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