Purebred Shih Tzu Dogs are
Also known as the 'Lion Dog'

The purebred Shih Tzu dogs are said to be amongst the "most ancient of dog breeds" and that the breed "was almost completely wiped out during the Chinese Revolution. Seven males and seven females were saved and today, all Shih Tzu dogs can be traced back to one of these dogs" (quote from Wikipedia). They are known as the 'Lion Dog' (Shih Tzu means 'lion' in Chinese) and they can also be referred to as 'Chinese Temple Dogs' because they were owned and revered by Chinese royalty for many years, and although the Chinese have claimed the breed as their own, it is more likely that their origin is of the 'tibetan dogs'.

The purebred Shih Tzu dogs will benefit, both physically and mentally, with regular exercise; they love and look forward to their daily romp and often will stop and lie down when they get weary. The breed does have respiratory problems, caused by nasal passage deformities, and these little dogs suffer with overheating in high temperatures, so don't ask them to do too much at one time. It is, also, essential that you don't overfeed your loved one because they are prone to put on weight, very quickly. Given a good healthy lifestyle this little dog will have a life span between 12 - 16 years.