There are various theories of the origins of today's breed. Theories relate that it stemmed from a cross between Pekingese and a Tibetan dog called the Lhasa Apso; that the Chinese court received a pair as a gift during the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907 AD); and that they were introduced from Tibet to China in the mid-18th century (Qing Dynasty.[9] Dogs during that time were selectively bred and seen in Chinese paintings. The first dogs of the breed were imported into Europe (England and Norway) in 1930, and were classified by the Kennel Club as "Apsos". The first European standard for the breed was written in England in 1935 by the Shih-Tzu Club, and the dogs were recategorised as Shih-Tzu. The breed spread throughout Europe, and was brought to the United States after World War II, when returning members of the US military brought back dogs from Europe. The Shih-Tzu was recognised by the American Kennel Club in 1969 in the Toy Group. The breed is now recognised by all of the major kennel clubs in the English-speaking world. It is also recognised by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale for international competition in Companion and Toy Dog Group, Section 5, Tibetan breeds.
Health
A number of health issues, some of them hereditary, have been found in individual Shih-Tzu, and are listed below. There is no data on the percentage of dogs with these ailments.
Morbidity
Some health issues in the breed are portosystemic shunt of the liver and hip dysplasia in standard sizes.
Breathing problems
Shih-Tzu are brachycephalic (short-muzzled) dogs and are very sensitive to high temperatures. Many airlines that ship dogs will not accept them for shipment when temperatures at any point on the planned itinerary exceeds 75 °F (24 °C).
Mortality
UK Kennel Club survey puts the average life span of a Shih-Tzu at 12 years 2 months with most living between 10-16 years.
Coat Colors
The Shih-Tzu comes in a range of colors that include various shades of gold, white and red. Other colors include black mask gold, solid red, black and white, solid black, solid liver, liver and white, blue and white, brindle and white and silver and white. Though not as common there are also solid blue Shih-Tzu. An interesting point (and often a point of confusion) is that while the coat color of those with black pigmented skin (nose, lips, pads, also referred to as "leather") is determined by the color of the coat itself; the coat color on dogs with either liver or blue pigment is categorized by the colour of the pigment. Thus a parti colored (white and another shade) Shih-Tzu with blue pigment is a "blue and white" regardless of the tint of the hair which might very well appear similar to a gold and white or other colors. The same principle applies to solid blue, liver and liver and white.
Hypoallergenic Coats
The Shih-Tzu is one of many dog breeds with a hypoallergenic coat.
Variations
Kennel Club Differences
There is a difference between the American Kennel Club and the Kennel Club (UK) Shih-Tzu:
The AKC (american kennel club) Shih-Tzu
• Their legs are high and the front legs face forward.
• The chest is small.
• The head is more or less square-ish and is set on a very long and slender neck
• The eyes are large and do not face the front completely.
• The shoulders of the American type of Shih-Tzu are frontal.