SHIHTZU

The Cost of a Shih Tzu

Overview

It’s only natural to want to find out what the Shih Tzu price range is for puppies. After all, with today’s economy, one does not want to overpay for anything, and that includes a pet which is usually considered a large purchase.

It is a large purchase not only because of the cost of a Shih Tzu, but also due to all of the related items that an owner will need to obtain. It can certainly add up. In addition to items needed at the time of bringing the puppy home such as a bed, pee pads, food and water dishes, possibly a playpen to keep the pup contained, leashes, harnesses, and so forth, there are also ongoing costs such as veterinary visits, dog food, and grooming supplies.
You may want to know the price if you are thinking about getting a puppy. Or, you may have already purchased your Shih Tzu and are wondering if you over or under paid. Therefore, this page is dedicated to those who ask us ‘how much will I pay for a Shih Tzu puppy?’
We will discuss price range and, importantly, the reasons for the prices. Also, we will go over cheap and inexpensive puppies and dogs and talk about the pros and cons of this. 
baby shih tzu

Piper, photo courtesy of Karen H.

Shih Tzu Price Range

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. 
Young shih tzu puppy near purple flowers

Mac, at 8 weeks old, photo courtesy of Jesintha J.

Does Price Matter?

Sometimes you can obtain a rescue or Shih Tzu up for adoption for just a donation fee and they can be a beautiful dog, sweet and loving, and a perfect companion. And we do promote adopting; it can save a life and give you your best friend. But since this article is covering the cost of buying a Shih Tzu puppy from a breeder, the answer is that price does matter 99% of the time, for several reasons.

There are rare exceptions; let’s say for example, that a person has a quality, healthy Shih Tzu and is no longer able to care for the dog (for whatever hypothetical reason). In this rare case, one may decide to give their precious dog away for free to a good home; they may be placing the happiness of the dog over money.
 
However, price does matter in most cases. Think about it… if a breeder was advertising that they had purebred AKC Shih Tzu show quality puppies for sale for only $100 each, would you be hesitant? Would you wonder why the pups were being sold so cheap? It is an enormous red flag and most likely a sign of a fraudulent scheme.
 
With this being said, a potential owner should understand how pricing is set, and this is important because it goes the opposite way as well. Just because something is priced high does not mean it is high quality. Anyone can take a poorly bred puppy and ask for $2000.00 for them. So, let’s take a deeper look into this. 

Free or Low-priced Shih Tzu Puppies

If a Shih Tzu is not carefully bred he or she can have many health issues; some may be apparent at birth and others will not show up for years but when they do you may find yourself emptying your nest egg to pay for vet bills.
Additionally, poorly bred dogs will not meet the breed standards. Not only will a potential owner find that as the pup grows into an adult that they do not have the classic appearance of the breed, but it can also cause problems such as hip dysplasia and many more.
 
There are exceptions; however, we would strongly recommend not even checking into the purchase of a Shih Tzu puppy if a breeder is asking less than $500.
Small Shih Tzu puppy with tennis ball

Niko, at 7 months old, photo courtesy of The Mulcahey Family

AKC vs CKC (or other registries)

We should first mention that there is no registry that runs perfectly; all have flaws and all have elements that they need to work on.
With this being said, while there are some issues with AKC, they are the strictest registry in the U.S. They keep a close eye on all breeders, demanding that they follow guidelines that others do not ask for. This is all done with good intentions: For the health of the dogs and to preserve, maintain, and improve the bloodline of the breed. If a breeder does not follow the guidelines, they will be taken out of the program and have to then choose a different kennel club.
 
You will find that AKC puppies cost more than those that are CKC registered (Continental Kennel Club- not to be confused with the very respected Canadian Kennel Club). 
 
Again, while each has pros and cons, the CKC (Continental Kennel Club) allows anyone to register a dog as a purebred with just the signatures of two witnesses and photos. There are many people who take advantage of this. With AKC, one will have proof that a puppy is indeed purebred.

How Breeder Expenses Affect Cost

It’s common for people to wonder why Shih Tzu puppies cost so much. One must understand that small home breeders must put a lot of money into their breeding program in order to produce a litter of high quality, healthy puppies.

For those who are dedicated to improving the bloodlines, just the cost to begin with one female and one male can be in the thousands. Then, there is the maintenance cost: high quality dog food, veterinarian visits, toys, pens, baby gates, blankets, toys, whelping supplies, grooming supplies, etc.
Sometimes a breeder can spend $2000 on a female with plans to breed her, but then she has a difficult delivery and for health reasons is not bred again.
Most home based breeders will have 5-7 adults for the program. Many also maintain the cost of taking care of those who are retired.
Additionally, the window for producing litters is relatively small compared to the life span of the dog. Most females are bred between the ages of 2 and 7. Programs run ethically will only breed a dam every other heat or 2 heats in a row and then stop to allow the female to recuperate and have a rest period.
In some cases, a female will be retired early if a veterinarian has deemed there to be any possible health risks associated with another pregnancy. Finally, litter size is small, and this all comes into play regarding cost.
sweet shih tzu pup

Mochi at 7 weeks old, photo courtesy of Janet P.

Pet Stores

Since the public has been educated regarding puppy mills, many pet stores have since closed down or have changed over into pet supply stores. For those that remain, it cannot be stated enough that if you purchase a Shih Tzu puppy from a pet store, there is a good chance that the pup was produced by a puppy mill. Buying the puppy means you will be supporting the mill and helping to allow it to continue.

Dedicated breeders do not place their pups in stores.

The Pricing of Show Quality vs Pet Quality

Show quality puppies are those that fit the AKC standards so well that they have the potential to win in the show ring. Pet quality puppies are those that have obvious flaws that would prevent them from entering or winning in the show ring. The majority of puppies sold will be somewhere in the middle.

Note that there is not an official person who deems a puppy to be either show quality or pet quality. Therefore, if you are looking for a pup to be your canine family member, be wary of a Shih Tzu puppy priced exceptionally high due to being dubbed ‘show quality’. Also, be wary of someone who tells you that the entire litter is show quality; this is highly doubtful.

The Pricing of ‘Special’ Imperial Shih Tzu Puppies

Be aware of the term “Imperials“. There is no such variance of the Shih Tzu breed. In many cases, Shih Tzu dubbed ‘Imperials’ will be done so as part of a marketing technique. This said, some breeders will use the term to refer to this breed’s rich history.
Be especially wary of puppies that are dubbed Imperials and are expected to be under the AKC weight standard of 9 to 16 lbs.

A Final Note & Where to Buy a Shih Tzu Puppy

To sum things up and keep it simple, we would suggest a middle ground. Stay away from puppies that are so cheap they are practically being given away. And, unless you are planning to show and you have experience in determining show quality, stay away from overly expensive puppies.

Go with a small, home-based, devoted breeder whose available puppies fall within the $750 to $3,000 range, and be sure that the price makes sense based on your region.
To help any potential puppy buyers, we have a small, exclusive list of Shih Tzu breeders whom we personally recommend.

Related Article:

List of Shih Tzu Mixes – Though we do not condone the purposeful breeding of hybrid dogs, thousands of Shih Tzu crosses end up in shelters each year, waiting to be rescued. And we do support those who have adopted a mix. See a list of all pairings.

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