Shih-Poo

There is no one-size-fits-all plan for a Shih-Poo. Work with your vet on a feeding plan that is nutritionally complete and balanced for your dog's age, weight and health, and check the kibble size while you are at it, since small teeth need small kibble.

Three or four meals a day is right for a puppy, and the reason is blood sugar rather than appetite: small puppies go hypoglycaemic quickly. Grown dogs settle on two or three, whichever your vet prefers for yours.

The bag's feeding guide works from weight and nothing else. Ask your vet for the real number, which takes in body condition score, how active the dog is, and anything already being treated.

Count treats into the daily calories, which matters more on a dog this size than on almost any other. On a complete and balanced food that meets the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) nutrient profiles, a Shih-Poo needs nothing added unless a specific condition calls for it.

There are few certainties about a Shih-Poo's coat, which is exactly why the grooming routine has to follow the individual dog. It may be long or short, straight or curly, and any of those combinations still needs regular attention to stay healthy.

Low shedding is why people choose this cross, and it comes at the price of regular brushing plus professional grooming rather than less work.

Teeth are where the effort pays off most. Small and toy breeds are especially prone to periodontal disease, and the Shih Tzu parent brings the specific problem of teeth overcrowding a small mouth. Brush at home at least three times a week and have professional cleanings when your vet recommends them; mild cases mean a cleaning, severe ones mean extractions.

Watch the eyes closely. This cross carries cataracts, dry eye syndrome and progressive retinal atrophy between its two parents, so cloudiness, redness, swelling, increased blinking, a mucus-like discharge or new clumsiness all mean a vet appointment.

Around 30 minutes a day covers a Shih-Poo. The energy level is genuinely moderate rather than suppressed, which is what makes this cross workable for a first-time owner or somebody in an apartment.

Split it however suits. A walk plus indoor play does the job, and the small size means a wet week does not derail the routine.

The intelligence needs an outlet alongside the legs. This is a high-intelligence cross on both sides, and training games and puzzles use up the part of the dog a short walk does not.

Companionship is part of the requirement rather than separate from it. Shih-Poos need plenty of it, and a dog that gets the walk but not the attention is not a settled dog.

Reward-based training is one of the four things a Shih-Poo needs, alongside companionship, grooming and an indoor home. The intelligence comes from both parents and shows up early, so start as soon as the puppy arrives.

Socialise widely. The friendly, outgoing demeanour that lets a Shih-Poo do well with children, older adults, dogs and cats is the product of exposure rather than a guarantee written into the cross.

Handle the puppy constantly and deliberately. A dog facing a lifetime of coat care and at-least-thrice-weekly tooth brushing has to be comfortable being held, brushed and having its mouth opened, and that is taught in the first months.

Keep it indoors. This is a small dog that belongs in the house with its people, and the training that matters most is the kind that makes living closely together easy.