We just got our first shih tzu....Cocoa.....and she is the sweetest most spunky little thing I have ever seen. She rules the house because she rules my husbands heart. They have a love hate relationship they hate it that they love each other. She follows him around like he is hott stuff. She is only 5 months old now and she is an unusual color for a shih tzu...she is almost all black with some white on her. Everywhere we go people stop us and comment about not ever seeing a Shih tzu her color. I wnt to breed her when she is old enough....those of you who have bread your Shih tzu can you tell me if her puppies will come out looking anything like her if I can find a male her color or is it just the luck of the genes?

Emi ~ Your dog sounds absolutely precious. MOST likely you would NOT get a carbon copy on the coloring. Shih's coloring often changes in their first two years.

Where did your dog originate from? A reputable breeder would have provided you info on genetics. Are you prepared for expensive medical testing so your dog does not pass any genetic defects down? If she is a quality breeding specimen, are you prepared for life-threatening issues that can occur for her and/or her pups during birth? Assuming all goes well, are you willing to keep any pups that you do not sell or give away? How will you screen potential homes? When faced with the true realities, expense, and the responsibility of breeding, it's not so pretty.

Please do your homework, read up, especially here in the Forum, What is a Responsible Breeder? And read WeLoveOur7Dogs' insightful blog "Why Does Everyone Want a Mate to Breed?", detailing her heartbreak over a dog she was responsible for bringing into the world. Also, NadiaWebber's blog, "Ignorance Can Hurt".

Last month, I helped seven 5 month old (filthy & sunburned) dobie pups find homes. The owners were told by soooo many people "How good looking, sweet their dogs were; and if you ever bred, we'd buy". So they did. Mom had 11 pups, ONE was stillborn, sold three and SEVEN were relegated to the backyard to fend for themselves.  Best to leave breeding to those who are upholding breed standards, showing, etc.

Great post Tina and sage advice. Too many folks think breeding is easy and after raising lots of pups, I can tell you it's not easy, nor is it cheap!

A reputable breeder also stands behind their puppies; should the person who purchases one reach a point that they don't want it anymore or can no longert care for it, a reputable breeder will take the puppy/dog back. In fact, many if not most reputable breeders require that purchasers sign an agreement to bring them back if they are not going to keep them. For the breeder, it is a commitment to each and every puppy they are responsible for bringing into this world so long as the puppy/dog lives.

Hi Emi, I sent you a dog pal request.  We have two Shiba Inus, and even before we adopted our second Shiba (only a week ago) people were asking me if I was going to breed Kitsu.  I know the initial feeling of what seems to be a great idea.  In the search box, type in the member name "WeLoveOur7Dogs".  There is a great blog there called "Why Does Everyone Want a Mate to Breed".  I have some comments in there along with others.  Your shih tzu is beautiful, and just having her be special can be enough!  I used to dog sit for my aunt and uncle's two shih tzus.  Good luck and I wish you many years of happiness and good health with each other!

 Sharon and The Shibas

I was just reading the earlier posts on this topic, about someone calling their dog sh*t zoo. Reminds me of a woman I met who had a cross-breed, a mixture of a Shih Tzu and a Poodle. When I asked what that breed is called, she said it is a Sh*tty Poo.

I know a "sha-pooty"!

The breeder we got Cocoa from is an awsome lady and she has been breeding dogs for almost 10 years. She has bred many diffrent breeds but has found it easier to stick with Yorkies, Maltese and SHih Tzus. I love the home that our baby came from. It was everything you could want in a breeder....each one of the puppies she had were like members of her family. I wanted to start somthing like she has. I did sign a puppy agreement with her that had in it that I must keep her updated via phone or email every so oftend about Cocoa and how she was doing. The gift she gave my family through her careful love and attention raising Cocoa made me want to do that for others. I know Cocoa comes from good breeding stock. Her mother and grandmother both produced great liters. I would go back to the same breeder for a male but right now she has only one male stud for her two breeding females. I don't want any inbreeding. I am still very early in this process so I will make sure that I am well informed and able to handle the responsability that comes with bring new life in this world. I do not want a puppy factory. I just want to share the joy Cocoa has given us! Plus how awsome would it be to be able to have puppies around all the time. I am very excited at the thought of being able to keep any of our future puppies that have special needs or that just tug on my heart strings to stay and be apart of our family! Thank you all for your information.

i just want to say i have 3 shih tzus they are wonderful i don't know what i did with out them my Ozzy's nick name is snozzie because that's the sound they make they are just perfect its true you cant just have one their personality always gets you wanting more i am never a min with out my baby's

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PicJazz.com

i have a 3 yr old female shih-tzu. the breed is awesome! my whole family loves her. and she is great around little kids, which is a good thing becasue i babysitt a lot. she is really laid back and east to care for.

 I Love my Shih Tzu. Shes very friendly and Loves everybody. Shes a Real Lady  BOL

I love shih tzu im getting one my cousin has one and my sisters recently had to be put down.(via cancer)

I have a Shih tzu ~Princess Lola ~

In febuary we are going to breed her with my grandmothers Shih Poo *Cozmo* He is only 4lbs.

full grown

so they will have tiny pups =)

Yay I cant wait.