When many people think of breeding dogs, the first thought that seems to come to mind is money. There seems to be a lot of money that is being made by dog breeders, especially for those who are into Shih Tzu breeding.
When profit is the bottom line, the Shih Tzu care is often neglected. It is vital to make sure that you are in it for the right reasons, even though the dollar amount you can make is pretty flashy.
Shih Tzu care is the most important part of getting your dogs ready to breed and there are many reasons for that. When breeders fail to be concerned or pay attention to the care and health of the Shih Tzu’s they plan to breed, there is a hefty price to pay and the dogs and puppies themselves generally pay that price. When starting out, it is suggested that you breed only one pair at a time so that you can focus all of your attention on them to make sure it goes smoothly.
When thinking about breeding your dogs, you should consider Shih Tzu care. Are you able to testify that you truly know the medical and emotional background of your breeding pair?
If you aren’t able to do this it may be because you have just adopted these dogs in order to partake in Shih Tzu breeding. And while that is fine, you want to know that you are breeding dogs that are not only emotionally stable but healthy as well since the Shih Tzu breed is prone to many different illnesses and back problems.
With the adult dogs, you need to know about the current health of your breeding pair along with any possible health conditions that they suffered in the past. It is extremely important that you begin your breeding with a healthy set of parents in hopes that this will better your chances at getting healthy puppies, although there is never a guarantee. If the adult Shih Tzus in your home are new to your family, consider not breeding them for about a year so you can better evaluate their temperament and health. Before beginning any breeding, make sure your local vet checks them out.
One of the most stressed issues about Shih Tzu breeding is that breeders will not allow the mother dog enough time to recover from her first birthing experience before trying to breed her again. Puppy mills are famous for neglecting their dogs in this manner. Give her the time she needs before trying again and once you have the hang of Shih Tzu care and breeding, you could possibly bring in another female so that the two take turns breeding. This way, you can continue to share the love of Shih Tzu puppies with others but still keep tabs on the mental and physical well being of your dogs.
Once your female Shih Tzu has produced pups, her care does not end there. She still requires healing time both for her mental and physical health. Puppy mills will often turn right around and try to breed that female right away. This is not safe for her or her future pups. Just as humans need time to recover, so do dogs. Understand that Shih Tzu breeding is an emotional journey and do not be alarmed if you notice your female acting distant or protective of her pups. The best thing you can do to prepare yourself is to read as much Shih Tzu information as possible.