You can't help but admire Shih Tzu puppies and will readily expend the effort to groom them and ensure that the coat is well maintained, and its playful nature and lively outlook are other endearing qualities. With an expected life span of fifteen years, you can look forward to many years of enjoyable companionship. While there is little to complain about when you rear Shih Tzu puppies, there lack of willingness to learn to be housetrained is a small flaw in its makeup that can be overcome with patience and care. It is easy to understand how this one-time favorite of the old Imperial Chinese courts has been able to win the hearts of so many. And because they are also excellent companions, the Shih Tzu puppies are much sought after.
Those of you who are familiar with toy breeds will also perhaps have heard of a good example of toy breeds which are the Shih Tzu puppies that are very small in size and which do not weigh much either. These puppies are known to come in a diverse range of colors and the coat of Shih Tzu puppies is very abundant and the hair is a long, dense double coat. The outer coat is luxurious and it is long enough to rub against the ground.
Shih Tzu puppies are small and sturdy and are just like Lhasa Apsos though this breed that looks proud has hair above its nose that grows upwards and is thus sometimes even referred to as ?chrysanthemum dog?. A Shih Tzu is also characterized by a round head and a beard and mustache that are profuse lend a good look to it to its face.
Shih Tzu puppies are very alert and they are spunky little animals that are always happy as well as hardy and there is no shortage of character to this toy breed puppy. In their demeanor, they are dignified in a royal way and there is also a lot of courage in their makeup, though they are also somewhat arrogant once in a while. They require hours of undivided attention, and like nothing more than sitting on a warm lap.
However, Shih Tzu puppies are gentle as well as loyal and are prone to make friends without much fuss. And though it can be obstinate as well, will respond positively to its training provided you have patience with it. Shih Tzu puppies are also good at being watch dogs though they are given to persistent barking as well. Other facets to the Shih Tzu puppies are that they can be stubborn as well as clever and they will snap when peeved or surprised.
In the final analysis, it would not be out of place to say that Shih Tzu puppies are the kind that will provide you with companionship. The indoors is also something they revel in, which you will notice when you see how fond they are of being around the family members. However, you need to exercise a lot of care in grooming these puppies since they require their coat to be brushed every day if you don't want to see their coat get matted, knotted or tangled up.
Another point worth noting about Shih Tzu puppies is that they do not housetrain too easily. Though you will have some success by using the crate method. It likes its daily round of walks, though it is also given to vigorously playing indoors as well. Still, owning one of these puppies will be sure to make you enjoy the experience and there will be many memorable moments to have in their company.
Since the Shih Tzu breed first became known to the western world there has been a variety of colors. The first and second prize winners at the Shanghai Kennel Club Show of May 30, 1930 were all black in color. These two solid black Shih Tzu were probably among the first Shih Tzu to ever appear in a western show ring. Their photographs can be seen in the China Journal June and August 1930 issues.
Black and white Shih Tzu was also frequently seen of the early days in the western world. Black and white Shih Tzu can still be ?very? striking and are still a favorite of many Shih Tzu fanciers.
There are different opinions as to exactly what color was the favored color at the Imperial Palace. It has been said often that the golden-yellow, sometimes described as honey was the favorite color and only kept in the palace. There are countless entries in our passages of Shih Tzu history that tell us the Empress Dowager's favorite Shih Tzu of all times was a solid black she called ?Sea Otter.? There are also accounts that three of the Empress Dowager's sleeve dogs were greyish-white.
The mention of solid white Shih Tzu in later standards reflect the fact that there was a leading French breeder in Peking who had a large number of all-white Shih Tzu. There has always been questions as to whether or not it was probably more the westerners who appreciated the solid white, as the Chinese saw the color white as a color of mourning.
It would be safer to say and believe that since yellow was the imperial color, a fact readily known by the golden-yellow tiled roofs of the Peking Palace. Yellow dogs were also more lion-like in appearance. The word ?Shih Tzu? means ?Lion? in Chinese. The Chinese tried to breed the Shih Tzu to resemble the lion, at least it was their idea of what a Lion looked like. Yellow was more likely to have been the Chinese favored color.
The white blaze, collar, socks and tail-tip combine to create a highly prized ensemble.
It is most likely that westerners had a very difficult time acquiring the yellow-colored Shih Tzu since it was regarded as being so precious. Therefore, the first Shih Tzu to appear in the west were the black and white, grey and white, brindle and white and a few solid blacks. Very few of the precious yellow-colored Shih Tzu were first acquired by the westerners.
The same holds true for the very small sized Shih Tzu. The small size Shih Tzu, which were most likely the Imperial and Teacup Shih Tzu, as many of us commonly nickname them today, (the Shih Tzu under 9 pounds in weight) were not readily available for the westerners. The westerners had access mainly to the larger size Shih Tzu that the Imperial Palace had sent out as rejects of their breeding program. There were a few able to get hold of the very tiny Shih Tzu we now commonly nickname the Imperials and the Teacup size, but not many, as this was the favored and most treasured size of the Imperial Palace breedings. The smaller size in Shih Tzu was a major goal of the Imperial Palace breedings lead by Empress Dowager.
Today's AKC standard, however, states the weight of a Shih Tzu in order to qualify for the show ring championships must be between 9 and 16 pounds.
This article is FREE to publish with resource box.
Both Rebecca A Simpson & Connie Limon are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Rebecca A Simpson has sinced written about articles on various topics from Pets, Pets Puppies for Sale and Pets. With many years of extensive experience in rearing and bringing up dogs, Rebecca Simpson is in an envious position when it comes to imparting knowledge about this and other breeds.. Rebecca A Simpson's top article generates over 8100 views. to your Favourites.
Connie Limon has sinced written about articles on various topics from Careers and Job Hunting, Dogs and Colon Cleanse. Connie Limon is a Shih Tzu breeder. She publishes a FREE weekly newsletter. A professional newsletter with a focus upon health and wellness for you and your pets. Discounts are offered to subscribers. Sign up at:. Connie Limon's top article generates over 135000 views. to your Favourites.