History of Shih Tzu is Steeped in Mystery and Legends

I understand that Apso means dog, but could also mean “goat-like” or “shaggy” in the Tibetan language. To the Tibetan people it was used to mean “Temple Dog.” In that connection it became known as “Lion Dog.” All these meanings were a long time ago. It seems I read repeatedly that many people understand and agree it was about 1650 that three temple dogs, holy dogs (they called them), were sent to China and that from these three came the Shih Tzu.



 It seems there are many (from what I read) who are in agreement that about 100 years later, the temple dogs had been the sole property of the Dalai Lama. Some of these dogs were given away to distinguished Russian visitors, and were stolen before they reached the border along with several many more that disappeared from Dalai Lama’s monastery during a civil upheaval and then reappeared in various parts of the country.

According to the historians this was the end of the Temple or Lion Dog, the Apso. From then on, all sorts of small dogs that looked vaguely like the Apso of old became known as Apso. This is told as being the beginning of the Monastery dog and also the caravan dog.

Whether or not the present day Apso or the Shih Tzu can be regarded as “pure” representatives of the historic Tibetan Holy Dogs, they are clearly historically related, the Apso that developed along Tibetan lines and the Shih Tzu because of climate, environment and human planning became essentially Chinese. I think I can understand this much of some of the mystery surroundings the development of Shih Tzu. And I do believe this much is absolutely true. Although the Apso and the Shih Tzu are closely related in their distant past, for centuries the two breeds have developed along totally different lines. The Apso remained in the remote vastness of Tibet where it could adapt to the climate without difficulty. And the Shih Tzu was taken eastward to share in the life of luxury at the Chinese Court.

The Shih Tzu was brought directly from Peking to Scandinavia and was classified as a Toy, which was probably a correct interpretation of the Chinese ideal. The introduction of the Pekingese strain was also probably designed to help make the larger mountain watchdog (the Apso) more suitable for the Imperial Palace. All of this part of the Shih Tzu’s unique heritage of which none of us should be ashamed.

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