Art, I would hate to have to eat my dog. BUT (and this is a big but) if it comes down to the dog eating me or me eating the dog, I know my preference!

And I'll bet Shih tzu tastes about like it sounds like it would taste.

+1 regarding the advice to not leave the training to the teenagers. And the point of training it yourself is literal -- just because I can get a dog to do something does not mean you can get the dog to do it.

+1 regarding advice about microchip, vet bills, etc.

Having a dog is an investment that lasts for the dog's life. Do you have the cash flow to pay for incidentals -- flee protection, rawhide bones (how can those cost so much), grooming, etc.