The origin of the Shih Tzu is obscure. The Shih Tzu originated in Tibet where it was kept in temples as a sacred dog. It is known that they were occasionally given to the Emperors of China during the Manchu dynasty (17th century) as a tribute of great honor and that is how they came to be established in China. In that country, the dogs became small temple dogs and were kept in the palace, carefully guarded and cared for by the court eunuchs. When the Peking Kennel Club was formed in 1934 there was much confusion as to the difference between certain small breeds. In 1938 an individual standard was set for the Shih Tzu and it was recognized as a separate breed from certain other Tibetan breeds. With the war and the takeover of Peking in 1949 there were no more dogs exported from China.

In 1952 there was a strong fear that the breed was developing poor structure and it was decided to cross a Pekingese into the line in England. The purpose was to obtain a less leggy dog with a better coat and shorter muzzle. This was accomplished, however the bowed front legs of the Pekingese are a legacy sometimes still seen today. There was also a faction in England called the Manchu Club that believed a smaller dog better represented the ture heritage of the temple dogs. The Kennel Club recognized this in their 1938 standard by stating the ideal weight was between 9 to 16 pounds which is what the current standard recognizes.

Personality and Temperament

One of the strongest characteristics, and the major reasons I love the Shih Tzu, is its personality. The Shih Tzu is a friendly, non-aggressive dog that is a good companion for children and other breeds of dogs. Shih Tzus are known for their fun-loving play, romping around the apartment or in the country side. Having had my first Shih Tzu whilst being an apartment dweller, I can attest to their adaptability. The ShihTzu is a people-oriented dog; they cherish no more than the love of people. They will sit patiently, remaining still with their eyes gazing intently on your face waiting for you to call them over to be patted. The Shih Tzu is not a one person dog and here you will be licked to death as they all scramble to sit on your knee!! Shih Tzus are happy to entertain any stranger, once accepted by the family. The Shih Tzu has a lap dog personality. It is not highly strung nor demanding. The pet Shih Tzu is content, during the day, to lie in a corner with his legs stretched out behind him, snoring softly. If he has a choice he would prefer to be curled up in your lap.

Description

The size of the Shih Tzu is between 9 to 16 pounds. The appropriate weight is a matter of personal preference, with the breed standard allowing a wide range. They are sturdy dogs. In the city these little dogs become easily accustomed to noises and apartment living. The coat is one of the characteristics that exemplifies the truly regal nature of the Shih Tzu. As with the size, the coat comes in a wide range of colors: from total black, to black & white, gray & white, red & white or pure gold. A white blaze on the forehead and a white tip on the tail are highly prized. The coat is not straight but has a slight wave. The coat has an under layer and when the dog is full grown this undercoat helps give an overall graceful appearance to the coat as it falls naturally to the ground. The coat, however, does require care and attention. Daily grooming is necessary, otherwise the coat can become matted and tangled which will require cutting the coat. I keep my retired show dogs in short clips as it suits their active lifestyle. As a puppy, little work is needed except to get the dog used to lying still on a table or your lap for a couple of minutes to get brushed.

Health Issues

A kidney disease known as Renal Dysplasia is common in some lines of the Shih Tzu breed. It bears some similarity to kidney disease in the Lhasa Apso. Whether the disease is inherited is not yet known but a good deal of evidence points in that direction. The occurrence of renal disease in young Shih Tzu puppies and the fact that usually more than one puppy in a litter and, in some instances, the entire litter is affected leads us to suspect it is inherited and that every effort should be made by ShihTzu breeders to avoid breeding any stock whose former offspring have been affected. Currently the disease is irreversible and death is inevitable. There are 3 stages of development. Unfortunately there are no clinical symptoms of early renal disease which may progress over a period of months or years to the second stage, when symptoms first become obvious. The affected dog will develop an excessive thirst and will pass greatly increased amounts of urine. The urine will appear to be very diluted or watery. Some dogs will be listless, poor eaters, and may suffer a weight loss. In the final stage, the symptoms of stage two are more pronounced and may be accompanied by severe depression, diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration -- all evidences of kidney dysfunction which will sooner or later result in coma and death. Renal disease runs high in all breeds of dogs. After the age of eight years, 85% of all dogs have some kidney degeneration or will have developed chronic nephritis. This is known to be a congenital, hereditary progressive kidney disease in certain breeds, whereby the kidneys do not maintain sufficient function to sustain life.

