Breeding
Breeding Your Shih Tzu
Before we Begin
We do not advocate hobby breeding. Putting a female through the pregnancy and birthing process is not something to be taken lightly. It can put a huge strain on a dog and it can be dangerous. And breeding 'accidently' or as a hobby can produce puppies with health issues. So, please do not attempt to breed your Shih Tzu without having thoroughly researched how to ethically breed dogs.
We urge anyone considering breeding their Shih Tzu to first carefully read the AKC’s Guide to Responsible Dog Breeding.
The information below is a simple overview of breeding and is not meant to take the place of the extensive research a person should conduct before taking on such an endeavor.
Breeding Tips
Deciding to breed is an enormous responsibility and much time should be spent deciding if you are prepared for everything that is involved. Breeding is a lot more complicated than just allowing two dogs to mate. Rushing into this without understanding the responsibilities can lead to feeling overwhelmed and risking your dog’s health and the health of future litters.
Before you decide to breed, keep the following elements in mind:
1) It is important to study the genetics and backgrounds of the dogs in question.
You will want to feel confident that it will be a sound breeding. Dam and sire should meet AKC standards so that the pairing lends toward the betterment of the breed, and defects and flaws will not continue down the bloodline.
2) Appropriate size of the dam.
The dam should be larger than the sire and have proper pelvic breadth.
3) Appropriate age.
The AKC states that a dam must not be younger than 8 months and the sire not less than 7 months. We recommend that a female Shih Tzu should be at least 2-years-old; she will be physically mature yet still have enough youthful flexibility.
A male’s sperm will be viable at 7-months-old (it typically is by 4-months); however, we suggest waiting until a male Shih Tzu is at the 1-year-mark, to ensure strong sperm.
Additionally, a female should be retired from breeding at 7-years-old, if health status does not warrant this done sooner.
4) Have your breeding goal clearly defined.
Will you focus on a certain color? Will you aim for the low or high end of the weight standard? What sort of registration will you provide? AKC? CKC? Will you keep show-quality dogs? How will you handle the sale and follow-up?
5) Never over-breed.
While each dog should be individually evaluated, in general, a dam is bred twice in a row and then allowed a rest, or bred every other heat cycle. The most important element is that the female is evaluated after each litter to see if she is even able to handle having a future litter. When a dam must have a cesarean section, in many cases she should not have any more litters.
6) Be very aware of the costs that are involved.
Breeding is a huge undertaking and is expensive. It often involves taking time out of work and finances for veterinarian checkups for all dogs and all future puppies, shots, de-wormings, high-quality puppy and adult dog food, beds, pens, toys, dishes, gates, cleaning supplies, bathing supplies, grooming tools, and possible emergency cesarean sections.
7) Breeding is not always profitable. If you are thinking of starting a home-breeding program as a source of income, keep in mind that in regard to small, at-home breeders, this will not make you rich. When first starting out, you may just break even.
This depends, in part, on the cost of the Shih Tzu puppies. Even if you put a lot of money into producing a litter, you may not be able to make it all back.
8) You will have to be emotionally prepared for loss.
Even the most careful breeder may experience the loss of a newborn pup.
9) Ethical breeding requires dedication to shaping the pups’ personalities.
Interaction between a breeder and a pup is essential and plays a role in shaping a pup’s personality. This includes handling and having one-on-one interaction for proper socialization and desensitization. Without this, puppies will not have the needed skills to transition well into their new homes.
10) This is a long-term commitment.
You will need to commit to keeping puppies that are not able to be sold for any reason, including health issues. And you will need to commit to keeping adults that are not able to be re-homed once retired. Finally, most breeders offer a contract that states a puppy can be returned for any reason (as opposed to being surrendered at a shelter), and you will be expected to honor this.
FAQ
How many times can you breed a female Shih Tzu?
Ideally, you will not want to allow a female to have more than 3 liters. Each time a dog whelps, it puts a strain on her body. Your veterinarian will be able to evaluate your female and offer an opinion regarding her ability to carry and whelp.
Are there weight requirements?
While there are no official weight requirements, there are two elements to keep in mind:
1) Size
should be considered when pairing. The male Shih Tzu (sire) should be smaller than the female (dam). Ideally, a 1 or 2 lb. difference is best.
2) Never take 2 "runt" Shih Tzu dogs and allow them to mate in an effort to produce very small sized Tzu puppies. It is very unethical and very dangerous to the health of those pups.
Are there health requirements?
Before you breed your Shih Tzu, it is important to have testing done to both male and female dog to ensure that both are in good health and, vitally, to rule out generic health issues
that could be passed down to litters. Even if a dog is in good health, genes for certain hereditary conditions can be passed down.
The eye test that should be performed is:
• CERF Canine Eye Registration Foundation, for heritable eye diseases
The dog, once cleared, can be registered with your local Canine Eye Registry
Testing for Renal Dysplaysia should be done:
• Urine Specific Gravity and urine concentration testing
• BUN and creatinine tests if above test show low levels
• Wedge biopsy
Hip Dysplasia testing should be done:
• X-ray – if cleared you will receive an OFA Certification that the dog is clear of this
Once cleared, you can register your Shih Tzu with your local Orthopedic Foundation for Animals
Additional suggested testing should include:
• Blood testing for VonWillibrands and thyroid disorders
• Bile acid test
• Brucellosis Testing - Request this for any stud dog; this is a canine STD that spreads through mating with terrible consquences.
• BAER (Brain Auditory Evoked Response) for hearing loss
When during a heat cycle can a female Shih Tzu get pregnant?
It is during the estrus phase of the cycle that a female can become pregnant. This stage lasts between 2 and 3 weeks. Within this time, there is a smaller window lasting 7 to 10 days, usually starting somewhere between Day 10 to Day 15 (beginning a count from Day 1 that discharge begins) that eggs will drop and the female can become pregnant.
When a female is receptive to a male, she will move her tail to the side (this is referred to as flagging) and present herself to the male.
Can a female dog become pregnant by more than one dog at the same time?
Yes. This is known as a multi-sired or dual-sired litter. Ova (the eggs produced by the ovaries) can remain available for several days. So, for example, a female may be mounted on Day 1 (with an egg being fertilized) and then if mounted on Day 3 by a different male, another egg may become fertilized.
