Shih Tzu Breeders

Evaluating Shih Tzu Breeders

Carefully evaluate Shih Tzu breeders before spending hundreds of dollars on that dog.  Do not let feelings of scarcity force you into buying a bad dog.  There are lots of Shih Tzu out there so take your time and choose a breeder before you choose your dog.

Responsible Shih Tzu breeders want to breed healthy dogs and to maintain the traits of the Shih Tzu as set forth by the American Kennel Club

One of the best ways to find good breeders is references.  Ask other people who have Shih Tzu where they got them from.  If you see someone at the dog park or walking their dog, kindly approach them and ask where they got their dog from and if they would recommend them.

When you go to the breeders to visit, make sure the place looks clean, neat, and organized.  Sloppy and messy kennels make for sick dogs and disorganized records. 

Being a great Shih Tzu breeder entails more than just putting a male and female together.

If getting a purebred registered dog is important, make sure you analyze the papers of the mother and father of the litter and make sure you get the puppy already registered by the breeder, you should not have to register your new puppy, since they have all the information.

Get a health guarantee; most will give you one for up to 72 hours.  If you are spending hundreds of dollars, Shih Tzu breeders should give you some type of health guarantee no matter how good they think their dogs are.

Remember that Shih Tzu breeders are not veterinarians, no matter how big their egos are.