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Papastzu |
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He is not recognized by the F.C.I. |
Origin |
France and Belgium <> Tibet -> U.S.A. | |
Translation |
Francis Vandersteen |
A brief presentation of the Papastzu |
| The Papastzu is a hybrid of the Continental Toy Spaniel and the Shih Tzu. This canine mix has created an adorable, affectionate companion and furry family member that will quickly become the apple of your eye. This spunky little hybrid possesses some of the breed characteristics of the parent breeds in that she is loving, playful and feisty, often forgetting that her small size can work against her in certain situations. This cuddly little dog is an excellent blend of laid-back personality and affection with just the right touch of vivacity to capture your heart. |
History of the Papastzu |
| The Papastzu, a hybrid of the Continental Toy Spaniel and the Shih Tzu, is a breed developed in the United States from the late 1900s to the early 2000s for what appears to be purely companion purposes. Beyond this approximate place and date of origin, there is little or no other history available on the hybrid itself. To get an idea of what the hybrid is and what it might be like in your home and family, we'll need to look at the history of the parent breeds. The Papastzu hybrid is recognized by the following organizations: American Canine Hybrid Club, Designer Dogs Kennel Club, Designer Breed Registry, Dog Registry of America, Inc. and International Designer Canine Registry. |
A little of the Continental Toy Spaniel |
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| The Continental Toy Spaniel is one of the oldest Spaniel breeds, its name being a French word meaning “butterfly”. This particular nickname really fits the breed, describing the striking similarity of its ear to the shape of a butterfly. This toy breed can be found in paintings, drawings and other records dating back at least 700 years in Europe. Dating back to the 1200s, this breed was photographed sitting on the laps of rich and famous women in Spain, France and Italy throughout the Renaissance, later becoming popular in England and Belgium too. Some believe that the Continental Toy Spaniel's ancestry included certain Asian toy Spaniel breeds such as the Japanese Chin, while others believe that its small size was obtained by breeding the smallest Continental Toy Spaniels to reduce the original size. Whichever breeding theory you subscribe to, earlier versions of the breed had floppy ears and were called the Phalene (meaning “moth”), however, over the centuries, the breeding changes that have taken place have changed the erect, fringed ears that resemble the Continental Toy Spaniel we see in the breed today. Thus, the name Papillon describes the erect, fringed-ear version, while the drop-ear version is called the Phalène. The American Kennel Club recognized the Continental Toy Spaniel in 1915, and it became eligible for full registration in the Toy group in 1935. It remains a very popular companion dog, especially for women and the elderly. | ||
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| Standard of the Continental Toy Spaniel | ||
A little of the Shih Tzu |
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| The Shih Tzu breed also dates back many centuries, and is thought to have been bred in China and Tibet from the mixing of miniature Chinese breeds with smaller Tibetan breeds. In its early life as a breed, it was very popular among Chinese emperors, being given to other royalty as gifts. In the 1600s, small lion-dogs began to arrive from Tibet, and would have formed part of the stock used to create the Shih Tzu we know and love today. In the early 1900s, a few of the breed made their way to England, then Norway and finally North America. In 1949, due to Communist intervention, the breed almost became extinct. Without a few brave breed lovers who kept their dogs, the breed would have been eliminated. It is believed that 14 dogs became the basis of today's Shih Tzu breed. The Shih Tzu breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1969. | ||
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| Standard of the Shih Tzu |
Appearance of the Papastzu |
| The Papastzu is a hybrid mix of the Continental Toy Spaniel and the Shih Tzu and, as such, can take on the breed appearance traits of one or both parent breeds. Papastzu hybrids are small, measuring 20.5 to 28 centimeters in height at the withers and weighing 4 to 7 kilos. They generally have butterfly ears and a curved tail, which is brought by the Papillon, while the body generally favors the Shih Tzu parent breed. The Papastzu has black eyes and a short muzzle like its Shih Tzu parent. It will have long, stiff hair and will come in colors most often brown, white and black. Its bite can be a scissor bite or under bite, with feet most likely hare-shaped and thick. |
Temperament of the Papastzu |
| Your Papastzu hybrid is a mix of the Continental Toy Spaniel and the Shih Tzu, and can take on the temperament qualities of one or both parent breeds. Breeders and owners of this hybrid describe this little treasure as very adorable, gentle, loyal, kind, playful and energetic. He is less yappy than his parent breeds, being quite cheerful, obedient and full of personality. His personality combines a perfect blend of calm and liveliness to create a furry family member who will melt the heart of anyone within licking distance. It can be spirited and brave and more than a little curious, sometimes forgetting that it's small, or it can be that sweet, cuddly companion that has been depicted in works of art for centuries. She gets on well with children and other animals, the occasional chase of the family cat breaking the monotony of her day. Supervision when your young children are playing near your hybrid is highly recommended as this dog is so small and can be easily injured. Early socialization is recommended to ensure his acceptance of children and other animals. He will abandon his normally calm and laid-back personality when strangers wander by, but is not usually aggressive once he is assured of the safety of his human family. Its high level of intelligence makes it fairly easy to train using positive reinforcement and training methods. |
Needs and activities of the Papastzu |
| Your Papastzu hybrid is an energetic mix of Continental Toy Spaniel and Shih Tzu, getting large amounts of energy from both sides of the biological mix. He loves his long daily walks, but what's good for you is that he doesn't need to walk for more than 10 or 15 minutes several times a day because he's so small. Combine these “long” daily walks with indoor playtime and daily outdoor romping in an enclosed or fenced area, and you'll have a happy, healthy pet. Because of its small size and exercise requirements, it will make an excellent pet for those living in apartments or condos, as well as for those living in family homes with or without fenced yards. It can live in both urban and rural environments, but cannot tolerate extreme temperatures, so moderate temperatures will suit it much better. |
Maintenance of the Papastzu |
| Your Papastzu hybrid will require moderate maintenance, brushing its coat daily to remove loose hairs and eliminate tangles. He only needs to be bathed when absolutely necessary to prevent the removal of the oils needed for his coat. He is considered to be in the moderate category for excretion and may or may not be hypoallergenic, as the Shih Tzu parent contributes to this trait. He should have his ears checked and cleaned weekly with an ear cleaning solution and a cotton ball. It's also a good idea to check his nails weekly, and trim them if necessary. This can be done at the same time as the ear cleaning regime. The teeth of this canine, like many other canines, need to be brushed at least two or three times a week to prevent the development of periodontal disease and associated tooth loss. Follow-up dental examinations and cleaning with your veterinary professionals will also work with your home care to achieve this dental goal. |
English (United Kingdom) 
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