About the shih tzu

The Shih Tzu is a wonderful miniature dog; abut 8 to 11 inches in height and 9 to16 pounds in weight. The look of the Shih Tzu is extremely beautiful. It has a double coat – one long-haired luxuriant coat and the other soft and wooly. The hair on its head is usually combed into a top knot to keep it from falling into its eyes.

The Shih Tzu or the Small Lion (the Chinese meaning of its name), as it is popularly known, originates from Tibet. When learning about the history of the Shih Tzu, we see that it was a favorite pet of the Emperors of Manchu Dynasty of China around 19th century where they flourished. They reached China as gifts from Tibetan monks to the emperors of that time. Since they looked like lions, they were named as the Tibetan Shih Tzu, or the Tibetan Lion. These dogs reached England around 1930 and from there they were brought to US by American soldiers. The breed was instantly accepted by people there because of the breeds’ beauty and friendly attitude.