Now the world knows not one Chinese shaggy dog, but many. The inhabitants of this country were engaged in breeding in order to breed one or another breed. Many species are more than one thousand years old. Some Chinese dog breeds are small, while others, on the contrary, are large. There are species that are popular only in the country itself, while others are known and in demand throughout the world.
Chinese Crested
Chinese hairless dog is a very unusual breed. It is called Chinese crested. This is a small dog that is odorless. Therefore, it can be kept for people suffering from allergies and asthma. The body temperature of this dog is only forty degrees. She is quite hardy, but in the winter season, especially with long walks, the Chinese hairless dog needs clothes. The hairs of representatives of the species are located only on the head, like a crest. By the way, it was this feature that determined the name of the breed. In addition to this kind, there is another crested variety - powder puff (soft, long hair all over the body).
Representatives of the breed are long-lived, they are selflessly attached to the owners. They can “melt” and conquer even the most callous heart.
The weight of the dog is 4-5 kilograms, and height is 30 cm. The nature of the representatives of the breed is quite gentle, they are distinguished by devotion. Chinese Crested gets along well with other animals. The dog is friendly to strangers.
Representatives of the breed like to be hugged. They need to communicate with a person.
Very often, a Chinese crested one establishes close relationships with one or two family members. Even leaving the house, the dogs continue to search for them.
Dogs need a lot of toys so that they can satisfy their need for chewing. These dogs lend themselves well to training. They can be trained in various tricks.
Chongqing
Chongqing Chinese dog - strong and beautiful. This breed is one of the oldest in China. She is more than two thousand years old. The Chongqing breed has been known since the time of the Han Dynasty (it is 206 B.C.E. - 220 C.E.). Archaeologists have found ancient sculptures depicting such a dog.
Representatives of the breed are rare even in China. There were about two thousand individuals there. There is a breed from Central China, or rather, the environs of the eponymous town of Chongqing.
This is a Chinese big dog. Growth at the withers is about 50 cm in males, and slightly less in females. The weight of one representative is a little more than twenty kilograms. Of course, this dog cannot be called a giant, but you cannot rank it as a small dog. The body of the representatives is muscular, powerful. Ears are erect, set high enough. The color of the breed is brown-red or brown.
Since ancient times, representatives have been used to hunt rabbits, as well as wild boars. Now these dogs are mainly family protectors and security guards.
The breed was bred almost completely by natural selection, there was a minimum of human intervention.
These dogs have no genetic diseases. These dogs are brave and strong. The representatives of the breed have the temper and temperament, like an ancient animal, so they are always on the alert.
As long as you are friendly to the owner of Chongqing, he will respect you. If you suspect bad intentions, then there will be no harm.
These Chinese dogs treat children well. They know very well who is in charge of the family. These dogs demand respect. You won’t achieve anything from them, only competent training will help.
In China, these dogs are usually kept in rural areas. After all, representatives of the breed need a yard for running and daily training. These Chinese dogs live for about twenty years.
Chow chow
Another ancient type of dog is Chow Chow. He is also about two thousand years old. This Chinese fluffy dog is sometimes called a lion dog, or tang chuan. The breed has been known since the Tang Dynasty.
She comes from North China. Therefore, representatives have a dense coat. In those harsh lands, it is not superfluous. Scientists have found that in these dogs the DNA is close to the DNA of prehistoric dogs, as well as their ancestors - wolves. In different centuries, Chow Chow had a different purpose. They were bred for protection, hunting and grazing. Representatives of the breed were also used in dog teams.
Chow Chow was also later used as temple guard dogs in Buddhist monasteries. They became one of the prototypes of dog fu.
These Chinese dogs, the photos of which you see in our article, have an independent, strong-willed character. If the Chow Chow lives with representatives of other species, then the dog will certainly become a leader. Without provocation, such a dog will not attack. Chow Chow gets along well in the family. But the dog needs regular, fairly gentle training.
Many people know that Chow Chow has a blue-violet tongue. There is even a legend about this. It is believed that Chow Chow licked the sky.
The weight of the breed is 26 kilograms on average, and growth ranges from 46 to 52 cm.
The nature of the breed
The character of the Chow Chow is quite complex. Dogs of this breed need the attention of the owners, as well as their approval.
Education and socialization should be addressed as early as possible. The owner of the Chow Chow must have a solid character.
At the same time, such a dog will be affectionate and gentle with family members. To strangers will be wary and indecisive.
Representatives of the breed seek to make them respectful. Therefore, their moods can often change, and dogs can also be unrestrained. In other words, we can say that the owners of such dogs need to be patient.
With those animals with which the Chow Chow grew up with his childhood, he will be friends. He will not love strangers, perhaps even aggression will be shown.
Chow Chow may try to become the owner of the house. Initially, he will check who occupies this "post". Later it will fight with the "master". Dogs can dominate because they are smart.
Sharpei
The Chinese shar pei dog is a large dog, with deep folds of skin and a blue-black tongue. Until 1991, it was a rare breed. For some time it was even threatened with extinction.
A breed arose during the Khan Dynasty. There is a version that it appeared from the ancient mastiffs and Chow Chows.
The sharpei were originally bred in Guangdong. After the popularity spread throughout South China. Sharpei was truly a "people's" dog. The peasants used the dog for grazing, for protection, as well as for hunting. Another reason these dogs were raised was for food. And clothes were made from their skin.
