Here, you will find answers to some of the most common questions I am asked. If you do not find the answer to any questions you may have, please contact me. I am always eager to assist you in any way I can.
Q: How long have you been breeding?
A: I have had experience with breeding since I was five years old. However, I have been breeding on my own for seven years. During these past seven years, I have received guidance and training from Sheralyn Milton of The Georgia Shih Tzu to make sure I am raising healthy and happy puppies.
A: I will not ship my puppies. Part of the adoption process includes a personal interview, therefore, I must meet all future owners. I highly encourage you to make an appointment to meet me and my dogs before the litter is born. That way, you’ll see what type of environment the puppies will be raised in and have a chance to bond with the dam. She will be much more comfortable with you handling her puppies if she has a chance to get to know you.
Q: How much do you charge for puppies?
A: All pricing information can be found by clicking on the Pricing link above.
Q: Do you price match with other breeders?
A: No, I do not price match. Breeders have logical reasons for setting their prices. In all honesty, not much fortune is to be made from breeding. It’s possible, but not always likely. Any reputable breeder will breed strictly for the love and betterment of the breed and not for monetary gain. However, it is nice to be reimbursed for the time and effort put into all of the research done prior to breeding and then caring for the litter. I know many breeders and none of them price match. I stand behind my puppies 100% and I will not sacrifice their future love and care just to make a sale or to keep up with the “competition.” Jumping straight into a negotiation will result in an automatic rejection for a puppy or termination of sale if a deposit has already been placed.
Q: Do you charge more for your female puppies?
A: Absolutely not. Although I know the reason why many breeders practice this, it just doesn’t make sense to me. Breeders will most often sell their female puppies at higher prices because of the popularity of females. I explain this popularity in my answer to the next question below. In my opinion, no puppy is more valuable than another. Of course some puppies are more attractive or have more desirable personalities than some, but it’s unfair to say that those puppies are “better.”
Q: Should I purchase a male or female puppy?
A: If you are buying your Shih Tzu puppy as just a pet, do not let gender influence your decision. Your choice should be based on instinct and the instant bond you feel with a particular puppy. Many people believe that females are more affectionate and are easier to potty train and that males grow to be dominant and mark territory. However, in my experience, my males are more affectionate and eager to please. My ladies are such divas and will only oblige with my commands if they feel they will benefit from it. I have met many dog owners that own different breeds who have said that because they neutered their males at such an early age (between 2 and 4 months old), they never learned to hike their legs or mark territory. This is not a proven fact, but it is possible. Again, base your choice off the puppy’s personality and individual qualities, not its gender.
Q: Do you charge more for a particular color?
A: Yes. Standard colored puppies are priced less than dilutes. Standard colors include Gold, Gold/White, Black, Black/White, Red, Red/White, Brindle, and Brindle/White. Dilute colors include Liver, Liver/White, Blue, and Blue/White. The reason I charge more for diluted color puppies is not because they are rare colors, but because I don’t breed them that often. For specific prices, please click on the Pricing link above.
Q: Do you sell “Imperial” Shih Tzu?
A: No, because “Imperial” Shih Tzu do not exist. This term is used as a marketing ploy to make more money by convincing you that you are purchasing a “rare” dog. Do not be fooled when a breeder tells you that their Shih Tzu carry the “imperial” gene. Every now and then, a breeder may end up with a puppy that does weigh less than what the breed standard calls for, but those puppies are sold strictly as pets. Always be sure to familiarize yourself with the breed standard. For Shih Tzu, they must weigh between 9 and 16 pounds, be 9 to 11 inches tall (from wither to toe), and 10 to 14 inches long (1 to 3 inches longer than she is tall). For more information about the “Imperial Shih Tzu” myth, please read this article by The American Shih Tzu Club: The Facts About “Imperial” or “Teacup” Shih Tzu.
Q: Do you sell your puppies on a spay and neuter contract?
A: Absolutely. If your Shih Tzu puppy is a pet, there is no logical reason to keep them intact. Allowing a dog to remain intact without ever breeding it can cause serious problems later on in that dog’s life. Cancer is the most popular issue. Along with health issues, the stress of owning an intact dog should be enough to convince you to spay or neuter them. Having your female spayed will eliminate the unwanted attention of stray male dogs and staining your carpet, clothes, or furniture. Having your male neutered will eliminate the behavior of wanting to roam or run away to mate with a female in heat. As mentioned above, neutering your male at a young age could possibly eliminate the act of marking territory. Luckily for you, I will take care of the spaying and neutering for you before you bring your puppy home. All of my puppies will be spayed or neutered at 10 weeks old, unless other prior arrangements have been made for full breeding rights.
Q: When should I spay or neuter my Shih Tzu puppy?
