30/01/2022
The Shih Tzu breed, as we know it today, does have a short history, but there is plenty of evidence that dogs similar to today’s Shih Tzu have been around for at least 1000 years and maybe even longer. The origins of the breed are somewhat obscure, but likely originated in Tibet and associated with the Tibetan lion dogs. The lion was associated with Indian Buddism, where it originated and what was practiced in Tibet.
Little dogs were bred to resemble little lions and trimmed, leaving only a ruff of hair around their neck, bracelets of fur around their ankles, and small tufts of hair at the tip of their tail. But lions were not native to Tibet or China, so ancient artisans had to use some imagination. They had never seen a real lion. Ancient Chinese artists likely created statues of lions based on the descriptions they received. The little dogs were then created based on the sculptures.
Of all the Tibetan holy dogs, the Shih Tzu was the smallest but still resembled other Tibetan breeds such as the Lhasa Apso, Tibetan Terrier, and Tibetan Spaniel.
Some historians maintain that the Shih Tzu was more characteristic of shorter faced breeds such as the Pug, Pekingese, and Japanese Chin. The Tibetan breeds have longer noses making them more adaptable to the harsh conditions and high elevations of Tibet.