Shih Tzu
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[ A Shih Tzu with a summer-friendly haircut ]The Shih Tzu (獅子狗 pinyin: Shīzi Gǒu, Wade-Giles: Shih-tzu Kou) is a breed of dog originating in China. The spelling "Shih Tzu", most commonly used for the breed, is according to the Wade-Giles system of romanization. The actual pronunciation of this name is approximately like the "sher" of "sherbet" followed immediately by the "dds" of "adds". The meaning of the breed name was originally "lion dog" because this variety of dog was bred to resemble a miniature lion. It is now often called by a homonymic name, "xi shi quan" (西施犬), based on the name of Xi Shi, regarded as the most beautiful woman of ancient China.
Appearance
Shih Tzus come in variety of colors including black, white, gray, tan,
and gold spotted to a mix of several-colored hairs. A model Shih Tzu
should have a short snout, large eyes, a slight underbite, and a tail
that waves above its torso. The Shih Tzu's hair can be styled in a
short, summertime hair cut or a well-groomed long hair style like that
used for conformation shows.
Because this breed's hair continues to grow rather than shedding
regularly, it is one of several breeds suggested as a hypoallergenic
pet.
Temperament
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."
The Shih Tzu is usually calm and gentle. They can, however, be playful
and feisty at times. The breed typically makes a good children's pet.
Shih Tzus are actually a bit light-headed at times and do not take
severe punishment well. Of course, as with every animal, there are
exceptions; you can find the occasional "guard dog" Shih Tzu or "Lazy
Lucy" in a litter.
[ This Shih Tzu is prepared for cold weather with a longer haircut and wearing a dog coat. ]
History
The Shih Tzu was bred to sit around the emporer's palace in China and
bark when people or animals approached. It is believed that this
ornamental breed was created by breeding the Bei-jing gou (Pekingese)
with a Tibetan dog breed, the Lhasa Apso. Recent DNA analysis confirms
that this is one of the oldest breeds of dog
Care
The Shih Tzu is easy to care for, but the area around the eyes should be cleaned gently each day. Most Shih Tzus enjoy exercising outdoors and, when exercised regularly, have plenty of stamina. Most enjoy a long walk, although they are also quite happy to run around the house. A dog whose coat is allowed to grow out needs daily brushing to avoid tangles; a short haircut avoids this extra level of care. However, these dogs do not tolerate cold temperatures well, so longer hair during the colder seasons is more appropriate.
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Shih Tzu".
