Stunning Shih Tzus!
The historical facts…
The Shih Tzu Kou means “Lion Dog” and they were known as “holy dogs” in Tibet. The first recorded history of this breed traces back to Tibet’s first recorded history in the 7th Century AD . The Shih Tzu gained its name and present form in ancient China and his ancestors are known to have originated in Tibet. In fact, Shih Tzu is a cross between Lhasa Apso from Tibet and Pekingese from China.
Though most of us might think of the Shih Tzu as a toy dog or just a lapdog, the breed actually comes under the Utility Group and the common trait of all dogs in the Utility group is adaptability.
The mesmerising look…
Shih Tzus are long-coated, gorgeous looking, small sized dogs. They are 10 inches tall and weigh no more than eight kg. Their large round eyes are widely spaced, and are almost in level with the nose. Their nose bridge is just about an inch long, and the hair growing on their muzzle grows upwards, resembling a chrysanthemum flower. They have a thick, dense, overflowing coat. They must have a warm, pleasant and friendly facial expression. They are slightly longer than tall. And their balanced gait is also a sight to be seen.
Shih Tzus come in a variety of amazing colours and markings like tricolour, brown and white, black and white, liver and white etc. The eyes and nose are dark, including their eyelids, but a liver coloured nose and a lighter eye is known in liver coloured dogs. And, a dog with symmetrical markings, with a white blaze on the forehead and on the tip of the tail is highly prized. The normal life span of a Shih Tzu is about 13 – 14 years.
The amazing demeanour…
Shih Tzus are very active, lively, independent, gentle and outgoing dogs. They are extremely intelligent and very easily trainable too. Potty training them as puppies is very simple and very quick. They crave for human companionship and hence make excellent pets for both adults and children alike. But sometimes they do have a tendency to get possessive of their pet parent, if that happens to be a single person. When a family is rearing them, they devote equal love and attention to all the members. They are normally indifferent to strangers but do occasionally bark to announce their presence. The Shih Tzu is a quick learner and his adaptability to any situation makes him simply adorable.
The puppy care…
Shih Tzu puppies are full of life and love. They make perfect play-mates. Potty training them as puppies is very simple and very quick. As a puppy , you must ensure that your little Shih Tzu gets a good balanced meal .
The amazing demeanour…
Shih Tzus are very active, lively, independent, gentle and outgoing dogs. They are extremely intelligent and very easily trainable too. Potty training them as puppies is very simple and very quick. They crave for human companionship and hence make excellent pets for both adults and children alike. But sometimes they do have a tendency to get possessive of their pet parent, if that happens to be a single person. When a family is rearing them, they devote equal love and attention to all the members. They are normally indifferent to strangers but do occasionally bark to announce their presence. The Shih Tzu is a quick learner and his adaptability to any situation makes him simply adorable.
The puppy care…
Shih Tzu puppies are full of life and love. They make perfect play-mates. Potty training them as puppies is very simple and very quick. As a puppy , you must ensure that your little Shih Tzu gets a good balanced meal .
Grooming is fun…
The best part of Shih Tzu, of course besides their glamorous looks, is that they hardly shed their coat. Their coat is almost hypoallergenic to people and hence make them excellent indoor pets. They love being made a fuss about and enjoy their grooming sessions.
Just as much as they are fun and enjoyable, they can be a bundle of mischief too. A good grooming session of an adult Shih Tzu in a show condition can take you 2-3 hours and after all the labour and hard work you have put in, he just takes a minute to roll in the mud or in a dirty place and look at you with those mischievous eyes, saying “Can we start the grooming procedure all over again please? I hate to be dirty”. Basically, he loves that undivided attention you shower on him and the bonding he has with you, during the grooming sessions.
Exercise is play…
Being a small dog, their requirement for exercise is very minimal. Just a short walk or simply running around the house or in the garden is more than a sufficient form of exercise for them. They love to play games, whether it is retrieving, or hide and seek or take my toy if you can.
Care for the eyes and teeth…
They do not suffer from any major health issues other than cataract in their eyes and tooth decay. A well-bred Shih Tzu will not have any hereditary problems.
No wonder then that Shih Tzu has become a very popular breed in India due to their gorgeous looks, adaptability and the fact that they have become the ideal apartment size dogs.
(Yashodhara is a proud owner of one of India’s finest and most reputed kennels called “YASHBANS”, which has been responsible for breeding some of the finest Dobermans, German Shepherds and Rottweilers earlier in the country. Today, however, the Kennel specialises only in family oriented and child friendly breeds like the St. Bernards, Golden Retrievers, Siberian Huskies, Miniature Pinschers and the gorgeous Shih Tzus. Her websites are www.yashbans.com and www.fuzzywuzzy.in; She has won coveted awards like the ‘Dog of The Year’, ‘Reserve Dog Of the Year’, ‘Breeder of the Year’, ‘Reserved Puppy of the Year’, etc)