About Us
Our love of Shih Tzus began in 1999 when we rescued our first shih tzu. She is still with us, and is queen of the castle.
We are a small hobby breeder. We have two children and two grandchildren. Our dogs are part of our family. Our babies are raised in our home, and will come to you well socialized and very much loved.
Puppies are never allowed to leave our home before eight weeks of age- please don't ask. This is best for their development. (In some instances they may stay with us as long as ten weeks of age.) We have found that puppies that spend a few more weeks with their mother are better adjusted and we feel even easier to train. They will have their first set of shots and will be wormed at least twice.
Please review our contract.
Boy vs. Girl
When every litter is born we are flooded with emails from people wanting a female puppy but not even willing to consider a male. It seems like males have gotten a bad reputation. It has been our experience (and that of other breeders) that males are much more forgiving and willing to allow you to be the pack leader than a female. Females tend to test your dominance all the time. This especially applies to males who have been neutered. Males tend to be sweeter and more loving than their female littermates. While both genders make great pets, there is no reason to fear that a male will be less loving or attached to you. In our experience, the opposite is true. (While all our dogs love us, it's obvious that our male is more attached to us than any of the girls are.)
It seems that the main reason people want a female is because they think a male will mark in their house and hump their legs. A male that is neutered at 6 months of age will rarely display these behaviors. Since we require all our puppies to be fixed, this should not be a problem with any of our puppies.
Vaccinations
We strongly believe in a delayed/limited vaccination schedule. (Please click here for more informtion on delayed/limited vaccinations.) We understand that not every pet owner agrees with this method of vaccinations. We encourage everyone who purchases a puppy from us to do some research and how you choose to vaccinate your puppy is completely up to you.
Feeding
After much research we have chosen to feed Diamond Naturals dog food. We encourage all of our new puppy owners to do some research on pet food. A good site to visit is Dog Food Analysis. Your puppy with come with a small supply of Diamond Naturals Small Breed Puppy Food. If you choose to feed him a differed food please follow the directions included in your puppy pack so that your little one doesn't get sick. We discourage feeding dog food that contains corn or soy.
Size
Estimating the size of a puppy is just that- an estimte. Beware of breeders who promise you a certain size dog. Chances are they are banking on the fact that by the time your puppy is grown, you will be so in love you won't mind that it isn't the size you were promised. When we bought our first shih tzu puppy, she was very small and we were told she would be way less than six pounds. She ended up being seven. Her litter mate was almost three times her size, and they thought he was going to be huge. In truth, he ended up being not much larger than her.
We are a small hobby breeder. We have two children and two grandchildren. Our dogs are part of our family. Our babies are raised in our home, and will come to you well socialized and very much loved.
Puppies are never allowed to leave our home before eight weeks of age- please don't ask. This is best for their development. (In some instances they may stay with us as long as ten weeks of age.) We have found that puppies that spend a few more weeks with their mother are better adjusted and we feel even easier to train. They will have their first set of shots and will be wormed at least twice.
Please review our contract.
Boy vs. Girl
When every litter is born we are flooded with emails from people wanting a female puppy but not even willing to consider a male. It seems like males have gotten a bad reputation. It has been our experience (and that of other breeders) that males are much more forgiving and willing to allow you to be the pack leader than a female. Females tend to test your dominance all the time. This especially applies to males who have been neutered. Males tend to be sweeter and more loving than their female littermates. While both genders make great pets, there is no reason to fear that a male will be less loving or attached to you. In our experience, the opposite is true. (While all our dogs love us, it's obvious that our male is more attached to us than any of the girls are.)
It seems that the main reason people want a female is because they think a male will mark in their house and hump their legs. A male that is neutered at 6 months of age will rarely display these behaviors. Since we require all our puppies to be fixed, this should not be a problem with any of our puppies.
Vaccinations
We strongly believe in a delayed/limited vaccination schedule. (Please click here for more informtion on delayed/limited vaccinations.) We understand that not every pet owner agrees with this method of vaccinations. We encourage everyone who purchases a puppy from us to do some research and how you choose to vaccinate your puppy is completely up to you.
Feeding
After much research we have chosen to feed Diamond Naturals dog food. We encourage all of our new puppy owners to do some research on pet food. A good site to visit is Dog Food Analysis. Your puppy with come with a small supply of Diamond Naturals Small Breed Puppy Food. If you choose to feed him a differed food please follow the directions included in your puppy pack so that your little one doesn't get sick. We discourage feeding dog food that contains corn or soy.
