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Pien
Ji Shih Tzu-
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Why Shih Tzu?You would be very hard pressed to find a sweeter breed anywhere. They will play until you quit, and cuddle the rest of the day. And for the most part, they’re good at entertaining themselves when you want ‘quiet time.’ Where do I find a Shih Tzu?You would be well advised to buy ONLY from a show breeder. (This is true of ANY pedigreed dog, by the way.) That sounds harsh, doesn’t it? But there’s a VERY good reason for it: ALL breeds have genetic problems. In Shih Tzu, while there are several, the problem most to be concerned about is Renal Dysplasia (kidney disease). Some dogs live with it, some show no symptoms, some die of it. Estimates are that as high as 30% of the population are carriers, and that 10% of the population is affected. The show breeder knows generations of history behind his dogs. Your likelihood of getting a sick dog from a show breeder is GREATLY reduced. (My belief- though I have not seen a study on the subject, is that your chance of getting an affected dog goes down to perhaps as low as 2% among show breeders- they are very careful about what they are breeding.) If you don’t want to pay for a well bred dog, try either getting a rescue dog or just getting a mixed breed. Mixed breeds are very unlikely to have recessive genetic problems. If you hear people say they have had problems with purebreds but not with mutts, it is likely their purebreds were from someone who bred their little pet to the one down the road with no knowledge of the genetic backgrounds. There is also the occasional Liver Shunt, and various eye problems in the breed- though these are more rare. Again- you are much safer (though, of course, not 100% safe) going to the show breeder. |
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Copyright © Pien Ji Shih Tzu, 2001-2008 Pien Ji Puppies are only sold on Spay/Neuter contracts.
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