| Far away in Tibet, a country with a recorded history | | | | the Lion Dogs were bred to resemble the drawings |
| going back almost 1,500 years is where our Shih Tzu | | | | and statues of the symbolic lions or if the artists |
| began. The country was noted for its devotion to | | | | created their 'lions' in the likeness of the little dogs |
| Buddhism. Some of the tallest mountains in the world | | | | (ancestors to our Shih Tzu). The snow lion was called |
| edge the country of Tibet. Winters in Tibet are severe | | | | Gang Seng and was considered to be so powerful |
| with temperatures to 14 degrees F in December. The | | | | that he could cause seven dragons to fall out of the |
| winds in Tibet are strong and biting with hard frosts. | | | | sky with one roar. The symbolic lion was believed to |
| Snowfall is light. In the summer, daylight temperatures | | | | have the ability to walk in the clouds. He could also |
| reach a maximum of 75 degrees F with a sharp drop | | | | speak with the voice of truth and fearlessness. Tibet |
| in temperature at night. Throughout most of the year | | | | was a difficult place to get to. China was a neighbor to |
| there is sunshine and the air is dry and pure. The | | | | Tibet. Gifts from Tibet to China were sent as tribute to |
| people of this remote and rather mysterious land of | | | | the Chinese emperors, among which were Tibetan |
| Tibet were like so many other cultures in our world. | | | | Lion Dogs (ancestor to our Shih Tzu). These little dogs |
| They kept dogs in a domestic environment. There | | | | traveled with the caravans on long journeys from one |
| were large dogs used for guarding and small, shaggy | | | | country to the other. A small army of eunuchs took |
| dogs used as companions and as watch-dogs to alert | | | | care of the little dogs. The little Tibetan Lion Dogs |
| the larger dogs. These small dogs were the ancestors | | | | (ancestors to our Shih Tzu) adapted well as they have |
| of our Shih Tzu. The history of the Shih Tzu, however, | | | | continued to do wherever they have gone to live |
| is steeped in myth and legends, which makes it difficult | | | | through the centuries. In China, everything must have |
| to sort the true facts of our Shih Tzu. One tale in | | | | been very different from Tibet. The summers in |
| particular, which I find interesting, is that of the small | | | | Peking were warm and humid with a lot of rain. The |
| Lion Dogs were trained to turn the prayer wheels as | | | | winters were very cold, somewhat like Tibet, with |
| part of the daily ritual in the monasteries. There was a | | | | temperatures as low as 0 degrees F in January. It is |
| belief that those monks whose life had been less than | | | | recorded that the little Tibetan Lion Dogs settled in and |
| exemplary, would in accordance with the Buddhist | | | | became great favorites of the Manchu emperors. |
| theory of reincarnation, be reborn as one of the temple | | | | Most likely they were interbred with the short-faced |
| dogs. Buddhism in Tibet recognized a large number of | | | | Chinese breeds - the Chinese Pug and the Pekinese, |
| divine beings. Each being symbolized an aspect of life. | | | | which is probably what gives the Shih Tzu the |
| One was Buddha Manjusri, the God of Learning. The | | | | characteristics that differentiate them from the Tibetan |
| God of Learning was said to travel with a small Lion | | | | Lion Dogs that later became the Lhasa Apsos. This |
| Dog (ancestor to our Shih Tzu) that could turn into a | | | | article is FREE to publish with resource box. |
| full-sized lion and carry him vast distances on his back. | | | | Connie Limon is a Shih Tzu breeder. She publishes a |
| Oddly enough, there were no actual lions in Tibet, only | | | | FREE weekly newsletter. A professional newsletter |
| artistic works of the animal, which were often | | | | with a focus upon health and wellness for you and |
| somewhat fantastical. We cannot be sure whether | | | | your pets. Discounts are offered to subscribers. |