| How did our different dog breeds come into | | | | Â- Papillon |
| existence? People created each breed by | | | | |
| choosing dogs with the desired qualities and | | | | Â- Pekingese |
| breeding them to each other. People designed | | | | |
| some dogs to hunt, others to herd, some to | | | | Â- Pomeranian |
| guard and some for companions. Our Shih Tzu | | | | |
| is in the companion group of dog breeds. | | | | Â- Poodle |
| | | | |
| According to the American Kennel Club a breed | | | | Â- Pug |
| is defined as: "A relatively homogeneous | | | | |
| group of animals within a species developed | | | | Â- Silky Terrier |
| and maintained by man." | | | | |
| | | | Â- Toy Fox Terrier |
| Each registry divides breeds into groups. | | | | |
| Each registry does this slightly different. | | | | Â- Yorkshire Terrier |
| The AKC uses the following seven groups, | | | | |
| which most of are classified by the function | | | | Although the Toy Group of dog breeds were |
| and purpose for which the breed was | | | | created specifically for companionship, many |
| developed: | | | | of them still retain instinct and |
| | | | characteristics of their ancestors, such as |
| Â- Sporting Group | | | | hunting or guarding abilities. |
| | | | |
| Â- Working Group | | | | If you are interested in showing your Shih |
| | | | Tzu, he or she would be shown in the Toy |
| Â- Herding Group | | | | Group. Although there are some unpleasant |
| | | | realities within the show dog arena we must |
| Â- Hound Group | | | | remember this is true with all types of |
| | | | sports. Just because some people may |
| Â- Terrier Group | | | | accidentally turn over the boat while fishing |
| | | | and drown does not mean no one should ever go |
| Â- Toy Group (Our Shih Tzu belongs in | | | | fishing or participate in fishing |
| this group) | | | | competitions. There will always be negatives |
| | | | and positives to everything in life a person |
| Â- Non-sporting Group | | | | pursues. Just keep in mind that dog showing |
| | | | is a sport, a very competitive sport, one in |
| The AKC has another group in which they lump | | | | which you are suppose to have fun at and it |
| together breeds that are in the process of | | | | is suppose to be rewarding for you and your |
| being recognized. This group is called the | | | | Shih Tzu. Even if your Shih Tzu does not win, |
| "Miscellaneous Class." The breeds in the | | | | he has got to have a little more poise and |
| Miscellaneous Class can only be shown when | | | | elegance than before he ever stepped into the |
| the Miscellaneous Class is specifically | | | | ring. |
| included in a show. | | | | |
| | | | I have a beautiful Shih Tzu in which I adore |
| In addition to the Shih Tzu, there are | | | | as with many of my Shih Tzu I adore them, |
| several other breeds that belong to the Toy | | | | however, Ginger, continues to steal my heart |
| Group as classified by the American Kennel | | | | mainly with her beauty. Her sister has been |
| Club, they are: | | | | in the show ring. However, here on the farm |
| | | | with me, my Ginger, although beautiful enough |
| Â- Affenpinscher | | | | to be in the show ring is my ole' farmhand |
| | | | girl, and I call her by nickname, no not |
| Â- Brussels Griffon | | | | "teacup Shih Tzu," no not Imperial Shih Tzu," |
| | | | I call her by nickname: "Roosterhead," |
| Â- Cavalier King Charles | | | | because she has vibrant red hair. She loves |
| | | | me just the same even though I have not spent |
| Â- Chihuahua | | | | thousands of dollars on her to put her in the |
| | | | show ring; she is still my beautiful |
| Â- Chinese Crested | | | | "Roosterhead Farm Girl." She and I really |
| | | | like life on the farm. And no, we are not a |
| Â- English Toy Spaniel | | | | "puppy farm" either. I just call it my |
| | | | farmhouse. Afterall, like Ginger, she is |
| Â- Havanese | | | | mine, the house is mine, I can call it |
| | | | whatever I please. This is the U.S. and I |
| Â- Italian Greyhound | | | | have Freedom of Speech. Ginger has loved |
| | | | living with me from day one. She was out and |
| Â- Japanese Chin | | | | about all over the place as soon as I got her |
| | | | out of the crate she was shipped to me in. |
| Â- Maltese | | | | Ginger is one of the queens here, and we have |
| | | | a very special relationship with each other. |
| Â- Manchester Terrier | | | | |
| | | | This article is FREE to publish with the |
| Â- Miniatrue Pinscher | | | | resource box. |
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