Shih Tzu
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈʃɪtzuː/
ipa: /ˈʃɪtzuː/
ipa: /ˈʃiːtsuː/
Forms: form: Shih Tzus
form: Shih Tzu
form: Shih-Tzu
form: shih tzu
form: shih-tzu
form: Shihtzu
form: shihtzu
Etymology: From the Wade–Giles romanisation shih¹-tzŭ⁵ of Mandarin 獅子 /狮子 (shīzi, “lion”), a contraction of 獅子狗 /狮子狗 (shīzigǒu, literally “lion dog”), from the breed's resemblance to Chinese guardian lion statues. The original Mandarin word now refers only to the Pekingese, while this breed now properly goes by the name 西施犬 (xīshīquǎn, literally “Xi Shi dog”).
Senses: examples: text: In their native land the Pekinese dogs are known as "Shih-Tzu-Kom," which means the "Lion-Dog."
ref: [1904, Herbert Compton, The Twentieth Century Dog: Compiled from the Contributions of over Five Hundred Experts, volume I (Non-sporting), London: G. Richards, →OCLC, page 263:
text: In New York, I had the great pleasure of meeting Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Morgan who showed me their dogs from Pekin. Mr. Morgan has written several articles on Lhasa Apso and Shih Tzu.
ref: 1937 January–June, The American Kennel Gazette, volume 54, part 1, New York, N.Y.: American Kennel Club, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 166:
text: The Shih Tzu (pronounced Sheed-zoo) has a long, dense, wavy coat that completely hides its legs. Its name means "little lion" in Chinese. Descriptions include "very active, lively and alert, with a distinctly arrogant carriage"; […] Behavior problems may include irritable snapping and touch-shyness, especially when hot. A Shih Tzu may be hard to housebreak.
ref: 1983, Daniel F. Tortora, “The Toy Dogs”, in The Right Dog for You, 1st Fireside edition, New York, N.Y.: Fireside, Simon & Schuster, →ISBN, page 162:
text: A plucked and stripped terrier, a properly brushed Shih Tzu, or a Standard Poodle in a continental clip with powdered pompoms will turn heads on any sidewalk as well as in the show ring.
ref: 1998, Jane Stern, Michael Stern, “The Beauty of the Beast”, in Dog Eat Dog: A Very Human Book about Dogs and Dog Shows, 1st Fireside edition, New York, N.Y.: Fireside, Simon & Schuster, →ISBN, page 155:
text: "And who is your baby?" he asked Jane. / "Stuart Little," she said. "He's a shih tzu." / "We love shih tzus," Uncle Bob said. "Let me show you all the fun things we have for Stuart."
ref: 2014 November, Elaine Viets, chapter 6, in A Dog Gone Murder: Josie Marcus, Mystery Shopper (An Obsidian Mystery), Obsidian, Penguin Group, →ISBN, page 37:
text: Shih Tzu tend to get along better with other Shih Tzu than other breeds. Maybe it's because they are not threatened by dogs that are around the same size or maybe each dog can sense that the other is part of the same dog family.
ref: 2014, Jon Han, “Your Chosen Breed: The Shih Tzu”, in The Complete Guide to the Shih Tzu, [United Kingdom?]: For Dogs Sake, →ISBN, page 33:
text: She came home from the animal shelter with a shih tzu. He still thinks she did that just to spite him, her way of getting in the last word. […] Yaz is a good dog, and Joe is man enough to be seen out in Charlestown walking a shih tzu. As long as Rosie doesn't dress the pooch in one of those friggin' sweaters.
ref: 2015, Lisa Genova, chapter 2, in Inside the O’Briens: A Novel, New York, N.Y.: Gallery Books, Simon & Schuster, →ISBN, page 11:
glosses: A small dog breed which originated in China; a dog of that breed.
wikipedia: Chinese guardian lion
Shih Tzu
Shih Tzu#Etymology
Valletta Waterfront
Xi Shi
Synonyms: Chinese lion dog
chrysanthemum dog