ShihTzu Dogs
TheComplete Owners Guide from Puppy to Old Age
Choosing,Caring for, Grooming, Health, Training and Understanding Your Shih Tzu Dog
ByAlex Seymour
Copyright and Trademarks
This e-book is copyright protected and is NOT free. You may NOT give it away! If you do, legalproceedings will be started for copyright infringement and compensation forpotential loss of earnings.
All rights reserved. No part ofthis e-book may be reproduced or transferred in any form or by any means,graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping,or by any information storage retrieval system, without the written permissionof the author.
This publication is Copyright 2014by CWP Publishing.
A catalogue record for this bookis available from the British library.
All products, publications, softwareand services mentioned and recommended in this publication are protected bytrademarks. In such instance, all trademarks & copyright belong to therespective owners.
Disclaimer and Legal Notice
This product is not legal oraccounting advice and should not be interpreted in that manner. You need to doyour own due-diligence to determine if the content of this product is right foryou. While every attempt has been made to verify the information shared in thispublication, neither the author nor the affiliates assume any responsibilityfor errors, omissions or contrary interpretation of the subject matter herein.Any perceived slights to any specific person(s) or organization(s) are purelyunintentional.
We have no control over thenature, content and availability of the web sites listed in this book. Theinclusion of any web site links does not necessarily imply a recommendation orendorse the views expressed within them. CWP Publishing takes no responsibilityfor, and will not be liable for, the websites being temporarily unavailable orbeing removed from the internet.
The accuracy and completeness ofinformation provided herein and opinions stated herein are not guaranteed orwarranted to produce any particular results, and the advice and strategiescontained herein may not be suitable for every individual. The author shall notbe liable for any loss incurred as a consequence of the use and application,directly or indirectly, of any information presented in this work. Thispublication is designed to provide information in regard to the subject mattercovered.
Neither the author nor the publisherassume any responsibility for any errors or omissions, nor do they represent orwarrant that the ideas, information, actions, plans, suggestions contained inthis book are in all cases accurate. It is the reader's responsibility to findadvice before putting anything written in this book into practice. Theinformation in this book is not intended to serve as legal advice.
Foreword
Shih Tzu Dogs The CompleteOwners Guide, from Puppy to Old Age, will answer all the questions you mayhave when considering sharing your home with this purebred, lovable companionbreed.
As an owner, expert trainer andprofessional dog whisperer, I would like to teach you the human side of theequation, so you can learn how to think more like your dog and eliminatebehavioral problems with your pet.
Although this breed are true lapdogs, my own Shih Tzu has stepped outside of the breed box and become theperfect working dog that truly assists us in our dog whispering business. He isan amazing testament to how incredible our relationships can be with our dogs,when they receive the proper training.
Learn everything there is to knowabout this breed from its royal, ancient bloodline origins to the present daycompanionship role this wonderful social little dog enjoys in todays modernworld.
Once youve read this book youwill have all the information you need in order to make a well-informeddecision about whether or not the Shih Tzu is the breed for you, and you willknow how to care for them every stage of their life.
Acknowledgments
In writing this book, I also sought tips,advice, photos and opinions from many experts of the Shih Tzu breed.
In particular I wish to thank the followingwonderful experts for going out of their way to help and contribute:
Special thanks to Susan Kilgore ofFantasy Shih Tzu, who is a true expert and breed winner at the famous WestminsterKennel Club show. Her advice and comments were greatly appreciated andculminate in a wonderful bonus chapter in which we interview her about herexperiences.
Susan Kilgore of Fantasy Shih Tzu
http://www.fantasyshihtzu.com
Asia Moore of K-9 Super Heroes DogWhispering
http://www.k-9superheroesdogwhispering.com/
Rebecca Rayner of Fluffyangel
http://www.fluffyangelshihtzus.co.uk
Pam Crump of JiDu De ShenTi ShihTzu
http://www.pamcrump.com
Victoria Grugan of Jardhu Shih Tzu
http://www.jardhu.org.uk
Janine Scott of Honeyshuchon ShihTzus
http://www.honeyshuchonshihtzus.co.uk
Table of Contents
Chapter 1- The World of the Shih Tzu Dog
History and Origins of the Breed
According to DNA studies, thelovable Shih Tzu with the long, flowing coat is one of the 14 ancient breeds ofcanines (dogs) originating in Tibet around 800 BC.
Depictions of the ancient Shih Tzuappear in tapestries and documents dating as far back as AD 624.
The Shih Tzu is the closest knowndescendant of Senji, the prehistoric Chinese wolf.
Although the exact origin andhistory is open for debate and cant be known for certain, there is no doubtthis dog holds a special place in the hearts of all who have met them.
Many believe that the Shih Tzubreed was developed by Tibetan monks who offered the royal temple dogs as giftsto the emperors of China.
The Shih Tzu has been known by atleast seven different names throughout its long history. The original, completename of the Shih Tzu is Tibetan Shih Tzu Kou, meaning Tibetan Lion Dog. Theirlion-like facial features were revered because it is said that Buddha rode toearth on the back of a lion.
The Shih Tzu has also been namedafter one of the most beautiful women of China, Xi Shi Quan, which was basedon the name Xi Shi.
Most humans terribly mispronouncethe name Shih Tzu as their current modern name is of Chinese origin, it ismore correctly pronounced phonetically as She Zoo or Sheed-Zoo.
The name Shih Tzu refers to eitherone dog or many dogs as it is both singular and plural.
The Shih Tzu was raised in Chineseimperial palaces by eunuchs for the pleasure of the nobility, and anyone foundowning one of these sacred dogs outside of the palace would be put to death.
During the Ming and ManchuDynasties, Shih Tzu were used as bed warmers and placed at the feet of the emperorsand empresses to generate heat on cold nights. They were so highly prized thatthe dogs would be allowed to dine at the Emperors table.
Dowager Empress Tzu Hsi (Cixi),who ruled in China from 1861 through 1908, considered the Shih Tzu to be sacred.Much of the breed standard today is a result of the high standards and careful breedingin the world-renowned kennels of Pugs, Pekingese and Shih Tzu.
Empress Cixi was personally involvedin the careful supervision of the breeding kennels throughout her lifetime andattempted to keep these three imperial breeds separate.
The actual breeding was carriedout by palace eunuchs who, without sanction from the Empress, secretly crossedthe breeds in order to both reduce the size of these dogs as well as produceunusual and desirable markings. That gave the Shih Tzu the unique characteristicsthat make them different from the Tibetan Lion Dogs that have become todaysLhasa Apsos.
Next page