Try all-natural material that adds interest while at the same time helps to clean the teeth and gums of your Shih Tzu. Experiment with different fun shapes in different sizes to help keep your Shih Tzu healthy. It is easy to fight plaque when you do it in a fun way!

Hard Rubber Toys

Hard rubber toys are great for an aggressive chewer. I have not found this to be a great problem with the Shih Tzu, however, it has occurred. If you find that your Shih Tzu is destroying his or her chew toys, try replacing them with the hard rubber toys. There are many colors, sizes and styles available. All of these toys will help to stimulate the Shih Tzu’s gums for improved oral hygiene and the variety of shapes and colors are appealing to the Shih Tzu as well as to the owners. Dogs in general love the different shapes of hard rubber toys. You will need to experiment with these toys to see which your Shih Tzu prefers. A few shapes to mention in the hard rubber toys are:

• Star Explosion shapes
• Space Station shapes
• Cosmic Cone shapes
• And Rubber bones

The star explosions and space stations shapes feature protruding mounds and grooves to help entice appropriate chewing (while discouraging chewing on your furniture) and while cleaning the teeth of your Shih Tzu. The Cosmic cone has a fun cone shape and is easy to grab. They also feature a hollow center that you can fill with the Shih Tzu’s favorite treats. Rubber bones are usually made from high-quality brightly colored hard rubber that resists even the toughest chewing performances. Most of these hard rubber toys are available in sizes of small, medium and large. For the Shih Tzu, you should start out with small and medium sizes. The price is usually minimal for hard rubber toys.

Hard Rubber Bouncers Ruff Chews

A hard rubber bouncer is a delightful toy that can entertain your Shih Tzu for hours, that is, if this toy is one he or she prefers. The hard rubber bouncing toys bounce unpredictably when thrown; this makes playtime between Shih Tzu and owner extra enjoyable. The high-quality, hard rubber material these toys are made of makes them ideal for aggressive chewers as well as “teething” puppies.

The ricochet roller version is a hard rubber toy and a rope tug combined. The ricochet roller version is perfect for the smaller Shih Tzu. The bouncible version is a hard rubber ball with six attached cone shapes that creates a bounce this way or that when thrown. The ends of cones can be stuffed with peanut butter for an additional treat.

To help exercise jaws, clean teeth and provide entertainment to the Shih Tzu, try the Rrruff chew toys available. These are usually flexible, natural rubber toys that feature classic shapes dogs and Shih Tzu alike just love. The grooved designs provide an invigorating chewing experience and promote better dental health. Raised nubs and ridges help to remove plaque buildup and will also massage the Shih Tzu’s gums. These toys are usually available in fun shapes that simulate a fire hydrant, bones or tug pulls.

Disclaimer: The toys mentioned in this article are manufactured by “Zanies.” The URL address in the resource box of this article is not associated with the Zanies Company or any of its employees.

This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.

© 2007 Connie Limon All Rights Reserved

Author's Bio: 

Author: Connie Limon. I raise Shih Tzu puppies for sale in a variety of colors. I am also an Independent Representative for Trilogy. All puppies are sold with a health guarantee. Our website provides you with an educational experience about the Shih Tzu and pet care in general. Visit us online at http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com and sign up for our FREE newsletter. For all natural, high quality pet food and treats visit HealthyPetNet at this link: http://www.healthylife27.com