You are going to talk to a lot of Shih Tzu breeders before you find the one you like so be ready for a long process. Make sure the Shih Tzu breeder you are considering is listed with a national breeder registry and not in trouble with local authorities. You will be talking to your breeder for years after the sale so make sure you are comfortable with any Shih Tzu breeders you are considering and also check them out with your vet before buying.

When you are ready to buy a Shih Tzu dog you are ready to bring a new member into your family and that is a big deal and an important transaction. The Shih Tzu breeder you choose needs to be someone you feel comfortable doing business with and someone you can trust. Also gauge the feeling of the breeder as well. A breeder that does not seem to really care about the dogs he is selling is probably not worth doing business with.

Finding the right Shih Tzu breeder takes a lot of time and a lot of patience. You don't want to settle on the first one you meet and a good breeder knows that a good owner will do their homework before buying a dog. So you aren't hurting a good breeder's feelings by acting responsibly. If in your travels you see any animal cruelty by any breeders be sure to report it to the proper authorities right away.

The very first thing you want to be sure of is whether or not the breeder you are considering is listed with any of the national breeding registries. If you ask the breeder they will tell you if they are or not and then you can go on the Internet and check for yourself, which you should do. A good and reputable breeder has nothing to hide and would have no problem with you checking out their background. Making their practices public is why they join a registry in the first place.

Many people neglect to take a step in their Shih Tzu breeder search that can be very important. Contact your local authorities and ask them if the Shih Tzu breeder you are considering has ever had any complaints lodged against them or if they have ever run into trouble with the law because of the way they run their business. This is very important information to have.

Your vet is always a great resource for any kind of advice or information you may need on any of the prospective Shih Tzu breeders you are considering. If you are getting your first pet then it would be a good idea to start a relationship with a vet anyway and what better way to start off with your new vet than taking their advice on a breeder? Your vet is only in it for the health and safety of your pet so their advice will reflect that concern and that is the information you need.

Talk to the breeders as well. If you do not feel comfortable with one then do not do business with them. A breeder is supposed to not only sell you a pet but also be available to you for the life of your pet, so you want to be sure that the breeder you choose is someone you would have no problem talking to and dealing with. This is an important decision so take your time and do your homework.