Need help with puppy decision..Shih Tzu to be exact

[sweetheart2576]

I have been searching for a shih tzu puppy for some time now and have finally found one that I love from a breeder in Missouri. The shih tzu puppy, a boy , is beautiful, but there is a problem that it's tail is shorter 1 1/2 inches and the rest of the litters were 3inches. I am only getting it as a pet not to mate him or anything. He is white and gold, beautiful. He will be microchipped and has all his shots to date and wormed. Both of the parents weigh 8 lbs. The breeder has sent me pictures of his tail and i just think it is adorable. He has also been to the vet and the vet said it may be just a fluke or in one of the adults background. I really want this puppy but I was wondering if anyone has ever heard or seen a Shih Tzu with this problem, or should I steer clear of it and find another puppy? TYIA

 

[golfgal]

I don't know about Shih Tzu's but I know that Rat Terriers can sometimes have a natural bobtail which is pretty much what you are describing, a small or nonexistent tail. They are perfectly fine but they should NOT be bread with another natural bobtail as some genetic complications can arise. I am not at all sure but it is probably something similar.

 

[ashjohnson80]

I have no idea because my shih tzu isn't the right size anywhere. he weighs 22 lbs.

 

[WeirdEyes]

I say go for it! I'm sure he's adorable even with his short tail. Shih Tzu make the best pets.

My Shih Tzu/Poodle mix weighs 22 lbs also because he's so FAT! LOL

 

[phillybeth]

If you're not looking to breed or show him I don't see why it is an issue. A short tail should not make a difference to his health or temperment as a pet.

 

[ashjohnson80]

I say go for it! I'm sure he's adorable even with his short tail. Shih Tzu make the best pets.

My Shih Tzu/Poodle mix weighs 22 lbs also because he's so FAT! LOL

I've never known another one that big, they should start a club! The tubby shihtzu club...

 

[CookieGVB]

As long as there are no other health problems, I'd say go for it.

 

[sweetheart2576]

Everyone was so quick to answer and I appreciate it. I just have to talk to my dh when he gets home, but I am with you all...Go for it. I will try and post a picture after I talk to the breeder and put a deposit down on him. He is just too cute for words. The coloring/markings are exactly what I was looking for. Thanks everyone and I will keep you posted.

 

[ashjohnson80]

Everyone was so quick to answer and I appreciate it. I just have to talk to my dh when he gets home, but I am with you all...Go for it. I will try and post a picture after I talk to the breeder and put a deposit down on him. He is just too cute for words. The coloring/markings are exactly what I was looking for. Thanks everyone and I will keep you posted.

I can't wait to see him!!!!

 

[Rajah]

As long as the breeder has a good health guarantee, I'd not let a natural bobtail stop me on that pup.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Oh gosh, I'll be the voice of dissent. I would NEVER EVER NEVER EVER buy a dog from a breeder in Missouri. They are KINGS of the puppy mills and lie through their teeth online about their wonderful facilities. You will be supporting a puppy mill by purchasing that dog - just google it to see what I mean. Missouri has the most lax animal abuse laws and that is why the place is chocked full of them. Even reputable breeders will not breed animals there because of the reputation.

Where did you find this "breeder"? Online? Again, i would never ever buy a dog from a breeder I could not visit. There are red flags all over this. If it's a rare dog and there are no suitable breeders near you, then I'd consider only after doing extensive research on the breeder and reference calls - plus I would find them through a reputable source such as a national breed club.

A Shih Tzu should NEVER be 8 pounds. They are breeding unhealthy and too small of dogs. Shih Tzus that are properly bred weigh between 9-16 pounds. Anything above or below that is unhealthy and may not even be a purebred. Really.

Do some research on Shih Tzus. Learn the standard features. Do not settle for anything less. There are too many good or even decent breeders out there that breed standard size Shih Tzus. There is no need to pay someone for a sickly one. I can't even imagine what they are charging for this dog.

PLEASE reconsider supporting these people. Please. As a Shih Tzu momma myself, I'm begging that you reconsider. You can't even imagine the life this poor baby's mom & dad live. You are in NY - you can find a quality breeder near you. It's not about a cute dog - it's about a healthy dog and supporting a breeder who doesn't abuse animals.

(I apologize in advance for the passionate pleas - you just can't even imagine what these places are like. If you can't visit in person, you do not want to buy from there. I'm sorry that others think you should just go for it but I don't think they understand either. The puppy mills will not be closed down until people stop buying them. It's a horrible horrible practice and hundreds of thousands of puppies suffer from them - and the people that love them. I can send numerous links and info to you if you want; just PM me)

I'll stop there.

 

[beckmrk04]

Ok- I have to step in and say that while MO is rife with puppy mill problems, there still are reputable breeders in the State. Not all breeders in the very large state of Missouri support puppy mills. It's true- there are many- but that doesn't mean that the OP has automatically become entangled with puppy mills just because she's getting a dog from MO. I live next door in IL.

I do highly reccommend checking out a breeder thoroughly, but then again, I'm a rescue-dog sorta girl myself.

OP- I'm sure your puppy is just fine. Research your breeder thoroughly. And I agree with Aimeedyan: if you do find any hints that this is a puppy mill (they breed many kinds of animals/dogs, sell them to area stores like PassPets ( ), or whatever), then do not support them. Puppy mills are cruel and disgusting.

But- there are plenty of responsible breeders out there too. I hope everything works out. Your pup sounds cute!

