Search
Related Links



    

Informative Articles

4 Ways In Which You Can Spoil Your Dog Rotten
4 Ways In Which You Can Spoil Your Dog Rotten by Mark Eckenrode You spoil your pooch as close to rotten as you can get, don’t you? Hey, who doesn’t? It’s almost impossible not to, with those adorable, big, beautiful eyes, the little lashes, the...

Dog training - dealing with house training issues
The best house training uses the dogs own instincts to avoid soiling its bed to train the dog where and where not to eliminate. That is the basis behind crate training, in which the dog is confined to its crate in the absence of the owner,...

Dog Training - How To Train Your Dog Not To Chase People, Bicycles, Joggers, Etc
Dogs by nature are predatory animals, and all predatory animals share the motivation to chase fleeing objects. While this may be a natural instinct, it is not appropriate when those fleeing objects are joggers, bicyclists or the mailman. ...

Pet finder for dog lovers
Julie is one of the many dog lovers in USA. She was passionate about offering only the best to her dog pet proving her friendship every day just like dog lovers do. Her life changed when her dog died. She got very depressed and her family...

The Cruel Fool - Gods Payback (Animal Cruelty)
Why so many campaigners are out there fighting for the rights of cruelty to animals? Animals can not speak for themselves, so we as caring considerate human beings with feelings act as their proxy to get a message across and that being is that...

 
Do You Want A Show Dog Or Cute Companion Shih Tzu?

Shih Tzu belong to people. They do not belong exclusively to the show dog world. Shih Tzu were bred for centuries to be affectionate companions for people and they certainly excel and do a fantastic job at doing just that. All Shih Tzu are by their very nature, constant close companions for their owners.

A show dog must conform to certain breed standards, such as height, weight, and conformation as well as temperament. A companion Shih Tzu may have minor imperfections when compared to the AKC standards for a show dog Shih Tzu, but be wonderful in all other respects. Many times the differences between a top show dog who has met all the AKC standard requirements for a show dog and a companion dog are not readily apparent to most people. Flaws that are slight may only be detected by the trained eye of a show dog breeder or a show judge. Being a companion dog, regardless of small size, large size, or in between size, in no way diminishes a Shih Tzu's value as a loving member of the family. Although Shih Tzu show dogs are bred mainly for their good looks, the real purpose of a Shih Tzu is to be an an affectionate companion for people. Shih Tzus were bred to be companion animals centuries before dog shows and any kind of kennel club ever existed.

If you decide you want a show dog, be prepared to pay more for it than you would pay for a pet-quality companion. Also remember that just because the parents are champion show dogs, there is no guarantee the puppy will turn out to be a champion too. Very young puppies are difficult to evaluate their exact worth as a show dog. A show dog breeder will have to keep that puppy around 3 to 6 months to be able to evaluate


accurately whether or not that particular puppy is show dog material. If you decide you want a show quality Shih Tzu be prepared to purchase an older than 8 weeks old Shih Tzu puppy. And the best advice would be to purchase an adult Shih Tzu that already has been successful in the show ring. Even the most beautiful and what seems to be the most correct 8 week old Shih Tzu puppy can change as it grows up and may never reach the show potential you hoped for or was true of its parents and ancestors. If you purchase a show dog "prospect," you are "guessing" that the Shih Tzu will attain a the attributes necessary to meet the standards of a Shih Tzu show dog. A lot of changes can take place between puppyhood and adulthood. When you buy an adult show dog Shih Tzu you know exactly what you are getting.

Full AKC registration allows for participation in AKC competitions and events and the ability to register future offspring of the Shih Tzu with the AKC. Most breeders charge anywhere from $200 to $500 more for a full AKC registration.

Limited AKC registration does not allow breeding and limits AKC competitions. Usually a limited AKC registration requires spaying or neutering your Shih Tzu by the age of 6 months. A limited AKC registration is also sometimes called a "pet registration." It is usually anywhere from $200 to $500 cheaper to purchase a Shih Tzu puppy with a limited AKC registration.

About the author:

Connie Limon is a Shih Tzu breeder. She publishes a FREE weekly newsletter. A professional newsletter with a focus upon health and wellness for you and your pets. Discounts are offered to subscribers. Sign up at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com