Chinese Foo Dog Breed
Aliases: Happiness Dog, Celestial Dog, Sacred Dog of Sinkiang
Description
Some other aliases are the Chinese Choo Hunting Dog, the Chinese Temple Forest Dog, the Chinese T\'ien Kou (Chinese Celestial Dog) and the Chinese Lung- Kou (Chinese Dragon Dog).
The Chinese Foo dog is compact and has a square profile. It comes in three sizes: Toy, Miniature or Standard. It has a moderately broad head with pricked ears and the tail is carried over its back (like other Spitz family members). Their chest is deep and moderately broad with a short, powerful and compact body, well-sprung ribs, and short, wide, muscular loins.
It has a broad wedge shaped heal and the muzzle and back of the skull look to be of equal length when regarded from the side. The stop isn\'t large, but it is clearly defined. The nose is straight and usually black in color. Its ears are set high and are firm and erect when on alert. They are rather small considering the size of the dog, and are rounded at the tips.
The Chinese Foo has wonderfully strong teeth that meet in a snug scissors or reverse scissors bite. Its mouth and tongue may be blue/black or pink/red. Eyes are usually dark brown, not protruding and are almond in shape. They are bright, showing their intelligence, fearlessness and inquiring nature.
The Chinese Foo sports a very strong neck that is muscular with a slight arch as well as muscular and sloping shoulders.
Their legs are straight and powerful, firm and moderate in length. Pasterns upright or slightly bent.
Coat Description
The Chinese Foo is double-coated and the thick, weather-resistant (and often standing up) coat is a coarse, straight-haired outer coat with a soft, dense, woolly undercoat. It is smooth, short, thick and rich on the head and on the front of the legs. The neck, buttocks, chest, hind part of legs and underside of the tail have the longest hair. The double-coat comes in a short Plush or the longer Rough.
History
The Chinese Foo (A Spitz-type dog ) hails originally from China and was bred for guarding Buddhist temples, and can be dated back to Antiquity.
The naming of this dog is extremely significant to the Buddhist religion. The Chinese Foo looks like a lion, which is a sacred animal to Buddhists. The Chinese word for Buddha is Fo, which led to the original name - the Dog of Fo.
It is said the Chinese Foo Dog came to be through a crossing of Northern European hunting dogs and that of the ancient Chow Chow from the barren steppes of Mongolia. Another belief is the Chinese Foo Dog is perhaps the missing link between the Chinese Wolf and the Chow Chow.
The Chinese Foo is from China, and probably gets its name from the city of Foochow (now Minhow) in southeast China. This multi-talented breed has been used as a herding and hunting dog as well as a sledding and watchdog throughout its history.
The Chinese Foo Dog is the mascot of the Tongs who believe it brings good luck. The Tong is a Chinese fraternity and the oldest secret cult in the world. The Tong bred and kept this dog as a symbol of its organization.
Temperament
Temperament - This is an active, courageous, agile, alert, hardy and strong dog, which speaks to its hunting and working heritage. Bold and energetic in temperament - it makes a very effective and efficient (but friendly), guardian. The Chinese Foo is a highly devoted family pet with great dignity and independence of character - meaning it tends to be an independent thinker and not always as obedience as you might like.
Working dogs, like the Chinese Foo, are medium to giant size and strong, and can be domineering and difficult to manage. This together with their size can make many working dogs unsuitable as a normal family pet or for first time dog owners. These dogs must be properly trainer and need a firm handler.
Despite its size, this is an excellent indoor pet and does not become destructive when left alone indoors. It\'s filled to the brim with energy and treats companion family members with affection. It responds well to training and is easily socialized. It is playful and does well with children. It is an even-tempered breed, but it will not back down when confronted. It is brave and will effectively guard its family property.
Thyroid Disease - Low Risk
The Chinese Foo ranks #127 among all breeds for autoimmune thyroiditis prevalence. This is considered a low risk breed so your chances of obtaining a dog with the disease is small. It is still suggested that dogs meant for breeding still be tested to help bring the incidence of disease even lower (or even eliminate it).
| Rank Among Breeds |
Number of Dogs Tested |
Percent of Dogs With Disease |
| #127 |
365 |
1.9% |
You can download the full report (on all breeds) by the Michigan State University Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health. Here
Other Health Problems
The Chinese Foo Dog is not associated with any major health problems. However, due to its size, it's susceptible to develop problems with its bones and joints.
