B-day, Christmas
Wonderful Ideas for Gifts to Give to a Shih Tzu
When it comes to Christmas, Valentine's Day and birthdays, the joy of gift giving is not limited to your human family members and friends; these are special days throughout the year that you can show your Shih Tzu how special you think he/she is.
And if you feel that your puppy or dog deserves a gift, you're not alone. Polls show that 63% of dog owners give gifts for Christmas, birthdays or both. At Christmas time, 40% of owners hang up a stocking filled with small gifts and yummy treats. And for birthdays, many owners offer a special dinner, a great gift and sometimes even a special doggie cake for dessert.
Here, we've gathered up some great ideas for gift giving to a Shih Tzu for Christmas, birthdays and whenever you want to get something special for your puppy or dog to show that you care. In addition, you'll find that some of these items can help with a host of issues from chewing urges to feeling down when home alone.
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The Best Toy Gifts for a Shih Tzu
When a toy serves a specific purpose, it can make a great gift for a Shih Tzu as a welcome home for a new puppy or as a nice surprise on any occasion. Let's take a look at our top picks, that can all help in a variety of ways.
#1 This colorful set of Knivel Puppy Rope Toys for teething pups.
This cute set of Puppy Rope Toys for Small Dogs by Knivel
is ideal for puppies with strong chewing urges; twisted ropes and frayed ends work great to help scratch itchy gums. And with cotton ropes like this, if you wet them down and put them in the freezer for a short while, you can offer your puppy a cool soothing toy that can really help with teething discomfort. Since this comes in a 4-pack, it helps you rotate the toys (and it's not a big deal if one gets lost).
is ideal for puppies with strong chewing urges; twisted ropes and frayed ends work great to help scratch itchy gums. And with cotton ropes like this, if you wet them down and put them in the freezer for a short while, you can offer your puppy a cool soothing toy that can really help with teething discomfort. Since this comes in a 4-pack, it helps you rotate the toys (and it's not a big deal if one gets lost). #2 This engaging Spencer the Crinkle Monkey toy.
This super-cute is one of our favorites because it's several toys all in one and can keep a dog busy.
Not only is this ZippyPaws Spencer The Crinkle Monkey Toy
an adorable stuffed animal, it also has a squeaker inside and the floppy limbs are filled with crinkle paper. This makes a great gift for Shih Tzu dogs that love toys that make noises. It comes in pink and purple and several sizes (you'll want to stick with a 'small' for both puppies and adult Shih Tzu).
an adorable stuffed animal, it also has a squeaker inside and the floppy limbs are filled with crinkle paper. This makes a great gift for Shih Tzu dogs that love toys that make noises. It comes in pink and purple and several sizes (you'll want to stick with a 'small' for both puppies and adult Shih Tzu). #3 This fun Blinky Babble Ball toy.
Most dogs just love when a toy seems to play back with them and this Pet Qwerks Blinky Babble Ball
does just that. It responds to any time a dog touches it (with their nose, paw, or otherwise) by speaking and blinking its lights. This is a fantastic gift for a Shih Tzu that spends some time home alone or if you'd like your little guy or gal to have a way to stay occupied for some independent play.
does just that. It responds to any time a dog touches it (with their nose, paw, or otherwise) by speaking and blinking its lights. This is a fantastic gift for a Shih Tzu that spends some time home alone or if you'd like your little guy or gal to have a way to stay occupied for some independent play. The sounds this toy makes includes phrases like "Nice, puppy dog!" and "Hello!" and silly noises like a banjo and a doorbell; there's 18 different noises in all. With an average amount of playtime, the battery lasts about 5 months (it goes into sleep mode when it's not being used) and it can be a bit tricky to open the cover, but the battery is replaceable.
#4 This Snuggle Puppy by SmartPetLove that may become your dog's new best friend.
