Shih Tzu Puppies in PA
Shih Tzu Puppies for Sale in Pennsylvania
Puppies raised in Arizona, for homes in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and beyond.
Pennsylvania suits a small dog better than its size on the map suggests. Row houses, hillside neighborhoods, river towns and quiet suburbs all give a Shih Tzu somewhere to belong, and the seasons mean a coat gets used the way it was meant to be. Winters are cold and wet, summers are sticky, and spring and fall are the easy months. Whichever address you have, plan around the weather.
Royal Silk Shih Tzus raises purebred Shih Tzus at home in Sedona, Arizona, and a puppy can come home to you anywhere in Pennsylvania, from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia. Every puppy is seen by my vet before going home, with its vaccinations and worming for its age on a written record, and a one-year health guarantee in writing.
Pennsylvania at a Glance
- From Sedona to Philadelphiaabout 2,280 miles
- Getting homeFlight nanny or ground transport
- Goes home from8 weeks old
- Before going homeVet checked
- Health guaranteeOne year, in writing
Shih Tzu Puppies Available for Pennsylvania Families
How Will Your Puppy Reach You in Pennsylvania?
Philadelphia is about 2,280 miles from me in Sedona, Arizona. There are three ways to bring your puppy home to Pennsylvania: meet me at a public place in Arizona that we agree on, have ground transport drive your puppy to your door, or book a flight nanny who keeps your puppy with them in the cabin and hands it to you at your airport. No puppy ever travels as cargo. How puppies get home.
A Shih Tzu in Your Part of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia
Most Philadelphians live in row houses or apartments, and a Shih Tzu fits both. Stairs are the main thing to think about: a young puppy needs a gate and a lift down to the sidewalk. Walks around Rittenhouse Square, along the Schuylkill River Trail or through Fairmount Park are plenty of exercise. City sidewalks bake in July, so test the pavement with your palm first.
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is built on hills, and a short walk can mean a long climb. A Shih Tzu is happy with a slow stroll, so pick a flatter loop for puppies, such as the riverfront trails or the paths at Schenley Park. Many older homes have steep basement stairs and narrow steps, so a baby gate matters. Wet, gray winters keep paws damp, and a towel by the door earns its place.
Harrisburg
Harrisburg and its suburbs mix townhouses, older city blocks and newer neighborhoods with small fenced yards. Riverfront Park beside the Susquehanna is a pleasant place for an evening walk when the heat has eased. A fenced yard helps with house training, but a Shih Tzu still wants to be inside with you. Expect humid summers and plan walks for early morning and after sunset.
The Lehigh Valley
Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton offer a quieter pace, with rowhomes in the older boroughs and houses with yards spreading out into the valley. Walks along the Lehigh Canal towpath or through a park are easy on a small dog, though tall grass at the edges is tick country. A short puppy cut is practical here, because a long coat picks up burrs and mud fast.
Pennsylvania Hazards for a Small, Flat-Faced Dog
Ticks and Lyme disease
Pennsylvania has some of the highest numbers of Lyme disease cases in the country, and the black-legged tick lives in tall grass, leaf litter and wooded edges. A long Shih Tzu coat hides ticks well. Check your dog by hand after every walk off the pavement, especially around the ears, chest and armpits. Ask your vet about tick prevention before the first spring walk.
Road salt and winter slush
Pennsylvania towns salt sidewalks and roads heavily from December to March. The grit packs between toe pads and the chemicals sting and dry the skin. Wipe your dog's paws and belly with a warm damp towel when you come inside, and trim the hair between the pads. Ice balls also form on leg and belly hair, so a shorter winter trim saves a lot of tugging.
Sticky summer heat
A Shih Tzu has a short nose and cannot cool down as well as a long-muzzled dog. July and August bring humid days when even shade feels heavy. Walk at dawn and after dark, keep water close, and stay indoors in air conditioning at midday. Never leave a dog in a parked car, even for a quick errand. Noisy, open-mouthed breathing means it is time to cool off.
Day to Day With a Shih Tzu in Pennsylvania
Life with a Shih Tzu in Pennsylvania follows the calendar. In winter you will brush less outdoors and more by the radiator, and you will wipe paws at the door every day. Dry indoor heat makes a long coat static and prone to tangles, so a leave-in spray and a daily comb help. Summer is the season to keep the coat short, since a puppy cut is cooler and easier to dry after a rainy walk. Shih Tzus need only modest exercise: two or three short walks and a game indoors. They are companions first and dislike long days alone, so think about your work schedule before you bring a puppy home. House training can be slow in bad weather, so a pad by the door keeps a cold morning from becoming a setback. They are usually easygoing with children and other pets.
Shih Tzu Puppy Prices for Pennsylvania Families
Prices are the same for every family, near or far. The price page breaks down what the price covers. Getting your puppy to Pennsylvania is separate, and depends on how it travels.
Pennsylvania Questions, Answered
01Is a Shih Tzu a good fit for a Philadelphia row house?
Yes, they are very adaptable to small homes. The stairs are the main concern, so use gates and carry a young puppy up and down until its legs are steady. Two or three short walks a day, plus play indoors, is enough exercise. They bond closely with their people, so they do best when someone is home for much of the day.
02How cold can a Shih Tzu handle in a Pennsylvania winter?
A long coat helps, but this is a small, low-slung dog, and snow and slush reach its belly quickly. Keep outings short in freezing weather, and think about a jacket and a shorter trim. Wipe the paws afterward to remove salt. If your dog lifts a paw or shivers, head inside.
03Can a Shih Tzu puppy fly to Pennsylvania?
Yes, in the cabin. A flight nanny carries your puppy on a commercial flight, under the seat in front of them, and hands it to you at the airport that serves Philadelphia. It is never sent as cargo.
The Shih Tzu guide covers the breed in depth, and the New Jersey page covers life with one there.
When You Are Ready
Ready for a Shih Tzu in Pennsylvania?
Let me know your part of Pennsylvania and what you are hoping for, and I will tell you which puppy suits your home.