RobinKalmick said:
i still want a puppy from my shihtzu and im an animal lover myself. i will definately look into my pets back ground as far as health is concerned thank you for ure link. but how do i find someone that wants to breed with my shihtzu? w/out paying?
Reconsider. I thought I wanted to breed my Chihuahua, but, in the end, I got her spayed. It's the best decision. There are tons and tons of Shih-Tzus available for adoption in the shelters. They are from "breeders" who just "wanted a puppy from their dog." You will not get a puppy that matches your dog to a T. He is a one of a kind. Just like people. You are not just like your mother or father are you?
For every puppy you bring into the world, remember that another is being euthanized because people are buying from you instead of adopting from the shelter. I am not trying to be mean, just stating the facts.
Extensive health testing is not just a "check-up." It is intense examination of the inside and outside of the body. Has he been tested for patellar luxation or collapsing trachea? What about his heart? Shih-Tzu eyes also have a tendency to go bad, he needs to be checked by a veterinary opthalmologist before you even consider breeding.
Those are just a few of the first steps to take before thinking about breeding. Instead of bringing new dogs into the world just because you want a puppy, you should think about the consequences and remember that you will be responsible, along with the bitch's parents, for those puppies for the rest of their lives.
Would you be willing to take them in if their new parents decided they did not want them anymore?