A Shih Tzu is a dog breed of dog weighing 4–7.25 kilograms with long silky hair. The breed originated in China, and is the closest known descendant of the prehistoric Chinese wolf, the "Senji". Shih Tzu were officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1969. The name is both singular and plural. The name Shih Tzu comes from the Chinese word shīzi 獅子 rendered according to the Wade-Giles system of romanization, in use when the breed was first introduced in America. Its Mandarin Chinese pronunciation is approximately SHIRR-tsə. The name translates as... "lion", so named because this kind of dog was bred to resemble "the lion as depicted in traditional oriental art," such as the Chinese guardian lions . The Shih Tzu is also often known as the "Xi Shi quan" , based on the name of Xi Shi, regarded as one of the most beautiful women of ancient China, and, less often, the Chrysanthemum Dog, a nickname coined in England in the 1930s.
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| Breed Group: | Toy Group |
| Place of Origin: | China |
| Also Known As: | Chrysanthemum Dog, Chinese Lion Dog |