Shih Tzu

FCI 208 . Tibetan breeds.

The Shih Tzu It is a very ancient breed of dog (the first data found on them date from the 10th century to. C.) originating in China. There is an opinion widely about his origin, but often give acceptable they are descended from similar Tibetan dogs Lhasa Apso.

Like the Lhasa Apso, the Shih Tzu They are a race linked in some way with the Buddhist religion. The Chinese bred them and primped so they seem somewhat Lions. Even the name of the race, “Shih Tzu”, means “Lion dog”, which is usually blamed on the strong and deep bark of these animals.

They were highly prized in China as guard dogs.

In the seventeenth century the history of the Shih Tzu. The Dalai Lama, wanting to fill of gifts to the Chinese emperor, He gave some examples of this breed. Ending the 19th century, Ts’eu-hi, empress who was the grandmother of the last emperor, I was a big fan of the Shih Tzu and for this reason it had more than a hundred and specialized caregivers. When in 1908 the Empress died, the Shih Tzu suffered a severe blow.

At the beginning of the 1930s, He began to creep into houses of Chinese elders, leaving the ivory tower. And in that time he received some names: Lhasa Lion Dog, Tibetan Poodle, etc. And in 1934 was founded the Peking Kennel Club.

In 1937, the invasion of China by the Japanese was the reason for the disappearance of the Shih Tzu in China, your country of origin. But, Luckily, Europeans had already become fond of this breed, that in 1955 began to be extended by United States.

After her appearance, the Shih Tzu they replaced the Lhasa Apso as the favourite dogs of nobles and emperors. Travelers who visited the eastern country during that time brought the fashion for these small, hairy dogs to Europe and, later, to America, where made a strong impression. In the modern era, the fashion of the Shih Tzu gradually disappeared, and after the Communist revolution the dog breed was considered extinct in China, although it had already penetrated deeply in the West.

All the genetic inheritance of Shih Tzu comes from seven pairs of dogs, including a Pekingese, that through the efforts of several historians have been able to be identified.

The head of these dogs is small in proportion to the rest of your body, and eyes, black (and rarely even blue or brown) they are always huge, so there they deserve special care if you want to avoid health problems.

The snout is short and flat, sometimes causing them breathing problems; for example, is quite common that they ronquen soundly. The average length of life of this dog is fourteen years, However, a Shih Tzu that has been well cared for and has not had major health problems can live up to twenty-three years, in the case of one of the longest known dog breeds. Their colours can be white, dorado, black, liver, Silver, Red or brindel. The Shih Tzu They are animals that, due to their type of hair, do not give allergies to allergic people.

Physically they are not very tall (they measured a maximum 26,7 cm and weigh in 4,5 to 8,1 kg).

Dog breeds are often created for a specific purpose.. In this case, the purpose of Shih Tzu is to be a partner. Has no hunting instinct, nor on guard, and is never aggressive. He was selected just to be a faithful and loving friend.

The Shih Tzu It, Therefore, a dog that gets along with everyone, both with children and adults. Also appreciates other animals, especially felines. It is sometimes said to be a “dog Cat”, since its behavior is very similar to that of a feline. In fact, he decides when he wants to be caressed, and once he is an adult, he really appreciates just sitting still on his cushion. It also, tends to be independent and to obey only if you want. It also, like many small breeds of dogs, can be somewhat difficult.

But, the Shih Tzu he is a tender and calm companion, but also full of joy. He loves to play and to be taken care of: his master is everything to him. In fact, can't stand loneliness; if your family is usually far away, the company of another animal is welcome.

The Shih Tzu live as well in apartment as at home. Perfectly adapted to city life, he barks little and his calm character allows him to be carried everywhere: he will remain calmly at the feet of his master. Having said that, not a dog that needs a lot of exercise; a daily walk and games are enough for him. All this makes it an ideal dog for an older person., if it is willing to take on the daily maintenance it requires.

Intelligent and endowed with a good learning ability, the Shih Tzu is nevertheless a stubborn dog. He does not like to obey blindly, and even less that they force him. Your master will have to be persistent and cunning. It is advisable to go through the game and fun rather to make him learn the orders.

The Shih Tzu is generally in good health.

But, you are at risk of developing brachycephalic syndrome, because of his crushed face.

It also, is a dog that can be prone to ear infections, because of his drooping ears, or cataracts for his bulging eyes. You can also get contact conjunctivitis, in case your hair falls into your eyes. That is why it is advisable to lift the hair by putting a toupee on it.. In general, your eyes and ears should be checked regularly.

It also, being longer than tall, the Shih Tzu may have back problems, especially at the level of the intervertebral disc. It is advised to avoid going up and down the stairs too often. So, in the absence of elevator, it is better to take it.

It also, also has a predisposition to atopia, risk that increases if your hair is poorly cared for.

He is a greedy dog, who is prone to obesity. So, it is necessary to take care of the amount of food eaten. A maximum of 100 grams of kibble per day.

Last, if the cold doesn't bother you, the Shih Tzu it is instead sensitive to heat: in summer, it is necessary to shorten the walks, or perform them away from temperature peaks.

To the Shih Tzu you have to take care of them with time and a lot of patience.

The maintenance of Shih Tzu requires careful attention.

In addition to the daily hairstyle, it is recommended to groom your Shih Tzu each 3 or 4 weeks. If cleaning is done at home, using a highly nourishing dog shampoo and conditioner will make the job easier. You have to dry the dog with a hair dryer, so that it does not catch cold.

On the other hand, it should be noted that the Shih Tzu only changes, making it one of the most hypoallergenic dog breeds.

On the other hand, his eyes and teeth must be cleaned daily, and the ears once a week.

You must be careful, as well, with food: they are delicate stomach dogs, normally they do not accept well anything else other than dry food. Veterinarians recommend give milk without lactose because many of them cannot tolerate.

Coexistence is important that you have with your new friend. Before considering the acquisition of a dog of the breed "Shih Tzu" you know certain factors. Not all breeds of dogs are apt to live in an apartment, you must take into account his character, their need for exercise, their interaction with other pets, their care and if you have small children, their level of tolerance towards them.

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Photos:

1 – "Shih Tzu" Name: fibi (female), 1,5 years in the photo by Wawri (Tomasz Wawak), CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
2 – "Shih Tzu" Tommy by IrinaOnt, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
3 – "Shih Tzu" in Tallinn duo CACIB, 17-18 in August of 2013, concurso Best in Puppies by Thomas, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
4 – I am a "Shih Tzu" I was born on 2 in February of 2012 by User:Andy the shihtzu, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
5 – "Shih Tzu" pure blood, squirrel by Gabsy, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
6 – "Shih Tzu" freshly shorn by Yvonne Hering, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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• FCI CLASSIFICATION: 208
• Group 9: Companion and Toy Dogs
• Section 5: Tibetan breeds. Without working trial..

Federations:

• – FCI – Group 9: Section 5: Tibetan breeds ⓘ
• – AKC – Toy ⓘ
• – ANKC – (Toy) ⓘ
• – CKC – Group 5 – (Toy) ⓘ
• – ​KC – Toy ⓘ
• – NZKC – Toy ⓘ
• – UKC – Group 8 – Companion dog ⓘ

FCI - Shih Tzu

1. Chrysanthemum Dog (English).
2. Chien lion (French).
3. Löwenhund, shih-tzu-kou (German).
4. Chinese Lion (Portuguese).
5. Perro león chino (español).