The Lion Dog ? The Shih Tzu

The Shih Tzu’s traces their origin to Tibet where monks, possibly, had been breeding them. Around the 17th Century these dogs were brought into Peking (China) as gifts for the Emperor. They were an instant hit with the royalty and so they then become their exclusive property.

The name ‘Pekinese’ was given to this dog because it was first found in Peking when monks gifted this breed of dogs to the Emperor of China way back in the 17th Century. ‘A rose by any name would smell as sweet’ ? as Shakespeare said ? no matter what name you use for this dog you will find it a very sweet and friendly dog.

The Shih Tzu ? owing to its temperament and looks ? has been a lot of other names. For example, for a long time in the Chinese Imperial Palaces these dogs were known as the Lion dog. This could be for two reasons. First, it looked like a miniatures lion with all the fluffy hair framing its face and second, it had the demeanor of a king.

The Shih Tzu needs very little from you other than love. To keep your Shih Tzu happy, allow it to sleep on your lap, pamper it as often as you can and talk to it all the time. Grooming this dog needs special attention because of its long coat. You need to have it brushed with a hard brush to prevent matting of hair and remove the dust that accumulates on it. You need two separate types of combs ? one long toothed for the overall coat on the body and another shorter and denser for the hair around the face and feet.

Watch out for separation anxiety signs in this dog if you leave it for too long alone. These dogs need your presence and love constantly. Other then this aspect, they are not pretentious about anything.

Shih Tzus are easy to train if you use the right techniques. These dogs can be very proud and stubborn, hence the training should be done only through positive reinforcement. As long as they get pampered and treated to tidbits in reward to their good behavior, the Shih Tzu’s will do anything you ask of them.

To their credit, these dogs are playful, loyal and very courageous. Their friendliness is very reassuring, as they have no problem sharing their space with other animals ? including cats. They tend to behave like children ? demanding love and attention at all times which actually makes this breed excellent for senior people.

People who have lived with a Shih Tzu are convinced that these dogs are human on the inside, as they reflect in their behavior a maturity and understanding of human behavior that cannot be explained otherwise. If you want a dog that loves you forever and cannot live without you ? the Shih Tzu is your choice.