What were Shih Tzus bred for?
If you share your home with a Shih Tzu, you already know your dog is happiest curled up beside you. See the real story – guest starring your dog.
Shih Tzus were bred to be companion dogs for Chinese royalty.
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The story in 5 parts
A short version first. The full story, with every detail, is further down.
Part 1
Life inside the imperial court
For centuries, small lion-like dogs lived inside the Chinese imperial palace, favored by emperors and their households.
Part 2
The Tibetan and Chinese dog mix behind the breed
The Shih Tzu's exact ancestry is not fully settled, but most accounts point to Tibet as the breed's origin, with dogs later developed further inside China.
Part 3
Bred to look like a lion, not to hunt or herd
The Shih Tzu's sole function has been companionship, both in the Chinese royal court and today.
Part 4
How the breed nearly disappeared and was rebuilt
The breed's history took a difficult turn once the Chinese imperial system ended.
Part 5
What the breed's original purpose means for owners today
The Shih Tzu's role has stayed the same across the centuries: companionship.
Read the full story
Part 1
Life inside the imperial court
For centuries, small lion-like dogs lived inside the Chinese imperial palace, favored by emperors and their households. They were closely tied to the Ming Dynasty, and later the Qing Dynasty under the Dowager Empress Cixi, who kept and carefully bred dogs including Pekingese, Pugs, and the ancestors of the Shih Tzu. Breeding inside the palace was managed by court eunuchs, who competed to produce dogs pleasing enough to the Emperor to have their portraits painted on palace hangings. If you picture your own dog getting that kind of attention from an entire household of caretakers, you get a sense of how prized these dogs were. These dogs lived close to their owners, small enough to be carried and kept warm indoors.
Part 2
The Tibetan and Chinese dog mix behind the breed
The Shih Tzu's exact ancestry is not fully settled, but most accounts point to Tibet as the breed's origin, with dogs later developed further inside China. The American Kennel Club describes the Shih Tzu as originating in Tibet and believed to be bred from the Pekingese and the Lhasa Apso. Tibetan dogs are thought to have been sent to Chinese emperors as gifts, and once in the palace they were interbred with shorter-faced Chinese dogs such as the Pekingese. The breed's other nickname, the chrysanthemum dog, comes from the way the facial hair grows in every direction around the muzzle, rather than from the lion symbolism directly. Because accounts of the palace years differ, you will find different versions of this story, and even breed historians disagree on some of the details.
Part 3
Bred to look like a lion, not to hunt or herd
The Shih Tzu's sole function has been companionship, both in the Chinese royal court and today. The name Shih Tzu comes from the Mandarin word for lion, because the dog was bred to resemble the lion as shown in traditional Chinese art. Lions were sacred in Buddhism, and since no lions actually lived in China or Tibet, breeders aimed for a dog that echoed the lion images seen in temple art and statues. According to the American Kennel Club's breed standard, the Shih Tzu's sole function has been companionship, both in the Chinese royal court and today.
Part 4
How the breed nearly disappeared and was rebuilt
The breed's history took a difficult turn once the Chinese imperial system ended. Sources describe Shih Tzus being killed after China's Communist revolution because of their association with wealth, and an English breeder, Lady Brownrigg, was able to save some of the dogs by bringing them to England. A small number of dogs left China for England and Scandinavian countries including Norway during the 1920s and 1930s, and breed clubs in England began to set standards for them in the 1930s. According to the American Kennel Club, modern 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 breed in England in 1952. That means if your dog is a Shih Tzu, its family tree traces back through a very small founding group of just 13 dogs plus one Pekingese.
Part 5
What the breed's original purpose means for owners today
The Shih Tzu's role has stayed the same across the centuries: companionship. The breed standard describes the Shih Tzu's temperament as friendly, outgoing, affectionate, and trusting. That history also explains some practical parts of caring for your dog, since the long, soft double coat that made court dogs so admired needs brushing every few days to avoid tangles and mats.
Things you might not know
- Shih Tzus were bred to be companion dogs for Chinese royalty.
- The Shih Tzu's sole function has been companionship, both in the Chinese royal court and today.
- The breed standard describes the Shih Tzu's temperament as friendly, outgoing, affectionate, and trusting.
Year by year
- 1952According to the American Kennel Club, modern 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 breed in England in 1952.
Questions people ask
Were Shih Tzus bred to hunt anything?
No, sources describe the Shih Tzu's sole function as companionship, both historically in the Chinese court and today.
Why are Shih Tzus called chrysanthemum dogs?
The nickname comes from the way hair grows in many directions around the Shih Tzu's face and muzzle. The Shih Tzu was nicknamed the chrysanthemum dog in England during the 1930s.
Are Shih Tzus related to Pekingese dogs?
Yes, the Shih Tzu is believed to be bred from the Pekingese and the Lhasa Apso. Sources describe Tibetan-type dogs being interbred with Pekingese inside the Chinese imperial palace, which shaped the modern Shih Tzu.
Did Shih Tzus almost go extinct?
The breed came close to disappearing after the Communist revolution, when dogs associated with wealth were killed. An English breeder, Lady Brownrigg, saved some dogs by bringing them to England, and modern Shih Tzus descend from a small founding group of just 13 imported dogs plus one Pekingese added later.
Why do Shih Tzus have long coats?
Lions held sacred meaning in Buddhism, and the Shih Tzu was bred to resemble one. The coat is a soft double coat that tangles and mats easily, so it needs frequent brushing to stay healthy.
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Sources
- A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE SHIH TZU | American Shih Tzu Club. shihtzu.org.
- Shih Tzu History: From Royal Dogs to Beloved Companions. American Kennel Club.
- Shih Tzu - Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org.
- Dynasty Dogs: The Royal History of the Shih Tzu. PEDIGREE®.
- History of the Shih Tzu: The Royal “Lion Dog” of China. petfurs.com - for true pet lovers, Oct 19, 2025.
- The History and Origin of the Shih Tzu: A Comprehensive Look. iHeartDogs.com, Feb 28, 2024.
- Breed History. Shih Tzu Club UK.
- Client Challenge. www.scribd.com.
- History of the Shih Tzu from Ancient to Modern Times. Miracle Shih Tzu.
- Shih tzu history: A fascinating timeline of the breed. www.betterpet.com.
- Shih Tzu Facts You May Not Know. American Kennel Club.
- Lhasa Apso vs. Shih Tzu: Similarities and Differences. American Kennel Club.
Written by TimeWalkies EditorialLast updated How we research