patient who was in quite a bit of discomfort. Gracie was observed to evaluate her temperament while we were filling out the paperwork. In addition, the Shih Tzu needs to be outwardly friendly in a controlled manner without being prompted. The Maltese Shih Tzu is an adaptable, intelligent dog. He can be active and outgoing in a high-energy home, but he can also be calm and reserved in a quieter home. Editors Note: Below is a letter that was sent to the ASTC web site in April. While every Shih Tzu is beautiful and each are endearing in their own way, not every Shih Tzu has the particular disposition that is needed to work as a therapy dog.