• I am a shih-tzu dog breeder. Humane Society may hate what I do, but my customers love me. :)  I spent a lifetime learning pedigrees, going over dogs, talking, and ...learning from those in my breed and those outside it. I raise each litter as if I gave birth to them and spend an equal amount of time finding them loving forever homes. I only bring puppies into this world that I think will be the healthiest (mentally and physically) and best examples of their breed. I support each family who chooses one of my puppies and let them know they are now a part of our extended family. I love getting photos of my dogs with their families for Holidays, practically more than anything! And now with Face Book, it is a blast!
    I am there if one needs to come back and will aggressively pursue the return of one of my dogs if it's in the wrong place. I support my breed in new breeder and owner education. I hold them when they arrive and leave me. I share my knowledge and socialize my dogs so that they will be the advertisement for my dedication. I don't keep track of the money and time I put in to my love of dogs, it would not be a true measure of how I feel. I don't try and gouge people to get rich off the dogs, I just need to pay the bills.
    The price I charge for my puppies is never profit, but investment in the next generation. I am not ashamed of who I am. I am a human's Nurse, but I CHOOSE to raise dogs. I work hard at being a great shih-tzu breeder and love communicating with my customers, the parents to my babies. When I die, I want to be remembered as an honest person who produced the best shih-tzu I could. Seems like an insignificant calling to most, but to my customers, it is everything.