23 Seconds of the Chinese Chongqing Dog, a Living Antique

The brief video below may be the closest some of us will ever get to seeing a Chongqing Dog (pronounced Chun-Ching). Thought to be related to the Chow Chow and Chinese Shar-Pei because of phenotypical features, it’s difficult to determine with certainty the breed’s specific heritage because until relatively recently, there was little produced about canine history in China. Even so, the Chongqing is considered to be one of China’s oldest breeds with a history that traces back at least 2,000 years. Despite this, the breed nearly became extinct in the middle of the 20th century because of persecution by the Chinese Communist Party. It is still considered one of the rarest dog breeds in the world.

It’s quite remarkable how similar this breed is to artifacts excavated from tombs (see below):

A canine distemper epidemic in also took a toll on an already rare breed in the early part of the 21st century. Thankfully,  there are a few enthusiasts and hunters in the Sichuan-Chongqing region who are keeping alive a breed that dates back to the Han dynasty, and for that reason, it’s regarded as a living antique.

Guess what, fans of purebred dogs?  A lot of us have at our feet dog breeds that are living museum pieces, and their heritage breeders are nothing less than conservators.

Photo by Sailko and shared under the GNU Free Documentation License via Wikicommons

11 thoughts on “23 Seconds of the Chinese Chongqing Dog, a Living Antique”

  1. wrong information about Chongqing dog
    its more CHUANDONG HOUND DESCRIPTION and POTTERY DOG ISNT CHONGQING DOG

  2. please contact me , i will send you new update About DNA Tests and Ancient Origin , FCI has Permit dog Show for CQ dog in G11
    Picture : Lilith Bamboo tail

  3. APPEARANCE:
    China is well-known for pandas, dragons and silkworm. But did you know China is also home to some of the most eclectic dog breeds? Big, small, fluffy or hairless, there is certainly a dog breed in China that appeals to you and suits your preferences.
    Historical evidence has pointed out that it was in the Middle Kingdom that domestication of dogs was first initiated. This can be traced as far back as 15,000 years ago, where scientists have identified maximum genetic variation. There was also a time in Chinese history when certain canine species were patronized by the rich and the elite.
    Unlike the yesteryears, people in China have grown to love dogs. Now it’s common for a Chinese family to have a pet dog, despite stringent government regulations.The Chongqing Dog has one of the most unique appearances of any dog breed and is completely unmistakable to those familiar with this animal. The origin of this breed is in the Chongqing region, which belongs to the eastern part of Sichuan Province, located in the Moutain area of southwest China.
    Because of no influence from the outside world, this breed formed its unique appearance and temperament due to a long term of natural evolution and that guaranteed genetic purity of the breed. The CQ dog is the epitome of a medium-sized dog. The Chongqing dog’s face, like his bulldog cousins , has wrinkles. Males usually stand between 40-45 cm tall at the shoulder and weigh between 17-19 kg . The noticeably smaller females usually stand between 35 and 40 cm tall at the shoulder and weigh between 14 and 19 kg. This is a very squarely proportioned breed although some individuals are slightly longer from chest to rump than they are tall from ceiling to shoulder. The body is somewhat longer than the height at the withers. In general, this breed is quite stocky and compact, but not to a great extreme. The CQ dog is a very muscular breed, whose athleticism and tone is clearly visible beneath its short coat. The coat of the Chinese Chongqing Dog is very unique, with only the Shar Pei possessing a similar one. The north of East Sichuan Chongqing dog fur is thick and dense, in the South of Province and Chongqing City – Chongqing dog is only with undercoat witch change totally in summer and winter, it’s a natural phenomenon and huge mystery . The coat is short, flat, not dense, and very harsh to the touch. Ideally, the coat should be visibly glossy.
    1. The first and more common coat type can become so sparse in the summer it can appear hairless only to regrow a winter coat. This adaption is likely due to the extreme seasonal weather in and around Chongqing City, China. Regardless of the season, this coat type will have a swath of near hairlessness running sometimes from the top of the head to the tip of the tail and typically a 7-10 cm swath of near hairlessness running down the back from the withers to the hips. Although sparse, this coat type is coarse and prickly to the touch. The people of China familiar with this type coat referring to it as the “Buffalo type” coat, referring to water buffalo. One Chinese breeder described it as “The buffalo hide is dark, and the pelts are bamboo shells like silk, with only scattered short hairs on the back of the ears and sides of the body”. This coat typically appears after the first or second molt at 6 months to a year of age.
    2. The rarest and most sought after coat type is one that appears hairless at any distance except very close-up. The body is evenly covered in what can only be described as vellus type hair, very short, velvety soft hair like that on the muzzle nearest the nose of a newborn calf. One Chinese breeder described it beautifully as “like the back of a new leaf”.

