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The Story of the Shih Tzu

The Story of the Shih Tzufantastical. We cannot be sure whether
Far away in Tibet, a country with athe Lion Dogs were bred to resemble the
recorded history going back almost 1,500drawings and statues of the symbolic
years is where our Shih Tzu began. Thelions or if the artists created their
country was noted for its devotion to'lions' in the likeness of the little
Buddhism.dogs (ancestors to our Shih Tzu).
Some of the tallest mountains in theThe snow lion was called Gang Seng and
world edge the country of Tibet.was considered to be so powerful that he
Winters in Tibet are severe withcould cause seven dragons to fall out of
temperatures to 14 degrees F inthe sky with one roar. The symbolic
December. The winds in Tibet are stronglion was believed to have the ability to
and biting with hard frosts. Snowfallwalk in the clouds. He could also speak
is light. In the summer, daylightwith the voice of truth and
temperatures reach a maximum of 75fearlessness.
degrees F with a sharp drop inTibet was a difficult place to get to.
temperature at night. Throughout mostChina was a neighbor to Tibet. Gifts
of the year there is sunshine and thefrom Tibet to China were sent as tribute
air is dry and pure.to the Chinese emperors, among which
The people of this remote and ratherwere Tibetan Lion Dogs (ancestor to our
mysterious land of Tibet were like soShih Tzu).
many other cultures in our world. TheyThese little dogs traveled with the
kept dogs in a domestic environment.caravans on long journeys from one
There were large dogs used for guardingcountry to the other. A small army of
and small, shaggy dogs used aseunuchs took care of the little dogs.
companions and as watch-dogs to alertThe little Tibetan Lion Dogs (ancestors
the larger dogs. These small dogs wereto our Shih Tzu) adapted well as they
the ancestors of our Shih Tzu. Thehave continued to do wherever they have
history of the Shih Tzu, however, isgone to live through the centuries.
steeped in myth and legends, which makesIn China, everything must have been very
it difficult to sort the true facts ofdifferent from Tibet. The summers in
our Shih Tzu.Peking were warm and humid with a lot of
One tale in particular, which I findrain. The winters were very cold,
interesting, is that of the small Lionsomewhat like Tibet, with temperatures
Dogs were trained to turn the prayeras low as 0 degrees F in January. It is
wheels as part of the daily ritual inrecorded that the little Tibetan Lion
the monasteries. There was a beliefDogs settled in and became great
that those monks whose life had beenfavorites of the Manchu emperors.
less than exemplary, would in accordanceMost likely they were interbred with the
with the Buddhist theory ofshort-faced Chinese breeds - the Chinese
reincarnation, be reborn as one of thePug and the Pekinese, which is probably
temple dogs.what gives the Shih Tzu the
Buddhism in Tibet recognized a largecharacteristics that differentiate them
number of divine beings. Each beingfrom the Tibetan Lion Dogs that later
symbolized an aspect of life. One wasbecame the Lhasa Apsos.
Buddha Manjusri, the God of Learning.Connie Limon is a Shih Tzu breeder. She
The God of Learning was said to travelpublishes a FREE weekly newsletter with
with a small Lion Dog (ancestor to oura focus upon health and wellness for you
Shih Tzu) that could turn into aand your pets. Designer dog clothes are
full-sized lion and carry him vastoffered on the website. Discounts are
distances on his back.offered to subscribers. Sign up at:
Oddly enough, there were no actual lionsThis article is FREE to publish with
in Tibet, only artistic works of theresource box.
animal, which were often somewhat



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