Shih Tzu means “little lion” in Madarin but contrary to popular belief, the breed originates in Tibet, not China. According to the AKC, legends describe the Tibetan Buddhist God of Learning as traveling with a small lion dog and that’s where the name comes from. The original Shih Tzus were probably offered as gifts to Chinese royalty who then bred them with pekinese or pugs. The modern Shih Tzu is the result of that crossbreeding.