FINDING A REPUTABLE BREEDER

This is being posted in hopes of helping those red flags go up when you are speaking to unscrupulous breeders.


When looking for a breeder be sure to ask questions. If the breeder gets offended this is a red flag. A breeder should respect the fact that you care enough to ask questions. An educated buyer makes better parents for new puppies.

Click here to read a true story about how not to buy a Shih Tzu.

Example questions to ask;
1. How long have you been breeding? This is important because if this is a breeders first liter he may or may not stick around and be there for you when you may need advice.

2. Why do you breed? This is important because if a breeder is breeding because they need the money to pay bills it is very likely they are cutting cost on care of their dogs and your new puppy. It is also possible they do not love the dogs and treat them as such. The dogs are a business opportunity and nothing more.

3. Do you test your dogs? What do you do when a health issue may arise? It is important to know a breeder is not only testing but what the breeder would do if a situation arises. Life is never certain and an issue may arise, will the breeder back that puppy and either return your money or give you a new puppy?

4. How ofter do you breed your dam? If a breeder is breeding a dam everytime she comes in heat until she is 10 you may want to go somewhere else and not contribute to the suffering of this dam. This is a strong indication profit is their motive for breeding.

5. How and where are your puppies raised? The where is important because if the puppies are not in the home with the breeder can a close eye be kept on their development? The how is important because there are things a breeder needs to do to socialize the new puppies so when it is time for them to go in the ring or to their new homes they are not afraid and run to hide from everyday life.

6. Do you sell on spay/ neuter contracts? If a dog is not sold as a show/ breeding dog (these do go hand in hand) the breeder may be capitalizing on the fact that they can sell unaltered dogs for more money. Do you want to buy your pet from someone who will sell an unaltered dog to anyone who has enough money?

7. How many breeds of dogs do you breed? If a breeder has more than two breeds they may be in the BUSINESS of selling dogs.

8. What is your policy for taking puppies back? This is VERY important because there are breeders who stand behind their dogs. Believe it or not some breeders want you to be happy because if you are not happy their precious puppy will not be and could end up in a shelter or God only knows where.

9. Do you have a written guarantee/ contract?

10. Does the puppy come with a health certificate and up to date on all vaccines?

11. Does the puppy come with AKC papers? You can read about AKC papers at www.shihtzukisses.com/papers.htm





Things to look for or take note of when talking to a breeder or looking at puppies;

1. Is the breeder knowledgeable about the breed?

2. DO THE PUPPIES SEEM HEALTHY, WITH NO CLOUDY DISCHARGE FROM EYES OR NOSE, NO LOOSE STOOLS, NO FOUL SMELLING EARS? ARE THEIR COATS SOFT, FULL, AND CLEAN?

3. Does he or she represnt their dogs honestly?

4. Do you feel like you can completely trust this breeder? You have to feel like you can trust this person with your child. This new puppy you are thinking about bringing home IS your new child and is a very serious commitment. There has to be trust between both buyer and breeder.

Written by: Leslie LeFave at ShihTzuKisses.com or Tian Mi Shih Tzu

We Win In Greenville, SC

We loaded the car on Wednesday night and headed for Greenville early Thursday morning. At 11:00 Friday morning all three dogs were ready to go see the judge. John J, Tian Mi's Over The Top, was really ready, to make his mommy look like she had never been in the ring before. Needless to say he was not the judges favorite dog that day.



Izzy, Tian Mi's Isadorable, won winners bitch on Friday and Sunday to pick up three more points.

















Sweet little Bomer, Tian Mi's Bomaniscious, went winners dog on Saturday to pick up two points. Sunday John J and he were shown together and Bomer decided he was going to act like John J.


It was a fun weekend but coming home was nice. The dogs were ready to get back to their routines. Thank you so much Janis for sharing all the stress and joys of showing these three babies. Izzy loves you and shows very nice for you. Its nice to have a "show buddy"

Thank you Barb & Jim Pottieger for allowing me to show your baby. He really is a pretty boy and most of the time he shows like gang busters.


Check bac to Tian Mi's news page for more photos of this show and updates.

SHIHTZUKISSES.COM PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

I am currently working on several projects that will change the way I interact with other Shih Tzu lovers. Shih Tzu kisses or Tian Mi Shih tzuis in the process of adding a Shih tzu message board. After enlisting the help of a dear friend and fellow breeder / exibitor to help moderate the Message board the launch date is projected to be 2/21

Tian Mi SHih Tzu will also be launching an online store that will offer Shih Tzu lovers a place to get their grooming tools and Shih Tzu gear for a reasonable price at Shihtzukisses.com

The store will feature items that I have used or have currently found "perfect" for my Shih tzu. The majority of my enjoyment of this breed is the fact you can doll them up. My online store will pass on the products my Shih Tzu enjoy.

Look for the store to open around the same time the Shih tzu message board does 2/21

BUTTERFLY POLL

After checking my email this am I discovered an unhappy shihtzukisses visitor that was quite annoyed with the butterflies that fly around my website.

The email was as follows:

I didn't want to steal your images or text, I just wanted to make those annoying butterflies go away so I could better read your page.

