Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Shih Tzu Breeding: What You Need To Know

By Rebecca Simpson

When a lot of people think of breeding dogs, the first thought that seems to come into everyone's mind is that of 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.

And while this is a profitable business, it should not be the main reason that anyone is involved with breeding in order to make sure that the Shih Tzu care is not neglected.

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.

There are a lot of key factors that you must be well versed in before beginning on your journey of Shih Tzu breeding. It is important that you fully understand the different illnesses and problems that can come about with the Shih Tzu breed at any given time. This is not only in regards to the adult's dogs you are using for the breeding, but for the puppies that will be born to them.

If the adult dogs you intend to breed were just recently brought into your home, you may want to think about keeping them around long enough so that you really get to know them before beginning any breeding.

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.

Know that you are ready to begin with Shih Tzu breeding; you want to create a safe environment for your dogs to breed and live during the entire process. It is generally best with this breed to keep them indoors and this is what you will find many other people who breed them doing. While under your care you must make sure that the adult dogs remain healthy by giving them proper diets and even possibly vitamins that your vet may suggest.

And one the most important things to do is to make sure your adult dogs are getting proper nutrition during the entire process, just like a human female would have to do during her pregnancy. Even though you are always cautious of the dogs diet, you want to be extra careful during this time, as it is vital to her recovery and the health of her pups. Talk with your vet about what special diets or even maybe vitamins that you would want your female to take.

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