Warning Signs Of A Bad Shih Tzu Breeder

Once you have made the decision to bring a Shih Tzu into your family you are making a pretty important decision. You want to treat every step of the way like its own important decision and that is especially true of the Shih Tzu breeder you choose. Good Shih Tzu breeders are hard to find but definitely worth the search. You don't want to buy a pet from someone who only looks at them as merchandise and inventory, you want someone that cares about pets as much as you do.

You are going to talk to a lot of Shih Tzu breeders before you finally buy and a good Shih Tzu breeder not only expects that but also would probably insist on it. You aren't hurting any breeder's pride by looking around and they know you will choose the breeder that works best for you. If you see shady dealers engaging in animal cruelty then report them to the proper authorities right away. Shih Tzu dogs are living beings that deserve to be treated humanely and even breeders are capable of abuse.
Always make sure any breeder you are dealing with is listed with at least one of the national breeder registries. You can find full listings by doing a search on the Internet and probably the gold standard that all breeders use is the National Kennel Club. If a breeder is not listed with any national breeder registry at all then you want to question their business practices and you probably do not want to do any business with them.

You can also contact the local authorities in your area to see if a Shih Tzu breeder you are considering has any complaints against them. This is a step many people neglect to do but a breeder will smile at you and tell you anything you want to hear while they are trying to sell you a dog. You can find out the real story on that breeder by asking the local authorities if a particular breeder has any history of shady dealings or if they have ever been in trouble because of their breeding practices. This is very important.
If you already deal with a vet then ask him or her about Shih Tzu breeders in your area. If you don't have a vet already then the beginning of the breeder search process is the perfect time to establish a relationship with a vet. The vet will give you advice based on the health and well being of your new pet and that is the kind of valuable, objective, and professional advice you need to make your choice.

A breeder is someone you will be talking to about your pet for many years so do not be hasty and do not choose one without talking to them first. You have to feel comfortable with your breeder because you will need to ask them advice in the future. So take your time, talk a lot to all of the breeders you are considering, and then make the right choice because this very important decision to you and your family.


Rebecca Simpson supports local animal rescue and many adoption agencies. You can help yourself avoid shady Shih Tzu breeders by using this article. You will find a lot of important Shih Tzu information in this article.