You may be tempted to breed your Shih Tzu. After all, who doesn't love adorable puppies? However, it's important to note that not all dogs are meant for breeding. Before you breed your Shih Tzu, here are a few things to keep in mind to ensure the health of your pup.

1) Age

It is recommended to breed your Shih Tzu anytime between its second cycle of heat and the age of 7 years. Breeding after the age of seven years poses severe health risks to the mother due to the stress on their bodies. Despite the fact that most people will not breed after the age of seven years, the Shih Tzu dogs still continue to go into heat. Spaying will stop these cycles and will also help prevent the development of ovarian and mammary gland cancer.

2) Previous breeding history

The more times a Shih Tzu female gives birth, the greater the strain on her body. The ideal number of litters for a breeder is three unless the dog is being bred by a professional who evaluates the dog closely at all times.

3) Weight

It is important to note that the male dog must be smaller than the female at the time of mating. The weight difference between the male and female Shih Tzu should be 1-2 pounds. In an effort to get an exceptionally small size of Shih Tzu puppies, some people breed underweight or weak dogs. You might get the offspring of the size you want, but it is an unethical practice and the health of those puppies will be poor.

4) Health

Even if your Shih Tzu seems healthy, there may be underlying issues that could impact her health if bred or could lead to an unhealthy litter. Tests must be done to establish the presence of undesired genes or serious hereditary diseases that might be passed on to the puppies. Both the female and male dogs intended for breeding must be tested to rule out cases of manifesting a dormant gene.

5) Color

Shih Tzu dogs can either be solid colored or mixed. You will need to evaluate the colors of both the male and the female to determine the potential colors the puppies could be.

6) Size

There are some Shih Tzu dogs that are the right size for breeding. A Shih Tzu that was bred to be smaller than average typically shouldn't be bred, as health issues and skeletal deformities are more likely in the offspring.

7) Personality

Sometimes, personality traits are passed down to puppies. You might want to consider this if the potential mother tends to be temperamental.

7 Key Things To Consider Before Breeding Your Shih Tzu

4) Health