I'm Hebe L., the breeder behind Once in a Lifetime Shih Tzu located in Napa, CA. This is a single, well-planned litter, bred out of love to carry on my dam’s excellent health, sweet temperament, and beautiful lineage. We are keeping a male puppy for our family and am seeking for the remaining three exceptional families who will treasure them as much as we do.
Q. & A. with Hebe
Why did you start breeding?
Our current Shih Tzu, Boba, is an exceptional example of the breed: affectionate, healthy, and eager to please. Friends, neighbors, and even our veterinarian often remark on her calm disposition and balanced personality. After careful thought and guidance from our vet and experienced mentors, I decided to plan a single, well-managed litter so that we could preserve her wonderful qualities.
What makes your program special?
I am not a commercial or frequent breeder. This is truly a one-time, hobby endeavor motivated by love for the breed and a desire to share the joy a well-raised Shih Tzu brings to a home. My goal is to match each puppy with a loving, lifelong home. I am happy to answer questions, share updates and photos as they grow, and remain a resource for their new families long after adoption day.
What are the different breed coat colors in your program?
Our puppies include black gold and white and gold and white. Colors will vary depending on the parent dogs.
Where do your breeding dogs live?
They live in my home.
Getting a puppy from Hebe
Hebe has been certified by Good Dog’s screening team for responsible and trusted breeding practices. When you’re ready to reach out, feel free to ask any questions about the breed, their program, or specific puppies.
Together, you’ll choose the puppy that’s right for you, stay in touch with regular updates, and plan how to bring your new puppy home.
Price
Puppy prices include a $500 non-refundable deposit and between $1,500 - $1,700 final payment, before taxes & fees.
“Health Guarantee, AKC Papers, Comprehensive Vet Exam, 1st vaccination, De-wormed, Potty Pad Training, Premium Food Sample, Blanket with Mother's scent/littermates, Bed, Toys, and Lifetime Support. The deposit reserves your chosen puppy until pick-up day. This deposit is applied toward the total purchase price and ensures that your puppy is held exclusively for you.”
Contract & health guarantee
Hebe may provide a written contract or
health guarantee when you purchase a puppy. This helps
protect both you and your breeder, ensuring that you
both have a clear understanding of the terms of your
puppy purchase. If Hebe offers a contract
or guarantee, the details will be personalized by them.
If you have any questions or want to know more,
don’t hesitate to reach out to Hebe directly.
Once in a Lifetime Shih Tzu meets or exceeds our community standards in these areas:
Responsible breeding practices
Health of breeding dogs and puppies
Puppy environment and enrichment
Buyer education and policies
Parent dogs
Boba, mom
Shih Tzu
About Boba
Boba is a female Shih Tzu. Carefully selected as a great representative of her breed, Hebe decided to make her part of their program. Hebe has passed Good Dog’s screening process, which involved a review of their breeding practices, environment, and the mental and physical health of their dogs.
Parent health testing
Breeder-Reported Testing
Excellent level
Once in a Lifetime Shih Tzu reports to performing the health tests below on their breeding dogs. Ask your breeder about the tests performed on the parents of your litter. Learn more about health testing for Shih Tzus.
Hip Dysplasia (rDVM, not registered), Hip Dysplasia
Hip testing reduces the chance of passing down hip dysplasia, which is primarily found in large breed dogs and can cause hip pain and the eventual loss of the function of the hip joint.
Elbow testing reduces the chance of passing down elbow dysplasia, which is primarily found in large breed dogs and can cause arthritis in the elbow joint and front leg lameness.
Eye Examination (rDVM, not registered with OFA), Eye Certification (CAER, registered with OFA)
Eye testing reduces the chance of passing down a wide range of hereditary eye illnesses including retinal dysplasia, lens luxation, and glaucoma, which can cause impared vision or blindness.
Cardiac Evaluation (rDVM, not registered with OFA), Cardiac Evaluation (registered with OFA)
Heart testing reduces the chance of passing down congenital heart disease, which can cause a range of symptoms ranging from trouble exercising to heart failure.
Vet Wellness Exam
A breeder may perform additional tests on their dogs that do not fall into these general categories. These tests may be more uncommon or very specific to a particular breed.