The LEGEND of the Shih Tzu has come to us from documents, paintings, and object d'art dating from A.D 624. During the Tang Dynasty, K'iu T'ai, King of Viqur, gave the Chinese court a pair of dogs, said to have come from the Fu Lin (assumed to be the Byzantine Empire). Mention of these dogs was again made in A.D. 990-994 when people of the Ho Chou sent dogs as tribute.

Another theory of their introduction to China was recorded in the mid-seventeenth century when dogs were brought from Tibet to the Chinese court. These dogs were bred in the Forbidden City of Peking. Many pictures of them were kept in the The Imperial Dog Book.

The smallest of these dogs resembled a lion, as represented in Oriental art. In Buddhist belief there is an association between the lion and their Deity. Shih Tzu mens Lion. The dogs for court breeding were selected with great care. From these the Shih Tzu known today developed. They were often called "the chrysanthemum faced dog" because the hair grows about the face in all directions.

These dogs were small, intelligent and extremely docile. It is known that the breeding of the Shih Tzu was delegated to certain court eunuchs who vied with each other to produce specimens which would take the Emperor's fancy. Those which were selected had their pictures painted on hangings or tapestries and the eunuchs, responsible for the dogs were given gifts by the Emperor.

It is known that the Shih Tzu was a house pet during most of the Ming Dynasty and that they were highly favoured by the royal family. at the time of the Revolution a large number of these dogs were destroyed and only a few escaped the invader's knives.

Around 1930, Lady Brownigg, an English woman living in China, was fortunate to find a few of these dogs, which she imported to England. These, with a few salvaged by an English officer on duty in China, made up the stock which was responsible for the continuation of the breed in Europe.

From England, dogs of this breed were sent to the Scandinavian countries, to other countries in Europe and to Australia. During World War II, American members of the Armed Forces stationed in England became acquainted with the breed and on their return took some back to the United States, thus introducing them to the USA. Since then many have been imported.

The Shih Tzu was admitted to registration in the The American Kennel Club Stud Book in March 1969 and to regular show classification in the Toy Group at AKC shows September 1, 1969.