We will be discussing the price range for a Shih Tzu puppy in the United States; obviously, price will differ in other parts of the world. Factors that affect prices will, in general, also be relevant to pups in Canada and elsewhere.
It is important to know all of the reasons why one puppy may cost so little compared to another, and we will talk more about this below. However, to answer the cost question: The average price of a Shih Tzu puppy in the United States is between $750.00 to $3,500. Yes, that is quite a large range!
One of the biggest factors that affects the cost of a Shih Tzu puppy is location within the United States. It's all about supply and demand. In the southern states, where there tend to be more breeders (both home breeders and large kennels), prices are typically on the low end. You may be able to find Shih Tzu puppies for as little as $500 to $700. However, in the New England area, where there are very few home breeders, prices are generally on the high end, at least starting at $1,000 and going up from there.
To find the average price in your particular area, look to the two elements of 'supply' and 'demand'. For supply, how many Shih Tzu breeders are in your state? In regard to 'demand', with the Shih Tzu being a popular toy-sized purebred, demand is always quite high.