One of the most difficult issues that pet parents and their dogs deal with is separation anxiety. This goes way beyond a dog simply missing their owner. Dogs that struggle with this can suffer extreme stress. Signs include excessive barking, whining, pacing, and destructive chewing and there can be withdrawal, agitation, and/or depression.
So, if you are looking for the perfect gift for your Shih Tzu that has trouble coping with feeling lonely, this SmartPetLove Snuggle Puppy
is our top pick.
is our top pick. This can be a tremendous help for dogs that feel isolated and lonely. It's a good-sized, durable stuffed animal that comes as close to real dog as you can get. It emits a rhythmic heartbeat that mimics a living creature and there are optional heat packs that you can place inside that lets it give off soothing body heat.
It can also be fantastic for helping new puppies calm down and sleep at night and some dogs cuddle up to this during any times of stress (unknown visitors to the house, a trip to the vet, etc.).
Birthday Gift Ideas for a Shih Tzu
It only comes around once a year and it's definitely something to celebrate! Times goes by far too quickly for our canine family members, so marking each birthday with a great gift is important to a lot of owners. And don't think for a second that your Shih Tzu is not aware that it is a special day.
Canines are remarkable animals and very intelligent; they immediately pick up on their human's vibe, both spoken word and non-verbal cues. In addition, this breed knows exactly to what degree they are being paid attention to... And any extra attention is happily soaked up and enjoyed. When it comes to celebrating your Shih Tzu's birthday, there is no such thing as too much spoiling.
Here are our top great gift ideas to make the day special.
#1 This cute BBEART birthday shirt for dogs.
Everyone should dress up a bit on their b-day and why should our canine family members be any different? This adorable BBEART Birthday Vest for Small Dogs
comes in purple for girls and orange for boys and is an ideal birthday gift for Shih Tzu to help them feel special and announce it to the world.
comes in purple for girls and orange for boys and is an ideal birthday gift for Shih Tzu to help them feel special and announce it to the world. This has a nice breathable and stretchable material that looks and feel comfy. Note that this is designed specifically for small dogs, so the extra-small is usually good for a pup on their 1st birthday and adults will typically wear a medium or large; be sure to measure your dog to get the right fit.
#2 This super-healthy and delicious Puppy Cake cake mix.
Baking a birthday cake is a fantastic way to help celebrate your Shih Tzu's birthday and really make your little guy or gal feel special. And Puppy Cake has some of the most popular pre-made cake mix for dog birthday cakes on the market, for good reasons. This Puppy Cake Peanut Butter Cake Mix and Frosting
is wheat-free and has no artificial preservatives, food coloring dyes, or food enhancers, it's non-GMO, and it's made in the USA.
is wheat-free and has no artificial preservatives, food coloring dyes, or food enhancers, it's non-GMO, and it's made in the USA. The ingredients in the cake are rice flour, evaporated cane juice, peanut flour, baking powder, and salt. And the ingredients in the frosting are tapioca starch and yogurt. And the only things you need to add to this are an egg, water, and oil.
With this mix, it's up to you if you want to make your Shih Tzu a double-layer 6-inch cake or 8 good-sized cupcakes.
#3 This captivating Snuffle Mat by Per.
If you're looking for a birthday gift for your Shih Tzu that lasts much longer than just on their birthday, this Round 18-inch Snuffle Mat by Per
is a great idea.
is a great idea. Snuffle mats are fun play mats that let a dog use their foraging skills. You just hide a handful of dry treats deep inside these felt flaps and then let your Shih Tzu have a blast using their powerful canine sense of smell to sniff them out.
Many dogs just love this sort of 'work' because it feels good to engage their canine senses and it boosts their self-confidence each time they find a treat. And this sort of self-rewarding play can keep a dog content and busy for quite a long time.
Christmas Gift Ideas for a Shih Tzu
Most owners (63% according to polls) want their dogs to have a present on Christmas morning, along with the rest of the family. Since dogs are smart enough to be very aware of when they are or are not included in things, having something under the tree or in a Christmas stocking can make you feel happy as a gift-giver and can make your Shih Tzu's day special with a fun new toy, tasty treats, or both.
