The Year Of The Dog (A Dog Fancier's View)

The Chinese New Year started on January 29th,kennel of more than 2500 pairs of Chow Chows. It
2006 (or Year 4703 by the Chinese calendar) and iswas at this time that the breed was first exported
the Year of the Dog. The cycle repeats every 12to England and America.
years and previously occurred in1922, 1934, 1946,3. The Japanese Chin is a lively and entertaining toy
1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, and 2006. People born in thedog breed with a short and very wide muzzle.
Year of the Dog are said to possess the best ofJapanese Chins actually originated in China and are
humanity's traits. They are said to be loyal, honest,probably descended from the Tibetan Spaniel and
generous and inspire confidence because they keeprelated to the Pug, Pekingese and Shih Tzu. The
secrets. Dog people are charismatic and make goodbreed was introduced to Japan over 2,500 years ago
leaders but they have sharp tongues and can beand became a favorite of the Japanese Imperial
somewhat selfish, stubborn and eccentric. To theCourt. Chins were introduced to the U.S. and Great
Chinese, dogs represent justice, equality andBritain in the 1850's by Admiral Perry.
generosity, and dogs are prepared to sacrifice4. The Pekingese is a regal small toy dog breed
themselves for those they love. Dogs are fiercelycharacterized by a lion-like appearance. The Pekingese
loyal and will jump to the defense of any familyseems to date back to the 9th century in China.
member who is threatened. This sounds like a BoxerOwnership of the Peke was restricted to members
dog I know - including the stubborn part.of the Chinese Imperial Court and they were
Famous dog people include: Benjamin Franklin, Robertconsidered sacred by the Chinese Tang dynasty. The
Louis Stephenson, Bridgette Bardot, Sophia Loren,breed was brought back to England in 1860 when
Elvis Presley, Jacques Cousteau, Mother Theresa andBritish troops occupied the Peking Summer Palace
Jane Goodall.during the Second Opium War. Pekes were shown in
While celebrating Chinese New Years, I startedEngland in the 1890's and were recognized in the U.S.
wondering how many dogs were Chinese. Thein 1909.
Chinese have contributed a lot to society and were5. The Pug is of Chinese origin and its development
responsible for developing a number of dog breedsseems to pre-date the Christian era. This cheerful toy
recognized by the American Kennel Club including the:dog breed was highly prized by the Emperors of
Chinese Crested, Chow Chow, Japanese Chin,China and lived a pampered existence even being
Pekingese, Pug, Shar Pei and the Shih Tzu. Can youguarded by soldiers. Dutch traders brought the Pugs
think of any others? I know Tibet is technically partto Holland in the 16th century where it underwent
of China and I left out the Lhasa Apso, Tibetanfurther refinement. The Pug was extremely popular in
Spaniel and Tibetan Terrier. However I was looking atthe European courts right up to Victorian times.
this from a longer term historical perspective and I6. The Shar-Pei or Chinese Shar-Pei is an ancient and
still am not politically onside with the annexation ofexotic baggily wrinkled dog breed. Its name means
Tibet. I have provided a brief history of these dogsandpaper or sharkskin in Chinese and refers to its
breeds below. Additional information on these dogbristly coat. The Shar-Pei existed for many years in
breeds can be found in our directory of breed ofthe Chinese southern provinces and statues
dogs.resembling this breed have been dated to the Han
1. The Chinese Crested dog breed is unique lookingDynasty around 200 B.C. This breed almost
with a hairless body not unlike a Chinese pigtail. Thedisappeared when the Chinese Communist
origin of the breed is under debate but, since it bearsgovernment sharply increased the dog tax in 1947
such a resemblance to the Mexican Hairless dogand the dog population of China was almost
found in South America, it was thought Chineseeliminated. This breed survived in Hong Kong, Taiwan
sailors may have brought its ancestors back to Chinaand British Columbia, Canada.
where it was developed. Both Hairless and Powder7. The Shih Tzu is an exotic, playful and energetic toy
Puff varieties can be found in the same litter and thedog breed. The origins of the Shih Tzu are somewhat
two Crested varieties are often interbred. Theobscure but it is probably descended from the
Crested has evolved to be a perfect apartment dog.Tibetan (Lion Dogs) which were sent to China around
2. The Chow Chow is an exotic Spitz-type dog with1650 as a present from the Grand Lamas. Its flowing
a blue black tongue and a stilted gait. It is also knownmane is probably responsible for its name which
as the Tartar Dog or the Chinese Spitz. With itsmeans (Lion Dog) in Chinese. The breed survived in
heavy coat, the breed probably originated in Mongoliathe Chinese Imperial court until the Communist
or Siberia before being introduced into China. Thegovernment took over in 1947 when it became
Chow is one of the oldest of dog breeds and itsextinct in China. Prior to this, seven breeding pairs of
origins are said to date back to 150 BC. The ChineseShih Tzu were imported to England and Norway and
developed the breed as a guard dog, sled dog and asconstituted the entire gene pool. In the late 1940's,
a hunting dog for aristocrats. Unfortunately it laterreturning military personnel brought back this new
became a source of both food and fur. In the earlybreed to the US where it has become extremely
1880's the Chinese emperor was said to have apopular.