TESTIMONIALS

Marion's dogs are the best! From the moment they are born, she puts their physical and emotional well-being first and does everything to make sure that when they go to their respective homes, they are healthy, happy and well-socialized puppies. Even after they leave her home, she continues to take interest in them and helps however she can. Q is such a wonderful dog! Healthy, happy, lovable and loving! He wins over both people and canines with his amazing personality. He s very intelligent, sings, loves to play fetch, comes up with games with his toys, loves dogs of all sizes, is gentle with babies (I can't believe all the pulling and poking he patiently puts up with!), sometimes thinks is a human, and is the best friend who always brings joy. Thank you so much for bringing such a wonderful being to this world and continuing to help whenever needed! Q's "mom" :)
KoKoMo is just the sweetest pup! He is very playful and loves to go for a walk. He did so well walking on a leash right from the start. Marion of StarrMeShihtzu did a wonderful job socializing him with sounds ,other dogs and people that our first trip encountering another dog and people went very well, no fear and no aggression - just a happy puppy! Thank you Marion for my precious companion Koko! Linda
Dear Marion, I knew I wanted to adopt a Shih Tzu pup and searched for “the best” breeder. I was looking for a Breeder that truly cared about the puppies and was a support to me in being a new “mom.” Your attention to detail is impressive: from birth, weight measurement, documentation of events to your daily structure. When I visited ULI he was always happy, clean and obviously cared for. ULI came to me at 10 weeks and he was happy, socialized and darling. You have been a great support in follow-up. We have a good avenue of communication and I can ask you any silly question and you are there with the answers. Thank you, Marion. Your hard work has paid off for ULI and me. You are a treasure in your field. Thank you, also, for all the documentation, tips and certification information in lUi’s portfolio. We have a long happy time in front of us. I promise to send a picture now and again. To Your Success, Kristy
When I met Marion I had already interviewed 4-5 breeders. At that point I knew the difference between someone who was "selling" dogs and someone who actually cared about the quality of their animals and wanted to ensure they went to a good home. Marion, however, was at a totally different level. First, I loved it that she didn't try to tell me how great she was, or how her pedigree was particularly special. Then, she began explaining to me nuances about the Shih-Tzu breed that I didn't even know existed. Since this was my first time ever having a dog of my own, this was extremely valuable information. I knew right then and there that Marion would be there to make sure my first experience raising a puppy was as comfortable (and easy) as possible. I knew exactly what kind of temperament I wanted and Marion helped me select the perfect puppy from the upcoming litter. Since then, she's been more than a breeder...she's been like an auntie to me. Thank you Marion!! Anthony & Pepe	This is Pepe.
Marion, This is Seikou with his first haircut. He is quite a little boy! Michael from Minneapolis	Seikou with the solid gold, and Riley with the gold and white. This is Seikou.
Skye's new home with his new friends. Hi Marion, Michael took this picture today of Skye and our two cats (Sophie and Smudge). Judy
Hi Marion- Thought you would like to see a picture of Lola, 11 weeks. She is just the sweetest, most adorable puppy. Our grandchildren can't wait to play with her. Lola has the most delightful personality. What a wonderful addition to our home. Thanks to you for breeding and nurturing such a loving and sweet Shih Tzu. You know how long I waited for a puppy, I can truly say the wait was worth it. We love Lola and I do believe Lola loves us. Fondly Beth & Harvey
Hey Marion! I apologize its taken so long to send you pictures of our new baby, Piper. We have been busy with our wedding and all of the great things that come after that. Piper has been so much fun and has become the best addition to our little family. Friends, family and strangers (ha!) melt when they meet her. She is the sweetest, most lovable little shihtzu. Sometimes I am not sure how she gets to be so cute. Belle (my 7 yr old shihtzu) took a while to warm up to her at first, but Piper INSISTED they be friends. Now they play and romp around all day. Piper constantly tugs at her ears and nibbles on her feet (we call her the foot monster), and they are best buddies now :) We just purchased a home, so they will have a nice big yard to run around in... I have attached several pictures of Piper on her own (prettiest girl in town) as well as some with her sister Belle and with her half brothers Milo and Yogi. Mom there are some new ones for you... Hope you enjoy them and have a wonderful holiday!! Thanks again for all your help - keep in touch :) Jacqueline
