Hi I have a female Shih Tzu.She is 1 year & a half old.My male Shih Tzu is 7 months.Almost 8 months old.I"m going to be breeding them.My females heats are June & sept.Is it possible for her to be in heat more than twice a year?This will be her first & only pregnancy as I will be getting both dogs fixed.Jake is maturing & they both constantly hump each other.Any advice??What do yous feed your Shih Tzus?Any reactions to needles??My female had a severe reaction to a combo/needles,it was awful.Did yous know you can give your dog Childrens Benedril before a needle.Check with your vets first though ok.My dogs are fussy eaters,would like to hear from other Shih Tzu owners about what they feed their dogs.Cheers from ont canada..

Although bitches normally go into heat every six months, there is some variation...I had one that was on a five month cycle for instance. Your dogs humping when your bitch is not in heat is just dominance play and not sexual.

One of my Chins had an allergic reaction to the vaccines as well and had to be rushed back to the vets. Now he goes in a few hours before his vaccine and they give him an antihistamine shot before his vaccination and they keep him for an hour or so afterwards to make sure he has no reaction. He hasn't had any problems since.

I don't have Shih Tzu's but (from what I understand) their dietary requirements are very similar to the Chins and I feed them a combination of Royal Canin and home made food and supplements. Since the dog food scare they get far less commercially prepared dog food than they do food that I prepare myself, they seem to like the home made stuff far better and I have the comfort of knowing they aren't getting anything that would make them sick. Your female will need high quality food before, during and after any breeding. There are many excellent books on canine nutrition and all sorts of informative articles online, but the best place to start would be the breeder(s) that sold you your dogs to begin with. They should know what is best for your dogs and be happy to share that with you.

THANK-YOU.Shes on her 3rd heat now.Started Fri JUne 13th.Will breed her with my male Shih Tzu.Whats the best home-foood to give her.Any advice is great.Her 1st two heats were Feb & SEpt
Is it the 12.13 or 14th day she can become pregnant?

Hi I own a male Shih Tzu comeing 3 years old and I am looking for a female to breed also just a one time thing then I would like to get them fixed. But I would love to find a Female Shih Tzu to buy I also live in Canada Ontario Thunder Bay area. Plz let me know if there is anyone out there selling Shih Tzu's.

N1blueeyedgirl

Before you breed her, you need to do a lot more homework. Have you had any health testing done? Do you know what genetic problems there are in Shih Tzus, and if it's possible either of your dogs is carrying the genes for them?

I'd be hesitant to breed any dog that has had an allergic reaction to vaccines. It quite possibly could indicate a genetic predisposition to allergies that will be passed on to the puppies. You should at least discuss this with your vet.

Are both of your dogs sound and in good health? Are they decent representatives of the breed? How well do the conform to the breed standard?

Do you have the money set aside to pay for a c-section, should it be necessary? Are you financially able to pay for any and all veterinary care your bitch and her puppies may require? Breeding a litter, and doing it right, is an expensive proposition. Have you looked into just how expensive it can be?

Do you know how to deliver a puppy if it's necessary? Do you know how to tell if it's necessary? Are you prepared to deal with the worst case scenarios? Like your bitch dies and you have to hand raise the puppies? Are you aware of how much work raising a litter of puppies is, even when nothing goes wrong? Do you have homes lined up for the puppies? What will you do with puppies you cannot place? If someone who buys one of your puppies can't keep it, are you prepared to take it back?

These are important questions that deserve careful consideration, and the right answers, before you continue.