Early in the lives of the Shih Tzu puppies, the very best of care is crucial to well-rounded Shih Tzu puppy development. Dams and their litters do not survive alone. There is more to raising Shih Tzu and the Toy breed puppies in general than truly meets the eye.

Not only does one need to carefully consider the pedigrees and health histories of each mating, but one must continue to study to become an expertise in general puppy care. Yes, there is much, much more to breeding than just putting two dogs together and allowing nature to take its course. Dog breeding is a science. It is a discipline. It is a profession.

Shih Tzu breeding must be carefully thought out and is most definitely a profession that does require specialized knowledge. Regardless of the location of your breeding establishment, whether it is in your backyard, your garage, basement or an establishment that is especially built for breeding purposes, you the breeder is who makes your establishment professional or non-professional. The breeder is who determines what type of establishment, professional or non-professional, the breeding establishment is. Location, such as the backyard, basement or buildings especially designed for breeding purposes does not determine whether or not the establishment is professional.

If a breeder fails in their responsibilities to the early lives of Shih Tzu puppies, it is either through ignorance or lack of commitment. Ignorance, lack of knowledge and lack of commitment more closely defines the “backyard” breeder, and or those raising puppies in puppy mills. The committed and professional breeder realizes there is no real profit in rearing a litter of Shih Tzu puppies other than the satisfaction of doing the best job possible.

Once Shih Tzu puppies open their eyes the real work and expense of rearing a litter begins. Shih Tzu puppies begin to display individual character traits. It is at this time that Shih Tzu puppies rely more heavily upon the breeder and less with the dam. The professional breeder recognizes and readily assumes the responsibilities of caring for a Shih Tzu litter and does not abandon them to their dam’s care alone.

A large Shih Tzu litter may require supplementary feeding while continuing to allow the dam and offspring full access to each other. Smaller or premature Shih Tzu puppies often require supplementary feeding around the clock. The healthy brood matron should be vibrant, should not carry excess weight nor appear undernourished. An emotionally and physically healthy dam consistently maintains an active and lively interest in her puppies and environment. The professional breeder must be observant enough to care for the captain (the brood matron) just as well as to care for the Shih Tzu litter providing her with adequate food, water and emotional support.

There are very distinctive differences between the “backyard” unprofessional breeder and the professional breeder, some of which are detailed here in this article. There are many other differences, far too many to mention in one article.

Author: Connie Limon. I raise Shih Tzu puppies from top champion bloodlines. Visit us, sign up for our newsletter and purchase online at: stainglassshihtzus.com stainglassshihtzus.com

This article is FREE to publish with resource box.

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Tags: dog breed, dog breeding, shih tzu

Anyone who wants a dog for companionship and love - and anyone who wants a dog to train for specific work. Many of the dogs who do search and rescue during disasters were once abandoned or lost. Now they’re heroes!

And of course, everyone knows about Benji… the rescued dog who went on to become the star of both TV and movies.

There are some who believe that the mixed breed dogs you’ll often find at shelters are more intelligent and healthier than purebreds. They fear that in-breeding and line breeding for specific characteristics has weakened the genes of purebred dogs. They also believe that mixing traits produces a superior dog.

Since dog behavior is not something we can measure and test, we all go with our own opinions. Just as some people would only own a Corgi and others are not content without a German Shepherd, some would only take a mixed breed dog.

The only people who really aren’t candidates for adopting a rescue dog are people who really want a purebred dog with a certain bloodline. They might want to show dogs for a hobby or breed them for income.

Of course, as an animal rescue person, I discourage anyone from deliberately breeding more dogs. But since some people do breed responsibly and take good care of their dogs, I know dog breeding isn’t always a bad thing. In fact, if no one did it, pure breeds would die out.

One thing to remember is that even if you want a purebred, you can still adopt from a shelter. You may or may not get the registration papers, but you will find hundreds of purebred dogs in shelters. (Check out Petfinder.com for the purebred nearest you.)

If you are interested in showing your dog, but not breeding it, even a dog without registration may be eligible. The AKC offers registration to dogs who show all of the breed traits so that they may be shown at AKC sponsored events - as long as they have been spayed or neutered.

Some show dogs don’t need papers. These are the dogs who compete in performance classes like obedience, herding, and agility. Instead of perfect conformation and adherence to breed traits, these dogs win by showing off their brains and their training.