Size
Estimating the size of a puppy is just that- an estimte. Beware of breeders who promise you a certain size dog. Chances are they are banking on the fact that by the time your puppy is grown, you will be so in love you won't mind that it isn't the size you were promised. When we bought our first shih tzu puppy, she was very small and we were told she would be way less than six pounds. She ended up being seven. Her litter mate was almost three times her size, and they thought he was going to be huge. In truth, he ended up being not much larger than her.
There is just no way to be sure. We will give you our best guess what your puppy will end up weighing, but that is in no way a guarantee. For this reason we do not charge extra for smaller puppies. We feel that it's unfair to charge extra for a puppy just because it may end up being smaller than average. (Please keep in mind that the standard for a shih tzu is that they can be as large as 16 pounds. All of our puppies have been 10 pounds or less full grown, so they are already on the small side.)
Imperial Shih Tzus?
There is no such thing as an "imperial" shih tzu. That is just a label people use to make their dogs seems special or exotic. Our girls would be considered imperials because they are so small, but I think it's such a misleading term that I choose not to use it. Our puppies speak for themselves, we don't feel that we need to call them anything but shih tzus (or shorkies!).
Color
Shih Tzu puppies usually change color as they grow. Also please remember that if a shih tzu is cut short they will look lighter because they have a double coat. The pictures below are all of the same shih tzu.
Imperial Shih Tzus?
There is no such thing as an "imperial" shih tzu. That is just a label people use to make their dogs seems special or exotic. Our girls would be considered imperials because they are so small, but I think it's such a misleading term that I choose not to use it. Our puppies speak for themselves, we don't feel that we need to call them anything but shih tzus (or shorkies!).
Color
Shih Tzu puppies usually change color as they grow. Also please remember that if a shih tzu is cut short they will look lighter because they have a double coat. The pictures below are all of the same shih tzu.
Notice how her color changed the older she got, and how she seemed to be lighter with shorter hair.
Shih Tzus come in an array of beautiful colors, but they all fit into seven recognized color catagories. These colors can either be solid or parti (mixed with white). They are as follows: black, blue, brindle, liver, red, gold, and silver.
Many breeders call their shih tzus more exciting color names (for example Chocolate usually means liver), but it still comes down to these seven colors. (Please note that Blue and Liver are determined by the dogs skin pigment, not its coat color. A true blue will have a blue colored nose, foot pads and lips, and true liver will have a brown nose, pads and lips.)
Shih Tzus come in an array of beautiful colors, but they all fit into seven recognized color catagories. These colors can either be solid or parti (mixed with white). They are as follows: black, blue, brindle, liver, red, gold, and silver.
Many breeders call their shih tzus more exciting color names (for example Chocolate usually means liver), but it still comes down to these seven colors. (Please note that Blue and Liver are determined by the dogs skin pigment, not its coat color. A true blue will have a blue colored nose, foot pads and lips, and true liver will have a brown nose, pads and lips.)
<--The dog on the left is a blue, the dog on the right has a traditional black nose. This picture was taken in natural light with no flash. You can see how the blue dog's nose looks bluish gray compared to the black nose.
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Grooming/Shedding
Shih tzus do not shed. Their fur will grow long and get matted if not taken care of. They require monthly grooming.
There are many different styles of cut for your shih tzu. Long coats are beautiful, but it requires a lot of grooming and it's not usually practical for most owners.
Hypoallergenic?
Although shih tzus are great dogs for allergy sufferers, there is no guarantee that they won't cause an allergic reaction. I am severely allergic to dogs such as labs, but I'm around shih tzus all day long with no problem. Each person reacts differently to the dander of the dog. If you have allergies, it would be wise to make sure that the shih tzu is the right breed for you before purchasing one.
Although shih tzus are great dogs for allergy sufferers, there is no guarantee that they won't cause an allergic reaction. I am severely allergic to dogs such as labs, but I'm around shih tzus all day long with no problem. Each person reacts differently to the dander of the dog. If you have allergies, it would be wise to make sure that the shih tzu is the right breed for you before purchasing one.
Hernias/Delayed Closures
Hernias and Delayed Closures look like a small bubble under the skin where they belly button should be. This is caused by fatty tissue slipping through the opening and pushing against the skin.
