First and most important I
want to tell you about the personalities of these dogs. For those of you who have not known a Shih tzu, They are people
dogs. This is a breed that wants and needs to be a part of your life. They love their people and love being with them.
This breed can seem almost human at times. They look into your eyes with such devotion and understanding when you talk to
them. They can sense your moods and can tell if you are happy and want to play or if you are not feeling well or had
bad day. They are funny, with a sense of humor. I find watching mine play and interact with each other is a lot more
fun than watching tv! Each one is special and unique. They are very loving and trusting. They are wonderful
dog, but are not right for everyone. I would be happy to help you decide if they are right for you, if this would be
your first. I am very careful to place my puppies in approved homes only. This breed needs someone with the time to
spend with them and someone who will take good care of them. I will not place a puppy in a home where they will be confined
to a tiny crate all day long. Crates can be useful housetraining tools, but should never be over used. Puppies kept confined
in tiny containers all day long may be have their personality affected, and are also prone to urinary tract infections from
being forced to hold it longer than their little bodies are able. It is not fair to a puppy to be confined 8 or 9 hours a
day in a tiny crate. They need to move around and play. They must be able to eat and drink throughout the day and eliminate
as young puppies can't hold it that long. Can you go 8-9 hours without using the bathroom during the day? A tiny
puppy cant. If you work full time and want to have a dog, it is best if you or someone you trust can come in to play
with the puppy and make sure all is well during the day. If you would like to adopt one of my puppies, please
be willing to talk with me and tell me a little about yourself. I am also happy to tell you more about me as a breeder
so you can get to know me too. I am happy to answer any questions you may have about my dogs and puppies and can also
tell you about the breed to help you decide if this breed may be right for you. I love these puppies from the time they take
their first breath. It is important to me that I place them in loving and responsible homes. A dog is a big responsibility.
It is not for everyone. Raising a puppy correctly takes lots of time, patience and love. It can be frustrating at times. Please
make sure you understand the commitment you are making and are ready for it before you bring home any puppy. You can
ruin a puppy by being too harsh in training. If you need advice or support, i am always happy to help . You can call
me at (407) 416-7442 or email me at : highstyle.puppies@yahoo.com .
Over the years I have
done lots of research on genetic problems and health tests. We run some testing on our dogs but have learned through
experience that even doing every test possible is not a 100% guarantee that a dog will never produce a health problem.
I used to believe that doing every test available would guarantee a dog would not produce a health problem, but learned this
is not true. In years of breeding I have found very careful breeders who know their lines well and quickly eliminate
from breeding any that have produced problems have no more rate of health problems over time as breeders who do all the tests.
Now when I purchase a dog for breeding, I am more interested in finding dogs that breeders I trust have worked with
for many generations and know the health of the dogs behind them, than in just hearing about test results. If
you would like to learn more about my experience and research, please feel free to email or call me. I will be happy to share
what I know and send you articles from authorities on certain problems. I believe in health testing that
is useful and have learned that some other kinds of testing means very little as to whether a dog will produce a serious
health problem or not. We support research for direct DNA tests that can give us a yes or no as to whether a dog will
produce a health problem. We are hoping that the gene for RD will eventually be discovered as that is one of the most devastating
health problems in our breed and one that no test is a real good indicator of whether a dog can produce it or not. AS breeders
we do our very best to breed healthy dogs. We want to produce dogs that will lead long and healthy lives. We will
stand behind our dogs and always make the choices that are in their best interest. While we do our very best to breed
only healthy dogs, we want you to be aware that no breeder can guarantee 100% that none of their dogs will ever produce
a health problem. There are no tests available that can do this, not even in people. There is no test or
Dr. that can guarantee you that you will only have a healthy baby and your child will never have a health problem, Same
in dogs.
Therefore, we will stand
behind our dogs, be honest , and work hard to do our best. There is a new research project going on for Renal Dyplasia
. We are praying that they will be able to find a test that will be accurate in predicting which dogs may produce this
heartbreaking disease. Until this happens, other tests we have available at this time are not a good indicator.
HERNIAS IN THIS BREED - Hernias are very common in this breed. I have known many
Champion show dogs that have the umbilical
hernias and most experienced breeders know they are part of the breed and nothing to get all upset over. The smaller
ones can be left alone if they are not bothering the dog and larger ones can be repaired at the time of a spay/neuter.
