Shih-tzu Dog Breed

Tibet

It would be a mistake to suppose that the shih-tzu with its short legs and abundant hair is the result of caprices and whims of today's breeders. The belief is that it had lived in the Tibetan high-plateaus for two thousand years. It is evident that it has a lot in common with the Pekingese but today's European breeders are opposed to an interbreeding between the two breeds.

This luxury Tibetan dog as the Pekingese was in the past used for religious ceremonies but unlike the Chinese cousin, it acquired a very open and friendly temperament. Nowadays, although its abundant hair requires a lot of care, it is one of the most popular small breeds.

The shih-tzu must be a vivacious and alert dog and it has long and abundant hair that falls vertically. The hair must not be curly, and it is particularly abundant on the head and ears, and in the nose it grows up high, a detail that gives the head that typical appearance of a "chrysanthemum".

All the colors are accepted but a white mark on the forehead and at the end of the tail are much appreciated details. The height at withers varies a lot, if possible, it must be slightly less than 30 cm. It may weigh up to 8 kg but the ideal weight is 4 to 7 kg.