A good Shih Tzu puppy breeder spends most of his or her time taking care of puppies brought into the world. This is a job that takes careful study, research, and much consideration about improving the breed.
The hobby breeder takes care of the puppies like their own children, and those puppies are softly handled, cooed at, and coaxed to accept humans as kind, gentle beings, gently groomed, played with, and adored.
Therefore, do not fool yourself into thinking that a Shih Tzu hobby breeder would just let any and everybody take one of their precious Shih Tzu pups without checking them out first.
Any good hobby breeder will have plenty of questions for you as soon as they meet you for the first time.
Do not get offended by the line of questioning that’ll be coming your way. You must understand that a hobby breeder’s job is to find a good loving home for the beloved Shih Tzu pups.
Here Are Some Questions That You Can Expect a Shih Tzu puppy Breeder to Ask:
1) Are you experienced with dogs?
The breeder will want to know if you’ve had dogs in the past and whether any of them were smaller dogs such as a Shih Tzu or any other small breed. Also, they’ll want to know what happened to the dog you’ve had in the past.
2) A Shih Tzu puppy breeder will want to know, are you familiar with the Shih Tzu breed?
The breeder will want to know if you’re familiar with anything that relates to the breed. Before meeting a hobby breeder about a Shih Tzu, make sure you know some facts about the breed.
3) Are there other pets in your household?
Shih Tzus get along great with most other pets; however, some might not be a good match. The breeder will want to know that their precious little Shih Tzu puppies will be kept safe in your home.
4) Do you have children and how old are they?
Shih Tzu puppies are so small and fragile, they’re easy to be missed and stepped on. They’re not designed to be played with roughly.
Smaller children would not understand that a Shih Tzu is not something to be pulled or thrown. Breeders want to know if the children inside the home are capable of handling such a tiny puppy.
In addition to safety concerns, Shih Tzus are also very high maintenance dogs. A Shih Tzu puppy breeder may also be concerned that you may not have time to care for the dog properly.
5) Where will you be keeping the dog?
Shih Tzus are not outside dogs; they must be kept inside the home or in some form of shelter. They cannot survive exposure to the elements. A good Shih Tzu puppy breeder will absolutely be certain that you understand this fact.
Therefore, if you’re asked this question, do not reply: (“somewhere in the backyard!”) An answer like that would guarantee that you will not be taking home one of this particular breeder’s puppy.
6) Are you or someone in the household home often?
Shih Tzus are specifically bred to be companion dogs; therefore, if you’re never home, your dog cannot be a companion to you.
A good hobby breeder who cares about their dogs will not send a Shih Tzu puppy home with someone at the office all day. Shih Tzus cannot be left alone all the time; they’re going to develop behavioral problems if left alone for too long.
7) Are you willing to spend time grooming the dog regularly?
The Shih Tzu puppy breeder will want to know if you’re willing to groom the dog regularly.
Or, if you’re not going to groom the dog on your own, the breeder would want to know that you can afford to have the dog groomed professionally at least once a month.
Grooming is crucial to the Shih Tzu; lack of grooming will cause health problems.
8) Are you planning on entering your brand new Shih Tzu in dog shows sometime in the future?
Breeders do not handle the sale of pet dogs in the same manner as to show dogs. If you’re buying a Shih Tzu with the sole purpose of showing the dog, then a breeder may want to retain part ownership, which is a fairly common practice.
The Shih Tzu puppy breeder may also want to mentor you. If you’re successful in showing your dog and you start winning, you might want to eventually breed a Shih Tzu.
This is when the breeder’s part ownership comes in; also, the breeder would want to make sure that you know what you’re doing.
Remember, a good Shih Tzu puppy breeder provides plenty of knowledge and guidance, which will ensure that you’re not breeding the wrong way and bringing unhealthy and/or unwanted Shih Tzus into the world.
9) Do you have a vet? If yes, what’s their name and phone number?
The breeder would want to exchange vet numbers with you. It is not uncommon for a breeder to want you to take the puppies to their vet if there is ever a problem.
However, the breeder would also like to have the number of your vet, though this is done mainly for reference purposes. The vet will definitely let the breeder know if you’re worthy of taking care of a Shih Tzu.
If you notice a breeder that is too anxious to send you home with a Shih Tzu puppy before asking some basic questions, that breeder does not have the dog’s best interest in mind.
Therefore, be cautious and do not be afraid to tell the breeder that you’re going to look elsewhere.
