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• Shih Tzu
  Shih Tzu

  noun

  one of a Tibetan breed of toy dogs having a long luxurious coat of any color, formerly bred in imperial China as a pet of the nobility.
• shih-tzu
  shih-tzu

  noun

  a small dog of a breed derived from crossing the Pekingese and the Tibetan apso. It has a long straight dense coat and carries its tail curled over its back

Shih Tzu

American  

[shee dzoo] / ˈʃi ˈdzu /

noun

1. one of a Tibetan breed of toy dogs having a long luxurious coat of any color, formerly bred in imperial China as a pet of the nobility.

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shih-tzu British  

/ ˈʃiːˈtsuː /

noun

1. a small dog of a breed derived from crossing the Pekingese and the Tibetan apso. It has a long straight dense coat and carries its tail curled over its back

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Etymology

Origin of Shih Tzu

1945–50; < Chinese (Wade-Giles) shih 1 tzŭ ( kou 3 ), (pinyin) shīzi ( gǒu ) literally, lion (dog)

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Shih Tzu shih-tzu

Back at the North Scottsdale shopping center, Denise F. was walking Chase, her Shih Tzu, past a parking lot brimming with Teslas, Mercedes and Cadillac SUVs.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 15, 2026

They brought their most valuable belongings, including a Scottish Straight cat and a Shih Tzu dog.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 10, 2025

Every time she takes a train to travel across India, the four-year-old Shih Tzu is right by her side - in first class.

From BBC ● Mar. 27, 2025

Nationally, the French bulldog, golden retriever, German shepherd and Shih Tzu round out the top five dog breeds.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 29, 2024

In late August, we got a box full of rescued Shih Tzu puppies.

From "Please Ignore Vera Dietz" by A.S. King

In Liverpool, for example, a shih-tzu puppy named Hope, which was rejected by its mother, was adopted by a Siamese cat whose kittens were born on the same day.

From BBC ● Nov. 7, 2023

Eddie was joined by Boycie, a shih-tzu, in 2014; Conchita, a Maltese, in 2015; Arfur, a mongrel puppy, in 2017; Nancy, another mongrel puppy, in 2020; and Sausage, a wire-haired dachshund, in 2021.

From BBC ● Apr. 1, 2023

A total of 96 shih-tzu dogs have been rescued from a breeding home.

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2022

I also got a little dog – a teacup shih-tzu called Biggie – who wasn’t always toilet-trained.

From The Guardian ● Mar. 30, 2019

Her husband is at home, looking after their blind shih-tzu.

From The Guardian ● Oct. 31, 2018