The first 24 hours
A Shih Tzu puppy arrives in the world with its eyes sealed, its ears closed, and almost no ability to regulate its own body temperature. Every calorie goes toward growth, and every waking moment is spent nursing. In those first hours we check each puppy’s weight, confirm a strong nursing latch, and watch mom closely. The colostrum she produces in the first 24 hours contains the antibodies that will protect her puppies for weeks — there is no substitute and no second chance to receive it.
Weeks 1 and 2: Sleeping, nursing, and doubling in size
- Eyes and ears remain sealed — all navigation happens by warmth and scent.
- Puppies spend roughly 90% of their time sleeping, which is not laziness but biology: growth hormone is released during sleep.
- A healthy Shih Tzu puppy will double its birth weight by the end of week 2.
- We weigh each puppy daily on a kitchen scale during these weeks. A puppy that stops gaining — or loses weight two days in a row — gets supplemented immediately.
- Human handling should be gentle and brief at this stage, focused on warmth and returning the puppy to mom quickly.
Week 3: Eyes open, ears unlock — the world begins
Between days 10 and 16, Shih Tzu puppies’ eyes open for the first time — cloudy and unfocused at first, sharpening over the following days. Hearing activates around day 21. This is called the transition period, and it is brief but profound. Puppies begin to take their first wobbly steps, interact with their littermates, and respond to the world around them. The socialization clock is now officially ticking.
Weeks 4 and 5: Personality emerges
- Play behavior begins in earnest — wrestling, chasing, and mouthing among littermates teaches bite inhibition naturally.
- Soft, moistened puppy food is introduced around week 4. Weaning is gradual, not abrupt.
- The primary socialization window (weeks 3 through 12) is wide open: exposure to sounds, surfaces, gentle handling, and new people now shapes lifelong temperament more than any other period.
- At Aleka Shih Tzu, this is when we begin intentional daily handling by family members — cradling, soft voices, gentle nail trims, and varied indoor environments.
- Each puppy’s individual personality becomes visible: the bold explorer, the cuddler, the observer.
Weeks 6, 7, and 8: Ready for people, ready for home
- First veterinary examination and core vaccinations typically happen at week 6 to 7.
- Puppies are fully weaned and eating solid food confidently by week 7.
- A sensitive fear imprint period begins around week 8 — calm, positive experiences during this window matter enormously for lifelong confidence.
- By 8 weeks, a well-raised Shih Tzu puppy is curious, engaged, and emotionally ready to bond with a new family.
- We do not send puppies home before 8 weeks — those final days with mom and littermates are not optional. They’re foundational.
See our available hand-raised AKC Shih Tzu puppies, or start your application.
