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.

These torture chambers for dogs are called puppy mills. There, dogs have no exercise, usually no vet care and live in tiny wire cages until they can no longer breed, then they are shot or pummeled to death. One central Pennsylvania puppy mill worker defended puppy mills as saying that “Puppies are biodegradable.” (Source: Philadelphia Inquirer.) Very rarely do people buy directly from puppy mills – they buy indirectly through pet stores that sell puppies and through web sites.
Now, you may be tempted to buy a pet shop puppy just because he or she has been so mistreated and you want to make up for it. Don’t do it – don’t even walk in the shops, don’t even look in the windows. Since they are puppies, some schmuck will buy them because they are cute. Don’t be that schmuck. You also need to keep the long-term perspective in mind for the future care of dogs in general.

Shih Tzu breeders offer you not only a healthy, beautiful puppy, but also access to their treasure trove of Shih Tzu information. Reputable Shih Tzu breeders will never stop being concerned for all of the puppies they sell. They might even make a surprise visit just to check up to see if you are good enough for their puppies. The best Shih Tzu breeders will take back a dog at any point in the dog’s life if you have to give up the dog.

If you remember only one thing from this article, please remember this – ALWAYS buy your Shih Tzu puppy (or ANY puppy) from a reputableShih Tzu breeder. Puppies are not like fish or mice which are very social and don’t need a lot of exercise. All pet store puppies do twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week is sit in a cage and occasionally get to be handled for a few minutes by shoppers. For those of you who are up on your Shih Tzu information, you know this is the WORST possible treatment of a potential pet.

Puppies are highly impressionable from two to four months of age. Whatever they learn during this period usually stays with them the rest of their lives. This is the perfect time for them to be housetrained, leash-trained and trained for all the things they need to know for their lives as companion animals. With Shih Tzu breeders, the puppies get the education they need at such a critical time.

This author has worked with manyShih Tzu breeders, owners and judges over the years. This author is currently working on a book on small dogs, including a large section onShih Tzu information.