History of the Shih Tzu

The actual origins of the Shih Tzu have always been shrouded in the mystery of time though it was known that the Shih Tzu were one of the oldest and smallest of the Tibetan holy dogs.

With the advent of modern science, especially DNA analysis, the identification of the fourteen "Ancient" dog breeds was established in the article "Genetic Structures of the Purebred Domestic Dog" by Parker et all in the journal Science,  Volume 304 (May 21,2004).

You know where this is leading, don't you?  Yes, the Shih Tzu is one of these fourteen "Ancient" breeds! 

This study compared DNA from dogs of 85 AKC registered breeds and "particular efforts were made to sample the most popular breeds".  Since there are 400 + known dog breeds (AKC recognized 157 breeds at the time of the article), it is probable that an extended study would reveal more "ancient" breeds of dogs.   These fourteen breeds were designated as "Ancient" breeds of domesticted dogs because they showed the fewest genetic differences from wolves. 

Even though this page is about Shih Tzu , I will  satisfy your curiousity about the other thirteen breeds.  The fourteen breeds were geographically diverse to include dogs from Siberia (Samoyed & Siberian Husky), Japan (Akita &  Shiba Inu), Alaska (Alaskan Malamute), China/Tibet (Chow Chow, Lhasa Apso, Pekingese, Shar Pei, Shih Tzu & Tibetan Terrier), Africa (Basenji), Egypt/Persia (Saluki) and Afghanistan (Afghan Hound).

Another study, conducted by Professor Ludvic von Schulmuth studied canine origins by examining the skeletal remains of dogs found in human settlements as long as ten thousand years ago!

The Professor created a genealogical tree of Tibetan dogs that shows the "Gobi Desert Kitchen Midden Dog", a scavenger, evolved into the "Small Soft-Coated Drop-Eared Hunting Dog".  From this dog evolved the Tibetan Spaniel, Pekingese and Japenese Chin.  Another branch coming down from the "Kitchen Midden Dog" gave rise to the Papillon and Long Haired Chihuahua and yet another "Kitchen Midden Dog" branch to the Pug and (finally!) Shih Tzu.

There are, of course, protaganists and antaganists of both these studies.

Even with the information from the studies there are still many gaps to be filled in our feisty little Shih Tzu's journey of time from the beginning, possibly 10,000 years ago, of a garbage scavenging stray to 2,000 years ago spent in the Buddest monasteries of the Tibetan monks to the palaces of China's Emperors to today's beloved companion dog.

As we leap backward in time to the temples and monasteries of the Tibetan monks, we find that the monks cherished them as holy dogs.  They were called Shih Tzu Kou meaning Lion Dog.

                     to be continued.......

This page was last updated: May 28, 2008