These dogs have been cherished over the centuries by royal families and now regular people alike. They were first given to a Chinese dynasty as gifts. The Chinese came to love dogs and in the palaces the dogs had their own servants . They were then given to the English as gifts.

 The English then esteemed them for their grace and beauty. They were bred with the Pekinese to improve upon their build but not to the point of a total new breed. Their coats and builds changed slightly but they kept their temperament and prestigious attitude. After the English had them they were brought to America.

     When these dogs were brought over they were not recognized as a breed of their own. They got inbred with all sorts of different breeds. The most common inbreeding was with the Lahsa Apso since people could not tell them apart. It was not until 1968 that the AKC recognized it as its own breed. Now the Shih Tzu is a favored house pet and a beautiful show dog.