lazy puppy

    • Puppy

    lazy puppy

    is it normal for my 6 month old to be so so lazy? and he hardly wants to eat, argh!!! other than that, I think he's normal, just went to the vet 3 days ago for last of his shots, they said he's in good health, 10lbs and a week shy of 6months (any estimate how big he'll grow?)

    i feed him Innova for puppy, just got him Wellness for puppy to try out (both are natural brands)...he LOVES treats though, biscuits, carrots, trainer treats, but i keep those on a minimum and give it to him only after he eats his food

    he sleeps generally from 12pm to 11am, then noone is home from 12pm to 7pm, so i'm guessing he's sleeping, i try very hard to play with him from 7pm to 12pm but he's soooo lazy!!! and i have to trick him to eat, though he'll eat, but not even half of the recommended doses, grrr!!!

    other than that, he'll run, hop (he thinks he's a bunny), get excited to see me, but mostly he's LAZY...

    so how can i get him to eat!!??

    please advise...
    • Puppy
    Your ;puppy must be eating all he needs or the Vet would not have said he was healthy. Small dogs are often full grown or close to it by 9 months.  I am not seeing where you say what kind of dog or mix he is. If that information is unknown, sounds like you will have a wonderful lap dog. Dogs spend the majority of their time sleeping, but they certainly spend time playing and eating.
     
    With a clean bill of health, no internal or eternal parasites, good diet, good heart, good blood counts, I would say enjoy your dog as he is.  Most people would be thrilled to have a laid back dog. After a hard stressful day at work, there is nothing better than a good snuggle puppy.
     
    Lazy could be confused with pouting or depression. Heat can through anyone off food. Does he spend his days inside or outside?  Sounds like he loves interaction with you and he plays. Sounds like you are doing everything you can to make his life loving, healthy and fun.
     
    If you start seeing health issues and you vet says he is fine - see another vet. Be aware but don't over think it - we all have different personalities and different metabolisms. What is the right amount of food for one may not be for another.
     
    Hugs,
     
    Barbara
     
    • Puppy
    oops, he's a shih tzu, i guess he's eating what he's suppose to, he's pooping 2x a day, and peeing through out, his body isn't boney, but not fat either, i can feel his shoulder though

    so the sleeping thing is normal? i just want him to be more excited about eating his food...grrr
    • Gold Top Dog
    Some dogs are not enthusiastic eaters. The vet gave him a clean bill of health, that means your puppy is eating enough. From your description of his body it sounds like he is in perfect shape. Also because he is not super active, his body doesn't need as much fuel, so he won't be eating as much.

    My dog isn't really a great eater. She will frequently leave food in her bowl. I have noticed that after spending the day at the dog park she will eat more. This is perfectly normal.

    Some dogs are more active than others. He also could possibly be going through a growing phase which usually makes them sleep a lot and puts them off their food.
    • Puppy
    I looked up the AKC standard. You will find he is in a normal weight range. A smaller dog is always the envey. Too often breeders get dogs outside the standard. Sounds like your puppy is just fine!
     
    Shih Tzu Breed Standard
    [linkhttp://www.akc.org/breeds/toy_group.cfm]Toy Group[/link]

    General Appearance
    The Shih Tzu is a sturdy, lively, alert toy dog with long flowing double coat. Befitting his noble Chinese ancestry as a highly valued, prized companion and palace pet, the Shih Tzu is proud of bearing, has a distinctively arrogant carriage with head well up and tail curved over the back. Although there has always been considerable size variation, the Shih Tzu must be compact, solid, carrying good weight and substance.

    Even though a toy dog, the Shih Tzu must be subject to the same requirements of soundness and structure prescribed for all breeds, and any deviation from the ideal described in the standard should be penalized to the extent of the deviation. Structural faults common to all breeds are as undesirable in the Shih Tzu as in any other breed, regardless of whether or not such faults are specifically mentioned in the standard.

