EMPRESS OF CHINA™ MINI & TEACUP SHIH-TZUS

Shih Tzu Sizes

Demitasse  3-4 pounds
Teacups 4-6 pounds
Mini  7-8 pounds

THE SHIH-TZU 

HISTORY

Many centuries   ago, it is believed that somewhere in the mountains of Tibet,  small, heavy-coated, playful, adorable dogs called Llasa Apsos were bred.  The Llasa Apso was used to guard the inner temple of the Tibetan monasteries.  These dogs eventually made their way to China where they were as highly revered as they were in Tibet and also served as inner temple guard dogs.

Latter, some Llasas  were interbred with the Pekinese breed, thus creating the breed called Shih Tzu (pronounced Sheed-Zoo) .  When Shih Tzu is loosely translated, it means "lion dog."    They were depicted as long ago as 600 AD in Oriental works of art and paintings.   It is known that during the Manchu Dynasty (17th century), a pair of Shih Tzu was presented to distinguished visitors as a token of goodwill and good luck.

During the Chinese revolution in 1911, the Shih Tzu became virtually extinct in mainland China.  Fortunately for the Shih Tzu, the profit-seeking eunuchs of the Dowager Empress sold some of the palace dogs to wealthy Chinese as well as foreigners.  The death of the Empress in 1908 ended an era for the Shih Tzu, though the breed was able to continue in the Scandinavian country, Holland and England.  In England they were refined by breeding into the Shih Tzu we know today.

 Eventually they made their way to the United States, where they were recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1969.

© 2002 Suzy Vaughan

History of the Shih-Tzu...Sold Puppies...Available Puppies....Parents of the Puppies...Useful Links     About Us        Reservations

This page last updated 1-26-06

© 1999-2006