If your puppy has one, just keep an eye on it and if it changes, let your vet know. Most dogs live their whole
lives with smaller ones and never have a problem. As long as it is not causing a problem and can be pushed back in it is ok
to wait until spay/neuter to have repaired. If you read the official site for the English Toy Spaniel you will see they
actually state that the umbilical hernia is part of their breed and NOT considered
a health problem. This is also true of the Shih tzu and many other breeds. Vets without a lot experience with the breed
often make a big deal about them because they do not understand this breed or the breeds with these specific problems.
It is better to talk to many experienced breeders if you would like more info about them. Talk to breeders who have been breeding
for a long time and really know the breed. You will also see inguinal hernias from time to time in this breed
and in many lines. Many smaller inguinal hernias will close up as the puppy grows. Your vet can check to be sure it
is closed when they spay/neuter. Larger ones will usually need to be repaired when the puppy is spayed/neutered.
My vet charges about 50.00 extra if on one side and more if on both sides. Puppies with larger ones will be reduced
by the appropriate amount according to my vet. If you are purchasing a puppy with this type of hernia, check
with your vet on prices. Some vets are way higher than others and if your vet is very high we do not recommend
you purchase a puppy with the larger inguinal hernias. As long as they are can be pushed back in , they can usually
wait for spay/neuter for repair. You should keep an eye on them, but the pppies are healthy and can play like any other
puppy. The hernias do not make them fragile or unable to do what every puppy does.
TEETHING PROBLEMS-
Some puppies in this breed experience teething trouble. The noses swell and pinch off some and they may
have a little clear discharge . They make make some snorting and snuffling sounds. They will usually outgrow this
after the adult teeth come in. As long as they are playful and active and eating and drinking well, they are ok. If
they cant eat or drink well and are lethargic or the discharge changes color , they may have developed infection and
need to be checked and treated. Most Shih tzu pups are fine after adult teeth come in . As long as pups
are eating and drinking well and can play, The official book of this breed recommends not letting any surgery be done
until after adult teeth are in as most will then resolve.
TEETH- Shih tzu
are a breed with a short nose , called brachycephalics. An undershot bite is normal for this breed and also the
correct bite for the show ring. Even some vets do not know this. It is in the AKC standard. Also common in this
breed is crooked teeth and missing teeth. They do tend to lose teeth
at an early age and are sometimes late in getting their teeth. This is normal for them. You need to watch
for retained baby teeth as they sometimes do not fall out and can affect
the position of the adult teeth. Keeping the teeth clean is helpful and they should be checked when your dog has an
examination. Take your dog to the vet if they seem to have a problem like a cracked tooth, loose teeth, pain when eating
ect...
CARE OF EYES AND EARS-
Shih tzu are a brachycephlic breed. The have large eyes that are prominent. It is important never
to grab a Shih tzu by the scruff of the neck or pull hard on the top knots while grooming. This can dislodge an
eye. A blow to the head can do that as well. They may have some tearing , but a very wet face, red eyes
, squinting and facial odor is not normal and you should take your Shih tzu to the vet to be checked. There are some eye conditions
in this breed, and you would want to treat as soon as possible if your Shih tzu were to have one. They are also more
prone to eye injuries because of the more prominent eyes. For this
reason it is important to check your Shih tzu's eyes daily.
This is a great link
to check out if your dog gets an eye ulcer. Promp treatment can help save their vision.
The ears of Shih Tzu
are long and have hair on them that makes air circulation difficult. This is common in all dogs with ears of this type. If
there is little air circulation or they get wet, they are prone to ear infections. Often it is a yeast infection and is also more common in teething puppies. It is important to keep the
ears clean and dry. You vet can tell you the best way to do this. You can find good information also in books like
Joann Whites "Official Book Of The Shih tzu" on care and grooming of your Shih Tzu. I highly recommend this book.
Grooming- There
are videos out there that are helpful for grooming and also a wonderful section on pet and show grooming in Joann Whites book.
The Larsons have a grooming video that is good and can be found on the website for Ista Shih tzu . It is important
to keep you Shih Tzu clean and groomed. They can be in long coat or are just as happy in a short trim. I prefer the
short trims for dogs not being shown. Whichever you prefer is up to you.
TRAINING INFO-
You can go to this link for some very good training advice:
On this site you will
also find useful info on grooming and health issues.
It is also important
to provide quality food and clean water for your dog. They must have a clean and warm place to sleep. Shih tzu are a
people loving breed and must be a part of your life to be happy. If you do not have time to spend with your dog and
give them the care and love they need, you should not get a dog.
If you have any questions
about the breed I have not addressed or need more info, please call or email me. I would be happy to help you if I can.
I am always happy to talk with people about my dogs or the breed in general .
