The Shih Tzu's History

The History Of The Shih Tzu

The smallest of the Tibetan holy dogs has wonderful legends associated with it, most having to do with Buddhist mythology; it was believed that the religious leader rode to earth on a lion and carried in his arms a beloved Shih Tzu which had been created to resemble a lion. The Shih Tzu was bred to sit around the palace of the Emperor of China and bark when people or animals approached: this was allegedly to alert people to the presence of unwanted visitors. But the Shih Tzu soon became a favorite of the Imperial Chinese court as companion dogs rather than working dogs.

Did You Know?...

The Breed Is More Than 1,000 Years Old:

Documentation of the Shih Tzu goes back at least 1,000 years. The breed’s ancestry goes back even further than that. Records show that short, square, "under the table” dogs existed in China as early as 1,000 B.C. These short and stout pooches were likely the ancestors of the Shih Tzu.

They Came From Tibet:

People commonly associate the Shih Tzu with China, but they actually came from China’s western neighbor, Tibet, which was a sovereign nation until the 1950s. Tibet probably sent dogs to the Chinese royalty as gifts. The Chinese then bred them with Pekingese or Pugs to create the modern-day Shih Tzu.

Their Name Means “Little Lion”:

The Mandarin phrase “Shih Tzu” translates to little lion. The Shih Tzu was likely given this name because of its association with the Tibetan Buddhist God of Learning, who, according to legend, traveled with a small lion dog that could transform into a full-sized lion.

Did You Know?...

Documentation of the Shih Tzu goes back at least 1,000 years. The breed’s ancestry goes back even further than that. Records show that short, square, “under the table” dogs existed in China as early as 1,000 B.C. These short and stout pooches were likely the ancestors of the Shih Tzu.