What AKC registration actually means
AKC registration is a record of lineage — it confirms that your puppy’s parents were registered, and their parents before them. It does not evaluate the dogs themselves for health, structure, or temperament. A puppy can be AKC registered and come from parents who have never had a single health screening performed. Registration tracks the paperwork. It does not certify the dog. Understanding this distinction is the single most important thing a Shih Tzu buyer can know before starting their search.
The CHIC program and Shih Tzu-specific health requirements
- The OFA’s Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) sets breed-specific health testing standards that go beyond AKC registration.
- For Shih Tzus, CHIC certification requires an OFA evaluation for patellar luxation (kneecap) and an annual CAER eye examination performed by a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist.
- A puppy whose parents both hold CHIC numbers has a documented health baseline that a registered-only puppy does not.
- You can look up any breeding dog’s OFA health results by their registered name at ofa.org — this database is public and free.
- Ask for the OFA numbers for both parents, then verify them yourself. A breeder who has done the testing will actively encourage you to look.
What exceptional breeders test beyond the minimum
- BAER hearing test — particularly valuable for dogs with significant white in the coat, as bilateral deafness can occur in heavily white-marked individuals.
- Cardiac evaluation by a board-certified cardiologist — not just a regular vet listen at a routine exam.
- Brachycephalic airway assessment — Shih Tzus are a flat-faced breed, and evaluating airway structure before breeding helps reduce the incidence of severe breathing issues in offspring.
- DNA panel for hereditary conditions including progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), degenerative myelopathy, and other breed-relevant genetic variants.
- Hip and elbow OFA ratings — not required for the breed, but used by some breeders as an additional data point on structural soundness.
- None of this testing is required. The breeders who do it anyway are the ones who lose sleep over their dogs.
How to read a health guarantee — and the red flags
- A strong guarantee covers congenital and hereditary conditions for a minimum of two years — ideally for the life of the dog.
- Replacement-only policies (no refund, only another puppy) are common but offer limited real-world protection for families who have bonded with a dog.
- Red flag: any guarantee that requires you to return the puppy to receive any benefit. Most families cannot and will not do this emotionally.
- Red flag: guarantees written in vague language with no specific conditions listed — these are difficult or impossible to enforce.
- Green flag: a breeder who openly discusses what the guarantee covers, what it does not, and what they will do for you beyond the written terms.
- The best health guarantee is a breeder who answers the phone five years after your puppy goes home.
Five questions to ask every Shih Tzu breeder
- “Can I see the OFA health certificates for both parents?” — a breeder who has done the testing will send them before you finish asking.
- “How many litters does your female produce per year?” — more than two litters annually raises welfare concerns for the dam.
- “Where are the puppies raised?” — in the home, around normal family activity, is the answer that produces well-socialized Shih Tzus.
- “Will you take the puppy back if my life situation changes?” — a responsible breeder always says yes, without hesitation.
- “What support do you offer after the puppy comes home?” — the relationship should not end at the pickup handshake. Ask what that looks like in practice.
Ready to meet your match?
See our available hand-raised AKC Shih Tzu puppies, or start your application.