Kidney and bladder stones occur more in males than females because of the male anatomy: the urethra in the male is small and can easily become obstructed by a stone. The urethra in the female is larger and less prone to stone development. Phosphate stones are the most common and greater incidence of this type is found in the female than in the male. They are associated with alkaline urine and frequently with a bladder infection. Urate stones, composed of uric acid, are more frequently found in the urinary system of males and in these cases the urine is acid. Cystine uroliths composed of the amino acid cystine makes about five percent of all stones and occur exclusively in males. It is an inherited defect wherein cystine is reabsorbed into the kidneys rather than excreted in the urine and it accumulates in the bladder where stones form. They must be removed by surgery.

The Breed Standard

The Australian Breed Standard is the physical "blueprint" of the breed. It describes the physical appearance and other desired qualities of the breed otherwise known as type. Some characteristics, such as size, coat quality, and movement, are based on the original (or current) function for the dog. Other characteristics are more cosmetic such as eye color; but taken together they set this breed apart from all others. The Standard describes an ideal representive of the breed. No individual dog is perfect, but the Standard provides an ideal for the breeder to strive towards. You can read the standard here.

What The Buyer Should Know

Breeders should be willing to let you see not only the quarters in which the puppies are housed, but all puppies, whether for sale or not. Be wary of the breeder who takes you into an anteroom and bring out one puppy for you to see. Here at Eljaes you can see parents, grandparents and other relations all happily living in a family environment. If a breeder is honest, he or she has nothing to hide and it is only by comparison that a buyer can judge the quality of a prospective pet. Watch the puppies play - do their eyes sparkle and are their coats clean? Their ears should be free of wax and inflammation. Their teeth should be white, their gums firm and pink. Evaluate the breeder too, you have every right to ask questions. It won't take long to distinguish between the true breeder and one interested only in making a sale. The breeder should be able to answer questions about the origin and history of the Shih Tzu, and general care of the breed. The responsible breeder will urge you to have the puppy throughly examined by a vet of your choice within 48 hrs after the sale. The breeder should to willing to take the puppy back if need be. The breeder should show you how to groom the Shih Tzu. All Eljaes puppies are sold in good faith in regards to their health and temperament and if your situation changes I will always take the dog back regardless of age or condition.

Puppy Care Grooming

There is a great selection of shampoo, conditioners and grooming equipment available. A small bath towel placed in bottom of sink prevents water from accumulating and gives puppy secure footing. I am always hapy to show you how to bath your puppy and you are welcome to join our clipping days. The groomer is a professional who comes regularly to the house, approximately every 7 weeks. To bath your puppy at home, hold the puppy securely under its chest with one hand, soak its body with lukewarm running water, shampoo the body and rinse well. Leave the head for last. Carefully wet the head with a wet sponge and clean the hair with a no-tear baby shampoo. Still holding puppy securely, rinse thoroughly, being careful not to get water in its nose or eyes. A few minutes of cuddling in a towel reassures the puppy and soaks up excess water. Use a small hand dryer, low heat is normally all that is necessary. If puppy shivers, it is usually due to nerves rather than from being cold. Avoid blowing the warm air directly into the puppy's face. Use a toothbrush to clean the whiskers and ears---ears on drop-ears need special attention. Ears should be cleaned with a cotton swab dipped in mineral oil or panolog. To aviod accidental injury to the eardrums, fluff the cotton out from around the end of the swab with fingertips. Wipe the ear clean and dry with another swab, being careful not to probe too deeply into the ear. Shih Tzu's eyes are large and vulnerable and prone to ulceration. Special attention should be given to them daily. Living close to the ground, it is easy for dust or dirt or a stray hair to get into the eye and cause irritation. A flea comb may be used to remove any dried food in the beard or moustache

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®©  Eljaes Shih Tzu / Lise Bradbury 2004-2005