Hello Marion, Congratulations on the latest litter. Riley is doing well. He is a wonderful puppy. He is very smart and loves everyone. We are having a lot of fun. Anyone that knows Milo,and Yogi and my pup Riley complement Marion Starr on breeding such wonderful ShihTzu. We had our first big snow fall last Saturday and Riley loved it. He would go out of his way to play in the snow. He is so funny. He just got back from the groomer, he got his holiday hair cut. Check out the bandana. :) Have a great Thanksgiving. Michael (11/20/2010)
Hello Marion, We hope all is well with you. I wanted to share a couple pictures of Soju after his first haircut yesterday. What a wonderful puppy he is. Almost completely house broken now, sleeps most nights all the way through, eats very well and is just a joy to be with. The girls at the groomers told me, they were taking him home if I did not hurry and pick him up. haha. He has a very great temperament which is certainly a result of the breeding and care that you gave him. Anyhow, thanks again Marion and rest assured Myong Suk is taking great care of your little guy. David and Myong Suk
Hello Marion, We would like to thank you for the new addition to our family, "Jasper". In the beginning it was a bit overwhelming but thankfully you were there to answer all of our questions. It is obvious that you take pride in breeding healthy and well socialized shih-tzus. Jasper loves children, adults and animals of all sizes. We always receive compliments from others while walking him. His temperament is perfect. He is mellow yet he is also playful. Another positive about Jasper is he is also able to play with himself. Prior to finding you, we searched for a well respected breeder in the Southern Los Angeles. From the very beginning, we felt comfortable with you and well received. You took the time to provide us with information about the shih-tzu breed in order to help us determine if the breed would be a great fit for our household. Now, we have Jasper and we couldn't imagine life without him! Thanks Again, Trevon & April, Gardena, California
Marion, This picture of Beppo (on your right) and Maximus - the little clown - was taken when they were chasing each other around the backyard. One can't help but smile to watch them as they play. They are so precious. Thanks for breeding these little blessings! Rhonda, MN
Hi Marion, Here are a couple pictures of Lexi and Tasha I took tonight. Tasha is doing great, she is such a cuddly, lovey little doll - just love that about her. The two of them get along really well! Hope you, Jack and all the furbabies at StarrMe are doing just great! Kris
Hey Marion! Just wanted to send you an updated picture of our Max. He's the absolutely cutest, best mannered dog ever!!! This picture was taken in our yard this summer...he's very photogenic! All is well with our family and we can't imagine life without our Max-y-Boy. Highlights continue to be playdates with Beppo. They bark and "sing songs" together...always demanding attention :) The recent thunderstorms have been scary for Max. He jumps up on the bed and either lays on us or runs around us...very funny! We're in love with him! We would like to add another puppy to our family soon! :) Take care and thanks again! The Kitzbergers: Andy, Shannon, and Dylan
Hello Marion, Fergus is almost six months old now and is doing really well. We have never seen a dog with as sweet of a disposition as he has. Everybody that meets him says that as well and he has even made converts out of a couple of people that have never been big on dogs! He loves everybody. We are so thankful that you suggested him as the best dog in the litter for our family. He definitely does not play favorites but it is interesting in how he treats all of us just a little bit differently. The kids just can’t get enough of him. He potty trained a lot easier and quicker than we ever thought and pretty much has the run of the house now. If we are gone, he has no problem with spending a few hours in his crate. Just like you said his Dad does, he likes to sleep on his back with his legs flopped open. It’s really comical so see. He loves his belly scratched and will let you scratch him and pet him as long as you want. When he’s resting during the day, he always positions himself somewhere where he can keep an eye on as many of us as possible. He is definitely a “people” dog and never tries to hide or get away from anybody. We found a great vet in Hudson and he really likes going there, even after all of his shots! His tail starts wagging as soon as we pull into the parking lot. He finally got his first haircut a couple of weeks ago and the groomer said he was very well behaved. He is almost 11 pounds now so he probably only has a few more pounds to go. Thanks again for all of your help, we know we’ve got the perfect dog! - Mike, Jill, Joshua, Olivia and Eliza Cleary (November 2009)
