Shih Tzu – The Hotly Contested Shih Tzu Size Part II

In addition to the writings of Colonel Burkhardt regarding the
practice of cross-breeding the Shih Tzu with Pekingese to reduce
size, there is also published information of a booklet by Madam
Lu expressing a similar opinion. These writings were done by
someone connected with the newly formed Peking Kennel Club. The
translator of the booklet was Mr. C.S.K. Chou, but there is no
identification of the actual writer was. In reference to the
Lhassa Lion Dogs the passage says: “There is also every evidence
to show that these dogs have been bred down from a larger-sized
breed and this theory is supported by the great variety of size
and weight which is found in this class of dogs.”

We have been told that the empress Dowager did not approve of
the use of “cruel practices” to stunt the growth of the dogs,
the passages written by Colonel Burkhardt and this unknown
writer seem to imply the imperial eunuchs tried to keep the Shih
Tzu small by strictly selective breeding. This selective
breeding was approved of by the Empress, according to a Mrs.
Dixey. The breedings were not always successful so far as
producing the uniform “smaller” size Shih Tzu, which most likely
accounts for the smaller size Shih Tzu appearing in many
different bloodlines of breedings between larger Shih Tzu, and
not that the appearance of a smaller Shih Tzu in the litter is
merely the “runt” of that litter. We all know that whatever is
in the past of any dog’s bloodline can appear in the present.
This goes for size the same as for health or any other genetic
positive or negative influence on that litter.

The years immediately following the 1912 revolution, Colonel
Burkhardt also tells us the mating was very haphazard. Some 20
years later there is still complaints in Madame Lu’s booklet
regarding the “great variety of size and weight.” The same could
have been said of the Empress Dowager’s Imperial Palace Goldfish
which probably increased in size with the breakdown of
controlled breeding. The Empress Dowager had many other pets
besides the Shih Tzu.

There is strong support for the above viewpoint in the China
Weekly Chronicle of June 10, 1934. The report was on Peiping’s
First International Dog Show held on June 7, 1934. The paper
states that the Lhassa Lion Dogs were, “on the whole,
disappointing in spite of their numbers, showing too much
deviation from the standard, especially in size, suggesting the
necessity of careful breeding to the standard in the future.”
Well, what exactly was that standard? The official Peking Kennel
Club’s official standard did come until four years later. It is
uncertain what standard is referred to at this earlier date, but
is strong evidence that the question of size in the Shih Tzu has
always, absolutely always been a very hot and controversial
issue. I am not totally surprised about the myths and lies being
spread in the years of 2004 onward about the production of
smaller size Shih Tzu being a direct cause of someone being an
irresponsible breeder and in-breeding or line-breeding close
relatives just to achieve a smaller size Shih Tzu and obtain
more money for that Shih Tzu along with the lies that these
smaller type Shih Tzu are very “sickly, full of health problems,
and only the runts of the litter.” This is not the reason we
have smaller Shih Tzu among us.

All Shih Tzu breeders should have a strong grasp of Shih Tzu
history to be able to communicate the facts surrounding the
development of our present day Shih Tzu . (Please see Shih Tzu -
The Hotley Contested Shih Tzu Size Part III).