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History
 
It is widely accepted that the Shih Tzu is descended from small dogs from Tibet, given as gifts to the Chinese Emperors and bred with Chinese dogs including the Pekinese. It was under the care and direction of the Dowager Empress, Tzu Hsi, who came into power in 1861 that the Shih Tzu developed into the breed we know today.

In the Imperial Palace in Peking, the Eunuchs were made responsible for the care and breeding of the Shih Tzu. These shaggy little dogs became the pampered darlings of the palace. The Empress insisted that complete pedigrees and descriptions of physical markings be kept for all dogs used for breeding and for all puppies whelped within the household. For aesthetic and religious reasons, parti-colors with perfect facial markings and perfect saddle were held in high esteem by the Empress, but solid colors were also prized by her. In fact, the only known photograph of her with any of her Shih Tzu is with a solid black male, one of her favorites, who followed her everywhere from her private apartments to the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

Tzu Hsi was wise to the laws of color inheritance and knew the importance of the darker shades of brindle, silver and black in maintaining pigmentation-of eye color and coat color.

Because the Chinese considered the lion symbolic of Buddha, and because of a centuries old awe and respect for this most courageous of beasts, Chinese dogs were bred to resemble the lion. As the lion was not native to China, it is probable that sculptors carved lions from descriptions they had received about the beasts, and the dogs were bred to look like the statues instead of the real thing, i.e.: flattened muzzles, undershot bites, bowed legs (bowed legs were even intentionally bred into the Pekingese and are a characteristic of the breed!), protruding eyes, wrinkled faces, and fierce expressions. The two breeds most lion-like in their appearance are the Shih Tzu and the Pekingese. The eunuchs vied with each other to breed the most perfectly lion-like specimens.

The Empress jealously guarded her treasured Shih Tzu and was loath to let any leave the Palace. She entertained wives of ambassadors and diplomats for political reasons, but feared and hated these "foreign devils". She bestowed valuable gifts upon them but in the beginning Shih Tzu were not among the gifts- despite the interest the foreign ladies showed toward the dogs.

However, in the early 1900's several Shih Tzu were brought into Europe by returning diplomats. Many of these original dogs died (it was rumored that they were fed broken glass so as not to be bred outside of the Imperial Palace).

After the death of the Empress in 1908 and the ascension of the new child Emperor, Pu Yi, the fate of the dogs became tenuous. Many of the eunuchs who had become expert breeders were dismissed and many dogs were destroyed by fires in the Palace. It is also speculated that many of the eunuchs took prize specimens with them and sold them to Chinese noblemen and foreigners.

In the early 1930’s, several Shih Tzu were imported into England and Scandinavia. Offspring of these dogs were imported into the US and Canada. On an interesting note, Elfreda Evans of Elfann Kennels in England (a successful breeder of Pekingese), although a newcomer to Shih Tzu, decided that the Shih Tzu in England were too big and rangy and plain in the face, so without so much as consulting any of the established breeders, in 1952 she mated a Shih Tzu bitch to a Pekingese dog who’s one ‘fault’ was straight front legs. (At that time, the English Kennel Club permitted the introduction of an out-cross to another breed. The 4th generation from the out-cross could be registered as purebred. The American Kennel Club required several more generations.) Twenty years later, the Pekingese out-cross was in practically every British line of Shih Tzu.

 Health info

Your Shih Tzu and Your Veterinarian

By JoAnn White


As no individual can possibly be totally familiar with the quirks of every breed, here are some Shih Tzu peculiarities you might like to share with your veterinarian.

1. Shih Tzu puppies often have slightly pinched nostrils that generally open with time. The bubbly discharge from a Shih Tzu puppy’s nose is NOT serious if the discharge is clear and watery and the dog is otherwise thriving. This problem is most acute during the teething stage. Even the nostrils of a dog that has difficulty simultaneously eating and breathing or is lethargic at this time may open satisfactorily as the dog matures, but a few dogs this severely affected may require surgery later on.

2. Small umbilical hernias (a bubble-like protrusion of fat at the navel through an opening no larger than the tip of your little finger) are common in Shih Tzu and are often due to excess stress on the umbilical cord during delivery. Such hernias often close naturally over time, although you may want to have them surgically closed while your pet is being neutered. Unlike inguinal (groin-area) hernias, they are not a reason to avoid breeding a dog.

3. Shih Tzu quite often cut their teeth relatively late and lose them relatively early. Undershot bites (lower jaw protruding beyond the upper one) are characteristic of this breed, and crowded, poorly aligned, and missing incisors are common.

4. Reverse sneezing describes a condition in which the dog seems to be unable to get its breath and begins to honk or snort. It is most often caused by a slightly elongated soft palate that “sticks” until the dog takes a deep breath through its mouth. The most effective way to stop this is to put a finger over the dog’s nostrils, thereby forcing it to breathe through its mouth. Sometimes just a hug and some reassurance will do the trick! Unlike more serious problems found in brachycephalic (short-faced) dogs, reverse sneezing in Shih Tzu is quite common and is not life-threatening.

5. Eye injuries are common in short-faced, large-eyed breeds, and require immediate veterinary attention. If your dog’s eye is red, or if it is squinting or pawing at one eye, take it to the vet at once.

 

 

Things eveyone should know.

Small-size dogs, or Toy dogs, suffer breed specific problems. The Shih Tzu is not an exception. There are several congenital diseases (dogs are born with these diseases) that might present serious health risk in this breed of dog: patellar luxation, back problems and eye abnormalities. If the timely and correct preventive care is provided and if the breeding stock is free from genetic defects, then you have a healthy Shih Tzu.

Possible health problems with your Shih Tzu. (click here to learn more)