The History of the Maltese Shih Tzu

Breeders always place importance on the history of the breeds in which they specialize, and this is no different for so-called “hybrid dog breeds” like the Maltese Shih Tzu, which is derived from two pure breeds. The history of the Maltese Shih Tzu remains a mixture of both the old and new due to its hybrid status. While breeders first created the Maltese Shih Tzu hybrid in the 1990s, its parent breeds—the Shih Tzu and the Maltese—possess histories spanning thousands of years before the first crossbreed occurred.

  1. Shih Tzu

    • Shih Tzu

      The Shih Tzu, originally native to Tibet, has an extensive history, with documents suggesting that humans began keeping them as pets no later than 1000 B.C. The Chinese imperial court highly prized the breed. Dog importers first brought the Shih Tzu to Europe in 1930, and the breed subsequently arrived in North America following World War II.

    Maltese

    • Maltese

      Documented visual and written evidence suggests that the Maltese appeared in Europe as early as 500 B.C., with the breed probably originating in Asia long before this date. The breed flourished in numbers throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance and retains its status as one of the most desired breeds in both Europe and North America.

    Prior Crossbreeding

    • Breeders have long used the Shih Tzu and the Maltese for crossbreeding to optimize traits like size and fur color in the resulting hybrid. For example, prior to the creation of the Maltese Shih Tzu hybrid, breeders sometimes crossed both the Maltese and the Shih Tzu with poodles.

    Creation

    • Breeders first crossbred the Maltese with the Shih Tzu in the 1990s. Crossbreeding initially occurred in the hopes of creating a friendly hybrid that would not shed as much as the parent breeds. This lack of shedding makes the crossbreed more attractive to potential pet owners with allergies due to its hypoallergenic quality. In this regard, crossbreeding proved successful, as the Maltese Shih Tzu generally sheds less than both of its parent breeds.

      Most breeders sell only first generation Maltese Shih Tzus, as they do not generally crossbreed existing Maltese Shih Tzus with other Maltese Shih Tzus. Consequently, appearances vary more than with other crossbreeds, as one Maltese Shih Tzu will appear more like a Maltese while another will share more in common with the Shih Tzu. Most Maltese Shih Tzus are white like the Maltese, though some possess tan markings.

    Today

    • Since the creation of the crossbreed in the 1990s, the Maltese Shih Tzu has seen its popularity increase, with the breed's prominence rising in both Australia and North America.

      Because of its status as a hybrid breed, Maltese Shih Tzus remain ineligible for purebred dog registries like the American Kennel Club; consequently, no organization has declared formal breeding standards for the crossbreed. Organizations that specialize in crossbreeds do, however, allow owners to register their Maltese Shih Tzus; for example, the American Canine Hybrid Club allows the registration of Maltese Shih Tzus under the name Mal-Shi.