Introduction
The Chinese Imperial Dog is many times called an Imperial Shih Tzu, Lion Dog, or Princess Shih Tzu. The Chinese Imperial Dog has the same look and maintenance needs of a Shih Tzu with one notable difference, the Chinese Imperial Dog is smaller than the Shih Tzu. The breed standard for the Shih Tzu is 9 to 16 pounds whereas the Chinese Imperial Dog should remain between 4 and 8 pounds. They make excellent family companions but since they are such small dogs, they should be closely monitored with smaller children. The Chinese Imperial Dog can have problems with hypoglycemia because of their small size.
Chinese Imperial Dog Names in Pop Culture
There is much debate over the history of the Chinese Imperial Dog. Some historians believe they have been gracing Asian palaces since about 700 A.D. and is one of the dogs in the Shih Tzu’s history, however, there are others who believe these little dogs did not come into existence until around the 1960s when the Shih Tzu was bred down in size and two distinct sizes were created. The Chinese Imperial Dog is not recognized by any major dog club. Finding a true Chinese Imperial Dog may prove difficult since many Shih Tzu breeders claim they have Imperial Shih Tzu or Chinese Imperial Dogs that will remain small. However, once these puppies mature, they are a full sized Shih Tzu instead of being less than 8 pounds. Scallywag Shih Tzu is a breeder who does have the true tiny Chinese Imperial Dogs such as Topper who weighs 4 pounds 11 ounces. Topper came to Scallywag Shih Tzu from Teacon Imperial Dogs in Virginia. Topper is a typical Teacon Imperial Dog with big, round eyes and a tiny nose that is set high on his flat face. Teacon Imperial Dogs weigh between 3 to 5 pounds when they are fully grown. They boast having true Chinese Imperial Dogs that will remain well under 8 pounds.
Another Chinese Imperial Dog is Mai Ling from Quintessential Shih Tzu and she is registered through the American Kennel Club (AKC) as a Shih Tzu instead of a Chinese Imperial Dog. This is a common practice among many Shih Tzu breeders to register these smaller dogs with the AKC as full-sized Shih Tzu. Because of this common practice, it is difficult to determine a true Chinese Imperial Dog from a Shih Tzu until they are full grown. Mai Ling has green eyes instead of the typical brown eyes of the Chinese Imperial Dog but that is because of her coat color being liver or chocolate, certain coat colors are allowed to have green/hazel or self-colored eyes. Mai Ling’s bloodlines boast some of the top Chinese Imperial Dogs from Rameriz, Hilltop, Falling Star, Sunset, Woodlands, and Tiny Toi Kennels. The Chinese Imperial Dog that is registered as a Shih Tzu is not able to be competitive in the show ring because they are considered undersized since most are much smaller than the Shih Tzu breed standard states. Therefore, it is unlikely that any Chinese Imperial Dogs will soon be found in dog show rings across the world unless they have been registered with the Chinese Imperial Dog Fanciers Association and are shown in lesser known venues, not AKC events.
Chinese Imperial Dog Name Considerations
Deciding to bring home a Chinese Imperial Dog will take a lot of commitment, especially if you are bringing home a young puppy. Chinese Imperial Dogs can have severe health concerns with their blood sugar known as hypoglycemia. This simply means you must make certain your new puppy is kept on a strict feeding schedule to keep their blood sugar levels from dropping. If you can handle the extra care a Chinese Imperial Dog requires, then make sure you research your breeder and are comfortable with them. Once your new Chinese Imperial Dog comes home, it will be time to start searching for a name for your tiny bundle of joy.
Having originated in China, many people search for names that have a Chinese flare such as Mai Ling, one of the featured Chinese Imperial Dogs. However, you may not want to follow that trend and instead come up with a name that is cute and Americanized like one of the featured Chinese Imperial Dogs, Topper. These are small dogs and should not be saddled with long names, when researching names, look for names that are shorter and easy to pronounce. Cute Chinese inspired names such as Ming, Ping, Chang, or Chen are very common for the Chinese Imperial Dog and the Shih Tzu. You might want to consider something a little more original such as Bik, Manchu, Susu, or Luli.
Male Chinese Imperial Dog Names
Votes | Name | Vote |
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1 |
Manchu
Pure and clean; chaste
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Bambang
A knight or soldier
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Dishi
A man of high virtue
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Holwell
Lives by the holy spring
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Bartek
A farmer’s son
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Ming
Bright and shining; clear
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Jian
Being agreeable and upbeat
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Feng
One who is like a Phoenix
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Chang
An unhindered spirit
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Jiao-long
Looks like a dragon
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Hyson
A flourishing spring
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Ling
The chimes of the spirits; a soul
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Bik
Strong; long stride
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Qiao
A handsome man; pretty
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Jig
A person who moves quickly
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Kueng
Universe; vast space
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Taio
A distinguished and great person
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Disung
A trustful and worthy person
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Shing
To achieve victory; to be victorious
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Bolin
The elder brother of the rain
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Shou
Having great achievement that brings wealth
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Ju-long
Strong and mighty like a dragon
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Chen
Having a great personality
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Ping
Peaceful; possessing a level mind
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Qiang
One possessing great strength
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Rong
Bringing honor; prosperous
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Kaili
Beautiful and victorious
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Ru
He who is like a scholar
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Jing
Crystal clear; perfect essence
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Syaoran
He who is a little wolf
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Female Chinese Imperial Dog Names
Votes | Name | Vote |
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1 |
Julissa
Filled with energy; sweet-natured
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1 |
Luli
Dewy jasmine
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China
Filled with affection
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Alix
Being of a dignified kind
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Li hua
A pear blossom
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Hien
Persevering; gentle and nice
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Lin
Beautiful jade; lush forest
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Meiling
Beautiful and delicate
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Billi
Will-helmet
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Lienne
Beauty and grace of a Lotus flower
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Susu
A quiet person; a slight sound
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Mei
A gracious woman; beautiful girl
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Lanfen
The fragrance of orchids
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Jilpa
A teacher of life
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Genji
One most valuable as gold
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Mey
Gorgeous; pretty or stunning
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Chenric
An amazing morning
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Ting
A slim and graceful person
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Daiyu
Precious black jade
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Nuo
Elegant; kind-hearted and merciful
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Li mei
A beautiful plum blossom
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Bai
Pure; white or crystal clear
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Lian
As graceful as a willow
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Meilin
The very tiny growth of a plum tree
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Jai Li
Beautiful and good
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Cuifen
Emerald fragrance
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Niu
A young girl; cute
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Bao
A precious treasure
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Da Xia
The biggest hero
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Nuwa
The mother goddess
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