Do Animal Shelters Offer Discount Shih Tzu Puppies For Sale?

If you are looking for your first Shih Tzu puppy, the absolute best place for you to look for Shih Tzu puppies for sale is with AKC licensed Shih Tzu breeders. Not only will you get a Shih Tzu puppy that is healthy, sane and under warranty, but you also get access to the advice of the Shih Tzu breeder. They have lived with Shih Tzus a long time and know the quirks of this independent but loyal breed. If you have never had a Shih Tzu before – let alone a Shih Tzu puppy – then the support from the Shih Tzu breeder will be worth every penny.

You can search on the Internet or information from the American Kennel Club (AKC) to find Shih Tzu puppies for sale in your area. Since Shih Tzus are the ninth most popular breed in America (according to the AKC), you should have no problem finding a reputable Shih Tzu breeder around where you live.
If you take the shelter route in looking for Shih Tzu puppies for sale, keep in mind that they will be older and often have their breed misidentified as a Lhasa Apso. Spend some time getting to know different Shih Tzus in order to recognize a misidentified, scruffy Shih Tzu. Shih Tzus have luxurious, soft coats and a "chrysanthemum" shaped head. They also have round eyes while Lhasa Apsos eyes are shaped like almonds. Or, you could focus on Shih Tzu rescues that do the identifying work for you. Those puppies might even have papers.

Most of the puppies and dogs that end up in Shih Tzu rescues are there through no fault of their own. Their previous owners did not spend the time to learn proper Shih Tzu puppy care – such as how to care for the thick coat – and couldn’t cope with them. Shih Tzu rescues will tell you why the dog was given up before they let you have the dog. Here is some basic Shih Tzu puppy care information that any animal shelter, Shih Tzu rescue or breeder will want you to know when you find the right Shih Tzu puppy for sale. Shih Tzus need to live indoors – they cannot handle changing temperatures too well. Shih Tzus are prone to ear infections and eye damage. Keep the ears clean – and the rest of the body, too! You will need to go to a groomer every six weeks, at the very least, in order to keep on top of the coat.

And they need brushing each and every day. Keep the Shih Tzu in a "puppy trim" instead of a show coat to save some grooming time. The show coat takes as long to groom as the coat of a much bigger dog, the Afghan. Shih Tzus will wander, so they need to be on a leash or in a fenced yard when outside. And Shih Tzus are more for the stay at home types than those who do a lot of traveling. They want to be with you all of the time.

Rebecca Simpson once worked in a pet store that always had Shih Tzu puppies for sale and has regretted it ever since. Knowing where to find the best Shih Tzu puppies for sale hopefully will mean there will be a lot less Shih Tzus in shelters. Find a good book with a detailed section on Shih Tzu puppy care before you begin your search for a dog.