Questions to Ask the Breeder Before Buying a Shih Tzu (2026): Complete Buyer's Checklist for Indian Families

A family finally decides to bring home their first Shih Tzu puppy. They've been scrolling for weeks, and then it happens — a photo of a fluffy, wide-eyed puppy that feels like it was waiting for them. Their fingers hover over the "Buy Now" button. And then, almost instinctively, someone in the group asks the question that matters most: how do we actually know this breeder is trustworthy?

That one pause — that single question — is often the difference between bringing home a healthy companion for the next 12-15 years and quietly dealing with vet bills, behavioral issues, or worse, discovering the puppy was never bred responsibly in the first place. If you're currently looking at Shih Tzu Puppies for Sale and want to get this decision right, this guide walks you through exactly what to ask, what a good answer sounds like, and what should make you close the tab and walk away.

Quick Answer: 

What Should You Ask a Breeder Before Buying a Shih Tzu?

Before buying a Shih Tzu, ask about KCI registration, vaccination and deworming history, whether you can meet the puppy's parents, any known health issues in the bloodline, and what documentation you'll receive at purchase. A responsible breeder answers these openly, provides vet records, and offers guidance even after the sale is complete.

Why Asking Questions Matters More Than You Think

It's easy to treat these questions as formalities, but they reveal a lot more than paperwork. The way a breeder responds tells you whether the puppy came from a responsible, health-first environment or from a setup focused purely on quick sales.

Good questions surface things like:

• Whether the breeding was responsible — planned, health-checked, and not purely profit-driven
• The puppy's actual health status, beyond what a photo can show you
• Early signs of temperament, since poorly socialized puppies often struggle later
• Whether the breeder follows ethical practices, like limiting litters and screening for hereditary conditions
• What long-term ownership will realistically look like, based on what you're told upfront

A trustworthy breeder or seller welcomes these questions — they don't get defensive or rush you toward payment. If anything, they'll often bring up half of this information before you even ask.

15 Essential Questions to Ask the Breeder

1. Are the Puppies KCI Registered?

KCI (Kennel Club of India) registration verifies lineage and gives you a documented paper trail. A good breeder can show you the actual certificate, not just tell you it "will come later." If you specifically want papers, browsing KCI Certified Puppies is a safer starting point than an unverified local listing.

Red flag: Vague answers like "we can arrange it" after payment.

2. Can I Meet the Puppy's Parents?

Seeing at least the mother gives you a real sense of temperament and physical health the puppy is likely to inherit. Reputable breeders are usually proud to show this off.

Red flag: The parents are "not available" or kept at an undisclosed location.

3. What Vaccinations Has the Puppy Received?

Ask for the specific vaccine names and dates, not just "yes, it's vaccinated." A proper vaccination schedule starts around 6-8 weeks with boosters every few weeks. Our Puppy Vaccination Guide explains what a complete schedule should look like at each age.

Red flag: No written record, only a verbal assurance.

4. Has the Puppy Been Dewormed?

Deworming should happen on a set schedule starting early in life. Ask when the last dose was given and when the next is due.

Red flag: "We don't usually do that until the owner takes over."

5. Has the Puppy Been Vet-Checked?

A vet check before sale should confirm the puppy is free from visible illness, has a normal heart rate, and shows no signs of infection or parasites.

Red flag: No vet has ever examined the puppy.

6. What Is the Puppy Currently Eating?

Knowing the current diet helps you transition food gradually instead of causing digestive upset. Good breeders can tell you the brand, quantity, and feeding frequency.

Red flag: "Whatever you want to feed it" — a sign of minimal individual care.

7. Has the Puppy Been Socialized?

Early exposure to people, household sounds, and gentle handling shapes a Shih Tzu's confidence later in life. Ask what the puppy's daily environment has looked like so far.

Red flag: Puppies kept isolated in cages with little human interaction.

8. What Health Problems Exist in the Bloodline?

Every breed has known hereditary risks — for Shih Tzus, that includes eye conditions and breathing sensitivity due to their flat-faced structure. An honest breeder will tell you what's been screened for.

Red flag: Insisting the bloodline has "zero issues, ever."

9. Can You Share Medical Records?

Ask to see the actual documents — vaccination card, deworming log, and vet check notes — rather than accepting a summary.

Red flag: Records that seem freshly created or inconsistent in handwriting and dates.

10. Do You Offer Post-Purchase Guidance?

A responsible breeder or platform doesn't disappear after the sale. Ask what support looks like if you have questions in the first few weeks.

Red flag: No contact information provided after payment, or unresponsive once you've paid.

