Imperial Shih Tzu
The History of Imperial Shih Tzu
The Chinese imperial dog best known as the Imperial Shih Tzu, was bred first in China, the Imperial Palace. These small dogs were brought into the sleeves of the nobles, they did not have a name yet, in fact they were called dogs sleeve or Hah-Pah dogs (which means under the table). The Chinese tables, in fact, were very low almost to the ground. At that time these small dogs with short legs, they were kind shih tzu, pug and Pekingese. They looked very different from what we know today. In the ancient Chinese paintings, you can clearly see their minute measures. After landing in the US many breeders decided to breed the small size, the Shih Tzu has had the imperial recognition in 2005.
The thickness of Shih Tzu Imperial standard establishes that the weight must not be higher than 9 lbs (4.82 kg) and height at withers not exceeding 9 inches (22.86 cm). The nomenclature «Imperial Shih Tzu» was given by breeding these dogs to distinguish from the standard size.
In 1908, a pair of small furry dogs «looked like the shih tzu today,» he was presented to the Empress Tzu Hsi, as a gift of spiritual leader Dalai Lama. The Empress who raised the Pekingese, added this new breed of dogs (Shih Tzu) to his collection. In his breeding, Tzu Hsi, had three types of dogs: one short-haired like Pug, Pekingese and the last of the long robe, that is the Shih Tzu. All had crushed face, back then there was not much distinction, they were similar. The Empress looked after from near the beginning of the Shih Tzu development, crossing the future race with Pekingese and Pug. The Queen had a particular fondness for the smaller size and considered the larger size is undesirable. The subjects who were not of the desired size, were given as a gift to the outside of the building. For small dogs grown into the «forbidden city», he was never allowed to go outside. Anyone attempting to bring a copy to the outside of the building, or trying to sell one of them, was sentenced to death. This is why only the biggest specimens have been exported and known. On the death of the Empress, the dogs were not followed strictly as before. The young emperor ascended the throne, he showed little interest in these dogs so the subjects of inferior quality were sold to the markets, while the rest were sold secretly to noblemen and tourists.
The Shih Tzu has arrived in England, thanks to Lady Brownrigg, who discovered the breed in Beijing in 1930. In those years, the Shih Tzu was ranked as Apso, only in 1935 was recognized as a breed apart.
Later, during World War II, some American soldiers took the Shih Tzu in America. The Shih Tzu was recognized by the AKC (American Kennel Club) only in 1969. The first imported dogs were often registered as intersections Lhasa Apso, the AKC required six generations to recognize the new breed.
This is the Shih Tzu
Rev. Allan Easton visited Beijing in 1937 was one of the first Europeans who visited the saddle of a mule, the mysterious land of Tibet. The theory of the Reverend, concerns the development of two sizes of Shih Tzu is confirmed by a little-known essay written by Princess Der Ling knew that the Chinese Empress and her real-breeding. This paper was published in 1933 in the US there are given information received by the Empress Dowager about her beloved Shih Tzu. For example: if you are born in a litter four cubs there are rarely more than two that can keep (like beauty and proportions). The other two although children of the same parents, are too big. As for power, the empress says that you should never feed him and drink excessively otherwise grow too. As previously explained the puppies who did not meet these standards were being given away or donated but never suppressed. These dogs he considered «non-standard» Chinese Empress did not want to breed but they were only used as companion dogs, unfortunately this the ruling had no control. According to what is written in the book «This Is The Shihtzu» and based on the research of Easton Reverend these dogs were at most about 9 lbs 4.77 Kg. In the photo below on the book, you can see a page of the book with a description of weight, 6.5 lbs, about 3 kg. The Imperial Shih Tzu is bred in the USA for about fifty years and there are too many to say that it does not exist.
La Historia del Shih Tzu Imperial
El perro chino imperial mas conocido como Shih Tzu Imperial,ha sido criado primero en China , en el palacio imperial. Estos pequenos perros se llevaban en las mangas de los nobles ,no tenian todavia un nombre, los llamaban perros de manga o tambien Hah Pah (que significa debajo de la mesa). Las mesas chinas ,son muy bajas casi a ras del suelo. En aquellos tiempos estos perros de talla pequena ,con patas cortas,eran tipo Shih Tzu ,Carlino o Pequines.