 

[Aimeedyan]

Ok- I have to step in and say that while MO is rife with puppy mill problems, there still are reputable breeders in the State. Not all breeders in the very large state of Missouri support puppy mills. It's true- there are many- but that doesn't mean that the OP has automatically become entangled with puppy mills just because she's getting a dog from MO. I live next door in IL.

I do highly reccommend checking out a breeder thoroughly, but then again, I'm a rescue-dog sorta girl myself.

OP- I'm sure your puppy is just fine. Research your breeder thoroughly. And I agree with Aimeedyan: if you do find any hints that this is a puppy mill (they breed many kinds of animals/dogs, sell them to area stores like PassPets ( ), or whatever), then do not support them. Puppy mills are cruel and disgusting.

But- there are plenty of responsible breeders out there too. I hope everything works out. Your pup sounds cute!

I have been told that reputable breeders don't even like to be associated with Missouri because of the rep. You're right, some likely do exist BUT it's likely she found this person on the internet - which means it's not a reputable breeder to begin with. A reputable breeder wouldn't ship such a common dog as a Shih Tzu. They just wouldn't. A reputable breeder would require extensive interviews with her - not just a deposit. A reputable breeder wouldn't be breeding underweight dogs that aren't standard. That, IMO, is the biggest red flag to me. 8 pounds? Bad news.

Many of these puppy mills that sell direct to the public do so through brokers. A friend of mine learned this the hard way. THe website looked like a real breeder - in Missouri, of course. She bought a pug, had it shipped. Dog has extensive genetic issues with his liver and almost immediately needed a shunt - which was thousands of dollars. She didn't get a health guarantee, or course, NOR did she check to find out what genetic testing had been done on the parents. She just thought he was a beautiful dog and the 'breeder' was kind when she talked to them. Only when the health issues arose and she tried to get information on them about the health issues and cost involved did she learn that she was working with a broker - who cared nothing about her dog or anything other dog. They just did it for the money.

Many go home with a dog without any health issues, but most don't. Even if they are healthy their entire life, their parents still paid the price for their freedom.

It's such a disgusting industry.

OP - The tail thing doesn't matter to me at all. However, your post gave huge red flags in other areas. PM me if you want more info or a list of things to look for in a breeder. If they can pass all of those things then I think you have a reputable breeder on your hands.

 

[kilee]

I have to admit I've read a lot of articles about the terrible puppy mills in Missouri. I live not that far from you-- about 45-50 minutes. I have a purebred Shih Tzu we got last year in this area. The breeder we got our little guy from is from this area too. PM if you want the info. Now, he does breed Shih Tzu's himself and they are AKC- he does breed 3 types of dogs. Yorkies, Shih Tzu's, and Boston's. HOWEVER, he does sell about 6 other breeds from another breeder. I don't know much about the other breeder, because I didn't want to buy a dog I didn't see where it was raised. So, I can't say much there. BUT they do raise their own puppies, and that is what I went after. He owns a boarding kennel that is highly recommended by the SPCA out here and that is how I got in touch w/ him. There is another lady in the town of Evans/Brant that is supposed to have gorgeous Shih Tzu's and she breeds Matlesse's too. She doesn't advertise, but does have a tiny sign by her mailbox to direct people there, I could get you her # as I go by her place a lot. The guy we got our dog from is in North Collins near Eden/Springville. He does only have a 1yr health guarantee on his puppies. Which some might not consider to be long enough.

I LOVE my Shih Tzu to pieces. They are the greatest little pets- but they do take some extra work as they can be super stubborn about trainning. My guy is about 18 months now and he's just under 10#'s and the vet thinks full grown he'll only top out in the 10.5-11# range. So, he's a little guy.

 

[Jynohn]

Oh gosh, I'll be the voice of dissent. I would NEVER EVER NEVER EVER buy a dog from a breeder in Missouri.

I have to admit that the moment I saw "Missouri" I thought the same thing. Of course there are reputable breeders in Missouri, but the chances are MUCH higher that you're dealing with a puppy mill in MO than in any other states. Go into any pet store that sells puppies and look at the little sign they put up that says where the puppy was born. 99% of the time it will say MO

That's not to say that the breeder you found isn't perfectly legitimate, it just means you have to be EXTRA careful when you're dealing with breeders in that state. If you want honest opinions, you can post a link or PM the website and I'm sure many of us here can help you. I used to breed Great Danes and now volunteer for rescue and will be happy to help guide in what to look for in a reputable breeder.

Good luck whatever you decide!

Jynohn

 

[sweetheart2576]

After much consideration I was able to find a shih tzu closer to home and we picked him up today. He is beautiful white and brindle. Very playful I will post a picture when i get a pic. Thank you everyone for your help.

 

[kilee]

That is wonderful!!! I cannot wait to see a picture!!! My little guy is brindle too, when he's all grown in. He doesn't like to be brushed so we tend to keep him either shaved or w/ a puppy cut all the time.

 

[Jynohn]

Congratulations on your new puppy! Can't wait to see pictures!

 

[laura001]

I've never known another one that big, they should start a club! The tubby shihtzu club...

Mine is a Shihtzu Lhaso Apso and is 21 lbs.....can he join the club too?

 

[ilovepcot]

So glad to hear you found a puppy locally. Personally, I don't like the idea of *shipping* dogs. Most reputable breeders are now getting away from that as it's associated with puppy mills. I understand that there are times when you can only find a rare dog you're searching for on the other side of the country (that's usually with show dogs), but for a "pet quality" dog, there's usually not a good reason for doing so. Even with a "rare" dog one is searching for, I wish people would not ship them but could arrange transportation via automobile.