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Shih Tzu
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The Shih Tzu (pronounced /ˈʃiːtsuː/ SHEE-tsoo, from Mandarin) is
a breed of small companion dog of very ancient type, with long
silky fur. The breed originated in China, possibly by way of Tibet.
The name is both singular and plural.
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Description
Appearance
A small dog with a short muzzle and large deep dark eyes, with a
soft long, double coat, the Shih Tzu stands no more than 26.7 cm
(10 1/2 in.) at the withers and with an ideal weight of 4.5 to 7.3 kg
(10 to 16 lbs). Drop ears are covered with long fur, and the heavily
furred tail is carried curled over the back. The coat may be of any
colour, although a blaze of white on the forehead and tail-tip is
frequently seen. The Shih Tzu is slightly longer than tall, and dogs
ideally should carry themselves "with distinctly arrogant carriage".
The traditional long silky glossy coat that reaches the floor
requires daily brushing to avoid tangles. Although the long coat is
beautiful, often the coat is clipped short to simplify care, in a
"puppy clip". For conformation showing, the coat must be left in its
natural state, although trimming for neatness around the feet and
anus is allowed. Because Shih Tzu noses are small and flat,
owners often wipe the dog's face with a damp paper towel to
remove food remnants after the dog has eaten a meal. Shih Tzu
may be trained to drink out of a water bottle. The water bottle
keeps the face clean and dry preventing red yeast from growing on
the Shih Tzu beard and moustache. Owners often tie strands of
hair from the Shih Tzu's head into a pony tail that sticks up.
Temperament
The Shih Tzu is a friendly lap dog that at one time was bred to be a
companion dog for Chinese royalty. Some say living in the imperial
palace gave the Shih Tzu an arrogant quality, although they also
display qualities of devotion and adaptability. They are not afraid
to stand up for themselves. They tend to be sweet, playful, and
trusting as well. It ranks 70th in Stanley Coren's The Intelligence of
Dogs, considered one of the lowest degree of working/obedience
intelligence (trainability). They don't need as much exercise as
larger dog breeds, but do suffer from the same difficulties as most
small breed dogs due to having a smaller bladder.
Health
A number of health issues, some of them hereditary, have been
found in individual Shih Tzu, and are listed below. There is no data
on the percentage of dogs with these ailments. Puppy buyers are
advised to ask breeders if tests have been done for these
diseases.
Morbidity
Some health issues in the breed are portosystemic shunt of the
liver and hip dysplasia in standard sizes.
Breathing Problems
Shih Tzu are brachycephalic (short-muzzled) dogs and are very
sensitive to high temperatures. Many airlines that ship dogs will not
accept them for shipment when temperatures at any point on the
planned itinerary exceeds 75 °F (24 °C). When they are drinking, it
is sometimes necessary to supervise Shih Tzu; water can enter
their face-level noses more easily and inhibit breathing. This is why
many Shih Tzu are trained to drink from the sort of licker bottles
used by hamsters and gerbils. 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.
Mortality
The life span of a Shih Tzu is 9-15 years although some variation
from this range is possible.
History
Recent DNA analysis confirms that the ancestors of today's Shih
Tzu breed are among the most ancient of dog breeds. Ludvic von
Schulmuth studied the skeletal remains of dogs found in human
settlements as long as ten thousand years ago. Von Schulmuth
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" which evolved into 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. The Shih Tzu was
almost completely wiped out during the British invasion of China.
Seven males and seven females were saved, and today, all shih
tzus can be traced back to one of these dogs.
There are various theories of the origins of today's breed.
Theories relate that it stemmed from a cross between Pekingese
and a Tibetan dog; that the Chinese court received a pair as a gift
during the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907 AD); and that they were
introduced from Tibet to China in the mid-18th century (Qing
Dynasty. Dogs during that time were selectively bred and seen in
Chinese paintings. The first dogs of the breed were imported into
Europe (England and Norway) in 1930, and were classified by the
Kennel Club as "Apsos". The first European standard for the breed
was written in England in 1935 by the Shih Tzu Club, and the dogs
were recatagorised as Shih Tzu. The breed spread throughout
Europe, and was brought to the United States after World War II,
when returning members of the US military brought back dogs from
Europe. The Shih Tzu was recognised by the American Kennel
Club in 1969 in the Toy Group. The breed is now recognised by all
of the major kennel clubs in the English-speaking world. It is also
recognised by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale for
international competition in Companion and Toy Dog Group,
Section 5, Tibetan breeds.
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Shih Tzu
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Country of Origin
China
Weight
9-17 lb
Height
9-11 in
Coat
Double coat, soft and long
Color
Gold, light/dark brown, white black
Life span
9-15 years
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