Shih Tzu Dogs History - Royal Blood

Shih Tzu dogs have been around for a long time. The Shih Tzu was bred to roam around the palace of the Emperor of China and bark when anyone or anything approached thus alerting people to the presence of visitors.

The breed was probably created by breeding the Pekingese with a Tibetan dog breed, the Lhasa Apso. DNA analysis confirms that this is one of the oldest dog breeds. Shih Tzu dogs are also known as the Chinese or Tibetan Lion Dog or the Chrysanthemum Dog. Chrysanthemum dog because its face looks very much like the flower. In 1994, the Shih Tzu was the 12th most popular breed of dog in the AKC's 139 breeds with more than 37,000 new individuals.

The Shih Tzu, literally "Lion Dog" in English is pronounced "shee tzoo". The name is both singular and plural. The spelling "Shih Tzu", is most commonly used for the breed. The Shih Tzu is reported to be the oldest and smallest of the Tibetan holy dogs, its vaguely lion-like look being associated with the snow lion. It is also often known as the "Xi Shi quan", based on the name of Xi Shi, regarded as the most beautiful woman of ancient China.

Professor von Schulmuth studied canine origins by studying the skeletal remains of dogs found in human settlements of Tibet. A genealogical tree of Tibetan dogs shows the "Gobi Desert Kitchen Midden Dog" evolved into the "Small Soft-Coated Drop-Eared Hunting Dog". From this dog evolved the Tibetan Spaniel, Pekingese, and Japanese Chin. Another "Kitchen Midden Dog" branch produces the Pug and Shih Tzu dogs.

As you can see, the Shih Tzu dogs history is long and interesting... and the Shih Tzu characteristics are just as interesting...