There is one person in particular who did very much to encourage the Lion Dog mystique of the Shih Tzu. Her name was Dowager Empress T’zu His, a concubine that took over the imperial throne and governed China ruthlessly and cynically for half a century. We owe our present day Shih Tzu to the efforts of this woman. The circumstances in which this mystique developed and thrived are absolutely incredible. At some points in the Shih Tzu history it looked as if this breed would not survive and yet it did and went on to become one of the most popular breeds of all time. For hundreds of years all kinds of small dogs had been bred and very much loved in China. The Europeans were emerging from the Dark Ages and the Chinese were thriving in a much sophisticated civilization. The achievements of the Chinese were so great that as far back as the sixth century B.C., the Chinese considered themselves a “special people” that lived in the center of the universe. Dowager Empress T’zu Hsi had a m...

The day a young Shih Tzu puppy leaves his mother and littermates can be the most traumatic day of its life. With just a little preparing in advance you can make the experience as pleasant as possible. It is quite normal for a Shih Tzu puppy to cry at this time. It does not mean this is not the puppy for you. Many people believe puppies can somehow “choose” them and that is the puppy for them. I really don’t believe this. I have had owned many Shih Tzu puppies and most of them saw me for the first time at the airport when I picked them up. None of them have had the chance to personally “choose” me as their owner. And all of them have loved me. Take along some paper towels or something to clean up after your Shih Tzu puppy in the car. There is a chance the puppy will become car sick or just a little nauseated from being taking away from mom and littermates. This is all quite normal and will pass. When you get home with your Shih Tzu puppy take him immediately to the spot wh...

Dry Eye Can Be Successfully Treated and Not So Common In the Shih Tzu Did you know the Shih Tzu can suffer from “dry eye” just like people can? Dry eye occurs sometimes when the glands of the eyes do not produce enough tears. The production of tears is necessary to keep the eyes lubricated and healthy. Without this natural tear production, “dry eyes” can occur in the Shih Tzu very similar to people’s dry eye conditions. Dry eye problems in the Shih Tzu can be treated successfully in most cases depending upon the cause. The condition is called “keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS for short) develops from a dysfunction or an underdevelopment of the lacrimal glands. The lacrimal glands are tissue that produces the aqueous portion of tears. Keratoconjunctivitis sicca is very common in dogs. The dry eye condition is not only seen in the Shih Tzu. In fact, it is more common in English bulldogs, Cocker spaniels and pugs. The condition is extremely rare i...

Although the day-to-day care of the show dog exceeds the grooming required for a pet dog, the groomer has a responsibility to perform a work of art in both cases. Training and experience helps a groomer to look at a photograph of any Shih Tzu and to know instantly which bits of hair are clipped or scissor. Expert brushing is an art. You might be shocked to find out your carefully brushed Shih Tzu still has tangles when a more experienced person gets a bin full of hair when complete brushing takes place. There is more to brushing your Shih Tzu than you probably realize. Brushing Steps: Put the Shih Tzu on the table. Start on the bottom of the fore left leg. Lift the hair above the section you are working on, and brush the section below. Comb through the coat. Use a grooming spray if necessary. Continue up the leg. Continue the brushing and combing across the Shih Tzu’s quarters, along the back and neck. Pay special attention to behind the ears and underneath the legs. Ma...