Videos Shih Tzu Breed Information
Alternative names -
Chinese Lion Dog,
Chrysanthemum Dog
Country of origin -
China
Classification and breed standards
FCI:|Group
9 Section 5 #208|Stds
AKC:|Toys|Stds
ANKC:|Group 7
- Non-Sporting|Stds
CKC:|Group
6 - Non-Sporting|Stds
KC
(UK):|Utility|Stds
NZKC:|Non-sporting|Stds
UKC:|Companion
Breeds|Stds
The Shih Tzu
in English pronounced
"shee tsoo", is a dog
breed which originated in China. The
name is both singular and plural. The spelling "Shih
Tzu", most commonly used for the breed, is according to the
Wade-Giles system of romanization. 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 Snowlion. 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.
1. Quick Facts
Shih Tzu
Quick Facts
Weight: | 9-16 pounds (4-7kg.) |
Height: | Up to 11 inches (28cm.) |
Coat: | Abundant double coat of long hair lined with a woolly
undercoat
Activity level: | Fairly active
Learning rate: | Average
Temperament: | Alert, spunky, happy, hardy, dignified, courageous,
sometimes arrogant, gentle, loyal, obstinate, stubborn, clever,
playful, lively, affectionate
Guard dog ability: | Very low
Watch-dog ability: | Very high
Litter size: | ?
Life span: | ~15 years
2. History
It is believed that this ornamental breed was created by
breeding the Bei-jing gou (Pekingese) with a Tibetan dog breed, the
Lhasa Apso.
Recent DNA analysis confirms that
this is one of the oldest breeds
of dog. The Shih Tzu is also known as the Chinese/Tibetan
Lion Dog or the Chrysanthemum Dog. It is called the chrysanthemum dog because its face looks
very much like the flower.
Professor Ludvic von Schulmuth studied canine origins by
studying the skeletal remains of dogs found in human settlements as
long as ten thousand years ago. The Professor created a
genealogical tree of Tibetan dogs that shows the "Gobi Desert
Kitchen Midden Dog", a scavenger, evolved into the "Small
Soft-Coated Drop-Eared Hunting Dog". From this dog evolved the
Tibetan Spaniel, Pekingese, and Japanese Chin. Another branch
coming down from the "Kitchen Midden Dog" gave rise to
the Papillon and Long-haired Chihuahua and yet another
"Kitchen Midden Dog" branch to the Pug and Shih
Tzu.
James E. Mumford described
the breed in an American Shih Tzu magazine, giving a picture of the
versatile character of the Shih Tzu: "Nobody knows how the
Ancient Eunuchs managed to mix together…And now here comes the
recipe: A dash of lion, several teaspoons of rabbit, a couple of
ounces of domestic cat, one part court jester, a dash of ballerina,
a pinch of old man (Chinese), a bit of beggar, a tablespoon of
monkey, one part baby seal, a dash of teddy bear and the rest dogs
of Tibetan and Chinese origin."
3. Appearance
The Shih Tzu is characterized by its long, flowing double coat;
sturdy build; intelligence; and a friendly, energetic, lively
attitude. In breeding all coat colors are allowed. The Shih
Tzu's fur can be styled either in a short summer cut, or kept
long as is compulsory for conformation shows.
The American Kennel Club
(AKC) Shih Tzu breed standard calls for the dog to have a short
snout, large eyes, and a palm-like tail that waves above its torso.
The ideal Shih Tzu's height at 9 to 10 1/2 inches. The dog should stand no less than 8
inches and not more than 11 inches tall. The Shih Tzu should never
be so high stationed as to appear leggy, nor so low stationed as to
appear dumpy or squatty. Regardless of size or gender, the Shih Tzu
should always be solid and compact, and carry good weight and
substance for its size range.
4. Breed variations
The American Kennel Club (AKC) and the American Shih Tzu Club
(ASTC) defines the Shih Tzu as a dog that weighs between 9 to 16
pounds as the official breed
standard. Descriptions like "imperial",
"teacup", "tiny teacup" are used, but dogs that
fit such descriptions are often an undersized or underdeveloped
Shih Tzu. Both the AKC and ASTC consider these
variances to not be in conformity with the official breed standard.
These tiny variances are also not what was defined as a standard by
the professional circuit.
5. Temperature
Shih Tzu are considered to be brachycephalic (snub-nosed) dogs. As such,
they are very sensitive to high temperatures. This is why many
airlines that ship dogs will not accept them for shipment when
temperatures at any point on the planned itinerary exceeds 75
degrees Fahrenheit (24°C) .
6. Life span and health issues
The life span of a Shih Tzu is 11-14 years , although some
variation from this range is possible. Some health issues common
among the breed are portosystemic liver
shunt, renal dysplasia, and
hip dysplasia in Standard sizes.
In addition, they also can suffer from various eye
problems. Shih Tzus (and many other breeds) may present
signs of allergies to red dye #40, and owners should respond to
scratching in the absence of fleas by eliminating pet foods that
contain this commonly used additive.
7. Care
The Shih Tzu can require more care than some other breeds if the
hair is kept at show length; they will need daily brushing to avoid
tangles. A short haircut, also known as a pet trim or puppy cut,
can make this a task taking place every month or so as needed
instead of daily. They will also need regular haircuts. The upside
is that they will generally shed very little. Since the breed is
obviously adapted to a cool climate, letting the coat grow out
somewhat for the colder seasons is appropriate, but there is still
a substantial difference from a floor-length show coat and a warmer
winter coat.
Because Shih Tzu noses are small and flat, eating contributes to
an unclean face. Once finished eating, wiping their face with a
damp paper towel cleans them right up. This is another area where
the haircut matters: a proper show cut will get more messy (often
even requiring the hair to be rubber-banded together for eating
efficiently) than other ways of cutting the facial hair.
When they are drinking, it is sometimes necessary to keep on eye
on them, for water can enter their face-level noses more easily and
inhibit breathing. This is why many shih tzu are trained to drink
from a licker like a hamster or gerbil. The area around the eyes
should be checked each day for mucus buildup and cleaned when
needed. Providing the Shih Tzu with bottled water (or water that
does not contain chlorine) helps to keep eye mucus to a minimum.
Additionally, their claws will need to be clipped every month or
so.
8. Mixed breeds
Shih Tzus are sometimes cross-bred with other toy dogs. One of
the more commonly known mixed breeds of Shih Tzus are the Shih Poo
. The Shih Poo is a cross breed of a Shih Tzu and a toy
Poodle. The "Zuchon" or
"Shichon" is a mix between a Shih Tzu and a Bichon Frisé. They may also be crossed
with Maltese dogs. There are
many other mixed breeds that include the Shih Tzu.
Copyright (c) 2008 Kitt Killion Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License".
Taken or modified, in whole or part, from Wikipedia.org