Marion, I just wanted to let you know how much Coco, who is now just over six months old, has become the love of our lives. She wakes the girls up with kisses every morning. They love to be awakened in this way and it sure beats us having to do it! She is very attentive to all of us and loves to be part of the action and part of family activities. She makes a quiet study buddy for the girls, a playful fetcher for Dad and a great walker with Mom. She was so easily house trained and can also adapt to use the pad if the situation requires it. Everyone she meets says that her personality is endearing and lovable and her temperament is just what they'd want in a dog. She is confident, bright and cheery all the time. She loves to hop into her travel bag and come along to soccer games, softball games, outdoor cafes, and shopping! We can take her anywhere because she rarely, if ever, barks. She mastered going up and down the stairs within a week's time and is quick to learn new tricks. She is now attending obedience classes to learn even more. If we ever are interested in another Shih Tzu, we would not hesitate to buy another one from you. Thank you, Marion, for the excellent service and the wonderful puppies that you provide. Sincerely, Lisa (November 2009) P.S. Coco was recently spayed and recovered nicely from the operation. She has retained her gorgeous coloring with the black-tipped ears, golden (almost red) coloring on the top of head and ears, and gold and brindled black on her back and rear after the white shawl.
Mocha was terrific. When I got Mocha, Marion said she would probably be a bit lazy and it turned out correct. She is really quiet and doesn't bark so our neighbors didn't even realize we had a dog. Marion actually helped us train Mocha to potty train so when we brought her home she learned it in 2 weeks. I also appreciated how Marion sent us pictures of Mocha every few weeks. I think Mocha was a really good 1st dog. - Thanks, Madeleine 10 years old
We couldn't be more thrilled with our little guy. After researching and speaking to Shih Tzu breeders across the country, it was clear that Starr-Me Shih Tzu is one of the truly responsible Shih Tzu breeders in the U.S. Marion's knowledge of Shih Tzu and dedication to producing top-quality, healthy puppies makes her one of the true pioneers of the breed. Upon meeting Marion and her dogs, I knew that this was the perfect place to find our new family member, as all of her dogs are extremely well socialized and balanced. Sure enough, we couldn't have asked for more in a puppy. He is one of the friendliest, most obedient dogs we have ever seen! He is the star of his obedience classes and everyone's favorite at the dog parks because of his cute, outgoing personality. It is an honor to have the opportunity to own one of these fine puppies! Dan
Hi Marion Here are some pix of Tasha, she is such a sweet little girl. She has learned to go up the stairs to the 2nd level of our home, she is very adventurous! Potty training is coming along, for being a baby yet, she is doing very well. Lexi and Tasha usually have a play session in the afternoon, they have become very good friends - it is very cute. Hope all is going well with you. How is the silver girl coming along? Thank you again for breeding such a wonderful little girl, we adore her! Take care and think spring! Kris
Hello...My name is Melissa R. I bought "Dixie" a couple years ago and I wanted to let you know what a wonderful dog she is. She is loved very much. I have enclosed a couple of pictures for you. Dixie goes everywhere with me. When my husband got deployed she would come to Fort McCoy with me every week to visit before my husband was sent to iraq. Dixie sleeps in bed with my husband and I every night. We don't have any children so our animals are our kids. Thank you Melissa, WI
Hi Marion, I took your advice and you were right, after Honey figured out that we weren't going to give in, she stopped the barking. She barks for about a minute and then goes and lays down. Honey is such a wonderful dog - I couldn't have asked for a better Shih Tzu. She is so friendly to everyone and not afraid when people reach down to pet her. She loves my kids and the kids next door too. You should see her running through my flower beds! Sometimes we can only see the plants shaking and know that she's there (I don't have any poisonous plants). Julie, Milwaukee, WI
