Is it better to purchase an AKC or CKC puppy?
If you’re purchasing a Shih Tzu puppy as a pet, registry doesn’t matter. What matters is the health of the puppy. When you’re searching for a puppy, ask to view the pedigrees of the parents. Many breeders, both AKC and CKC, practice inbreeding, which can cause countless life threatening defects. Although AKC is the preferable registry, many AKC breeders (especially the ones that show their dogs) encourage inbreeding to maintain the purity of their bloodlines. If you’re purchasing a Shih Tzu puppy for breeding, AKC is the preferable registry, but it’s not required. CKC is just as acceptable as long as you’re breeding for health and betterment of the breed and not just for the reputation that comes with a name.
