Pomeranian Puppies: Shih Tzu

Tuesday, 11 September 2012

Shih Tzu

A Shih Tzu ( /ˈʃiːtsuː/ sheet-soo; Mandarin: [ʂɨ́tsɨ]) is a breed of dog weighing 4–7.25 kilograms (8.8–16.0 lb) with long silky hair. The breed originated in China. Shih Tzu were officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1969. The name is both singular and plural.The name Shih Tzu comes from the Chinese word shiylion 獅子 rendered according to the Wade-Giles system of romanization, in use when the breed was first introduced in America. Its Mandarin Chinese pronunciation is approximately shirr-tsə. The name translates as "lion", so named because this kind of dog was bred to resemble "the lion as depicted in traditional oriental art,"[1] such as the Chinese guardian lions (see also the Pekingese breed, called "lion dog" in Chinese). The Shih Tzu is also often known as the "Xi Shi quan" (西施犬), based on the name of Xi Shi, regarded as one of the most beautiful women of ancient China,[2] and, less often, the Chrysanthemum Dog, a nickname coined in England in the 1930s.[3] The dog may also be called the Tibetan Lion Dog, but whether or not the breed should be referred to as a Tibetan or Chinese breed is a source of argument, the absolute answer to which "may never be known".