    Still other Chongqings have a full coat without sparseness likely due by hybrid breeding to the Chuandong Hound or other village dogs somewhere back in it’s lineage.Dogs being slightly less hairy is preferred , more valuable and more wanted but at same time tend to be the more active and intense then other varied dog .
    #Chongqing belongs to sub-tropical monsoon climate. The features are warm winter, hot summer, early spring and short autumn. Annual average temperature is around 20 C . The average lowest temperature
    is 6-8 C in winter. The average highest temperature is 27-38 C in summer and the extreme temperature can reach as high as 44 C.

    This breed does have somewhat loose skin, but not to the extent where it diminishes the muscular appearance.The tail of the Chongqing Dog is perhaps the breed’s most unique feature. These dogs possess what is known as a #bambootail . This tail is naturally short to medium in length and set high on the dog’s body. The tail is usually carried completely straight without any curve. When the dog is in motion, the tail is usually carried slightly upright at approximately a 45 degree angle from the back. The tail is incredibly thick at the base but tapers to a very sharp point at the end. Perhaps most interestingly, the tail of the CQ dog is almost completely hairless.

    The head and face of the CQ dog are also quite unique. The head of this breed is large for the size of the body, and clearly exhibits immense power. The skull is flat on top and possesses well-pronounced cheek muscles, making it look like the dog has a square head. The muzzle is quite distinct from the rest of the head and connects to it quite abruptly. The muzzle itself is quite short, but very broad and deep, giving a square profile. The top lips of this breed completely cover the lower lips but should always be tight fitting. The mouth is another key breed feature. Like the Chow Chow and Shar Pei, the mouth and tongue of the Chinese Chongqing Dog are primarily blue-black in color. The nose of the CQ dog should be large, black, and slightly higher than the rest of the muzzle. The face of the CQ dog is covered in wrinkles. These wrinkles should not be excessive like those of the Shar Pei or Pug, but are usually comparable to pet-quality of #Old English Bulldog . The eyes should be dark brown in color and neither sunken nor bulging. The ears of this breed are another key characteristic. They must be small-in-size, triangular-in-shape, face directly forwards, strongly erect, and either completely hairless or nearly so. The overall expression of most Chongqing Dogs is intense, wise, and somewhat primitive. The ears and tail are usually completely hairless, and sometimes the muzzle, face, neck, chest, and belly are as well. The back of this breed also typically has less hair than the rest of the body. The Chongqing Dog should be solidly colored, ideally red reddish and black. Chongqing dog has ancient roots and is considered as a natural breed .The new CQ dog Breed Standard states the following will disqualify a dog for show purposes black with red or copper coloring ( Buffalo ) a pattern of black with red, mahogany or tan markings is a disqualifying pattern or any other color or pattern other than red (an variations thereof) solid black, white markings on the chest or any other part of the body ,the tail should be completely hairless without any curve.The black skin of this breed is often clearly visible, making some dogs look as though they have black muzzles, faces, chests, tails, backs, and ears. The breed originated in the mountainous of eastern Sichuan Linshui ( commonly known as the “three mountains two slots” ) …
    The Chongqing dog is a hidden treasure from ancient China … the rest is History
    A long history of making The Chongqing dog made the breed into a living fossil. Chongqing has a dog that is not just a status symbol, it is equivalent to have a living antique.

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