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Shih Tzu Breed
Description
1.1 Appearance
1.1.1 Breed variations
2 Health
2.1 Temperature sensitivity
2.2 Life span and health issues
3 Care
4 Crossbred Shih Tzus
5 History
The Shih Tzu (traditional
Chinese: 獅子狗; simplified Chinese: 狮子狗; pinyin:
Shīzi Gǒu; Wade-Giles: Shih-tzu Kou; literally
"Lion Dog"), pronounced [ʂʐ dz] [ "sher-dz" ] (i)
(with "sher" as in "sherbet" and "dz" as in
"adz") [1], is a dog breed which originated in
China. The name is both singular and plural. The
spelling "Shih Tzu", most commonly used for the
breed, is according to the Wade-Giles system of
romanization. The Shih Tzu is reported to be the
oldest and smallest of the Tibetan holy
dogs,[citation needed] its vaguely lion-like
look being associated with the Tibetan
Snowlion.[citation needed] The Shih Tzu
therefore also has the nickname "Tibetan temple
dog". It is also often known as the "Xi Shi quan"
(西施犬), based on the name of Xi Shi, regarded as
the most beautiful woman of ancient China[2],
and, less often, the Chrysanthemum Dog, because
its face looks very much like the flower, and
the Chinese or Tibetan Lion Dog.
Other names Chinese Lion
Dog
Chrysanthemum Dog
Country of origin China
[hide]Traits
[hide]Classification & standards
FCI Group 9 Section 5 #208 standard
AKC Toys standard
ANKC Group 7 - Non-Sporting standard
CKC Group 6 - Non-Sporting standard
KC (UK) Utility standard
NZKC Non-sporting standard
UKC Companion Breeds standard
Appearance
The Shih Tzu is characterized by its long,
flowing double coat; sturdy build; intelligence;
and a friendly, energetic, lively attitude. Here
is an excellent example of lively Shih Tzu puppy
behavior at 10 weeks [1]. In breeding all coat
colors are allowed.[3] The Shih Tzu fur can be
styled either in a short summer cut or kept long
as is compulsory for conformation shows.
The American Kennel Club (akc) Shih Tzu breed
standard calls for the dog to have a short
snout, large eyes, and a palm-like tail that
waves above its torso. The ideal Shih Tzu height
at 9 to 10 1/2 inches.[2] [3] The dog should
stand no less than 8 inches and not more than 11
inches tall. The Shih Tzu should never be so
high stationed as to appear leggy, nor so low
stationed as to appear dumpy or squatty.
Regardless of size or gender, the Shih Tzu
should always be solid and compact and carry
good weight and substance for its size range.
This breed has some to no shedding.
Breed variations
The American Kennel Club (AKC)
and the American Shih Tzu Club (ASTC) define the
Shih Tzu as an adult dog that weighs between 9
to 16 pounds as the official breed standard.
(This may vary for the runt of the litter, who
can weigh in at 8 pounds). Descriptions such as
"imperial", "teacup", "tiny teacup" are used,
but dogs that fit such descriptions are often an
undersized or underdeveloped Shih Tzu. [4] Both
the AKC and ASTC consider these variances to not
be in conformity with the official breed
standard. These tiny variances are also not what
was defined as a standard by the professional
circuit. Many people prefer to have these
canines buzzed to a short cut, as their hair
starts to mat and become dry as it grows. To
have it long, the owner must give the dog's hair
intensive care. A medium length coat is
therefore recommended but not necessary.
Health
Temperature sensitivity
Shih Tzu are considered to be brachycephalic
(snub-nosed) dogs. As such, they are very
sensitive to high temperatures. This is why many
airlines that ship dogs will not accept them for
shipment when temperatures at any point on the
planned itinerary exceeds 75 degrees Fahrenheit
(24°C) [5].
[edit] Life span and health issues
The life span of a Shih Tzu is 13-15 years[5],
although some variation from this range is
possible. Some health issues common among the
breed are portosystemic liver shunt, renal
dysplasia, and hip dysplasia in standard
sizes.[6][7] In addition, they also can suffer
from various eye problems.[8][9] Shih Tzus (and
many other breeds) may present signs of
allergies to red dye #40, and owners should
respond to scratching in the absence of fleas by
eliminating pet foods that contain this commonly
used additive.
