Although Tibetan in origin the Shih Tzu is classified as Chinese as it was here that the breed was developed.

In 1644 Peking was captured by the Manchus who were Lamaist Buddhists.

Buddha was said to travel around as a simple priest accompanied by a small dog which could instantly transform into a lion.The Lamaist lion is depicted with a harness and a ball or cub under its paw.For hundreds of years the Chinese Imperial family bred their small dogs to resemble these lions.

In 1903 Katherine Carl lived for ten months as a guest of the Imperial Court and stated that "the Empress,like her predecessor,encouraged the lion dog appearance to perpetuate the comparisons between The Emperors and Buddha."

The Shih Tzu as we know it,owes its existance to the Empress Tzu Hsi who maintained a large kennel of Pekes,Pugs and Shih Tzu.According to Katherine Carl "there were hundreds of dogs in the palace".The Shih Tzu were regarded as the personal property of the Imperial family and were rarely seen outside of the Palaces.

After her death in 1908 some haphazard breeding continued in the palace.Palace servants set fires to cover their stealing and looting.Many dogs were killed but some were smuggled out by fleeing servants and sold.

Breeding continued outside the palace where kennels of Shih Tzu became established.The Comptesse d'Anjou was the recipient,third hand,of some of the palacedogs.Mrs.R. Laurenz had a kennel of nearly all black dogs. One of her dogs,Chu Po, was a great grandson of Hai LIng.Alfred Koehn,a German author,lived in Peking during the Japanese invasion (1937-45) where he established his "Ra Shi" kennel.

Shih Tzu were occasionally brought to the UK at the beginning of this century but were not bred from.In 1930 Miss E.M. Hutchins returned to the UK from Peking bringing with her Lung-fu-ssu  and Shu-ssa and Hibou for Lady Mona Brownrigg.Shu-ssa produced her first litter,by Hibou, whilst in quarantine in April 1930.More imports followed including Choo Choo, Ming and Tashi of Chouette.Others were imported at this time,but these are the lines that have survived.

In 1940 the breed was granted Challenge Certificates although none were awarded until after the war when the first Champion, Ta Chi of Taishan was made up in 1949.

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The Summer Palace - Peking,with extensive gardens and lake,home of the Imperial Kennels prior to 1860 when it was destroyed by the English & French armies.

Empress Tzu Hsi with one of her Shih Tzu , a solid black,  proving that colours other than gold/gold and white were kept in the palaces."there was one dog in particular that was her favourite pet.This dog was with Her Majesty always and followed her wherever she went....Her Majesty thought it beautiful and called it Hai-Ling.from Two Years In The Forbidden City by Princess Der Ling

Ad. for Alfred Koehns
Ra Shis kennel, Peking

Mrs.R.Laurenz's Mo'er, first prize winner at the Peking Kennel Club Show 1934.Shown as a "Lhasa Lion Dog".