As Chinese New Year is celebrated, DogsLive reveals the dogs who have been a revered part of Chinese culture for more than 7,000 years.
Woven in cultural stories, found in endless artworks, and even their skeletal remains from Chinese archaeological digs found with companions they worked alongside in life dogs have been an essential part of Chinese life.
Modern day stories about Chinese meat markets have caused revolt and anger across many Western countries with demands for the stop to the trade.
Today we focus on the Chinese dogs who were bred and cared for in a culture where they were valued deeply as working animals and family members, from guardians, herders, hunters and even hauliers to the companions to everyone from paupers to royalty.
Chinese Crested Dog
The Chinese Crested Dog is also known as the “Xiao Qing Long.” It has a beautiful, chatty and outgoing personality. Their origins are unknown but it’s a descendant of the Mexican Hairless.
Characteristics : Cheery, friendly, confident
Typical size: up to 5kg
Typical life span: up to 18 years
Pekingese
The Pekingese is also called “Bei Quan.” This breed originated in China back in 2000BC. Chinese royals and emperors were believed to be responsible for their creation because they symbolized royalty and purity. They are believed to have been introduced to the Western world as a result of the looting of the Imperial Palace in Beijing in 1860.
Characteristics : Loyal, affectionate, single minded, brave
Typical size: Up to 5kg
Typical life span: Up to 14 years
Japanese Chin
Once called the “Japanese Spaniel,” this breed originated in China and was introduced to Japan during the Nara period 710-794. It has a very thick, double-layer coat, making it look resemble a little lion
Characteristics : Loyal, intelligent, affectionate
Typical size: Up to 6kg
Typical life span: Up to 12 years
Shih Tzu
The Shih Tzu is also called “Xi Shi Zhu.” It has a thick, double-layer coat and its origins can be traced back to Tibet.
Shih Tzus are also known as “the lion dog” or even “the Chrysanthemum Dog” due to their black headband on their foreheads that is said to resemble a chrysanthemum. They were bred to live with the Chinese upper classes in grand palaces.
Characteristics : Playful, affectionate, stubborn
Typical size: Up to 7kg
Typical life span: Up to 15 years
Lhasa Apso
One of the world’s oldest dog breeds dog and originally from Tibet, where they were highly regarded watchdogs in the palaces and monasteries of their mountainous homeland. This breed has a fearless approach to life.
Characteristics : Fearless, active, playful, intelligent
Typical size: Up to 7kg
Typical life span: Up to 15 years
Pug
Famous for its deep wrinkles and flat figure, the Pug origins can be traced back to China where they were mainly used as lapdogs by royals.
The Chinese Pug had a very thick, double-layer coat but it has changed due to Western breeding demands and was bred with breeds like Pekingnese and Brabantian to make today’s Pug.
Characteristics : Affectionate, playful, brave
Typical size: Up to 8kg
Typical life span: Up to 15 years
Tibetan Spaniel
The Tibetan Spaniel is a small, sturdy dog from Tibet with amber eyes and a double coat to keep them warm in winter.
They were used as hunting dogs because of their biddable nature, intelligence and athleticism. It is believed they were first discovered by nomads on the Himalayan Plateau
Characteristics : Loyal, affectionate, intelligent
Typical size: Up to 9kg
Typical life span: Up to 15 years
Xiasi Quan
Xia Quan or Bai Long Quan is a medium-sized Chinese dog breed that’s one of the most popular in China. It’s also one of the oldest and most well-known breed in the country!
An active and loyal dog with lots of energy, they are very friendly.
Characteristics : Deeply loyal, affectionate, single minded and can be a challenge to train
Typical size: Up to 11kg
Typical life span: Up to 15 years
Chuandong Hound
The Chuandong dog is a slender, medium-sized Chinese dog breed originally from Guangdong. This ancient breed of dogs was used for hunting and guarding the house. They are deeply very muscled with a short, straight coat. This ancient dog has breeding traces of Tibetan Mastiff and sighthounds.
Characteristics : Friendly, relaxed in human company, deeply attached to their owner
Typical size: Up to 11kg
Typical life span: Up to 12 years
Tibetan Terrier
The Holy Dog Of Tibet, are very bright dogs of medium size with great energy and will. Their hair is designed to grow to the ground and modern day families will have them clipped regularly. They are not a terrier but were renamed by Western fans.
