Dog Food for Shih Tzus Recommendations

Shih Tzus: One of the oldest dog breeds on the planet

There is hardly an older breed of dog that has been with us as long as the Shih Tzu: reports indicate that they have been around for as long as… 7th century AD existed.

They were probably targeted by Tibetan monks bred and used as a ceremonial and guard dog. The name “Shih Tzu” means something like “Little Lion”, which reflects a guiding principle of Buddhist teaching: Buddha is said to have owned a dog that could transform into a lion.

Favorites of the Chinese upper class

But the little animals didn't stay in monasteries for long: the lion-headed four-legged friends soon found new homes in almost all of China, although they actually exclusively from the nobility and upper class were held. The dogs were considered a status symbol; due to their mythological history, they were very protected and rarely left the country.

This only changed at the beginning of the 20th century: As China slowly opened up, European travelers brought the first Shih Tzus to our continent; England. For this reason, Great Britain continues to patronize the breed today.

This is also sorely needed, because without export to other countries the breed would probably be extinct today: With the Cultural Revolution of the 1940s, the dogs were suddenly seen as remnants of an aristocratic past that should not be repeated – the breeding was almost done by one set for the other day.

Slight impacts from Pekingese

However, most Shih Tzus today are not completely purebred: Since the gene pool of the breed was very small in Europe, it was in danger of dying out due to inbreeding, even in “exile”.

In order to expand the breeding line, the remaining healthy animals often crossed with Pekingese: The appearance hardly changed as a result, but the genetic material of the breed became significantly more diverse.

Body structure & nature of animals

If you have a Shih Tzu, you're probably sure of the looks of others: the breed has a very unique look that you'd rarely find on the street.

This is also due to the long breeding history, which took place independently of European crosses. This leads to one Anatomy, who comes across as very independent in many respects.

Small & robust

Shih Tzus are among the smallest dog breeds: They are only slightly larger than Chihuahuas or Maltese, but are really tiny compared to other four-legged friends. Nevertheless, or precisely because of this, they are actually one of the more robust dogs.

Although some breeding and hereditary problems are known, the general physical condition of the breed is relatively robust. The Animals can get quite old Many representatives reach the age of 16 or 17.

Brachycephale race

Shih Tzus are often perceived as rather snooty; an arrogant appearance is even one of the characteristics of the official FCI mission statement. This is not just due to the posture, but above all to the head – and this is often criticized by experts.

The animals belong to the so-called “brachycephalic breeds”, so they are short-headed. The skull is round and deformed from an anatomical point of view. Unfortunately, this deficit has been increased by many breeders for aesthetic reasons, and the dogs then often suffer from, among other things

• Shortness of breath
• eye diseases
• Problems regulating body temperature or even
• Misalignment of the teeth.

There are breeders who act responsibly and make sure that their dogs meet the breed standard but do not show any major deficits. Nevertheless, the animals are often considered “torture breeding” because the breed-specific characteristics inevitably affect the dog's life.

Stubborn but kind

But that doesn't mean that Shih Tzus don't have adorable characteristics. On the contrary: because of her good-natured character and their faithfulness they are great family dogs. They usually get along very well, especially with children.

But they are still not easy: the little four-legged friends are considered quite stubborn, Unfortunately, they often don't care much about commands. That's why it's very important to train your dog from puppyhood onwards to raise lovingly but also consistently. Despite its small size, it also needs a variety of activities – you should definitely take all of this into account before purchasing it.