Although the prospect of breeding your own Shih Tzu is nice to imagine, impulsively buying them from the first Shih Tzu breeders you come across may not be. No one rules out the possibility that you can get discounts, or a good deal, when buying puppies from Shih Tzu breeders, but you need to make sure you buy from the legitimate ones. Legitimate breeders, those who breed dogs according to healthy breeding standards, are often part of breeding clubs. Such breeders can provide you with the lineage record of the puppies and even the vaccinations and deworming sessions they have undergone.
For those who are really interested in specific dog breeds, legitimate breeders should be your first choice. There are stories of pet owners adopting purebred Shih Tzu from animal shelters and rescues, but that’s rare. If you plan to breed Shih Tzu puppies yourself, you have a better chance of finding that with Shih Tzu breeders than trying your luck with dog shelters. Shelters may sometimes have a few abandoned puppies that one could adopt, but most of the time they accept adult puppies that are abandoned, orphaned, stranded on the street cold, hungry, and homeless. Also, if you generally participate in dog shows, and you enroll your best dogs there, contacting a legitimate breeder increases your chances of your dog passing the show’s conformation standards.
Breeders from the legitimate line usually have references that you can verify. A trusted breeder will immediately offer you, when you interview them, their references that, of course, you can verify; They want you to see right away that they are not part of a profit-only puppy mill. They will also ask you many questions, mainly about your experience in raising the Shih Tzu breed. This is understandable: the breeder wants to know if you can really take care of the breed, and not just be able to buy them; It is a good policy that reduces the chances of selling dogs to the people who take care of them at the beginning and afterwards. neglect them.
A good home includes having a clean and sanitary space for the puppies, a family that understands the needs of this breed, an owner with the finances to bear the expenses (pet bedding, quality dog food, check-ups, vaccinations, deworming sessions, etc.). medical procedures as needed, grooming paraphernalia, etc.) and a big heart to dedicate to raising the puppies. These are all vital, as this breed has its own share of health issues and a personality that makes training at home challenging.
Caring for this breed of small dog and the need to routinely take it outside (or designated area) can be time consuming. So now you understand why a breeder would ask you all those questions – you want to know if the dog or dogs will be in good hands. That choice and reluctance to simply earn a dollar are signs that you’ve found a good breeder.