Hi Marion, It's hard to believe that our Honey celebrated her third birthday last week. She's still a puppy at heart with the sweetest of dispositions, always ready for kisses and cuddles! Thank you Marion, for the care you put into the breeding and raising of your Shih Tzus. Your puppies are truly charming companions. Thank you too for the advice that you've given us over the years. It's really been reassuring to consult with a Shih Tzu expert! We look forward to someday bringing home another little friend for Honey. Julie, Milwaukee, WI
Hi Marion, I am still totally happy with this sweet puppy of yours. I hope her litter mates are well. I hope this gives you some idea of how pretty Shiloh's coat is becoming. When does a puppy reach her adult size and when does her adult coat come in? Baily is 10lbs, if that is a way to judge Shiloh's size. She has had such a great personality and disposition. She hates to be left all alone in a room by herself and always has to tell you about it. Have a great holiday from all four of us. Cindy, CA
Rose & Daisy are wonderful! I can hardly imagine them not being a part of our family! They are both very friendly, affectionate puppies that love being around people. They are very gentle with all ages, both young and old. The sisters are bonded to each other and to us. They are very smart, and quickly were house trained and did very well at puppy obedience class. Rose and Daisy have many dog friends in the neighborhood, and many of their friends stop by on their daily walks just to say hello! If anyone I knew were looking to adopt a Shih Tzu puppy into their family, I would recommend them to you without hesitation! Take Care!  Dawn
Hi Marion!! Well you beat me to the punch...I planned to get a Christmas picture to you of beautiful Justice...he is doing great! Hos coat is like nothing we have ever seen...he looks like a miniature English Sheep Dog...until I put his topknot in, and then he is the most stunning Shih Tzu we have ever seen. His bite is perfect in my opinion (just a touch undershot) and his personality couldn't be nicer. He still snuffles and snorts, but not like he did as a pup. He is beautiful beyond description...and he eats like a little pig:) He is very heavy (about 12lbs already) but not BIG...just solid and sturdy with plenty of meat on his bones...from good German stock:):) We do hope he is done growing, but I'm sure he still has a bit more to do. I'm still not sure what color he will be...his head has turned to black, but new growth on his body is kind of non-descript silver/gold/bronze. The bottom line is he is great just like he is!! Cathryn, IN
Hello. Just wanted to say hello and enclose a picture of "Scarlett" (with her new friend, "Snickers", a persian male mitten). They adore eachother and are good company to eachother. Scarlett is a very good dog and constant companion - we just love her! She had just had a bath in the picture - her hind legs and tail were still wet. If you are ever in Sparta, you should come see her. Happy Holidays! Carolyn, Kevin, Aaron, Sterling, and Krystal, WI
The little black blob that Santa is holding is Beppo. Black dogs don't photograph well! Santa didn't want to give him back to me. Beppo is an adorable little boy. He probably weighs about 7lbs now. He likes to go for walks (runs!) and chase leaves. He is just starting to bark and we laugh at the strange sounds as her practices. He's getting more active and enjoys chasing after his toys and beating them up. He knows his name and listens quite well. We thoroughly enjoy him and once again thank you for raising such well socialized puppies. Joel and Rhonda, MN
Bonnie and Clyde are great - we love them to death!! They are like our children - Arlan is as attached to them as I am. They are inseparable--always are together and are real "cuddle bunnies". They have been such a wonderful addition to our lives. Love Ellen
Twelve years ago, my husband and I made one of the best decisions of our married life, to acquire our Shih Tzu, Monique. Prior to bringing Monique into our home, we had done extensive research on the breed and on the local breeders. When we made the decision to purchase Monique, we had been informed from a Shih Tzu breeder in the Twin Cities that Marion Starr from La Crosse Wisconsin does an incredible job socializing her puppies. We brought Monique into our home at 8 weeks of age and there was no doubt from day one that she was something special. A happy friendly dog to children and adults, easy to train, absolutely beautiful coat, big eyes and gentle nature. For these past twelve years she has been a true joy. Monique helped numerous children to learn that some dogs are sweet and kind and nothing to fear. Monique visited nursing homes for years bringing joy and laughter to many adults who had such wonderful memories of their pets. Monique went to work with us every day for over ten years and brought joy to adults that were physically and mentally challenged. Monique has traveled throughout the United States, on at least 100 planes curled up in her travel bag, sleeping soundly from take off to landing. Marion Starr is top breeder who has spent her life breeding the finest Shih Tzu’s. We feel so very fortunate to have discovered her and brought our little star, Monique, into our life. We thank her and our stars every day for this wonderful gift. We continue to cherish our little Monique. She is the most incredible dog. We treasure her and travel all over the US with her. Thanks again for all you did to give her such a good start. Fondly, Phyllis and Ron, MN
