| The Shih Tzu has long been prized solely as a | | | | or the extremely short, wrinkled muzzle of the |
| companion. The Shih Tzu's temperament is of the | | | | Pekingese. The jaw is undershot, which means the |
| utmost importance. It is the Shih Tzu's unique head and | | | | lower jaw is longer than the upper jaw. The teeth |
| expression that actually distinguishes the breed from | | | | should not show when the mouth is closed. The lower |
| two other related Oriental breeds, the Lhasa Apso and | | | | lip should not protrude when viewed from the side. |
| the Pekingese. | | | | The Shih Tzu should move smoothly, flowingly and |
| Shih Tzu are alert, arrogant, full of playful antics, and | | | | effortlessly. One common problem area in the Shih |
| affectionate. Dog show judging is based on how | | | | Tzu is poor fronts. Front and rear angulations should |
| closely each Shih Tzu entered approaches the ideal | | | | be in balance for smooth movement with a good front |
| picture described in the breed standard. | | | | reach and a strong rear movement. |
| Much of the Shih Tzu breed standard is devoted to | | | | The Chinese said the Lion Dog should have dragon |
| the head. A correct head and expression should be | | | | eyes, a lion head, a bear torso, a frog mouth, palm-leaf |
| round, warm and soft. The head of a correct Shih Tzu | | | | fan ears, a feather-duster tail and movement like a |
| is large and round when viewed from the side. The | | | | goldfish. Lion Dogs (Shih Tzu) appear not only in |
| ears look like they blend in with the head. The Shih | | | | Chinese art, but also in the art of Tibet, Japan, Korea, |
| Tzu's topknot should be placed fairly low on the | | | | Thailand and Indonesia. |
| forehead in a double band to keep the hair from falling | | | | The first imports of Shih Tzu to the United States |
| forward into the Shih Tzu's eyes. | | | | came from England. These very early imports were |
| The eyes of a Shih Tzu should be round, large and | | | | noted to be "quite large." In 1955, Shih Tzu were |
| dark. A small amount of eye white is acceptable. | | | | admitted by the AKC to the Miscellaneous Class (the |
| Excessive eye white in the corners of the eye or | | | | breed is now in the Toy Group). At this time the Shih |
| around the entire eye detract from the desired warm, | | | | Tzu breed began to gain greater popularity. In 1998, |
| sweet expression. Lack of good dark pigmentation on | | | | 38,468 Shih Tzu were registered with the American |
| the nose, lips or eye rims also distracts from the | | | | Kennel Club, ranking the Shih Tzu eleventh of all |
| desired warm, sweet expression. The eyes should be | | | | registered breeds. |
| placed well apart. | | | | Famous owners of the Shih Tzu have been: Zsa Zsa |
| The muzzle is short, square and unwrinkled. This is | | | | Gabor, Yul Brynner, Elizabeth, Queen Consort of |
| unlike the longer, narrower muzzle of the Lhasa Apso | | | | George VI. |