Find Your Perfect Dog Breed: The Story of The Shih Tzu Dog Breed

Thursday, September 14, 2017

The Story of The Shih Tzu Dog Breed

Far away in Tibet, a country with a recorded history going back almost 1,500 years is where our Shih Tzu began. The country was noted for its devotion to Buddhism.

Some of the tallest mountains in the world edge the country of Tibet. Winters in Tibet are severe with temperatures to 14 degrees F in December. The winds in Tibet are strong and biting with hard frosts. Snowfall is light. In the summer, daylight temperatures reach a maximum of 75 degrees F with a sharp drop in temperature at night. Throughout most of the year there is sunshine and the air is dry and pure.

The people of this remote and rather mysterious land of Tibet were like so many other cultures in our world. They kept dogs in a domestic environment. There were large dogs used for guarding and small, shaggy dogs used as companions and as watch-dogs to alert the larger dogs. These small dogs were the ancestors of our Shih Tzu. The history of the Shih Tzu, however, is steeped in myth and legends, which makes it difficult to sort the true facts of our Shih Tzu.

One tale in particular, which I find interesting, is that of the small Lion Dogs were trained to turn the prayer wheels as part of the daily ritual in the monasteries. There was a belief that those monks whose life had been less than exemplary, would in accordance with the Buddhist theory of reincarnation, be reborn as one of the temple dogs.

Buddhism in Tibet recognized a large number of divine beings. Each being symbolized an aspect of life. One was Buddha Manjusri, the God of Learning. The God of Learning was said to travel with a small Lion Dog (ancestor to our Shih Tzu) that could turn into a full-sized lion and carry him vast distances on his back.

Oddly enough, there were no actual lions in Tibet, only artistic works of the animal, which were often somewhat fantastical. We cannot be sure whether the Lion Dogs were bred to resemble the drawings and statues of the symbolic lions or if the artists created their ‘lions’ in the likeness of the little dogs (ancestors to our Shih Tzu).

The snow lion was called Gang Seng and was considered to be so powerful that he could cause seven dragons to fall out of the sky with one roar. The symbolic lion was believed to have the ability to walk in the clouds. He could also speak with the voice of truth and fearlessness.

Tibet was a difficult place to get to. China was a neighbor to Tibet. Gifts from Tibet to China were sent as tribute to the Chinese emperors, among which were Tibetan Lion Dogs (ancestor to our Shih Tzu).

These little dogs traveled with the caravans on long journeys from one country to the other. A small army of eunuchs took care of the little dogs. The little Tibetan Lion Dogs (ancestors to our Shih Tzu) adapted well as they have continued to do wherever they have gone to live through the centuries.

In China, everything must have been very different from Tibet. The summers in Peking were warm and humid with a lot of rain. The winters were very cold, somewhat like Tibet, with temperatures as low as 0 degrees F in January. It is recorded that the little Tibetan Lion Dogs settled in and became great favorites of the Manchu emperors.

Most likely they were interbred with the short-faced Chinese breeds – the Chinese Pug and the Pekinese, which is probably what gives the Shih Tzu the characteristics that differentiate them from the Tibetan Lion Dogs that later became the Lhasa Apsos.

One of the most beautiful aspects of the Shih Tzu is the hair. Life's Abundance makes a marvelous supplement especially for the skin and coat.

Skin and Coat Supplements

Omega-3 fatty acids from flaxseed & fish oil

A total of seven B vitamins

Vitamins E, C & zinc

Irresistibly tasty, chewable tablets

How would you rate your companion animal’s skin and coat health? Does your pet have …

Dry, flaky skin or a dull, brittle coat
Oily, foul smelling skin or a matted coat
Thin coat, excessive hair loss or red, blotchy skin
Excessive scratching (especially, seasonally)

Keeping your companion animal’s skin healthy and coat shiny can prove very challenging. There’s more to skin-and-coat health than regular shampooing and daily brushing.

Even though the skin is the body’s largest organ, it takes a backseat to other organs when it comes to nutrition. In fact, the nutrients eaten by your pet go directly to the other vital organs first (such as the brain, heart, lungs and liver); as a consequence, the skin often suffers. Even if you are already feeding your companion animal a high-quality, nutritionally dense food, sometimes it’s just not enough to ensure skin and coat health. In fact, problems relating to the skin and coat are much more common than you might think as they account for a significant percentage of trips to the vet.

Skin & Coat Formula Can Help!

A comprehensive nutritional supplement, Skin & Coat Formula for Dogs and Cats addresses skin and coat health in a holistic way. Unlike ordinary skin and coat supplements that contain fatty acids and a few other ingredients, this formula supplies a whole host of additional nutrients that work together to address the complex factors that play a role in supporting skin and coat health. The nutrients featured in this formula can yield several health-promoting benefits. Here are just some of the highlights of how this supplement works …

In addition to skin-nourishing omega-3 fatty acids, this formula contains vitamin E and zinc, which help increase the effectiveness of the fatty acids.
The vitamin A in this formula helps cells to grow and supports the naturally-occurring layer of oil on the skin, helping to keep it healthy and supple.
This formula also contains vitamin C, which supports healthy collagen development.
And to top it off, our new and improved Skin & Coat now contains seven different B vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, d-pantothenic acid, niacin, pyridoxine, B12 and biotin), all of which work with the other nutrients in this formula to aid in the many complex chemical reactions required for healthy skin and coat.

If your companion animal’s skin or coat is less than perfect, try a bottle of Skin & Coat Formula with a comprehensive line-up of nutrients that work together to help support healthy skin and a shiny coat.

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As a Life's Abundance rep, I specialize in helping people from all walks of life generate income by using and recommending our products while at the same time helping pets and humans live longer, healthier lives.