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Shih tzu origin: what DNA and old records actually show

See the real story – guest starring your dog.

The shih tzu likely descends from Tibetan lion-like dogs and is believed to be bred from the Pekingese and the Lhasa Apso. Its name comes from the Mandarin word for lion, a nod to Buddhist lion imagery and the breed's high status in the Chinese court. As you keep reading, you will see what the record trail and DNA evidence can and cannot confirm about your dog's deep past.

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The story in 7 parts

A short version first. The full story, with every detail, is further down.

Part 1

The short answer on shih tzu origin

If you look at your shih tzu and wonder about the breed's roots, the accepted story traces back to Tibet.

Part 2

What genetic studies say about ancient ancestry

A 2004 study published in the journal Science analyzed DNA from 85 dog breeds.

Part 3

Tracing the name through Chinese and Tibetan sources

The Mandarin word shizi means lion, and the shih tzu was bred to resemble the lion as it appears in traditional oriental art.

Part 4

Court records from the Ming and Qing dynasties

The shih tzu lived with Chinese royalty during the Ming dynasty, from 1368 to 1644.

Part 5

How the breed nearly disappeared and was rebuilt

After Cixi died in 1908, her palace breeding program ended and the future of the palace dogs became uncertain.

Part 6

From China to the wider world

The Kennel Club in Britain gave the shih tzu its own register in 1940.

Part 7

How this differs from other small Asian breeds

The shih tzu is often described as related to both the Pekingese and the Lhasa Apso.

Read the full story

Part 1

The short answer on shih tzu origin

If you look at your shih tzu and wonder about the breed's roots, the accepted story traces back to Tibet. The Shih Tzu Club in Britain notes that these small Tibetan dogs have a recorded history going back 1,000 years. Historians describe the shih tzu as believed to be bred from the Pekingese and the Lhasa Apso. The name shih tzu comes from the Mandarin word for lion. That name points to the breed's tie to Buddhist lion imagery and to the high status these small dogs held inside the Chinese imperial court.

Part 2

What genetic studies say about ancient ancestry

A 2004 study published in the journal Science analyzed DNA from 85 dog breeds. It placed the shih tzu in a small group of breeds, mostly from Asia and Africa, whose DNA was the most distinct from modern European breeds. That same group included the Lhasa Apso and the Pekingese. The result points to old roots and long isolation for your dog's breed, but it does not give an exact age. So if a website gives you an exact year for the breed's first appearance, treat that claim with caution, since DNA evidence supports antiquity rather than a precise date.

Part 3

Tracing the name through Chinese and Tibetan sources

The Mandarin word shizi means lion, and the shih tzu was bred to resemble the lion as it appears in traditional oriental art. Lions were sacred in Buddhism, a religion that began in India, and lions never lived in China, so artists and breeders used small dogs to stand in for the animal. Tradition holds that dogs like these were sent from Tibet to the Chinese imperial court as gifts. There are no reliable records showing that Tibetan monks bred the shih tzu itself as a separate breed; the shih tzu as we know it was developed in China.

Part 4

Court records from the Ming and Qing dynasties

The shih tzu lived with Chinese royalty during the Ming dynasty, from 1368 to 1644. Court eunuchs raised the dogs, and fine examples were painted onto wall hangings and drapes that decorated the palaces for several hundred years. The emperor sometimes rewarded the producer of a favored dog with income from portions of rice farmland. In the late 1800s Empress Dowager Cixi ran a breeding program for the palace dogs, alongside a kennel of pugs and Pekingese. When you read a very specific date or gift story about the shih tzu's palace years, it helps to remember that much of this account rests on tradition rather than on written court records.

Part 5

How the breed nearly disappeared and was rebuilt

After Cixi died in 1908, her palace breeding program ended and the future of the palace dogs became uncertain. After the 1949 Communist revolution, shih tzus in China were killed because of their association with wealth. The breed survived only because a few dogs had already left the country. Lady Brownrigg, an Englishwoman living in China, brought two shih tzus to England in 1928. A dog named Lung-fu-ssa was also imported to Ireland in 1933. Today's shih tzus descend from just 13 dogs imported into England and Scandinavia between 1928 and 1952, plus one black and white Pekingese added to the line in that same year. A small founding population is one reason responsible breeders value health testing.

