The Chongqing dog (

Chinese Chinese can refer to: * Something related to China * Chinese people, people of Chinese nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity **''Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic concept of the Chinese nation ** List of ethnic groups in China, people of va ...

:重庆犬 ) is an ancient

mastiff A mastiff is a large and powerful type of dog. Mastiffs are among the largest dogs, and typically have a short coat, a long low-set tail and large feet; the skull is large and bulky, the muzzle broad and short (brachycephalic) and the ears dro ...

Tugou Tugou (土狗, pinyin: ''tǔ gǒu''), which literally translates as “Dirt Dog” in the Chinese language, is a diverse group of dogs indigenous to China and still abundant across the country today. Tugou are traditionally used for guarding, hunti ...

historically used for hunting and guarding in

Chongqing Chongqing ( or ; ; Sichuanese dialects, Sichuanese pronunciation: , Standard Mandarin pronunciation: ), Postal Romanization, alternately romanized as Chungking (), is a Direct-administered municipalities of China, municipality in Southwes ...

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...

. Today this breed is prized as a fearless and tough protector of their family and home. The term "Chongqing Dog" may also be used to refer to the Chuandong hound. Both dogs share a common foundation stock and are part of the

Description

Chongqing Dogs are medium sized with compact muscular bodies. Their tail should be short and held upright, often described as a "bamboo stick". Their hair coat is short, course and reddish-brown or black in color. They have a blue-black tongue, prominent stop and square head. Their ears are naturally pricked, and not cropped. Chongqing Dogs have strong characters with outgoing temperament, confident attitude, strong prey drive, and a love for adventure and fun. They generally love children, and will also serve as an alert and faithful family guard dog. Chongqing Dogs have high prey drive and excellent scenting abilities. Chongqing Dogs can hunt alone, or in a pack, for prey ranging in size from rabbits through badgers, foxes, boar, goats, deer, and small bear. They tend to have a long lifespan of up to 15 years.

History

Like other tugou, Chongqing are a Chinese native believed to have first appeared during the Han Dynasty. Ceramic Chongqing dog statues have been found guarding graveyards in

Jiangbei Jiangbei () may refer to: * Henan Jiangbei Province, during the Yuan dynasty * Jiangbei District, Chongqing, China * Jiangbei District, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China * Jiangbei, Meizhou, Guangdong, China * Jiangbei (region), north of the Yangtze, Yangtze ...

area of Chongqing, dated approximately 206 BCE- 220 AD. Originally developed as a hunting dog in the mountainous areas of eastern

Sichuan Sichuan (; zh, c=, labels=no, ; zh, p=Sìchuān; alternatively romanized as Szechuan or Szechwan; formerly also referred to as "West China" or "Western China" by Protestant missions) is a province in Southwest China occupying most of the ...

, rapid urbanization of Chongqing resulted in a significant population decline. However, since the 1970s, serious efforts have been underway to restore the breed and they have become a popular utility and companion dog since.Dogs: The List of 90 Selected Dog Breed, Lovly John, Osmora Incorporated, 2015, p28

References

{{Mastiffs Dog breeds originating in China

Description

History

See also

References