Herding dogs are usually breeds who have an instinct for herding, like a heeler or an Australian Shepherd. They combine their instinct with hand and voice instructions from their handler to move cows or sheep from one place to another. Of course they don’t stop there. I once saw a dog on TV herding geese!

Agility dogs must be able to run and jump, have confidence to walk a teeter-totter, run through a collapsing tunnel, and generally obey hand commands exceptionally well. Agility dogs have a lot of fun and are proud and excited at their accomplishment after each run.

The only difference between a rescue dog and one you might purchase is the paperwork. All dogs have the ability to love you unconditionally.

Different breeds have different traits, but when it comes down to the most important things of all, they all share love, loyalty, a desire to protect their family, an overabundant ability to forgive a human’s transgressions, and the desire to be loved in return.

Julia loves all animals, but has a special affinity for dogs. She helped found an animal rescue in her town and lives with 3 “rescue dogs” of her own. Or maybe she belongs to the three rescue dogs. In her spare time she writes fund raising letters for small rescues that can’t afford to hire a writer.

Visit her website at doyoulovedogs.com doyoulovedogs.com for information about rescue, caring for your dog, how to choose a dog, and more

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Tags: dog breed, dog breeding, heel

Once you have conducted your research and selected a breed that you’re interested in, the challenge now is to find a reputable breeder. You can find breeders on the internet, through word of mouth, by attending dog shows and contacting training clubs. But how can you tell if they produce good quality dogs?

The best breeders usually make their living some other way and breed dogs as dedicated and enthusiastic hobbyists. Individuals who rely on the sole income from dog breeding to support themselves are often unethical and do not have the consumer’s or the dog’s best interests in mind. It is also a great idea to stick to breeders that only breed one type of dog.

In general, good breeders have been working with the breed for more than five years. They are very knowledgeable about the breed and readily offer information regarding the breed’s problems, training issues and so on. A good breeder will ask you a lot of questions. They have an active interest in their pups and want to ensure that they are going to a good home with responsible parents.

Ask the breeder about the number of litters they have per year. They shouldn’t have more than two or three. Raising puppies takes time and attention. You want to choose a puppy that has been given proper care from day one. These pups will be better socialized and less likely to suffer from anxiety.

The breeder you are interested in should belong to a training club or have a membership in a breed club. In other words, they should have some kind of professional credentials. They should be able to tell you about or provide you with your puppies’ parent’s pedigree or genealogy.

Here is a very important point: good breeders have a written contract. This contract will include a return policy as good breeders will want their dogs back, usually at any time and at any age. The contract will also include a clause for replacement or rebate if common health problems arise within a specified time period, often two years. Ethical breeders will often include a spay or neuter clause because they do not want their dogs bred irresponsibly.

If you live within driving distance of your potential breeder, make an appointment and visit them. Do some research and come prepared with a list of questions for them. They should also have questions for you. This is an excellent opportunity to perform due diligence. Examine their operation. Meet the potential parents of your puppy. Meet their other dogs. Do the animals look healthy? Are they well behaved? Do they have room to run free? Are the breeders friendly, helpful, concerned individuals? There are many questions you can come up with. Go with your intuition as well. What kind of gut feelings did you experience while visiting the breeder?

Try to visit the breeder while they have a litter present. Observe and handle the pups. Do they appear healthy and well-cared for? If the pups retreat, urinate, or wail when you approach, this is definitely a bad sign. These pups are not socialized to humans. You want a breeder who actively participates in the raising of the litter, not a factory farm.

A reputable breeder will provide you with a puppy that has already has his initial health tests and show you documentation regarding this. You want a puppy from good stock that is well bred. If you can visit the parents of your potential puppy, do so and watch them closely. What you see is what you get and your pup will be a lot like its parents.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to dog-guides.com/ Dogs

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Tags: dog breed, dog breeding

Every year hundreds of thousands of dogs are put to sleep in the United States. These are shelter dogs. Dogs that ran away from home, dogs that were dropped off at the shelter because their owners didn’t want them, and dogs that were taken from neglecting owners.

This is a tragedy. What a horrible way to treat who we call “Man’s Best Friend”. I believe that most of this needless death could be avoided through a few responsible practices on the part of dog owners.

