For one thing you are saying Miniature Shih Tzu which indicates your dog is not off breeding quality-No reputable breeders would breed a Miniature Shih Tzu, this is a case were the breeder deliberately breeding below the standard for the breed-Not as small as teacups but smaller then they should be-Which also means they are likely very much inbreed which would cause lots of complication for a potential litter and put her at great risk of complications herself-including DEATH!.
COSTS OF HAVING A LITTER
Shots, Worming $ 75
Brucellosis Test (Doggy VD) $ 25
Hips x-rayed (for dysplasia) $ 200
Elbows x-rayed (for dysplasia) $ 75
Thyroid Test $ 50
ACVO/CERF (eye exam) $45 per/8 years $ 360
DNA Test For PRA (eyes ) $ 250
Stud Fee $ 1000
Boarding Expenses $ 200
Good Quality Food $ 90
Whelping Box $ 100
Whelping supplies Scale, blankets, towels, etc $ 100
Vet check for Mom & Pups $ 75
Dew Claw Removal $10 per puppy $ 100
Clean Up material/garbage bags $ 25
6 week vet visit with shots $ 250
Newspaper Ad $ 40
Puppy Food $ 90
X-Pen for Puppies $ 75
Safe Toys $ 50
C-section $ 2,500
Mastitis $ 300
Supplements if your female dog won't allow pups to nurse $ 150
Euthanasia for physically deformed puppies $ 50
Trouble if a puppy/puppies don't do well $200+++
PARVO and possible loss of some or all puppies $3000+++
Other associated difficulties too many and too varied to mention
but they can and do happen $200+++++++
"I have a purebred, AKC registered dog and should continue the line."
But what do those papers really tell you? Nothing important. Nothing imperative to keep that gene line going. So your dog's father was "Dakota Sunrise"... but do you know if Dakota had heart problems, hip dysplasia, or seizures? Did his mother, "Ark's Kelly Lane" have congenital cataracts, Von Willebrand's disease, or glaucoma? These can all be inherited problems that can be passed onto your "purebred" problem litters. Do you really want to risk it? Just because your dog has good family history doesn't mean he has good medical history.
"I want my pet to have a baby so I'll have another one just like her!"
Are you an identical representation of your father or mother? Probably not. You may have similar genetic traits, but you have an entirely different personality. Most planned pet breeding produce fraternal twins, the kind that are born at the same time but don't look or act alike. Even Dolly, the cloned sheep, will act differently from her clone due to her environment.
"My kids should see the miracle of birth."
Yeah, right. What for? What would that teach them that they can't learn from educational TV, books, and the internet? Mr. Scott Vogel, our education director, has some excellent videos that are ideal for children and are probably more informative than just watching it happen to the family pet. Besides, the presence of people when an animal is preparing to give birth is extremely stressful to the pet, so much so that she may not care for the newborns or even injure them, or nearby people (like your children), as she lashes out. Surely you don't want to endanger your child OR your pet. Why would you want to expose your children to the reality of baby animals just being given away because you can't provide for the litter? What if your kids worry that you will get rid of them if you can't provide for your family? Having a litter and getting rid of it will only teach your child that life is not precious. If you REALLY want to throw the ways of the world at your kid -- just take them to an animal shelter and show them all the dogs and cats, and explain that they will die because there aren't enough homes for them all. Your kids will learn.
"I heard she will be a better pet if she's allowed to have a litter."What? Where did you hear THAT? First-time moms are usually too nervous and don't know what they are doing; even if the DO manage to nurse, they are not the best parent to their first litter. She will be very agitated around children, strangers, and other pets. And contrary to popular myth, down the road she will NOT look upon your family as "her litter" just because she has had babies of her own. Having a litter will not "calm her down" either -- only age and training can do that. Take it from a vet!
"My father / boyfriend / husband won't let us get the pet fixed."
Now come on, guys. Grow up a little. Neutering has nothing to do with a man's anatomy. Only the pet's testicles are worked on, not the "whole package". The animal suffers ZERO psychological damage, and won't really even notice.Don't you want your pet to be around a long time? They will leave YEARS longer if you get them fixed. Males have decreased incidence of prostatic disease, testicular tumors, perianal tumors, and hernias! Female benefit too, with less chance of uterine infections, ovarian tumors, and mammary tumors -- which, by the way, are often malignant in dogs... but rarely happen if your dog is fixed!