I was concerned about the annoying butterflies and decided just because I like them, what if they do bother my visitors. I decided to take a poll of the 50+ Shih Tzu lovers on my email list. I sent a mass email asking everyone for their opinion as to the butterflies annoying habits. The emails that followed were quite amusing. I chuckled at each opinion as they rolled in. Never in a million years would I have imagined butterflies would cause such a stir. I got the biggest chuckle out of many of the responses. I love my clients!!!!!

Some of the responses follows:

I love them!! I love all of it! - Shirley
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Hands down KEEP the butterflies. If I were you I would be Leary of anyone who makes comments like annoying or distracting, I don't know if I would want to allow a puppy to go to them. I think you are not only a wonderful breeder but a talented web site creator and the butterflies have always been such a sweet welcome to your beautiful web page. - SUE
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I am a professional web designer and I find them part of your image and NONDISTRACTING. They are not enough of an element to be distracting. I learned that if your are going to have animation it must be brief and/or subtle and I don't believe you violated this web design rule. That's my thought. Keep the little butterflies! - Ginny
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Although at first glance I thought the butterflies were cute, I did find them very distracting. You have done such a great job on the website and all the photos and information you provide to us. I think the butterflies detracts from that. Just my opinion. - Carol
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GOOD MORNING LESLIE.......WHAT IS THIS WORLD COMING TO COMPLAINING ABOUT BUTTERFLIES.....I LOVE BUTTERFLIES TOO....I FEEL IT MADE THE SITE MORE INTERESTING AND WELL...HAPPY...LIGHT HEARTED AND SPECIAL......SOME PEOPLE NEED TO GET A LIFE....I MEAN IT....WHAT WITH EVERYTHING ELSE WRONG IN THIS WORLD ALL THEY CAN FIND WRONG IS BUTTERFLIES....WOW...WHAT HAS THIS WORLD COME TO???? I SAY LEAVE THE BUTTERFLIES.....WOULD THEY RATHER HAVE SADNESS THAN A FEW BUTTERFLIES....PLEASE!!!! KEEP 'EM....... - Gail
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love them so much. Jim hates them but what does he know. He never goes into your website. Oh excuse me he does not hate them. He said they are distracting. They are not - Barb
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I personally like butterflies and they really did not distract me at all - Donna
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Hi Leslie,

I honestly love the butterflies. I do not find them distracting at all. I think you should keep them. - Jane
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Hi Leslie:
The butterflies are lovely, but what you said about being a distraction, you might be correct. A lot of people might not like them. I do like butterflies myself, but I know people who don't. I really don't think it is the butterflies themselves, but the movement of them that might be distracting? Try leaving them on and keep them still, if you can? - Carolyn
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We think they are perfect...shows how beautiful our babies are and what care you take with them! - Candace
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We love it - Janet & Family
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If you like the butterflies, then by all means keep them. Those who feel compelled
complain about every little thing can go take a flying leap off the nearest cliff. When
those complainers start paying for and maintaining the website, then they can have it as they
want. - Laura
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For me, any animation on a website that requires me to focus primarily on text, is distracting. Your butterflies are not annoying for me. - Stu
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As you can see many feel very passionately about the butterflies. Some do not really like them. These posted are only a fraction of what I got back. This email was responded to more than any other email I sent to my fellow Shih Tzu lovers.

The final consensus is .............

WERE KEEPING THE BUTTERFLIES!!!

Oh and the person who sent the complaining email, after responding back, I was sorry and the reason I have a no right click script on my site was to keep other Shih Tzu breeders from stealing. The emailer kindly said:

Sorry you've had trouble with your images being taken. I've been sick with the flu, so am more easily annoyed than usual. I did enjoy your site very much. I have a sweet rescued Shih tzu/poodle mutt and was looking for information on grooming her.

As you see it was all blown out of proportion. :o)

I got a great laugh and I had feedback in the past that the butterflies could be a little distracting so I had to ask. And now I know. KEEP THE BUTTERFLIES!!!!!!

For those who are distracted.......... Im sorry.
For those who love them............... So do I!!!!

LOOKING FOR IMPERIAL SHIH TZU

I get many puppy calls every week. Without exception the callers are calling because they have been to my site and are captivated by the enchanting Shih Tzu. Most people read my site before they call in an effort to "Do their homework" before speaking with a breeder. I had a call at 8:45 pm the other night form a person wanting to know if I had any imperial Shih tzu available. I asked him if he had been to my site. He said yes he had read most of it. I told him he must have missed the section titled "IMPERIALS!!!"

I then told the guy I only breed to comply with the AKC standard for the Shih Tzu because I did show my dogs and only wished to produce Shih Tzu that were completely healthy. I was so mad at the guy for calling me after he stated he had been to my site and did his homework. If you are searching for a Shih Tzu puppy, please do your homework. If after you do yoru homework and, in spite of all the health issues, still choose to buy a so called imperial, DON'T CALL ME!!!

From time to time tiny Shih Tzu are born to AKC standard Shih Tzu parents. If you want a tiny dog, wait for one of these or pick another breed.

Fro more info on imperials go to http:www.shihtzukisses.com/imperials.htm

JOHN J GETS A CLEAN HIP X-RAY

John J saw Dr Mary Mc Daniel. He was examined and x-rays were taken. Dr. Mc Daniel says his hips and joints are perfect.