History Of The Shih Tzu...
The Shih Tzu is said to be originated in Tibet. There is evidence that the breed is distinctly from the Lhasa Apso, Pug, and Pekingese. These awesomely cute pooches were developed by Tibetan Monks who offered the temple dogs as gifts to the emperors of China.
Because of their thick coats and small bodies, they were used as bed warmers. They would be placed at the foot of the bed and the women would carry them in their robes to keep warm.
These dogs were considered holy and should only be owned by the royal family. If you were not of the royal court and were caught with a Shih Tzu in your possession you would be sentenced to death by be-heading.
Because of their thick coats and small bodies, they were used as bed warmers. They would be placed at the foot of the bed and the women would carry them in their robes to keep warm.
These dogs were considered holy and should only be owned by the royal family. If you were not of the royal court and were caught with a Shih Tzu in your possession you would be sentenced to death by be-heading.
Imperial Teacup Shih Tzu...
Imperial Shih Tzu are smaller than the AKC standards set for the Shih Tzu breed. In the past, the words Imperial or Teacup have been considered marketing words for branding somewhat smaller/runts of the litters so they can charge more. With ethical breeders this is not the case. There are truly teacup size Shih Tzu out there. They have been breed for this small characteristic. It is important to know the size of the parents before you purchase a teacup of any breed. If you have a 10 lb mom and an 8 lb dad, you might have a smaller size Shih Tzu, but really it is just the runt. We breed our Imperial Teacups, not only for their tiny size, but we also strive for the baby-doll faces. Our Imperial parents are between 3 and 5 pounds, and their parents are also between 3 and 5 pounds. So you know you will be getting a True Imperial Teacup puppy. The Imperials have small fragile bones that can be easily broken or fractured. They are not ideal for smaller children.
Standard Shih Tuz
A Standard size Shih Tzu should be between 10 and 14 pounds. They are stocky built dogs and have many different color variants. They can be one solid color to a few different colors mixed in. Shih Tzu have the best personalities. They are very loyal and are sensitive to your emotions. They pay close attention to your reactions and your expressions. They want to please you so badly! Each one has their own type of personality, but in general they are very loving dogs and make great companions or Family pets. They also mostly get along with other animals. The standard size Shih Tzu is a better fit for children rather than an Imperial, because their bones are stronger and sturdier. The Imperials have small fragile bones that can be easily broken or fractured. They are not ideal for smaller children.