11. Can I Visit Your Facility?

Even if you can't travel, ask for video footage of where the puppies are raised. Hygiene and space say a lot about how the litter has been cared for.

Red flag: Constant excuses to avoid showing the breeding environment.

12. How Old Is the Puppy?

Puppies should ideally go to new homes no earlier than 8 weeks old, giving them enough time with their mother and littermates for early development.

Red flag: Puppies sold at 4-5 weeks, which is too early and can affect long-term behavior.

13. What Documents Will I Receive?

Confirm exactly what paperwork comes with the puppy — this should be agreed upon before you pay, not negotiated afterward.

Red flag: Documents promised "after a few weeks" with no clear timeline.

14. Do You Provide Home Delivery?

For buyers in cities like Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Bangalore, Mumbai, or Pune who can't visit in person, ask how delivery is handled — temperature control, travel duration, and handler experience all matter. GoodFurs' Home Delivery Across India service is built around safe, monitored transport rather than a puppy being shipped like a parcel.

Red flag: Delivery through unregulated couriers with no climate control or live updates.

15. What Happens If My Puppy Gets Sick After Purchase?

Ask directly what support or guarantee applies if health issues surface shortly after you bring the puppy home. This is often the question that separates a serious breeder from a one-time seller.

Red flag: "Once it's sold, it's sold" — a clear sign there's no accountability built into the process.

Red Flags That Should Make You Walk Away

If you notice more than one of these during your conversation with a seller, it's worth pausing the purchase entirely:

• No vaccination or deworming records provided
• Prices that seem unusually low for the breed and city
• No KCI papers, or reluctance to explain why
• Multiple different breeds being sold from the same "breeder"
• Visibly poor hygiene in photos or videos of the puppy's living space
• Refusal to show or discuss the puppy's parents
• Pressure to pay immediately, often with urgency tactics like "another buyer is interested"
• No health guarantee or willingness to discuss what happens if something goes wrong

Documents You Must Receive

Before you finalize payment, confirm you'll receive:

• Vaccination record with dates and vaccine names
• Deworming record showing the schedule followed so far
• Health certificate from a vet who's actually examined the puppy
• KCI registration, where applicable to the puppy's bloodline
• Purchase invoice as proof of transaction
• Feeding instructions covering current diet and transition guidance

If a seller can't produce these, or treats them as optional extras, that's a strong signal to look elsewhere. Our Shih Tzu Care Guide and Shih Tzu Grooming Guide are useful next reads once you've got the paperwork sorted and are preparing for the puppy's arrival.

Why Ethical Breeders Matter More Than Price

It's tempting to treat puppy buying like any other purchase — compare prices, pick the cheapest option, move on. But a puppy isn't a product; it's a living being whose health and temperament are shaped almost entirely by how it was bred and raised in its first weeks.

Ethical breeders matter because they directly influence:

• Puppy welfare — proper space, nutrition, and care standards during the vulnerable early weeks
• Genetic health — screening parents to avoid passing on hereditary conditions
• Better temperament — early socialization builds confident, well-adjusted adult dogs
• Lifelong support — a breeder who stays reachable long after the sale
• Responsible breeding practices — limiting litters and prioritizing the mother's health over volume

Paying a bit more upfront for an ethically bred puppy is almost always cheaper than dealing with the medical and behavioral consequences of a poorly bred one.

Why More Families Trust GoodFurs

This is exactly the gap GoodFurs was built to close. Every puppy listed is sourced from breeders who are verified for their practices, not just their pricing. Puppies are vaccinated and dewormed on schedule, health-tested where relevant, and come with documentation you can actually verify rather than take on faith.

Buyers across Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Bangalore, Mumbai, and Pune also get access to a proper puppy consultation before and after purchase, so questions don't stop once the payment is made. And for those who can't travel to meet a breeder in person, safe, monitored home delivery makes the process possible without compromising on transparency. If you'd like a full breakdown of current pricing in your city, our guide to Shih Tzu Price in Delhi NCR is a good place to start, or you can reach out directly through Contact GoodFurs with specific questions before you decide.

Final Thoughts

Bringing a Shih Tzu into your family is a decision that stays with you for well over a decade — which is exactly why the breeder you choose matters as much as the puppy itself. Asking the right questions isn't about being difficult; it's about making sure the adorable puppy in the photo is actually as healthy and well-cared-for as it looks.

If you're ready to move forward with confidence, explore Shih Tzu Puppies for Sale in Delhi NCR on GoodFurs, where every puppy comes from a breeder who's already answered these questions for you.