| Several theories exist as to how the Shih Tzu | | | | 9.Lhasa Terrier |
| was created. It has been reported that around | | | | |
| the year 1650 the Dalai Lama visited China | | | | 10.Tibetan Poodle |
| and brought along three holy dogs from Tibet. | | | | |
| The Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama was believed | | | | 11.Shock Dog |
| to be a reincarnation of Buddha. Tibetan | | | | |
| monks were devoted to breeding holy dogs to | | | | 12.Imperial Shih Tzu |
| resemble their perception of lions. Based | | | | |
| upon this theory, it is believed the three | | | | 13.Teacup Shih Tzu |
| holy dogs were interbred with Pekingese to | | | | |
| create shorter muzzles, broader heads, | | | | 14.Imperia/Teacup Shih Tzu |
| smaller dogs in general and is quite possibly | | | | |
| the foundation of todays Shih Tzu breed. | | | | 15.Standard Shih Tzu |
| | | | |
| Some people believe the Shih Tzu was created | | | | After World War II, there were very few Shih |
| by crossing Lhasa Apsos with Pekingese. | | | | Tzus in Europe. A few of the larger specimens |
| Another theory is that the Tibetan Spaniel | | | | reached the U.K. from China. Of these few |
| was bred with the Pekingese to create | | | | larger size Shih Tzu, many had medical |
| predecessors of the Shih Tzu. | | | | problems or died at an early age. The |
| | | | problems could have been caused by poor |
| Others believe the Shih Tzu developed | | | | living conditions, insufficient food or food |
| centuries ago in Tibet and reached China | | | | of low quality. |
| originally as a purebred. The answer to just | | | | |
| how the Shih Tzu were created still eludes us | | | | Breeders began breeding as many of the |
| today. Its origin is steeped in mysteries and | | | | remaining Shih Tzu as possible. They did not |
| legends. The Shih Tzu is generally as the | | | | remove a Shih Tzu from the breeding program |
| result of interbreeding original Tibetan holy | | | | just because it wasnt a perfect specimen of |
| dogs and various lion dogs in China. It is | | | | the breed, and at that time, who really knew |
| also generally accepted that the oldest and | | | | what was a perfect specimen of the Shih Tzu |
| smallest of the holy Dogs are the ancestors | | | | anyway. The result of these breedings |
| of todays Shih Tzu. | | | | resulted in Shih Tzu much larger than was |
| | | | ever seen in the Chinese Imperial Palace |
| Through time the Shih Tzu has had many | | | | during the days of the Empress Dowager. |
| nicknames: | | | | Eunuchs tried desparately to keep the very |
| | | | exquisite, small treasures of the Imperial |
| 1.Lion Dog | | | | Palace from reaching anyone outside the |
| | | | Palace. There were even instances where some |
| 2.Holy Dog | | | | Eunuchs fed the Shih Tzu glass just before |
| | | | releasing them to others outside the palace |
| 3.Fu Dog | | | | and then committed suicide themselves. |
| | | | |
| 4.Chrysanthemum-faced dog | | | | Despite all their efforts, however, Shih Tzu |
| | | | managed to survive. We are blessed today with |
| 5.Sleeve Dog | | | | these exquisite creatures, and regardless of |
| | | | what their nicknames have been or is now, the |
| 6.Under The Table Dog | | | | fact that we have Shih Tzu at all is quite a |
| | | | miracle. |
| 7.Shih Tzu Kou | | | | |
| | | | This article is FREE to publish with resource |
| 8.Lhasa Lion Dog | | | | box. |
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