Care
The Shih Tzu can require
more care than some other breeds if the hair is
kept at show length; they need daily brushing to
avoid tangles. A short haircut, also known as a
pet trim or puppy cut, can make this a task
taking place every month or so rather than of
daily. They also need regular haircuts. A Shih
Tzu has two coats of fur, with the bottom coat
shedding into the top coat rather than off of
the dog entirely; as a result, this breed sheds
very little in the conventional sense. With
regular brushing and bathing, shedding can be
reduced to almost nothing.[10] As they shed so
lightly, Shih-Tzu are considered to be one of
the breeds more suitable for people with
allergies.
Since the breed is adapted to a cool climate,
letting the coat grow out somewhat for the
colder seasons is appropriate, but there is
still a substantial difference from a
floor-length show coat and a warmer,
medium-length winter coat.
Because Shih Tzu noses are small and flat,
eating contributes to an unclean face. Once the
dog has finished eating, owners often wipe the
dog's face with a damp paper towel to remove
food remnants. This is another area where the
haircut matters; a proper show cut will get more
messy (often even requiring the hair to be
rubber-banded together for eating efficiently)
than other ways of cutting the facial hair.
When they are drinking, it is sometimes
necessary to supervise Shih Tzu; water can enter
their face-level noses more easily and inhibit
breathing. This is why many Shih Tzu are trained
to drink from the sort of licker bottles used by
hamsters and gerbils. The area around the eyes
should be checked each day for mucus buildup and
cleaned when needed. Providing the Shih Tzu with
bottled water (or water that does not contain
chlorine) helps to keep eye mucus to a minimum.
Additionally, their claws need to be clipped
approximately every month.
Crossbred Shih Tzus
A crossbreed is a dog with
two purebred parents of different breeds. Dogs
traditionally were crossed in this manner in
hopes of creating a puppy with desirable
qualities from each parent. For pet dogs,
crosses may be done to enhance the marketability
of puppies, and are often given cute portmanteau
names. Shih Tzus are sometimes crossbred with
other toy dogs, creating such designer dogs as
Shih-poo[11] (crossed with a toy Poodle), the "Zuchon"
or "Shichon"[12] (crossed with a Bichon Frisé)
and the Pom shih (crossed with a Pomeranian).
Shih Tzus may also be crossed with Maltese, (the
"Malshi" or "Schmaltz") and a ShiChi which is a
Shih Tzu crossed with a Chihuahua, Shih Tzu's
have also been known to be crossed with Cavalier
King Charles Spanieland a "Shorkie" is 1/2
teacup Yorkie & 1/2 Toy sized Shih Tzu http://www.shorkieworld.com/shorkie-puppies-nursery.htm
History
Recent DNA analysis
confirms that the ancestors of today's Shih Tzu
breed are the most ancient dog breeds.[13]
Professor Ludvic von Schulmuth studied canine
origins by studying the skeletal remains of dogs
found in human settlements as long as ten
thousand years ago. The Professor created a
genealogical tree of Tibetan dogs that shows the
"Gobi Desert Kitchen Midden Dog", a scavenger,
evolved into the "Small Soft-Coated Drop-Eared
Hunting Dog". From this dog evolved the Tibetan
Spaniel, Pekingese, and Japanese Chin. Another
branch coming down from the "Kitchen Midden Dog"
gave rise to the Papillon and Long-haired
Chihuahua and yet another "Kitchen Midden Dog"
branch to the Pug and Shih Tzu.[citation needed]
James E. Mumford described the breed in an
American Shih Tzu magazine, giving a picture of
the versatile character of the Shih Tzu: "Nobody
knows how the Ancient Eunuchs managed to mix
together…And now here comes the recipe: A dash
of lion, several teaspoons of rabbit, a couple
of ounces of domestic cat, one part court
jester, a dash of ballerina, a pinch of old man
(Chinese), a bit of beggar, a tablespoon of
monkey, one part baby seal, a dash of teddy bear
and the rest dogs of Tibetan and Chinese
origin."
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