The Pros And Cons Of Getting Your Puppy From A Shih Tzu Breeder

Shih Tzus make fabulous pets, especially for those living in small homes and don't have a lot of time to play with their dogs. Shih Tzus make ideal companions for the elderly and for children. It's no wonder that Shih Tzus are so popular. Unfortunately, this popularity has also lead to some Shih Tzus being treated very cruelly in the name of making a steady buck. Here is the Shih Tzu information your local pet store, selling Shih Tzu puppies, does not want you to know.

If you want a Shih Tzu or a Shih Tzu mix, then you are best off getting your puppy not from a pet store or an Internet site that sells puppies with no questions asked (except your method of payment), but from reputable Shih Tzu breeders or an animal rescue shelter. The puppies and their parents from Shih Tzu breeders are kept in ethical conditions an receive great veterinary care, often get to live inside of a house and come with health guarantees. These are some of the many advantages of buying from Shih Tzu breeders or adopting from a Shih Tzu rescue.

Although animal rights activists and politicians like Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell (D) work hard to stop puppy mills, they can't get them shut down if the puppy mill owners keep getting paid. Those payments come from puppies bought in pet store or Internet sites that only ask you where to ship the puppy and what your credit card number is.

Sometimes Shih Tzu rescues and your local animal shelters might have Shih Tzu or Shih Tzu mix puppies for adoption. Six to nine months of age is one of the times dogs are most abandoned. They've passed their really cute puppy stage and cold reality is setting in. If you bought a puppy on impulse (which often happens in a pet store), then you may be saddled with a dog that you are not compatible with.

Always buy a Shih Tzu puppy from a reputable Shih Tzu breeder. Think about how a puppy lives in a pet store. They just sit in a cage all day and all night until they are sold. Every day they are fed, watered and their cage cleaned.

The pet store employees usually have so much work to do that they cannot give the puppies the individual attention they need at this critical time. A puppy learns best from eight to fourteen weeks of age. When they miss this window, they will have a hard time learning to be a good pet.

Nobody wins when a puppy is bought from a pet store. The buyer doesn't win, because they have a sickly and maladjusted puppy. The puppy's parents sure don't win, being forced to live in overcrowded wire cages until they are shot for being too old to breed. But the biggest loser is the puppy.

That someone will most likely buy Shih Tzu puppy in the window on impulse bereft of any Shih Tzu information can cause the puppy to soon be abandoned. A Shih Tzu breeder makes sure you and the puppy are well matched for life.

About the Author

Rebecca Simpson is a passionate lover of the Shih Tzu and has a popular website that can teach you how to have a happy, healthy and well behaved Shih Tzu. Among other topics at this website, you can also learn all about Shih Tzu Breeder pros and cons plus a whole lot more.