Shih Tzu: The Chrysanthemum Dog

The Shih Tzu dog breed survived a tragic history to become one of the most popular toy breeds around today. Shih Tzu historical information reveals that the breed has roots in royalty.

The Empress bred her dogs for traits like loyalty, good disposition, and perfect facial features. She gave Shih Tzu puppies as gifts to Chinese nobility and foreign diplomats. Tragically, when the Empress died, her successor resented the dogs and the era they represented, and many dogs were killed.

The breed first appeared in the United Kingdom during the late 1920s or early 1930s. North American soldiers who got to know the breed in Europe during World War II became fond of the little dogs and brought them back to the United States and Canada.

The Shih Tzu can be characterized as a lap dog with a pleasant personality and an eagerness to please the humans in its life. The dogs were bred for centuries to provide companionship, and they enjoy nothing more than lounging about in the company of humans. Their small size-nine to sixteen pounds-makes them a perfect pet for apartment dwellers and people who like to travel with their dogs.

The dogs were bred to have a lion-like appearance, with their flattened facial muscles, bowed legs, bulging eyes, and intimidating facial expressions earning them the nickname of “lion dogs.” Their wrinkled faces were also said to resemble chrysanthemum flowers, giving rise to the breed’s second nickname of “chrysanthemum dog.”

The Shih Tzu’s long, wavy coat adds elegance to its appearance. Acceptable colors for the breed’s coat are solid gold or black, or a variety of multi-colored combinations. Diligent daily grooming is required to keep the coat from tangling and matting, but the results are well worth the effort, as the Shih Tzu’s coat is a hallmark of the breed.

The Shih Tzu breed has been recognized by the British Kennel Club since 1935 and by the American Kennel Club since 1969, and is a popular favorite at dog shows with its long, flowing coat. Shih Tzus show in the Toy Group, competing against dogs like the Maltese, the Pomeranian, and the Shih Tzu’s cousin, the Pekinese. The breed is a good family dog, but its strong desire for attention from its master makes it a better choice for families with older children than families with infants. Some Shih Tzus have been known to develop problems with jealousy when living in a home with young children. However, most Shih Tzus are affectionate, friendly and outgoing, and are only to happy to play the role of valued family pet.

The Shih Tzu breed survived a dangerous period in the twentieth century to become the one of the twenty-first century’s most popular dog. The Shih Tzu is the ninth most popular registered breed in the American Kennel Club’s 2006 most popular breed list, and this little dog’s popularity continues to grow.

Related posts:

1. Want To Buy A Shih Tzu puppy? Here Is What You Should Know First.
2. The Miniscule But Sweet Shih Poo
3. Shih Poo: The Adorable, Little Hybrid Dog
4. The Miniscule But Sweet Shih Poo

Tagged with: animal • animals • breeding dogs • dog • Dogs • family • home • pedigree dogs • pet • pets • shih tzu

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