Dear Marion, This is just a short note to let you know that everything is going just great! McKinzie slept all night the 1st night without a peep. He snuggled down in his kennel with his blanket that had mom's scent and slept. So cute!! We are so enjoying him and his tumbling around and frequent trips outside! He's doing well or we're doing well with the outside potty business! Our vet was very impressed with your vet and genetic record, etc., and found everythig perfect. We'll neuter him about six months and have the hernia done then also. Bill and Carol, WI
Dear Marion, I wish we would have had time to visit you when we were last in La Crosse. We'll be going back up. Sorry it has taken so long to get these photos of Daisy to you. She is such a joy to us! Take care! Love, Alice and Leon, KS
Thank you again for all your help with Bonnie and Clyde and your experienced advise. We love them and they are really a part of the family now! Take care, Arlan and Ellen, WI
Thought you might like an update on Toby. He is growing - we do not see it as much as visitors who do not see him everyday. Clarice and I are housebroken and he is slowly catching on, but when he decides it is time it is not - no waiting, no delay. At times he is all bark and teeth. Working on both but he is mischievous and fun. Likes toes and fingers to bite, grabs socks and shoes. Unties shoelaces. He discovered he could get in the shower, lick up the drops and bark and scratch at the drain. It much be fun to glab bathtowels and hang on. Amy is still afraid of him. She comes closer but if he is on the floor and can chase her she runs to Clarice for protection. If only she would push him to the floor or roll him over on his back the message would be given to leave her alone. We are going to puppy classes at PetsMart. Once a week he gets to romp with the other puppies in the class. He is the youngest and smallest but gets along with the big guys. Arlyss, AZ
Just a note to let you know Prissy is doing great! What a real joy she is. I'm so glad you helped us get her. Thanks for everything. I check your website now and then. What beautiful puppies you have. Best Wishes, Sandi and Norm, MN
I've asked my "mom" to send you this letter along with a few pictures of me to let you know how I've been doing since being "adopted" in March. In case you don't remember me, my dog mother is "Ch Starr Me I'm Behind My Kabuki Mask" and my dog father is "Ch Mei San Midnight Madness". I was only eight weeks old when I left la Crosse for that drive to Afton, MN and then to Minnetonka, MN that Sunday back in March 2003. My new parents: Ray and Pat, are very good to me and love me enormously and although I hate to admit it, I am spoiled (but just a little) as one can never spoil a "little princess" too much. I've grown from 3lbs to a little over 11lbs and just turned 10 months old on November 4th. I really am a sweetheart and love to cuddle up with mom in the evenings and early in the morning when I'm still sleepy. Well, I just wanted you to know that I'm really happy to be with my new family and they take really good care of me with lots of love and attention. Say hi to my other mom and thank you for the love and caring you gave me the first eight weeks of my life. Love, Zoe (Raymond and Patricia, MA
Dear Marion, Enclosed is a picture of Max (McKenzie) that was just taken! He will be four in January and he is the sweetest and most loving little guy. He's very sociable both with other dogs and children. He is also Bill's constant companion and even has a heated blanket and Packer jacket. Thanks again for Max. We really love him. Take Care, Bill and Carol, WI
Amy will be 10 on November 19th and Misha with be 12 on December 13th. They are fine. Wild and fiesty in the mornings and sometimes later. They are very spoiled. Love our 85 year old neighbor and she them! They spend a lot of time with her, and every Friday they go and visit another neighbor. We and everyone else love them. Inspite of being spoiled, they are well behaved. If someone is walking by, they deem it their mission in life to go to them and get petted! Clarice, AZ

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