Part 6

From China to the wider world

The Kennel Club in Britain gave the shih tzu its own register in 1940. The American Shih Tzu Club formed in 1963 after separate groups of fanciers in the United States joined forces. More than 100 shih tzus were exported to the United States between 1957 and 1963, according to the American Shih Tzu Club. The American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1969 and placed it in the Toy Group.

Part 7

How this differs from other small Asian breeds

The shih tzu is often described as related to both the Pekingese and the Lhasa Apso. Historians describe the shih tzu as believed to be bred from the Pekingese and the Lhasa Apso.

Things you might not know

  • The Shih Tzu Club in Britain notes that these small Tibetan dogs have a recorded history going back 1,000 years.
  • The name shih tzu comes from the Mandarin word for lion.
  • Tradition holds that dogs like these were sent from Tibet to the Chinese imperial court as gifts.
  • After the 1949 Communist revolution, shih tzus in China were killed because of their association with wealth.

Year by year

  1. 1368The shih tzu lived with Chinese royalty during the Ming dynasty, from 1368 to 1644.
  2. 1908After Cixi died in 1908, her palace breeding program ended and the future of the palace dogs became uncertain.
  3. 1928Lady Brownrigg, an Englishwoman living in China, brought two shih tzus to England in 1928.
  4. 1933A dog named Lung-fu-ssa was also imported to Ireland in 1933.
  5. 1940The Kennel Club in Britain gave the shih tzu its own register in 1940.
  6. 1963The American Shih Tzu Club formed in 1963 after separate groups of fanciers in the United States joined forces.
  7. 1969The American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1969 and placed it in the Toy Group.

Questions people ask

Where did the shih tzu breed originally come from?

The shih tzu is believed to be bred from the Pekingese and the Lhasa Apso.

What does the name shih tzu mean?

The name comes from the Mandarin word for lion, reflecting the breed's link to Buddhist lion imagery.

Is the shih tzu related to the Lhasa Apso?

Yes, the shih tzu is generally described as bred in part from the Lhasa Apso, along with the Pekingese. A 2004 DNA study also placed the shih tzu and the Lhasa Apso in the same small group of old, genetically distinct breeds.

How old is the shih tzu breed?

The exact age is not known, though the breed's DNA is old and distinct. A 2004 DNA study placed the shih tzu among old, isolated Asian and African breed lineages, but that evidence points to antiquity rather than to a precise date.

Did shih tzus almost go extinct?

After the 1949 Communist revolution, shih tzus in China were killed because of their association with wealth. The breed survived through a small number of dogs already in England and Scandinavia, and today's shih tzus descend from just 13 of those dogs plus one Pekingese added later.

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Sources

  1. Shih Tzu History: From Royal Dogs to Beloved Companions. American Kennel Club.
  2. Shih Tzu - Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org.
  3. Breed History. Shih Tzu Club UK.
  4. Shih Tzu Origin | Interesting History and Ancestry of the Breed. www.allshihtzu.com.
  5. Shih Tzu Origin: From Tibetan Monks to China’s Imperial Court. Shih Tzu Pedia, Feb 20, 2023.
  6. Shih tzu history: A fascinating timeline of the breed. www.betterpet.com.
  7. Shih Tzu Breed Guide - Top Facts & Info - Animal Corner. Animal Corner, Jul 13, 2020.
  8. History of Shih Tzu. NorthStar Shih Tzu Rescue.
  9. Dynasty Dogs: The Royal History of the Shih Tzu. PEDIGREE®.
  10. History of the Shih Tzu: The Royal “Lion Dog” of China. petfurs.com - for true pet lovers, Oct 19, 2025.

Written by TimeWalkies EditorialLast updated How we research