Tenian un aspecto muy distinto al que conocemos hoy. En las pinturas chinas ,se ven claramente sus medidas pequenas.
Cuando llegaron a USA muchos criadores decidieron criar la talla pequena ,el Shih Tzu Imperial fue reconocido en el año 2005 .
El estandard del Shih Tzu Imperial establece que el peso no tiene que ser superior a 9 lbs (4,82Kg.) y la altura a la cruz no superior a 9 inches(22,86cm).
La nomenclatura “Shih Tzu Imperial “ fue dada por estos criadores para poder distinguir estos perros de la talla estandard.
En el 1908 una pareja de pequeños perros pelosos que se parecian a los Shih Tzu de hoy,vienieron presentados a la emperatriz Tzu Hsi ,como don del lider espiritual Dalai Lama. La emperatriz que criaba pequineses,añadio esta raza de perros (Shih Tzu) a su coleccion. En su criadero,Tzu Hsi,tenia 3 tipologias de perros: uno a pelo corto como el Carlino, el pequines y el ultimo con pelo largo ,osea el Shih Tzu. Todos tenian el hocicoaplastado ,en aquellos tiempos no habia mucha distincion,eran muy parecidos.La emperatriz seguia muy de cerca el inicio del desarrollo del Shih Tzu,cruzando la futura raza con el pequines y el carlino. La soberana tenia una particular predileccion por la talla mas pequeña y consideraba la mas grande no deseable. Los ejemplares que no eran de la medida deseada, eran regalados como dono fuera de palacio. Los peques ejemplares crecidos dentro de la “ciudad prohibida”, no tenian el permiso para salir fuera. A quien intentara llevar un ejemplar fuera del palacio o intentase vender uno de ellos ,venia condenado a muerte.
Este es el motivo por el cual solo eran conocidos los ejemplares mas grandes.
Cuando la emperatriz fallecio ,los perros no fueron seguidos escrupulosamente como antes.El joven emperador que salio al trono ,se demostro poco interesado en estos perros y los perros de calidad inferior fueron vendidos en los mercados ,mientras los otros fueron vendidos a los nobles y turistas.
El Shih Tzu llego a Inglaterra ,gracias a Lady Brownrigg,que descubrio la raza en Pekin en el 1930 .En aquellos años,el Shih Tzu era clasificado como Apso ,solamente en el 1935 fue reconocida como raza aparte.
Durante la segunda guerra mundial ,algunos soldados americanos han llevado el Shih Tzu en America.El Shih Tzu fue reconocido del AKC(American Kennel Club) solo en el 1969.Los primeros perros importados a menudo eran reconocidos como cruces entre Lhasa Apso , el AKC pedia 6 generaciones para reconocer la nueva raza.
El reverendo Allan Easton visito Pekin en el 1937 fue uno de los primeros que visito en un mulo ,la misteriosa tierra del Tibet. La teoria del reverendo,sobre las dos tallas del Shih Tzu encuentra la confirmacion en un ensayo poco conocido de la princesa Der Ling que conocia la emperatriz china y su criadero real. Este escrito fue publicado en el 1933 en USA donde estan las informaciones de la emperatriz Dowager sobre sus amados Shih Tzu. Por ejemplo : si en una camada nacen 4 cachorros ,raramente se pueden quedar con mas de dos(como belleza y proporciones). Los otros dos aunque si eran hijos de los mismos padres ,eran demasiado grandes. Por lo concierne a la alimentacion,la emperatriz explica que no hace falta darle de comer ni de beber excesivamente sino crecen demasiado.
Como hemos explicado anteriormente los cachorros que no respetan estos estandard eran regalados o donados pero nunca suprimidos. Estos perros que consideraba fuera del estandard ,la emperatriz no deseaba que se reprodujeran sino que fueran usados solo como perros de compania, pero sobre esto la emperatriz no tenia control. Segun cuanto esta escrito en el libro “This is The Shih Tzu” y en base a las investigaciones del reverendo Easton estos perros eran al maximo de 9 lbs (4,77 Kg).En las fotos presentes en el libro ,se puede ver una pagina con la descripcion del peso 6,5 lbs (3 Kg.).El Shih Tzu Imperial se cria en USA desde hace casi 50 anos,demasiados para decir que no existe….