A traditional Chinese sharpei had just a couple of folds on its neck and forehead. Dog fighting was later popular. Representatives of the breed then also came in handy. When the enemy bit at the crease, the dog could dodge and bite in response.
The appearance of sharpei
There are two types of breed. Chinese shar pei looks different than the one that is popular in the West. Dog breeders also distinguish the western form. The locals called the Chinese sharpei a bon-mouse, which means “bone mouth”. These dogs are medium in size and have fewer wrinkles on their heads.
If we talk about the western type, then it was called mit-mouse, that is, "meat mouth". The face of such a dog is more round, surrounded by massive folds. The size of the western sharpei is slightly smaller than the traditional, Chinese. Such a dog has more folds in the body. With age, they persist. By the way, with another type of sharpei, they can disappear.
On average, the height at the withers of the breed is 48 cm, and the weight is 22 kilograms. By nature, these dogs are intelligent, independent and sociable. Dogs of this breed are considered family, although they can be a little impatient with children, and aggressive with other dogs.
Pekingese
Pekingese is another ancient breed. It is sometimes called the lion dog, peck, Chinese spaniel, etc. The breed was considered an imperial property. We can assume that the Pekingese is the most grateful breed of Chinese dogs.
It is not known exactly how she appeared. Presumably in the third century AD. There is an assumption that the dog was brought by Buddhist monks from Western China. At that time, this state became Buddhist. And as you know, Buddha previously tamed a lion, later made him a faithful protector. But in China, these predators did not live. Therefore, the monks decided to find its characteristic features in other animals - dogs. Through a sufficiently thorough selection, a miniature lion was created.
By the eighth century AD, these dogs became the property of the imperial family. To take the Pekingese in Beijing outside the Forbidden City was considered a serious crime, the punishment for which was death. This breed was the first in the history of which signs were clearly spelled out.
The weight of breed representatives averages 4-5 kilograms. Growth at the withers on average - 19-20 cm.
Pug
Pug is another ancient breed that appeared in China. Time is unknown. But you can definitely say that it was a long time ago. Some people suggest that Chinese small dogs were at the court of Emperor Lin Di (this was in the second century AD). Someone traces the history of the breed even in the fifth century BC. e., in the days of Confucius. Then these dogs were called lo jie.
In general, the word "pug" came from the Netherlands. Translated, it means "grumble." In England, these dogs are called differently - pug. Because pugs are very similar to monkeys.
Pugs lived at the palaces of the emperors in the Middle Ages, along with the Pekingese. But, unlike the latter, noble families could also contain pugs. In the sixteenth century, representatives of this breed came from Japan to the Netherlands. The popularity of pugs across the European continent grew rapidly. Many nobles ordered their portraits with pugs in their hands.
One pug named Pompey saved the owner’s life in 1572. The dog warned Oran Wilhelm I the Silent that the Spaniards were approaching. After that, the pug became a symbol (and official). At the coronation of William were his dogs, all of them had orange ribbons on their necks. On the tombstone of the owner, Pompey was carved from marble. The dog has been guarding his peace for more than four hundred years.
In the eighteenth century, pugs were the pet's favorite pets.
Xiang quan
This is the rarest Chinese breed. The number of representatives is several hundred. They breed her in Guizhou province. Outside, few people know these dogs. Only in Guizhou province you can buy puppies of this breed. For one white baby you need to pay 650 dollars. By the way, dogs have only one color. Representatives of the breed can only be white. Smooth-haired dogs of this species are sometimes born.
It is known that outside of China there are only two dogs of the breed xia quan, from different owners.
Agility and speed - these are the distinctive qualities of the breed. These dogs are also very well trained.
Hunters took such dogs to the mountains for hunting. The breed was first mentioned in 1080. Representatives of the breed are hardy and strong. Dog hair protects dogs in the winter season. Representatives of the breed are well camouflaged in the snow.
In the modern world, dogs fight with wild boars. The duration of each fight is three minutes. Fates estimate the number of attacks of xia quan.
These dogs are loyal to the owners. To prey and to enemies, they do not show a drop of mercy.
Chinese mutant dogs
Scientists from Guangzhou bred dogs with super-powerful muscles. To do this, they resorted to genetic engineering. As part of their research, specialists from China removed one of the genes from these beagles, as a result of which dogs of tiangou and hercules developed two times more powerful muscles than their relatives. In addition, these dogs have become more resilient.
In order to make the animal stronger, scientists removed the gene that is responsible for the production of myostatin. This is a protein that inhibits the growth and differentiation of muscle tissue. Blocking leads to a significant increase in lean muscle mass, with almost no fat.
Further, scientists want to use genetic engineering methods so that dogs have human diseases, such as Parkinson's disease or muscle dystrophy. Due to similar physiology, anatomy and metabolism, this will further help to explore the nature of these diseases. It will also turn out to find new methods of dealing with them.
To edit the dog genes, the CRISPR-Cas9 method was used. What is the given method? The fact that a double-strand break in DNA is introduced. In this case, an incision is made in the place that will be programmed by a small RNA molecule (introduced into the cell). In this way, you can edit pointwise directly in the living cells of the genome.
According to experts, such Chinese mutant dogs can be used for law enforcement purposes.
Little conclusion
Now you know what Chinese dogs are. As you can see, these are quite interesting breeds, each of which is good in its own way. Some are great for guard and protection, others will be great companions and loyal friends.