They are an active breed and demand regular exercise and are an ancient watchdog and companion long associated with Buddhist monasteries with a profusely and large ‘snowshoe’ feet, adapted over centuries to help them negotiate the snowy, mountainous terrain of their homeland.
Characteristics : Chatty, sensitive, affectionate, playful, sensitive, brave.
Typical size: Up to 11kg
Typical life span: Up to 15 years
Bone Mouth Dog
Another medium-sized Chinese dog breed who are active and intelligent and tend to adapt well to most environments.
Bred for hunting, they’re powerful and energetic and very strong.
Characteristics : Intensely loyal, affectionate, stubborn and brave
Typical size: Up to 13kg
Typical life span: Up to 15 years
Formosan Mountain Dog
The Chuandong Hound is a medium sized dog with a deep red/mahogany coloured in a sparse coat. Its ears are erect and the jaw is strong. The tongue can be blue, dark blue or with spots or (blue points and the dog's muscles are well developed. Nicknamed the ‘Bear Dog’ they’re best suited for colder climates and remain active in all weathers. They are a hard-working guard dog that will challenge at anything suspicious.
Characteristics : Brave, strong, energetic, protective, loyal.
Typical size: Up to 25kg
Typical life span: Up to 20 years
Chongqing Hound
It’s a medium-sized hound dog with a robust body and straight coat who is known to be a natural hunter, active, loyal, loving, and obedient to their owner. They date back 2,000 years, with love for this breed of dog evident in the Han Dynasty.
They are renowned for not having easy relations with other animals and were bred for hunting and to show self will, so it can be stubborn when trying to train them.
Characteristics : Confident, alert
Typical size: Up to 25kg
Typical life span: Up to 16 years
Shar-Pei
Known for its heavy set, wrinkled face the breed was developed in ancient China to help herders control their livestock and they have retained their herding and watchdog instincts.
The Shar-Pei’s origins date to the Han Dynasty and they were known as top class hunters
Characteristics : Playful, affectionate, loyal and often assumed to be aloof to people they don’t know
Typical size: Up to 30kg
Typical life span: Up to 15 years
Chow Chow
They are among the most ancient Chinese dog breeds, with evidence dating back to 206BC. A member of the spitz family with a deep springy coat, the Chow Chow is known for their thick coats and blue-black tongues with origins in northern China where they were first bred as hunting dogs to retrieve waterfowl out on open ice.
Characteristics : Affectionate, happy, strong
Typical size: Up to 32kg
Typical life span: Up to 15 years
Shaanxi Xian Hound
A strong hunting breed capable of being used as an alarm dog, guard dog, or even to track down lost people or animals, they are multi-skilled. They tend not to bark
but will if pushed. It is speculated this hound may be the principal ancestor of all sighthounds known today. They were originally used to chase and capture prey on the open, flat land of the Huangtu Plateau,
Characteristics : Obedient, intelligent, loyal, protective, brave, fast and agile
Typical size: Up to 25kg
Typical life span: Up to 15 years
Laizhou Hong Dog
Native to eastern China’s Shandong Province, local fishermen first bred Laizhou dogs for hunting. They have flat muzzles, allowing them to easily track spiny fish and small crabs.Tall and heavy, most adults weigh around 50 pounds!
Characteristics : Feisty, boisterous, territorial, strong, fun and busy
Typical size: Up to 40kg
Typical life span: Up to 15 years
Tibetan Kyi Apso
Bred to be independent and self-assured with a strong character, they make excellent watchdogs and will warn off with a bark rather than a bite.
Their origins as temple guardians are evident in the breed standards, which called for an “aloof” temperament that must be very dominant. Today’s dogs are thought of as good around families, but need firm handling.
Characteristics : Calm, aloof, loyal, brave, vocal, independent
Typical size: Up to 45kg
Typical life span: Up to 15 years
Tibetan Mastiff
The Tibetan Mastiff is an ancient breed that originated in the Himalayan Mountains where they protected sheep and yaks from predators like wolves, bears and tigers.
Usually very loyal, they are renowned for being stubborn and testing dominance.
Characteristics : Deeply loyal, top class scenter, fast and brave
Typical size: Up to 60kg
Typical life span: Up to 15 years
