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The Shih Tzu or Shih Tsu is a breed of dog originating in Tibet. The spelling "Shih Tzu", most commonly used for the breed, is according to the Wade-Giles system of romanization. The Chinese pronunciation of this name is approximately like the "sher" of "sherbet" followed immediately by the "dds" of "adds". The meaning of the breed name was originally "lion dog" because this variety of dog was bred to resemble a miniature lion. It is now often called by a homonymic name, "xi shi quan", based on the name of Xi Shi, regarded as the most beautiful woman of ancient China.
Appearance: Shih Tzus are sturdy, lively, alert toy
dogs. They have long flowing double coats. Shih Tzus have a
variety of coat colors including black, white, gray, tan, and
gold spotted to a mix of several-colored hair. The Shih Tzu's
hair can be styled in a short, summertime cut or a
well-groomed long hair like that used for conformation shows.
This breed's hair grows continuously. Because Shih Tzus have
hair and not fur, they do not shed. It is one of several
breeds suggested as a hypoallergenic pet.
The AKC Shih Tzu breed standard calls for the dog to have a
short snout, large eyes, a slight underbite, and a tail that
waves above its torso. The ideal Shih Tzu height at withers is
9 to 10 1/2 inches. The dog should stand no less than 8 inches
nor 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. The weight of mature dogs should be
between 9 to 16 pounds. Regardless of size or gender, the Shih
Tzu should always be solid and compact, and carry good weight
and substance.
Temperament: 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."
History: The Shih Tzu was bred to sit around the
palace of the Emperor of China and bark when people or animals
approached. 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 Lion Dog or the
Chrysanthemum Dog.
Care: The Shih Tzu is easy to care for, but the area
around the eyes should be cleaned gently each day. Most Shih
Tzus enjoy exercising outdoors and, when exercised regularly,
have plenty of stamina. Most enjoy a long walk, although they
are also quite happy to run around the house. A dog whose coat
is allowed to grow out needs daily brushing to avoid tangles;
a short haircut avoids this extra level of care.
However, these dogs do not tolerate cold temperatures well,
so longer hair during the colder seasons is more appropriate.
Shih tzus are considered to be brachycephalic (snub-nosed)
dogs. As such, they are very sensitive to high temperatures.
This is why 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).
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