    Size, Proportion, Substance






    [linkhttp://oascentral.akc.org/RealMedia/ads/click_lx.ads/www.akc.org/roadblock/1907018671/Right/default/empty.gif/34353133306531663434613139306630?][/link]
    Size - Ideally, height at withers is 9 to 10½ inches; but, not less than 8 inches nor more than 11 inches. Ideally, weight of mature dogs, 9 to 16 pounds. Proportion - Length between withers and root of tail is slightly longer than height at withers. The Shih Tzu must never be so high stationed as to appear leggy, nor so low stationed as to appear dumpy or squatty. Substance - Regardless of size, the Shih Tzu is always compact, solid and carries good weight and substance.

    Head
    Head - Round, broad, wide between eyes, its size in balance with the overall size of dog being neither too large nor too small. Fault: Narrow head, close-set eyes. Expression - Warm, sweet, wide-eyed, friendly and trusting. An overall well-balanced and pleasant expression supersedes the importance of individual parts. Care should be taken to look and examine well beyond the hair to determine if what is seen is the actual head and expression rather than an image created by grooming technique. Eyes - Large, round, not prominent, placed well apart, looking straight ahead. Very dark. Lighter on liver pigmented dogs and blue pigmented dogs. Fault: Small, close-set or light eyes; excessive eye white. Ears - Large, set slightly below crown of skull; heavily coated. Skull - Domed. Stop - There is a definite stop. Muzzle - Square, short, unwrinkled, with good cushioning, set no lower than bottom eye rim; never downturned. Ideally, no longer than 1 inch from tip of nose to stop, although length may vary slightly in relation to overall size of dog. Front of muzzle should be flat; lower lip and chin not protruding and definitely never receding. Fault: Snipiness, lack of definite stop. Nose - Nostrils are broad, wide, and open. Pigmentation - Nose, lips, eye rims are black on all colors, except liver on liver pigmented dogs and blue on blue pigmented dogs. Fault: Pink on nose, lips, or eye rims. Bite - Undershot. Jaw is broad and wide. A missing tooth or slightly misaligned teeth should not be too severely penalized. Teeth and tongue should not show when mouth is closed. Fault: Overshot bite.

    Neck, Topline, Body
    Of utmost importance is an overall well-balanced dog with no exaggerated features. Neck - Well set-on flowing smoothly into shoulders; of sufficient length to permit natural high head carriage and in balance with height and length of dog. Topline - Level. Body -Short-coupled and sturdy with no waist or tuck-up. The Shih Tzu is slightly longer than tall. Fault: Legginess. Chest -Broad and deep with good spring-of-rib, however, not barrel-chested. Depth of ribcage should extend to just below elbow. Distance from elbow to withers is a little greater than from elbow to ground. Croup - Flat. Tail - Set on high, heavily plumed, carried in curve well over back. Too loose, too tight, too flat, or too low set a tail is undesirable and should be penalized to extent of deviation.

    Forequarters
    Shoulders - Well-angulated, well laid-back, well laid-in, fitting smoothly into body. Legs - Straight, well-boned, muscular, set well-apart and under chest, with elbows set close to body. Pasterns - Strong, perpendicular. Dewclaws - May be removed. Feet - Firm, well-padded, point straight ahead.

    Hindquarters
    Angulation of hindquarters should be in balance with forequarters. Legs - Well-boned, muscular, and straight when viewed from rear with well-bent stifles, not close set but in line with forequarters. Hocks - Well let down, perpendicular. Fault: Hyperextension of hocks. Dewclaws - May be removed. Feet - Firm, well-padded, point straight ahead.

    Coat
    Coat - Luxurious, double-coated, dense, long, and flowing. Slight wave permissible. Hair on top of head is tied up. Fault: Sparse coat, single coat, curly coat. Trimming - Feet, bottom of coat, and anus may be done for neatness and to facilitate movement. Fault: Excessive trimming.

    Color and Markings
    All are permissible and to be considered equally.

    Gait
    The Shih Tzu moves straight and must be shown at its own natural speed, neither raced nor strung-up, to evaluate its smooth, flowing, effortless movement with good front reach and equally strong rear drive, level topline, naturally high head carriage, and tail carried in gentle curve over back.

    Temperament
    As the sole purpose of the Shih Tzu is that of a companion and house pet, it is essential that its temperament be outgoing, happy, affectionate, friendly and trusting towards all.

    Approved May 9, 1989
    Effective June 29, 1989