In America, you can find pretty much any dog breed you’re looking for, even some really beautiful mixed breeds. The Labradoodle is a great example of this. However, there’s a good number of popular dog breeds who have their origins from China.
These breeds thrived in their native home, long before they became popular in the U.S. Different dog breeds have their different homes of origin, and China boasts of some of the most beautiful, cuddly, locally bred dogs you can find.
In this list, we’ll be taking a look at some of the most popular Chinese dog breeds, but first, let’s learn a little bit about their history.
Chinese royalty used to have “sleeve dogs” back in the day. These dogs were meant to keep them warm, thanks to all the cuddling. China was also known for having wrinkly small-sized dogs characterized by saggy faces, which we all think is cute.
It wasn’t all rosy for Chinese breeds, as there was a certain time when their existence was under serious threat. This was all thanks to the communist leader Chairman Mao Zedong, who had condemned pet ownership as elitist, according to slate.
During Mao’s rule, the Chinese Shar-Pei breed almost went extinct; this is according to Science Daily. This would’ve been such a shame since the Shar-Pei is one of the oldest dog breeds in China and the world as a whole.
It was first depicted in Chinese clay figurines, which go as far back as 206 B.C. Yes, it’s that old! The name “Shar-Pei” means “sand skin”. This is a direct reference to its short and rough coat which is popular for.
Thank goodness China’s special breeds (both old and new) survived those trying times and are now thriving not just in China, but in other parts of the world.
Remember those cute little dogs you always see in the parks? Or the small-sized ones you see on social media with their necks tilted, ears dangling, and tongue out? Well, a lot of those dogs are originally Chinese breeds.
If you’re looking to buy one or more Chinese dog breeds but don’t know which to go for, then don’t worry; we are here to help you make a choice!
Keep reading as we will be listing out some of the cutest and most popular Chinese dog breeds you can find.
Let’s go!