A: This question not only pertains to the Shih Tzu breed, but to all breeds of dogs and even cats. The belief is that you should wait until your puppy is 6 months old to have them spayed or neutered, but honestly, you can have the procedure done as young as 8 weeks. Many humane societies are spaying and neutering their kittens and puppies at young ages and it has proven to have no negative side effects and is actually easier on the animal. Because puppies have a faster metabolism than adult dogs, they are able to rid their bodies of the anesthesia and recover from the surgery more quickly. There is also less bleeding because the blood vessels in the ovaries, uterus, and testicles are not yet fully developed. Finally, and probably most importantly to some of you, the cost of having your puppy spayed or neutered is less because many vets determine the price of the surgery based on your pet’s weight. With that in mind, if your vet is telling you they refuse to do the surgery before the puppy is 6 months old, that decision is probably driven by financial gain since they’ll make more money off of a 6 month old puppy than a 2 month old puppy. If you’re lucky, you’ll come across a vet who has a weight range in which one price pertains to a puppy that falls within a given range, for example, between 2 and 10 pounds. Do your research. Check with your local humane society or check out the many low-cost spay and neuter clinics we have listed on our Resources page above. These clinics perform these surgeries all day every day and offer the best pricing compared to your vet. I personally use Pet Vet to spay and neuter all of my puppies before they go to their new homes.
If your vet says that pediatric sterilization is dangerous and unethical, then your vet needs to keep up with the times. I am sorry for sounding arrogant, but there is so much research out there that supports pediatric sterilization and not one shred of evidence or research to argue that spaying or neutering your pet at six months of age is safer or more ethical. Every puppy that I have had spayed or neutered at 10 weeks of age before leaving my home has turned out fine with no negative side effects. If you would like to read more information about pediatric sterilization, research articles can be found by clicking on the Resources page above. If you still feel uncomfortable with the idea, then I suggest finding another breeder who does not offer pediatric sterilization for their puppies. A list of other breeders can also be found on the Resources page.
Q: Is it possible to purchase a Shih Tzu puppy from you for breeding?
A: Yes, this is always an option. My decision to sell a dog for breeding is based on the customer and the evaluation of the puppy’s potential to breed. If you are a first time breeder, please do not feel discouraged. We all have to start somewhere! Just be prepared to answer some questions regarding your reasons for breeding, your knowledge about the breed, the breed standard, and breeding in general.
Q: Do you charge more for breeding rights?
A: Yes. The breeding rights fee is determined by the dog’s pedigree, registry, and color and ranges from $300 to $500.
Q: When can I bring my puppy home?
A: The earliest release date for a puppy is 12 weeks of age. However, if I feel it is necessary, I will keep a puppy past the age of 12 weeks until I feel the puppy is ready to leave my care.
Q: What is the difference between AKC and CKC?
A: AKC, better known as the American Kennel Club, is the most well known dog registry. They carry the best reputation and work to weed out the bad breeders by having stricter rules and regulations. If you breed an AKC dog with a CKC dog, the puppies can only be registered with CKC. CKC, or Continental Kennel Club, comes in second to AKC. Their rules and regulations aren’t as stringent, but they still carry a respectable reputation. CKC also allows dogs into their club who have no previous registry affiliations.
Q: Which registry are your dogs with?
A: Lynux is AKC registered. Atlas and Henry are AKC and CKC registered. Patches and Rylee are CKC registered.
Q: Is it better to purchase an AKC or CKC puppy?
A: If you’re purchasing a Shih Tzu puppy as a pet, registry doesn’t matter. What matters is the health of the puppy. When you’re searching for a puppy, ask to view the pedigrees of the parents. Many breeders, both AKC and CKC, practice inbreeding, which can cause countless life threatening defects. Although AKC is the preferable registry, many AKC breeders (especially the ones that show their dogs) encourage inbreeding to maintain the purity of their bloodlines. If you’re purchasing a Shih Tzu puppy for breeding, AKC is the preferable registry, but it’s not required. CKC is just as acceptable as long as you’re breeding for health and betterment of the breed and not just for the reputation that comes with a name.
A: At this time, no. The amount of time, money, and effort that showing requires does not fit my lifestyle right now. It is something I would like to venture into in the future though.
Q: If you don’t show your dogs, why do you breed?
A: There is the belief that only people who show their dogs and who have earned a champion title are the only ones who should be allowed to breed. However, the majority of the time, it’s the show breeders who aren’t breeding healthy. The primary purpose for breeding is to improve the breed; to make the next generation of puppies smarter, stronger, and more attractive than the last. In order to achieve this goal, many show breeders feel that inbreeding or line breeding is the only way to make this happen. These practices can produce terrifying results that are explained in the next question. You can tell if a breeder inbreeds or line breeds their dogs by asking to view their pedigrees. So no, I don’t show my dogs; but my dogs are healthy and they produce healthy and gorgeous puppies. Eventually, I would like to start showing my dogs; but strictly for the enjoyment of it and not to fit the standard set by society.
Q: What is the difference between inbreeding and line breeding?
A: Inbreeding is breeding mother to son, father to daughter, or brother to sister. Many show breeders engage in this practice to preserve their bloodlines and enhance the “good genes.” However, it is very risky. You can end up with puppies that have missing limbs, are blind, suffer seizures, and other countless defects that are too disturbing to think about. I highly encourage you to ask to view pedigrees of the parents of the puppy you are considering to weed out the inbred puppies. Line breeding is breeding aunt to nephew, uncle to niece, or cousin to cousin. This practice has not shown such disastrous outcomes as inbreeding has, but it is still risky.
