The Shih Tzu, A Dog From Tibet
Tibet is not only characterized by its majestic landscapes and a spirituality that can be felt in every corner, it is also the home of the Shih Tzu. This striking breed of dog, with its cheerful and playful temperament, brightens the lives of children and adults. Next, we’ll know a little more about this little furry.
The Shih Tzu, this little lion-faced puppy, is a lover of comfort and attention ; he likes everyone in the household to pay attention to him, this personality type often makes him the perfect pet for seniors.
Despite having an aristocratic bearing and defined tastes, the Shih Tzu is not a dog that usually causes many problems and is even a breed of dog that obeys very quickly.
History
While many associate this type of breed with the Empress Tzu Hsi, who ruled China from 1861 until 1908, considering it a sacred dog, the story of the Shih Tzu begins much further back; the Shih Tzu figure appears in tapestries dating back over 2000 years.
The Shih Tzu’s origins are not very clear; there is evidence that the breed, unlike the Lhasa Apso, Pug and Pekingese, was developed by Tibetan monks who received these little ones in their temples as a gift from the emperors of China.
In traditional Chinese, this breed is known as Shih-tzu Kou, which literally means “lion dog”. Its name derives from its facial features. Furthermore, it is believed that Buddha came to earth riding a lion.
During the Ming and Manchu dynasties, these small dogs were bred by palace eunuchs and were considered the exclusive property of the royal court. They were rarely seen outside the palaces, and if that happened, their owner could be sentenced to death.
It is said that Shih Tzus were sometimes carried inside the clothes of noble women and were even used as foot warmers for emperors, as they were placed at the end of the bed of emperors and empresses to generate heat.
Over time, this type of dog came to court in Western countries. At the beginning of the 20th century, they were given as gifts to the English and Dutch nobility. In the late 1930s, the Shih Tzu finally made it to America, and gained enormous popularity in the 1960s.
Advantages of the Shih Tzu Dog Breed
The Shih Tzu is the right dog for you if you are looking for the following characteristics in a dog:
- Be small but robust and strong;
- Don’t need a lot of exercise outdoors;
- Be less hysterical than many other races;
- Accept to strangers;
- Be peaceful with other pets;
- Shed less hair than many other breeds.
Shih Tzu’s Health Problems
Author: Mike
It should be noted that the Shih Tzu’s respiratory system will be compromised if a smoker starts smoking near it. The same is true if you use chemical cleaning products at home. This type of dog is very sensitive, so you will have to be extremely careful.
In hot or humid weather, reduce outdoor activity of this type of breed. When these stations arrive you should keep it indoors and with air conditioning. Shih Tzu have a high risk of suffering from heat stroke because they cannot pant enough to lower their body heat.
It is recommended that after each meal, wash and dry the hair and skin around your face.
As with most small breeds, the Shih Tzu has a small bladder that takes a long time to develop to the point where it can “keep” your urine in it for longer.
Finally, most Shih Tzu dogs have a sweet personality, but one that can also be moderately stubborn and very manipulative. To avoid this, the most recommended is that from puppies, they are taught to respect their owners.
Image credits: Treefiddy and Mike.
