Birthday: July 30th 2007 Likes: Mommy & Daddy& Both Grandma's and Grandpa's, playing fetch, & kissing Pet-Peeves: Vaccum cleaner, being alone/ignored Favorite Toy: COCO Favorite Food: Human Food Favorite Walk: The Park Best Tricks: Giving Paw, Giving kisses, sitting & staying Arrival Story: I researched the shih tzu breed for over a year and knew it was perfect for us. I found a reputable breeder online through www.shihtzu.org in our area. We visited their home and fell in love with all the pups immeaditley but Bella was our first choice. Bio: She is an angel and she is such a welcoming addition to our family.
My parents and in-laws are soooo in love with their grandpuppy!!!
Please let it be known that I nor anyone we personally know our related to and/or are affliated with the American Shih Tzu Club or the AKC.
I am simply giving a heads up and forewarning to potential buyers...
BUYER BEWARE..PLEASE WHATEVER YOU DO DO NOT BUY FROM A PET SHOP/STORE!
Before you buy a Shih Tzu DO YOUR HOMEWORK..."The official book of the Shih Tzu" by Joann White is suggested as well as a visit to THE BEST web page for resources/info on the breed: www.shihtzu.org. On this site you can find local Shih Tzu Clubs with a contact in your area. Ask this contact for a list of reputable breeders...(YOU WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY YOU DID!!)
If you decide to be a hero and rescue a Shih Tzu...I commend you and respect and admire your goodwill for all petkind. Forums Motto: Bellissimo The Groups I'm In: "Sweet Shih Tzu's!", ~Shih Tzus and Friends United~, New York City Shih Tzu Meetup Group!!, Shih Tzus are THE BEST!, Shih_Tzu_in_PA (And all other Pups) :), The shih tzu place, We Love Our Shih Tzus! The Last Forum I Posted In: Elan Shih Tzu-Verona NJ
Isabella is registered with the American Kennel Club (which is the 1st club to register PUREBRED breeds in the country) .
"Designer dog" is a label given to dogs that involve the deliberate cross-breeding of two different breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC). Like the designations "Imperial"or "Tiny /Teacup" Shih Tzu, such labels are a MYTH generally used by UNethical breeders to create a demand and charge high prices for mixed-breed or undersized (and often unhealthy) dogs. Trendy mutts, whatever fancy names they may be given, are still just that mutts.
The solid, sturdy, and compact Shih Tzu, with its unique pushed-in face, wide-eyed, trusting expression, and friendly temperament, was developed as a distinctive breed long ago in China's imperial palace. It is a breed that deviates considerably from the generic, wolf-like dog, with its longer nose, narrower head, and more closely-set eyes.
Evidence from accidental cross-breedings clearly demonstrates that many of the most highly prized and distinguishing characteristics of the Shih Tzu are genetically recessive. Once lost by poor breeding practices, the recessives that make a Shih Tzu a Shih Tzu can never be recaptured. This is one reason that POORLY BRED PET SHOP Shih Tzu often bear little resemblance to the gorgeous, elegant Shih Tzu seen in the show ring.
Imagine how much more swiftly these genetic traits are lost when someone deliberately crosses a Shih Tzu with another breed, be it Pekingese, Poodle, or Yorkshire Terrier. Puppies from the first generation cross may look appealing or not and you have no idea what they will grow up to be in terms of looks, health, or temperament. They may, in fact, just as easily inherit the worst genes of both their parents, rather than the best. The qualities of puppies from the second or later generations of these so-called "designer dogs" are, of course, even less predictable, given the recessive nature of many of the Shih Tzus most distinguishing traits.
It has taken many, many generations of careful breeding to fix the qualities that make THIS breed so appealing. A responsible breeder always strives to breed healthy dogs that conform to the breed standards as a written description of the ideal dog of a particular breed by which it is bred and judged at dog shows.
The official breed standard for the Shih Tzu approved by the American Kennel Club and the American Shih Tzu Club is based on the first written standard for Shih Tzu, that of the Peking Kennel Club, in 1938.
Why would ANYONE want to steer away from the AKC-approved breed standard that describes the breed WE ALL LOVE SO WELL?! Could the "designer dog" simply be a fad they have created in order to obtain a higher price for a mixed-breed dog that otherwise would usually be given away? A responsible breeder does not deliberately plan litters based on their trendiness or marketability. In fact, anyone found to be deliberately breeding and selling "designer dogs" IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR REGISTRY WITH THE AMERICAN SHIH TZU CLUB.
The Dog Show: Who's Your Mama?
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