The Story of the Shih Tzu

Far away in Tibet, a country with a recorded historyonly artistic works of the animal, which were often
going back almost 1,500 years is where our Shih Tzusomewhat fantastical. We cannot be sure whether
began. The country was noted for its devotion tothe Lion Dogs were bred to resemble the drawings
Buddhism.and statues of the symbolic lions or if the artists
Some of the tallest mountains in the world edge thecreated their 'lions' in the likeness of the little dogs
country of Tibet. Winters in Tibet are severe with(ancestors to our Shih Tzu).
temperatures to 14 degrees F in December. TheThe snow lion was called Gang Seng and was
winds in Tibet are strong and biting with hard frosts.considered to be so powerful that he could cause
Snowfall is light. In the summer, daylightseven dragons to fall out of the sky with one roar.
temperatures reach a maximum of 75 degrees FThe symbolic lion was believed to have the ability to
with a sharp drop in temperature at night.walk in the clouds. He could also speak with the voice
Throughout most of the year there is sunshine andof truth and fearlessness.
the air is dry and pure.Tibet was a difficult place to get to. China was a
The people of this remote and rather mysteriousneighbor to Tibet. Gifts from Tibet to China were
land of Tibet were like so many other cultures in oursent as tribute to the Chinese emperors, among
world. They kept dogs in a domestic environment.which were Tibetan Lion Dogs (ancestor to our Shih
There were large dogs used for guarding and small,Tzu).
shaggy dogs used as companions and as watch-dogsThese little dogs traveled with the caravans on long
to alert the larger dogs. These small dogs were thejourneys from one country to the other. A small
ancestors of our Shih Tzu. The history of the Shiharmy of eunuchs took care of the little dogs. The
Tzu, however, is steeped in myth and legends, whichlittle Tibetan Lion Dogs (ancestors to our Shih Tzu)
makes it difficult to sort the true facts of our Shihadapted well as they have continued to do wherever
Tzu.they have gone to live through the centuries.
One tale in particular, which I find interesting, is thatIn China, everything must have been very different
of the small Lion Dogs were trained to turn thefrom Tibet. The summers in Peking were warm and
prayer wheels as part of the daily ritual in thehumid with a lot of rain. The winters were very cold,
monasteries. There was a belief that those monkssomewhat like Tibet, with temperatures as low as 0
whose life had been less than exemplary, would indegrees F in January. It is recorded that the little
accordance with the Buddhist theory of reincarnation,Tibetan Lion Dogs settled in and became great
be reborn as one of the temple dogs.favorites of the Manchu emperors.
Buddhism in Tibet recognized a large number of divineMost likely they were interbred with the short-faced
beings. Each being symbolized an aspect of life. OneChinese breeds - the Chinese Pug and the Pekinese,
was Buddha Manjusri, the God of Learning. The Godwhich is probably what gives the Shih Tzu the
of Learning was said to travel with a small Lion Dogcharacteristics that differentiate them from the
(ancestor to our Shih Tzu) that could turn into aTibetan Lion Dogs that later became the Lhasa
full-sized lion and carry him vast distances on his back.Apsos.
Oddly enough, there were no actual lions in Tibet,