A family kennel, inside an indoor jungle.
Nine years, one breed, and one rule that has never changed: never more puppies than we can know by name.
It started with a dog we never intended to breed.
Mousson came to us as simply a companion — a Shih Tzu who immediately claimed the sunroom as her territory, lying under the monstera while Isabelle repotted her plants. Our veterinarian found her temperament remarkable: calm, curious, never pushy.
After two years of health screenings, he suggested she deserved a litter. That litter taught us the essential thing: the difference between a puppy handled every day, surrounded by leaves and household noise, and a puppy raised in a pen never quite gets made up.
Nine years later, we still raise them in the house, among the same tropical plants that gave the kennel its name. Litters are born in the sunroom, puppies learn the stairs before they leave, and we know each one well enough to know which family they belong with.
The Shih Tzu, and nothing else.
We don't diversify. Knowing one breed well beats skimming several.
A companion, not an athlete
Bred for centuries to be a companion, the Shih Tzu is happy with short walks and indoor play. They'd rather stay close to their people than go for a run.
Worth knowing: sensitive to heat and humidity because of their short muzzle. Walks happen early morning or evening in summer.
A coat that needs attention
A long, silky double coat — gorgeous but demanding: brushing several times a week, professional grooming every six to eight weeks, or an easier-care "puppy cut".
Worth knowing: minimal shedding, but this is not a truly hypoallergenic breed.
Perfectly suited to apartment life
Sociable and generally calm, they adapt very well to condo or apartment living — one of the reasons the breed is so popular on the South Shore.
Worth knowing: they may bark to announce a visitor; early training keeps it from becoming a habit.
The Shih Tzu has a short muzzle (a brachycephalic breed). That's what gives them their expressive face, but it calls for precautions: never intense exercise in hot weather, close attention to their prominent eyes, and a veterinarian familiar with the breed for routine exams. We discuss this plainly with every family before reservation.
What we screen for, and what we guarantee.
No breeding happens until both parents have completed the screenings recommended for the breed. Certificates are handed to you in person — not summarized, not "available on request".
Patellas and hips
Orthopedic exam on both parents before mating — luxating patella is common in small breeds.
Eyes
Annual ophthalmological exam by a specialist veterinarian, given the breed's prominent eyes.
Heart and teeth
Cardiac auscultation and a dental alignment check, often tighter in short-muzzled breeds.
A two-year guarantee against serious hereditary conditions, provided in writing. Replacement or refund, your choice.
Come and see before you decide.
We welcome families by appointment, even without a firm plan. You'll see the sunroom where the puppies are born, meet the parents, and get to ask the hard questions.
One piece of advice, even if you don't adopt from us: be wary of a breeder who offers to meet you in a parking lot or won't show you the mother. It's the most reliable signal there is.