The Ruff Life Tribe
- Kettering, OH
- Responds within an hour
Meet the breeder
I'm Mindy S., the breeder behind The Ruff Life Tribe located in Kettering, OH. My goal is to provide families with the best possible pets, that are affordable, loving, and healthy. My breeding dogs are DNA health cleared, vet checked, up to date on vaccinations and well visits. My puppies are also exposed to several programs to improve socialization skills and new puppy fear.
Q. & A. with Mindy
Why did you start breeding?
I started breeding in 2023 when I was a stay at home mom with my youngest child. I will only breed with caution and I will always put the health first. I will not breed dogs if it’s not recommended due to health or age.What makes your program special?
My breeding program is special because all of my breeding dogs reside in my home with my family. We also work with the puppies multiple times a day and we work on multiple tasks such as early neurological stimulation, exposing them to atleast 7 challenges, exposure to a doggie door with indoor grass area, introduction to harness and leash walking, and daily handling.What are the different breed sizes in your program?
Companion Cross puppies are small size. Sizes will vary depending on the parent dogs.What are the different breed coat colors in your program?
Our Shih Tzu puppies include sable, liver, white, liver and white, gold and white, black gold and silver, and brindle. Lhasa Apso puppies include parti, brindle, brown, white, liver, golden, black, and red gold. Colors will vary depending on the parent dogs.Where do your breeding dogs live?
They live in my home.
Matched dogs
These dogs are already reserved or have gone home.
Charlotte
Went homeFemale
Millie
Went homeFemale
Amelia
Went homeFemale
Bandit
Went homeMale
Calypso
Went homeMale
Cooper
Went homeMale
Chilli
Went homeFemale
Getting a puppy from Mindy
Mindy 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
“My price includes a 1-year health guarantee, free 30-day health insurance policy through Trupanion, first set of vaccinations, deworming, vet checked and cleared all before going home. All of my deposits are 500.00.”
Contract & health guarantee
Mindy 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 Mindy 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 Mindy directly.
What’s included
From Good Dog
- Lifetime support from Good Dog’s Care Team
- 10% lifetime discount on Figo pet insurance
- Puppy Training Program & private community
Enrichment & socialization
- Various sounds
- Car rides
- Surface & tactile stimulation
- Socialized with children
- Socialized in new places
- Daily handling
- Socialized with other dogs
- Introduced to people of different ages and appearances
- Socialized with other animals
Puppy health practices
- Vet check
- First round of shots and deworming
- Vet records
Extras
- Blanket with mom & littermates’ scent
- Food & treats
- Toys
- Initial potty training
- Basic obedience & manners
Location & pick-up
You can drive or fly to pick up your puppy from Mindy.
Breeder’s location
Meet in Kettering, OH
4298 miles away
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Other pick-up locations
Meet at John Glenn Columbus Airport
4237 miles away
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Meet in Columbus, OH
4243 miles away
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More about Mindy
Mindy has been a member of Good Dog for 5 months
Mindy was screened for responsible practices and has been a member since 2025.
Mindy’s links
Mindy is a trusted Good Dog breeder
The Ruff Life Tribe 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
Litter and program updates
Mindy S.
Program update on 13 Jan. •
Mindy S.
Litter update on 12 Jan. •Their 1st grooming experience! They all did so well ❤️
Turbo and Goldie's litter
Parent dogs
All breeds
Shih Tzu
Lhasa Apso
Hondo, dad
Shih Tzu
About Hondo
Hondo is a male Shih Tzu about 1 year old. Carefully selected as a great representative of his breed, Mindy decided to make him part of their program. Mindy 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.
Excellent health testing
DNA Disease Panel.
Quesa, mom
Lhasa Apso
About Quesa
Quesa is a very gentle natured dog. She loves going on walks, car rides, participating in community activities, belly rubs, and dancing around in a circle 3 times on her back legs for a treat! She is very socialized with children and unfamiliar people. She is truly a great companion.
Uploaded health tests
Full Embark Panel.
Goldie, mom
Shih Tzu
About Goldie
Goldie is AKC registered. She is a very mellow girl and loves attention. She loves daily walks especially when she gets to see my kids getting off the bus. She has been DNA tested and vet checked and cleared.
Excellent health testing
DNA Disease Panel.
Parent health testing
Excellent level
The Ruff Life Tribe 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.
DNA Disease Panel, DNA Coat/Trait Panel, DNA Profile
Genetic testing reduces the chance of passing down a wide variety of hereditary diseases of differing prevalence and severity such as Progressive Retinal Atrophy (an eye disease) and Von Willebrand's Disease (a blood disease).
Verified owner stories
Hear what other owners say about working with Mindy to bring home their puppies.
Dena S.
Verified owner · Feb. 2026
Working with this breeder was such a wonderful experience from beginning to end. Mindy was kind, communicative, and truly cared about the puppies. It was clear our puppy was raised in a loving environment, he came to us happy and well socialized, which gave us so much peace of mind. Mindy took the time to answer our questions and made sure we felt prepared, and you can tell she is passionate about what she does. We are so grateful for such a smooth, positive experience and would absolutely recommend her to anyone looking for a well-loved puppy.
Ally S.
Verified owner · Feb. 2026
Mindy is incredible. The love she has for all her puppies go beyond just the drop off. Her compassionate and understanding of constantly sending me pictures of updates of my puppy I loved seeing until I was able to pick him up. Mindy is amazing and does so good for her dogs.
Nicole S.
Verified owner · Jan. 2026
Mindy is, by far, the most impressive breeder I’ve ever met! And for years, I worked in Veterinary Hospitals and Animal Care Facilities. She definitely goes above and beyond to make sure her pups are safe and loved, and gets them acclimated to life in new homes! She uses the Rule of Seven where she exposes them to 7 different, textures, lights, sounds, smells, etc., so they’ll be calmer and less reactive when getting accustomed to their new homes. They’re kept indoors, in her home, which I also appreciate. Unlike many breeders I’ve met who keep them penned outdoors or housed separately in barns or other enclosures. Not to mention, we are THRILLED with our new puppy, she’s unbelievably adorable, and so cuddly and sweet! She hasn’t barked once since she’s been home. She whines a little when left alone, but that definitely will not happen often in my home! She’s a beautiful, healthy and happy little pup. She doesn’t seemed anxious about her new home at all! As an animal lover since birth, I HIGHLY recommend Mindy!
Maya B.
Verified owner · Feb. 2026
Mindy is one of the kindest and most nurturing and passionate people I’ve met. She sent lots of pictures throughout the weeks leading to my adoption. She was flexible with our meetup and time and left us with a goody bag full of helpful tools and toys for a successful transition. I can tell she worked hard with the puppies before handing mine off. She already knows how to use her potty pads!
Daniela F.
Verified owner · Feb. 2026
Mindy was so responsive right from the very beginning. We all felt an immediate connection to her. We were able to FaceTime her and Charlotte (our sweet Shih Tzu) and learned so much about all that she does with her puppies. We were so impressed with all the activities and checks that she has in place to insure the wellness of her litters. She communicated photos, videos and updates so regularly and we appreciated it so much!! I honestly felt we found a wonderful puppy and great new friend. On pick up - her goodie bag was just packed full everything we could need. The love and care she put into every detail was more than we could have ever expected. We highly recommend Mindy and her beautiful puppies.
MOMichael O.
Verified owner · Oct. 2025
The entire process was very seamless. Mindy was very helpful every step of the way and made the process very smooth and simple.
