Mans Best Friend

Paco Rabanne Martin

Shih Tzu -

   The name, Shih-Tzu, means lion in Chinese and refers to this dog's flowing manlike coat. Introduced to the Chinese Imperial Court from Tibet, paintings depicting the Shih-Tzu appeared in the Imperial Dog Book since the mid 17th Century. Only selected court officials were allowed to breed the Shih-Tzu, and they competed to produce specimens to gain the emperor's fancy. Court Breeders lucky enough to have their dogs selected were given gifts by the Emperor and images of the dogs were painted on tapestries and hangings. The Shih-Tzu was highly cherished by the Royal Family as a house pet during most of the Ming Dynasty.

    The Shih-Tzu was exported to England in the 1930's, and made its way to the United States after World War II. The Shih-Tzu was admitted to the AKC stud book in March 1969, and to regular show classification in the Toy Breed Group at AKC from 1969.

    The Shih-Tzu stands 8-11 inches at the shoulder and weight 10-18 pounds. It has a broad body, deep chest, and a wide and rounded head leading to an angular, unwrinkled muzzle with a clearly defined stop. The dark, expressive eyes are big and round and its high-set tail is carried over the back. The abundant and flowing coat is dense and reaches the ground. They should be brushed weekly and dried thoroughly with a hair dryer after shampooing. All coat colors are permissible. To help prevent irritation of the eyes, a ribbon or rubber band should be used to tie the hair on top of the head. In addition, the ears must be checked weekly.

    The Shih-Tzu is beloved for its happy, outgoing temperament, affectionate demeanor, and devotion to family. This little lion is gentle and gets along well with children as long as it is treated carefully. The size and temperament of the Shih-Tzu make it an ideal house pet and companion, even in a Hawaii high rise.

The Life Of A Dog.