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