There are many people with the devotion to take care of pets but are not so financially endowed; so they look for Shih Tzu for sale but keep one eye on their budget. That, right there, is a risk, since puppy mills abound. There are small dog breeders out there who are out to earn cash at the expense of poorly bred pups. The results are unhealthy litters, dubious bloodlines, and probably faked schedules of deworming schedules and inoculations.
You could probably get a puppy or an adult dog from these breeders, and you’ll be handed over the alleged breed you want, and even for a good deal. It’s doubtful though if you’ll get a healthy dog of the legit bloodline. If you’re looking for a discount from a breeder, you had first be seeking a legit breeder.
Look for a list of breeders online and check if they are members of breeding circles – if they are, then most likely they are legit. You can check their background better if they are members of such clubs; references are easier to acquire that way. When you contact a breeder from such a club, he will volunteer references you can check; this is customary if a breeder wants to appear legitimate, and not merely a smiling member of a puppy mill.
When looking for a Shih Tzu for sale, and from a good breeder, you might get lucky by using your social networking contacts. Who doesn’t have a Facebook accounts these days? Your status is the most quickly scanned item in updates, so change that to indicate you’re in the market for a cute Shih Tzu. On your instant messeger accounts, you can do the same when you log in to them. You can never know how much your social contacts can help until you do this. At the least, it will only have taken a few minutes of your time; if you get lucky, a friend of a friend could recommend you to a legitimate breeder along with a possible discount.
If you’re not looking for puppies of a legit bloodline, or if you’re not looking for puppies at all, it’s recommended to adopt a Shih Tzu from an animal rescue group. You will mostly be choosing from adult dogs up for adoption, as animal rescue groups often take in orphaned or abandoned dogs. You will be extensively interviewed by the animal rescue staff, and that’s a good thing – they want to make sure they can find a good home for these dogs; you’l be asked about your readiness and experience in taking care of Shih Tzu, since this breed is costly and time consuming to take care of.
Adopting a dog or a puppy from a shelter is almost always free – save for some fees involved with the cage or added inoculation that may be offered; also, adult dogs tend to have been observed long enough for the staff to tell you about the dog’s personality and health problems.