It should be noted that there is a difference between a true umbilical hernia and a delayed closure. A true hernia is genetic and is characterized by thick cartilage. A delayed closure is a when there is a delay in closing where the umbilical cord used to be. These are not genetic and usually close on their own. A true hernia will not close on it's own and can only be corrected with surgery. Over the years I've had a few delayed closures, but I've never had a puppy with a true hernia. I will always let the new owner know if a puppy is found to have an issue with their umbilical area. Please be aware that sometimes it's not evident until the puppy is six weeks or older. (That's why I have a vet check between 7-8 weeks). Delayed closures are not serious. They don't cause the puppy pain. They will usually close by the time the puppy is one year old. Many people chose not to have them surgically corrected. Those that do most often have it corrected when their puppy is spayed or neutered. You can find more information about delayed closures and hernias here.
Hernias and Delayed Closures look like a small bubble under the skin where they belly button should be. This is caused by fatty tissue slipping through the opening and pushing against the skin.
It should be noted that there is a difference between a true umbilical hernia and a delayed closure. A true hernia is genetic and is characterized by thick cartilage. A delayed closure is a when there is a delay in closing where the umbilical cord used to be. These are not genetic and usually close on their own. A true hernia will not close on it's own and can only be corrected with surgery. Over the years I've had a few delayed closures, but I've never had a puppy with a true hernia. I will always let the new owner know if a puppy is found to have an issue with their umbilical area. Please be aware that sometimes it's not evident until the puppy is six weeks or older. (That's why I have a vet check between 7-8 weeks). Delayed closures are not serious. They don't cause the puppy pain. They will usually close by the time the puppy is one year old. Many people chose not to have them surgically corrected. Those that do most often have it corrected when their puppy is spayed or neutered. You can find more information about delayed closures and hernias here.
Dew Claws
Shih tzus are usually born with dew claws. Dew claws are often referred to as a dog's thumb. It's just an extra digit that can be located on either a dog's front or rear foot (or both). In certain sporting breeds it's recommended that the dew claw be removed so that the digit is not injured while hunting. Since a shih tzu is not likely to be hunting, and in keeping with our holistic/natural approach to puppy rearing, we chose not to have our puppy's dew claws removed. Dew claw removal is not even required for a shih tzu to be shown in dog shows, so it's truly breeder's choice.
Shih tzus are usually born with dew claws. Dew claws are often referred to as a dog's thumb. It's just an extra digit that can be located on either a dog's front or rear foot (or both). In certain sporting breeds it's recommended that the dew claw be removed so that the digit is not injured while hunting. Since a shih tzu is not likely to be hunting, and in keeping with our holistic/natural approach to puppy rearing, we chose not to have our puppy's dew claws removed. Dew claw removal is not even required for a shih tzu to be shown in dog shows, so it's truly breeder's choice.
Spay/Neuter
All of our puppies are sold on a spay/neuter contract. This means you must agree to have your pet fixed, and never to breed them.
Shipping
We do not ship our puppies. It is very stressful for them, especially young puppies. I am willing to meet you halfway for a fee. All arrangements must be made beforehand.
Payment
A $150 down payment will hold the puppy of your choice. We accept PayPal, money order or cash for your down payment. No personal checks. We can also accept credit/debit cards (in person or over the phone). The down payment must be received within 5 days of picking out your puppy. If we do not received your payment, the puppy will go back up for adoption. Down Payments are non-refundable, but you can use them towards another puppy or a future litter if you desire. Then they must be paid in full by the time they are eight weeks old. If you do not pay in full for your puppy by eight weeks of age you will forfeit all monies paid and the puppy will be placed back up for adoption and you will not get your initial payment back. If you are making a payment when picking up your puppy it must be cash.
We now offer financing through PayPal's Bill Me Later program. This gives you six months to pay for your puppy.
All of our puppies are sold on a spay/neuter contract. This means you must agree to have your pet fixed, and never to breed them.
Shipping
We do not ship our puppies. It is very stressful for them, especially young puppies. I am willing to meet you halfway for a fee. All arrangements must be made beforehand.
Payment
A $150 down payment will hold the puppy of your choice. We accept PayPal, money order or cash for your down payment. No personal checks. We can also accept credit/debit cards (in person or over the phone). The down payment must be received within 5 days of picking out your puppy. If we do not received your payment, the puppy will go back up for adoption. Down Payments are non-refundable, but you can use them towards another puppy or a future litter if you desire. Then they must be paid in full by the time they are eight weeks old. If you do not pay in full for your puppy by eight weeks of age you will forfeit all monies paid and the puppy will be placed back up for adoption and you will not get your initial payment back. If you are making a payment when picking up your puppy it must be cash.
We now offer financing through PayPal's Bill Me Later program. This gives you six months to pay for your puppy.
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