[AnissaBarbosa]

Hi
I've got a 4 month old, beautiful Shiz Tzu girl.
I've trained her to go potty on pads in the bathroom, and she gets a lot of playing time with my boys around the house.
I've started taking her out recently, but she does not like it, the wetness or the cold of London to blame, perhaps, nor do I enjoy how dirty she gets. I used to bathe her once a week until I was told that she really shouldn't be bathed more than once a month.
Does she really need to go out?
Thank you for your answers.

[tickle]

Dogs are dogs even as small as she is and needs fresh air and sunshine as even dogs can suffer from light depravation. I don't agree with pads. It isn't natural. Gives wee dogs the wrong idea.

[Sariss]

Even though your dog is small, she really should be getting exercise. While she is young and doesn't like it, she will learn to appreciate it.
Dogs who are not exercised regularly can become destructive or develop other behavioural issues.
I have a 2year old Shih Tzu/Poodle mix. In the morning he goes for a half hour walk. When I get home from work he gets a 40-60 minute walk, and just before I go to bed he gets a 20 minute walk. Rain, snow, sleet or shine.

Not saying you need to do that much but a daily walk would be good. Consider a coat for how dirty she gets?

[tickle]

Hi Anissa, it isn't actually about 'taking her out when its sunny' light depravation means just getting out in the daylight, sunny or not. She will learn to love outings, good for both of you.

[shazamataz]

Perhaps grooming around her feet really short would help... I have poodles and the fact they have short clipped feet is a godsend.

Also get some potato flour and when she comes back inside put a fair amount of flour on her feet and then comb it out.
The potato flour absorbs all the moisture and sticks to the dirt plus brushes out really easy... that's a trick we used on the show dogs when they had to go out in the wet.

[AnissaBarbosa]

Thank you

[AnissaBarbosa]

That much exercise will probably make ME lose weight! LOL
But I got your point. Thank you