HOW TO FIND A BREEDER
In order to find a breeder go to the Canadian Shih Tzu Club's web site
Click on "members", then click your province. You will find a number of Canadian breeders with their addresses, phone/email & websites.
GOOD REASONS TO BUY YOUR PUPPY FROM A REPUTABLE BREEDER VERSUS A PET SHOP, "BACKYARD" BREEDER, PUPPY MILL OR A PUPPY BROKER:
HEALTH: Good breeders are very concerned about the health of their puppies. A lot of time and research go into choosing the best possible parents to produce the best possible puppies. They will guarantee the health of the puppy.
REGISTRATION: This guarantees that your puppy is purebred. There is no extra charge for the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) registration paper.
PUPPY'S PARENTS: You will be able to at least see the mom of your puppy. This will give you an idea of how your puppy will look at maturity.
BREED KNOWLEDGE: Breeders spend many years and countless hours to research pedigrees and study different lines of the breed to ensure the best possible breeding combinations for optimum health, good body structure, true to the standard structure and excellent temperaments.
HOUSEBREAKING: Breeders give the puppies a head start in house breaking. Puppies, just as human babies, do not have muscle control over elimination processes. This comes with maturity. However, breeders try to ensure that by the time the puppy is ready to leave for his new home, he is well on his way to being house trained.
SOCIALIZATION: Puppies raised in homes are exposed to common everyday activities that can be terrifying to puppies not raised in a home environment.
BREEDERS CARE: After a puppy goes home, the breeder will want to know how the puppy settled in and is available for any concerns or questions you may have at any time during the puppy's lifetime.
REMEMBER:
Breeders do not breed puppies to make money. It is not income for them. Every penny plus much more go into breeding programs to ensure the best possible puppies. Breeders breed for themselves first and the remaining puppies are sold as pets on non-breeding contracts. Breeders use the money from puppy sales to pay for stud fees and many other expenses.
Backyard breeders and puppy mills, produce puppies solely for income. They do no research on lines and health problems. They have no expenses. They have no idea of the health problems they may have in the background of the puppies they are producing.
Much consideration is given before deciding to breed two dogs. It is not a matter of convenience.
TALK TO A REPUTABLE BREEDER BEFORE MAKING A DECISION TO BUY A PUPPY. TAKE YOUR TIME TO GET THE VERY BEST.