In addition, dressing your dog up for the holidays can really help create an atmosphere of holiday joy and help everyone get into the Christmas spirit. Many Shih Tzu dogs love being dressed up since it gains them extra attention and warm clothes are always appreciated on cold winter days.
Here, we've rounded up some of the best gift ideas for the holidays.
#1 These shockingly cute pet PJs by Lanyarco.
Though every Shih Tzu is already uber-adorable, these Cute Snowman Pet PJs by Lanyarco will
definitely take things up a notch. Many dogs love wearing soft cozy clothes like this because it keeps them warm on chilly days, so if that describes your Shih Tzu, this will make an awesome gift.
definitely take things up a notch. Many dogs love wearing soft cozy clothes like this because it keeps them warm on chilly days, so if that describes your Shih Tzu, this will make an awesome gift. The way these are designed is perfect, there's plenty of room for a dog to pee and poo without anything splattering back on the clothes and elastic around the top of the belly gives this a custom fit that won't slide around.
This is made of a nice, breathable 95% cotton with 5% Lyrcra (for a flexible fit) and it's machine washable. And, it goes without saying that the snowman print on these is both adorable and festive.
#2 This entertaining ZippyPaws Hide and Seek toy.
If your Shih Tzu already likes Hide n' Seek toys or if you want to introduce them to this sort of toy, this ZippyPaws Holiday Chimney Burrow Hide and Seek Toy
makes a perfect gift for the Christmas holiday. Note that this also comes in a Hanukkah dreidel design as well.
makes a perfect gift for the Christmas holiday. Note that this also comes in a Hanukkah dreidel design as well. If you're not familiar with how these work, each small toy has a squeaker in it. Once your dog learns that it makes noises (and they, in turn, are interested in them), you place them inside the main 'house' and your dog will then have the fun challenge of digging them out.
You can adjust the difficult level by how far you place the 3 toys inside.
#3 These holiday gingerbread treats by Wellness that are actually very healthy.
The market is packed with lots of holiday edibles for dogs but a huge problem is that the vast majority of them are loaded with ingredients you don't want your dog eating like high levels of wheat and many of them have harmful ingredients like artificial food coloring dyes that are linked to behavioral issues, asthma, allergies, and even organ damage.
So, if you're looking for a special edible dog treat for your Shih Tzu for Christmas, these Wellness Wellbites Gingerbread Dog Treats
are ideal. Like all of the snacks in the Wellness line, these are 100% all-natural. There's no synthetic preservatives or artificial additives and there's no corn, soy, or wheat (in fact, these are grain-free).
are ideal. Like all of the snacks in the Wellness line, these are 100% all-natural. There's no synthetic preservatives or artificial additives and there's no corn, soy, or wheat (in fact, these are grain-free). Related:
Gifts to Spoil a Shih Tzu
- These are our top 10 gift ideas that may seem a bit like spoiling, but
they also have a practical function.
Informational Articles:
Shih Tzu Dental Care
- Taking good care of your dog's teeth is vital to help prevent long-term dental issues including decay that can (and often does) lead to tooth loss. Learn what you can do to keep your Shih Tzu's teeth healthy and strong.
Shih Tzu Exercise Tips - Whether you have a puppy, adult or senior, it's important to make sure your Shih Tzu is getting the right amount of physical activity. Read out top tips for both indoor and outdoor exercise, along with some helpful advice to get a stubborn Shih Tzu moving along.
Shih Tzu Beds
- Having the right orthopedic support is important for this breed that is prone to hip and knee issues. Learn which qualities make for the best beds, along with tips for getting a good night's sleep.
Leaving a Shih Tzu Home Alone - This breed is typically very attached to their humans, so it's common for a Shih Tzu to have issues like separation anxiety. We have some great advice for this, that can help get your little guy or gal set up for success.