The main and number one reason that we have so many euthanized dogs every year is due to poor breeding practices. To put it simply, there are far too many unwanted dogs born to far too many irresponsible dog owners.

In my years working with dogs I have come across many dog owners who want to breed their dogs. I often ask them why they want to breed and the answers, in my opinion, are crazy.

“Well, I want my kids to be able to witness the miracle of birth.” I have heard this one a number of times. This is one of the worst reasons you can have to breed a dog. If your main desire is education then buy a book about animal reproduction. Rent a documentary about animal breeding, don’t bring more animals into the world. Bringing an entire litter into the world just so your kids can see a birth is irresponsible. What often happens to the poor puppies is that they are given away to friends and neighbors or out in front of the local Wal-Mart. The potential owners are never pre-qualified to determine if they would be a good dog owner. The net result is often a new dog owner who is completely unprepared for a puppy. How many of these puppies end up at the shelter when their owners decide they can’t handle a puppy? There are no accurate statistics but the hundreds of thousands of dogs in shelters are a testament to this practice.

“I think it is only fair to allow my dog to have a litter. She is such a sweet dog she should have the chance to be a mother.” Ahhhhh! I scream inside every time I hear this phrase. Just because you have a sweet, female dog doesn’t mean that you should allow her to have puppies. Your dog doesn’t have a ticking biological clock urging her to be a mom. Sure, instinct kicks in when she goes into heat but if you spay your dog she won’t come into heat. Besides, as the human owner with a better and more elevated level of judgment, you should be the one who determines if she should be a mom, not her.

I am a huge advocate of responsible breeding practices. I support dog owners and dog breeders who breed dogs in order to improve their chosen breed. That is to say, breeders who recognize a fine representative of a breed and breed that dog with another fine specimen in order to theoretically improve the breed. These breeders then responsibly screen potential owners to make sure that their puppies will be raised by good dog owners.

The consequences of poor breeding are ugly. Please, don’t breed your dog for the wrong reasons.

Author Ty Brown is a renowned dog trainer whose training adventures and clients have taken him to 18 states and 5 countries to teach others how to properly train their dogs. Go to

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Tags: dog breed, dog breeding

If you are fond of one particular breed of dog and you are a dog-breeding beginner, you might wish to consider committing to the improvement of your favorite breed. Usually this involves working with a particular bloodline and try to create specific traits for future generations.

All a dog-breeding beginner needs, as far as dogs are concerned, are one or more fertile female dogs. But a good dog breeder, even a beginner, will naturally avoid dogs that have any major flaws. While it is not unusual for breeders to want their dogs to win championships and raise the value of future puppies, the chance for the breeder to network with people knowledgeable about the breed is more important. As your network widens, the chances of meeting another exhibitor having a dog that has traits that you are looking for to improve your dogs lineage. So you might get the opportunity to breed the two dogs and get top quality puppies.

Dog-breeding beginners who are seriously intend to breed dogs for many years, should choose a kennel name and register it with the American Kennel Club. You can choose the name of one of your puppies as the kennel name.

Get a kennel permit even if your state does not require it. A permit will be needed eventually and as the number of dogs increases, the neighbors could object and create problems later on. Get a permit as soon as you get the first dog or puppy.

The first breeding of a female dog should take place with a male dog belonging to an experienced breeder. Dogs do not fall in love at first sight and remain in heat only for a few days. Experienced breeders know how to introduce dogs and how to help them breed successfully.

Take the dog to the veterinarian for at least one prenatal visit after breeding is complete. Usually the vet or an x-ray can tell how many puppies may be expected. Collect all information related to birthing from the vet and be prepared because some dogs must deliver by C-section. Remember to make note of all prenatal vitamins to ensure the dog’s good health.

Prepare a quiet spot for the dog as the delivery day approaches. Some of the items to kept handy are: whelping box, clean rags, heating pad. Also keep the vet’s emergency number within reach. Either purchase a whelping box or make one, as it is easy. Be sure to put a small ledge in the box in order to avoid the accidental crushing of the puppies after delivery.

The hardest part comes after the delivery when you realize that those adorable little puppies will soon have to be sent to new homes of their own.

Get all of your dog information at yougodog.com yougodog.com

Copyright 2006 @ Ann Born yougodog.com yougodog.com

No part of this article may be reproduced in any manner without including the author’s bio.

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Tags: dog breed, dog breeding