How to Choose a Healthy Shih Tzu Puppy
10 essential checks before you commit — from reading the breeder's operation to examining the puppy's health firsthand.
Choosing a Shih Tzu puppy should be one of the most exciting decisions of your life — not a source of regret. Unfortunately, the demand for adorable toy breed puppies has created a market full of bad actors: puppy mills, backyard breeders, and online scammers who prioritize profit over puppy welfare. Knowing what to look for protects both you and the dog.
This guide walks you through the red flags to avoid and the 10 specific things you should check before committing to any puppy. Whether you're considering puppies from us or from any breeder, these standards apply universally.
Puppy Mill & Backyard Breeder Red Flags
A short visit or video call cannot establish a puppy’s overall health or temperament. Review available records, ask questions, and arrange an independent veterinary assessment when appropriate.
10 Things to Check Before Buying a Shih Tzu Puppy
Ask to see the puppy's current living environment
Whether you're visiting in person or doing a video call, the environment where the puppies are raised tells you everything. Puppies raised in a clean home setting — not an outdoor kennel or a barn — are better socialized and less stressed. At Royal Shih Tzu, our puppies are raised in our living room, surrounded by household sounds, people, and everyday life from day one.
Request AKC registration documentation
AKC registration doesn't guarantee quality, but it does confirm the breeder is accountable to a traceable registry. Ask to see the litter registration or the individual puppy registration application. If a breeder claims AKC registration but can't produce paperwork, walk away.
Review the full vaccination and deworming history
Review the puppy’s veterinary records and ask your veterinarian whether the vaccinations and parasite care are appropriate for the puppy’s age and history.
Ask about the health guarantee
including any veterinary-exam timing in the breeder’s written guarantee
Meet or see documentation on both parent dogs
A short visit cannot establish a puppy’s future temperament. Ask about the parents and the puppy’s observed behavior, and seek independent veterinary advice if you have concerns.
Check the puppy's eyes
Shih Tzu eyes should be clear, bright, and free of discharge. A small amount of clear tearing is normal. Yellow, green, or thick discharge signals infection. The whites of the eyes should not be red or irritated. Eyes that are sunken, cloudy, or half-closed suggest illness or injury requiring veterinary attention before adoption.
Inspect the coat and skin
A healthy puppy's coat should be soft, clean, and appropriate for their age (even if still fluffy puppy fluff rather than full adult coat). Part the coat and look at the skin — it should be clean with no flaking, redness, or sores. Excessive scratching, missing patches of hair, or foul smell may indicate parasites, infection, or allergies.
Observe energy level and social behavior
A healthy puppy should be curious, alert, and interested in interacting — either with you, their littermates, or their environment. Avoid puppies that are visibly lethargic, cowering in a corner, or aggressive toward littermates without provocation. Some shyness is normal in a new situation, but extreme fearfulness can be temperament-related.
Check the nose and mouth
The nose should be slightly moist (not dry and cracked, not running heavily). A runny nose combined with sneezing and watery eyes can signal an upper respiratory infection. Check the gums — they should be pink and moist, not pale or tacky. Look at the teeth if you can; Shih Tzus normally have a slight underbite, but severe dental crowding may need monitoring.
Ask about the breeder's post-sale support
A breeder who genuinely cares about their puppies remains a resource after the sale. Ask whether you can reach out with questions after the puppy goes home, whether they want updates, and what happens if the puppy develops a health issue. Breeders who disappear after payment are not partners in your puppy's life — they're just sellers.
What Good Paperwork Looks Like
Documentation isn't bureaucratic red tape — it's proof that the breeder has done their job responsibly. Here's what you should expect to receive with your puppy:
AKC Registration Application
Shows the litter is registered with the American Kennel Club under the breeder's kennel. You'll use this to register your puppy in your own name.
Vaccination Record
A written record from the vet showing vaccine brand, lot number, date given, and which vaccines were administered. Not just a handwritten note from the breeder.
Deworming History
Documentation of which deworming protocol was used and when. Common treatments include Pyrantel for roundworms, and Panacur for a broader spectrum.
Veterinary Health Certificate
Airline and destination requirements vary. Confirm current health-certificate and vaccination requirements with the airline, destination authority, and your veterinarian.
Purchase Contract
A formal written agreement that includes the health guarantee terms, spay/neuter requirements if any, and both parties' rights and responsibilities.
Microchip Certificate
If the puppy has been microchipped, you'll receive the chip number and information to transfer registration to your name with a national registry.
Why Meeting the Parent Dogs Matters
A short visit cannot establish a puppy’s future temperament. Ask about the parents and the puppy’s observed behavior, and seek independent veterinary advice if you have concerns.
When meeting the mother, look for a dog that's friendly (or at least calm) around strangers. Some mama dogs are naturally protective, so don't be alarmed if she's a little wary at first — but she should warm up quickly. A mother that's aggressive, excessively fearful, or trembling at the sight of visitors is a concerning sign for the puppy temperament.
If a parent lives elsewhere, ask whether registration and health-screening records are available, and review any documentation the breeder provides.
How Royal Shih Tzu Puppies Measures Up
We welcome every single check on this list. Our puppies are raised in our living room in McKinney, TX. We provide full AKC paperwork, complete vet records, a written purchase contract, and our industry-leading 2-year genetic health guarantee. We'll introduce you to our parent dogs, answer every question you have, and remain a resource long after your puppy goes home.
We screen every adopting family — not to be difficult, but because our puppies deserve homes where they'll truly thrive. That mutual care for the puppy is the foundation of what makes the breeder-owner relationship so rewarding.
Quick Physical Health Checklist
Use this as a quick reference when evaluating any puppy in person or via video:
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