Buying A Puppy

[Sept2012]

Hi all,

My husband and i have decided to get a Shih Tzu puppy.

My question is how to go about it, we have been to a shop and seen some beautiful ones but I have seen bad reviews online and they have been accused of been a puppy farm.

I have seen some on Pets4homes ranging from £350-£700, can someone clarify the differences in prices or do people just charge what they like?

Also sorry to sound so dense, I know that puppy farming is negative but apart from the cruelty element is the risk of this the health of the puppy?

Is KC registered that they are pure bred & have a family tree? Is KC registered the best option?

Many thanks!

[woofgang]

Absolutely right Carakeel. I teach mine to settle happily at home and as pups they aren't left at all until about 10 months. I just hate it (no offence intended Conne) when people talk about treating their dogs as babies

[Sept2012]

Thanks all for your very helpful answers and advice especially that one about the shows, I'm in London so the one in Windsor sounds great deffo going to check it out.

Yes my husband and I do work full time. We have wanted a dog for years only considering it now because my mother who lives very close by has recently retired and is very much on board as she has wanted a dog ever since hers died a few years ago. We are planning to start a family next year so would like to have the dog well & truly settled before then.

Might be back here for some more advice!

[riptide]

I have two shitzu dogs, be aware they can be very obstinate and definitely do not like being left for hours on end. Also, if you do not want to have them clipped, they need grooming and bathing on a regular basis. I got mine through the Kennel Club, best place to go for details. Also, as someone else has said, contact your local shitzu society, they may be able to help. Good luck.

[FredPuli43]

Is the pup to be left with your mother? You shouldn't contemplate having a pup, or a dog, alone in the house for hours while you are at work.

The Kennel Club "Find a puppy" service, on their website, is he best place to start, but, obviously, going to a show and asking about puppies and the breed from the people showing is very helpful too. The breed club secretary (Kennel Club again) can also advise, but be prepared for her (it's almost always a woman) giving you a lead to someone who has pups, but who hasn't now but refers you to someone who they know may have some, and so on until you find one about 300 miles from where you are! Dogdom is like that.

Too many people buy a puppy because of how it looks, or because someone famous has one, or because the breed has been in a TV ad, or some such reason, without establishing what the breed is like at home. That's how the breeders can help.

[FredPuli43]

And price? Proper breeders charge much the same. Any pup from a shop, even Harrods (who charge at least three times the going rate) is suspect. You need to see the dam and the conditions in which the pups have been raised. Don't know what the specific going rate for your breed is but I would guess that it's about £750, as a small breed; the dam will have only thrown a few in a litter but, on the other hand, bringing the pups up won't have cost much, compared to say, Irish wolfhounds where the dam can throw a dozen and she (and the little ones, post weaning) eat a heck of a lot!

[Connemmara]

Carakeel and fred and myself share the same opinions re leaving the dog to go to work - For Sept - personal info for you from me - I never owned a dog in my life until I got Mr Harv and I had retired about a year and now have had him 9 years and he has now cancer but with this medication - seems to back to his wee self for now anyway - Please take care as they truly are a big responsibility (I never realised at the time) - ie since he doesn't like kennels - I haven't been away on holidays for about 5 years now - I travelled twice a year - no offence to your mother and perhaps she is young but it could be too much for her.

For Wolfie - I do understand why we shouldn't call dog babies - but I have no family so he is mine (also babies grow up) dogs don't - they are young until they die. No malice here by the way. Just my way of thinking.

For Ratter - I too take him everywhere I go shopping, visiting doggie friends -etc. If he has to be left in the car for 15 mins - don't care re insurance I leave most windows down for him. Anyway Sept when and if you decide - they are the greatest company one could have - Mr Harv has certainly got me out (when I get the doldrums) he forces me to get out and walk (they need to walk big time) and then I meet lovely people for a wee chat and then have a wee cuddle after. Those big puppy eyes "And they call it puppy love" - you just fall for them - really lovely. Sept2012 really Good luck to you.

[lankeela]

Shih Tzus are in the Utility Group at Windsor and are being shown on Saturday 29th June. The Show is in Windsor Great Park.

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