Adopt A Shih Tzu

A Shih Tzu Adoption Guide

Have you decided to adopt a Shih Tzu? If so congratulations!  Shih Tzu make great companions and house pets.

In fact did you know that Shih Tzu were bred by the Chinese in the Forbidden City for hundreds of years and highly regarded these animals.

There are lots of questions you need to answer before you adopt a Shih Tzu.

1. Adopt a Shih Tzu Puppy Or Adult?

While many people just want to adopt a Shih Tzu puppy, consider for a moment adoption an adult Shih Tzu.  Adult Shih Tzu are already housebroken and are likely already trained in the basic commands. 

Also with adult Shih Tzu, they come already spayed with all there vaccination shots saving you money, and having to take time off of work to run to the veterinarian clinic.

Many people want to adopt a Shih Tzu puppy because they are considered cuter, but they can be a lot of work to potty train and house break.

2. Where to Adopt A Shih Tzu From?

There are many places you could possibly get a Shih Tzu from, and each has advantages and disadvantages.

If you want a show quality Shih Tzu the best place is to get one from a responsible breeder.  Buying a dog from a breeder is a lot more expensive because they are registered that they are purebred dogs.

Often times with breeders though is you have to wait until they have a litter available before you can even get a Shih Tzu, which could mean long waiting periods.

Another place you could adopt a Shih Tzu from is a pet store.  Pet stores are not as expensive as breeders, but the quality you will be getting is much less, and also the odds that you will be adopting a puppy that is less than healthy increases.

Pet stores are not very selective in the quality of dogs they sell, and you also don't know the history of the dogs.  You don't know where they came from or if they are even pure breeds.

Classified ads is another great option to find local Shih Tzu in your area.  These are often great dogs that can be gotten cheaply.  Many times people place classified ads for dogs because they are no longer to care for them and they don't want to abandon them to shelters.

As you can see just deciding to adopt a Shih Tzu is just a starting point.  Fro there you have to make a lot more decisions about what age of dog you want and even where is the best place to get a Shih Tzu puppy from.