It is a strange name but a Shih Tzu is a very popular dog breed in the US today. Amazingly, the US never even heard of this dog breed before the 1930s because only the members of the Chinese royal family were permitted to own them. "Shīzi Gǒu" in Chinese literally means "Lion Dog". The Shih Tzu is a lap dog bred to resemble a lion. They have a long and silky coat which needs careful brushing at least every other day. Because the hair of the Shih Tzu dog continues to grow, they may need to be clipped every couple of months or so. Their long hair gives them a cute beard and whiskers around the mouth and eyes which may require extra care to keep them clean. The long hair is also evident on their plumed tails which they carry over their back.

The Shih Tzu dog breed has a round head with a domed skull, long ears, a short muzzle, and a distictive undershot bite. They have short legs and should stand no more than 11" high. The Shih Tzu dog generally does not get to be more than 16 pounds.

The Shih Tzu dog was bred to be an indoor lap dog. And as such, they should not be left outdoors in extreme hot or cold weather. When you travel, you should take your Shih Tzu dog with you or leave them with a friend. The Shih Tzu dog breed generally does not like to be left alone and may get stressed out in a kennel environment. If you take your Shih Tzu dog with you they are perfecty happly travelers. Because they love people and they love to get attention, they may try to ride in your lap when you drive. This can be a distraction, and it can also be a danger. Consider getting your Shih Tzu dog a pet travel seat belt or a pet car seat. The Shih Tzu dog is small enough that you can also take them with you when you fly. An appropriately sized kennel and a health certificate form your veterinarian are two of the many things your Shih Tzu dog will need before they can go on an airplane.

The Shih Tzu dog breed is a very affectionate and playful dog. Althought playful, they do not required a lot of exercise. But the Shih Tzu dog can be stubborn and seemingly arrogant at times (probably due to their royal ancestry). Careful training is needed with the Shih Tzu dog breed. Positive Reinforcement generally works best. Although the Shih Tzu dog usually gets along well with strangers and other dogs, they can be jealous of small children - probably because they see children as competition for affection.

The Shih Tzu dog was bred from a Pekingese at one time in England and possibly crossed with a Lhasa Apso. In fact, a Shih Tzu dog breed and a Lhasa Apso dog breed can look very similar and people often get them confused.

Because the Shih Tzu dog breed is so popular, there are many unscrupulous breeders out there who breed the dogs in puppy mills or breed without doing proper health evaluations and scans. Because of this form of "backyard breeding", these poor dogs can end up with one of many hereditary diseases and deformities. Hip dysplasia can result in the elbows of the Shih Tzu dog. They can also get renal dysplasia which is an abnormal developement and function of the kidneys. An improperly bred Shih Tzu dog can also have eye problems such as dry eye or PRA (progressive retinal atrophy) which may lead to blindness. The Shih Tzu dog can also develope patellar luxation which is where the knee cap slips in and out of place, causing pain and possible lameness.

So before you buy a Shih Tzu dog, make sure you are buying from a reputable breeder. You can get a list of reputable breeders by writing to the AKC or the Shih Tzu Club of america. Never meet a breeder at any location other than their own so that you can see the manner in which they breed and raise their dogs.