Shih Tzus are cute and cuddly dogs that are present in a large number of homes in the U.S., but where did they come from? Shih Tzus (which translates to “Lion dog” in Chinese), actually trace back to Chinese royalty, and are believed to be direct descendants of the Lhasa Apso. Small dogs have been bred in China for a long time, with records dating back to 1000 B.C.. To date back even further, it is believed that they were given as a wedding gift to newly weds traveling from Tibet to China. They also believed that Shih Tzus carried the souls of monks. They were displayed in paintings on the walls of palaces, and kept as pets of emperors. Since lions are not native to China, people used dogs that resemble lions to portray bigger creatures in art.

Although Shih Tzus seemed to have a successful and wealthy life, it ended when communism took over China. Shih Tzus were associated with wealth, so they were killed off to destroy the image of power. Luckily, an English woman who had made her home in China, took in a few before they went extinct. She shipped these dogs to England, along with another soldier who had saved a few of the dogs. In total, there were 13 Shih Tzus salvaged from China. They were then bred and shipped all over Europe, Australia, and America from 1928-1952. These 13 dogs then went on to breed every Shih Tzu you know today. 

Nowadays, Shih Tzus come in many colors such as brown, black, and white. They span between 9-16 pounds, making them cute little companions. Shih Tzus are also hypoallergenic, because they grow hair instead of fur. This makes their breed very high maintenance, and expensive. They are very friendly summer dogs that need constant attention, but are also very susceptible to disease. 

Shih Tzus are a symbol of lions, and wealth in ancient China. They are often adopted frequently because of their size and cute appearance. Although they almost went extinct, they are very common pets in modern households.