Did you know that dogs evolved from wolves? Yes, you read that correctly! Wolves are known to evolve into various breeds which are spread across the globe. But in this blog, we will focus on the Cute Chinese Dog Breeds that will make you want to snuggle them all day long!
If we talk about Chinese culture then probably the dogs have been the oldest part of it, for 7,000 years to be precise. Chinese archaeologists have found the traces of dogs as skeletal remains and their mythological stories as artworks. So, let us have a look at those cute fluffballs:
Top 10 Cute Chinese Dog Breeds
1. Chow Chow
You’ll want to cuddle with this adorable fuzzy ball all day long. They are assumed to be the oldest breed in the world. One of the best things about this breed is that it was bred by the upper class and the commoners. Pieces of evidence of Chow Chow from the Han Dynasty date back to 206 B.C.
They were mainly procreated for the use of the palace but with time they have learned the skills of hauling, herding, and hunting. It is said that they are one among the Most Dangerous dog breeds and will react very angrily if any unknown enters in their territory.
Chow Chow usually grow up to 20 inches with a weight of not more than 70 pounds. They supposedly live up to 14 years old. One of the rulers of the Tand Dynasty is said to possess 5,000 of these cuties!
2. Shih Tzu
Shih Tzu are considered among those dogs that have the longest life expectancy. The Shih Tzus are one of the ancient breeds of dogs that also look somewhat like the Pekinese resembling a lion-like appearance.
They are famous for their affectionate and fun-ling nature and were mainly bred to keep behind the closed doors of upper-class people.
This breed are known to have originated in Tibet by the breeding between the Lhasa Apso and Pekingese. The ancient breeders were given expensive presents if could come up with the most outgoing and loving lapdogs.
They mainly come under the hypoallergenic breed. With a height of 11 inches, they weigh about 16 pounds with a life expectancy of 10 to 18 years.
3. Pekinese – Cute Chinese Dog Breeds
The AKC says that they are known to have been created by the great Buddha by shrinking the gigantic lion into a smaller size. This literally makes sense when we look at their manes, right?
This cute little toy breed is really a darling that was purposefully bred for the upper and ruling classes of society in China.
These pups are famous for their loyalty and affection towards humans. They usually have lengths of 6 to 8 inches with a weight of 15 pounds. They can be seen living up to the age of 14 years.
Pekinese typically face several health issues due to their distinctive appearance. Trauma is the main reason behind their death like the other toy breeds.
4. Chinese Shar-Pei
The history of Shar-Pei takes us back to the Han Dynasty which dates back almost 2000 years ago. Their fossils were found in the southern Province of older China.
These dogs are very popular for their independent and calm nature. Do you worry about getting wrinkles? Well, looks like the Shar-Pei has more wrinkles!
Shar-pei dogs were domesticated and bred by the families of farmers and peasants to use them as watchdogs for their houses.
They generally have a height of 22 inches with a weight of approximately 50 pounds. It is estimated that they live between 12 and 14 years on average.
5. Xiasi Quan – Cute Chinese Dog Breeds
This breed of dog gets its name from the ancient Chinese Ghizou province situated in the village of Xiasi. In the initial days, they were thought to bring about prosperity and wealth to their owner’s household.
Xiasi quan are mainly brought up by the Miao. Their primary motive behind breeding was to use them as hunting dogs and watchdogs.
They are seen to grow up to a length of 18 inches with a weight of nearly 60 pounds. They normally live till the age of 12 years.
Xiasi dogs are very intelligent as well as easy to train. Also, they are loved by their owners for their kind and humble attitude. They usually come in cream or pink color.
6. Japanese Chin
Hey wait! This breed is not from Japan. How a dog named after Japan may have come from China is something you might be curious about. Well, the origin of the Japanese chin is not very clear to us.
Many historians say that it came from China, some believe that its origin was Korea and the rest say that it migrated from Japan through British Merchant ships.
They are known to have a height of 8 to 11 inches and weigh 11 pounds with a life span of 10 to 11 years. They love to be snuggled and are noticed to spend the majority of their time in the lap of their owners.
Japanese chin are pretty much famous for the defective alignment of their eyes. The dog has a distinctive line or dot on their forehead. The locals say that to be the touch of the great Buddha.
7. Chinese Crested Dog
These dogs have 3 variants, one is with hair, another one is without hair and the last one is a combination of both. These dogs have a story behind their origin.
People believe that they were hairless when they were brought from Africa to China but for their own convenience, the Chinese people bred them into smaller sizes.
It is also known as the “Chinese Ship Dog” across the world. Just like the Shih Tzu, they also have a much longer life span. They weigh 4.53 kg and stand at a height of 15 inches. They are very much energetic and leave no space while showing affection to their beloved owners.
8. Puginese – Cute Chinese dog breeds
When a pug meets a Pekinese, we get what is known as the Puginese breed! People also call them Pugapeke and Pekeapug. They generally like to stay indoors and prefer a much calmer environment to reside in.
Puginese are the perfect friend for old people such as your Grandma or Grandpa! They are affectionate and independent as well, the ideal dog!
Both breeds are known to have a common origin, the Chinese Happa dog which is now an extinct species. They grow to a height of 12 inches with a weight of 16 pounds.
This breed have a 14-year lifespan. Well, if you want a cute little guard with a personality of a big dog for your house, then Puginese is the perfect match for you!
9. Lhasa Apso
These dogs are named after the sacred city of Tibet, “Lhasa” and Apso relates to having long hair. They were kept at the entrance of the Buddhist monasteries as soldiers and guards.
Lhasa Apso are known to have a very close and special relationship with the Dalai Lama and the Dalai Lama distributed them as presents in the year 1940 which contributed to their popularity.
Their history date back 1000 years ago. They are assumed to have their origin in the snow-capped mountains of the Himalayas.
This breed grow up to a height of 11 inches and have a weight of approximately 12 to 18 pounds. They live up to the maximum age of 15 years. They have a curved tail that has some kind of kink at the top.
10. Tibetan Terrier
Don’t get fooled by their name! Even though they are called terriers but they don’t share any relation with that family of dogs. An English traveling group gave it this name.
It is believed to derive its origin from Tibet. In the ancient periods, these were kept as a symbol of good luck and were also used as a watchdog.
They grow up to a height of 15 inches having a weight of not more than 30 pounds. Tibetan terrier live up to the maximum age of 14 years. Just like the Lhasa breed, they are also known to have a close association with the Dalai Lama.