Origin: China
Utility: Companion Dog, Utility Dog
FCI classification - Group 2
Brief history:
The history of this breed can be traced back to the Western Han Dynasty (BC 202- AD 8), more than 2.000 years ago. Archaeologists found a huge Western Han Dynasty graveyard in Jiangbei area of Chongqing, on 20th April, 2000. A large number of dog pottery statues were discovered. Some of them served the purpose of being protector gods to accompany the tomb of the noble family in spirit. This ancient breed was prevalent in Chongqing. Its direct ancestor are the native breeds from the adjacent regions of Dazhu, Hechuan, Yongchuan. Linggshui and Guanan and collectively called Chongqing dog. They were developed for hunting in the mountain area of East Sichuan. Chongqing dog lost their major purpose due to the urbanization and their population declined rapidly. The restoration of the breed was undertaken succesfully not until the 70s. They became a popular utiity dog in Chongqing since then.
General appearance:
They are loyal, intelligent, courageous, agile. The Chongqing dog is a medium sized breed, square-built, with great strength and muscle for its size. The body is covered in short harsh coat. From the withers and the spine is sparsely covered by coat, which has a length up tp 3 cm on each side and extenting to the croup, above the tail to the root of its tip.
Utility: Campanion Dog, Utility Dog:
Guardian of property and family, fearless, muscular, tough and agile. In the past, used for hunting.
Important proportions:
The length of skull and the length of muzzle approximately 2:1. Height to elbow about half height at withers. The females can be slightly longer than males.
Behavior and temperament:
Guardian of property and family, fearless, muscular, tough and agile. In the past, it has been used for hunting.
HEAD:
Muzzle should be as broad and powerful as possible. The dark mask is confined to muzzle and must be in sharp contrast to the color of the head.
CRANIAL REGION
Skull: The skull is flat between ears. Square on top. Natural wrinkles on top of the skull.
Stop: Well defined.
Forehead: The forehead forms a distinct stop with the bridge of the nose. Slightly loose and fine wrinkles without excess on the skull.
FACIAL REGION
Nose: Black nose and large nostrils, under no circumstances liver color, red or brown.
Muzzle: Strong, square, noticeably shorter than the skull. Broad from root to tip of the nose, not snipy, with moderately obvious folds. The line of the muzzle forms a very obtuse angle upwards.
Cheeks: Prominent, due to the strong development of the muscle.
Lips: Tight with good pigmentation.
Mouth: Tongue, gums, flews and roof of mouth, bluish black is preferred. Pink spotted tongue permissible. Solid pink tongue highly undesirable.
Jaws/Teeth: Jaw strong with undershot bite and set square to the jaws. Undershot bite more than 5 mm, undesirable.
Eyes: Dark brown or hazel, fairly large, oval shaped and show no haw. Slightly protruding but never exaggerated. Eye rims must be dark.
Ears: Set on sides of the skull. Medium sized, triangular, inclining forward and firmly pricked. Not cropped.
NECK:
Medium length, strong, set well on the shoulder.
BODY:
Moderate wrinkle on the withers.The body is somewhat longer than the height at the withers.
Topline: Slightly fall behind shoulders, rising above the level of the croup.
Loin: Strong, broad, slightly roach.
Chest: Wide, prominent and deep reaching the elbows. Depth of chest is half the height at withers. Well let down between forelegs.
Underline and belly: Without excessive tuck-up.
Croup: Moderately sloping.
TAIL: Tail set high, stay straight stiffen and carried high. Moderately long, round at base and tapering to a fine point.
Forequarters:
Shoulder: Well laid back, not loaded.
Elbow: Firm, turning neither in nor out.
Forearm: Forelegs straight and upright well under the hound, good substance and round in bone, not tapering off to feet
Pastern: Short and slightly slopping.
Forefeet: Tight and firm. Well knuckled up and strongly padded. Not hare-footed. Nails short.
Hindquarters:
Thigh: Well built thigh with strong muscle.
Stifle: Well bent.
Hock joint: Firm, well let down and parallel to each other.
Hind feet: Thigh and firm. Well knuckled up and strongly padded. Not hare-footed. Nail short.
GAIT/MOVEMENT: Robust and powerful . Back level, firm with no indication of roll. Stride free, reaching in front and straight without high action. Should not move close behind nor paddle nor plait in front.
COAT:
Hair: Short and very harsh without any undercoat.
Colour: Red ( The variation from dark to light ) and Black.
SIZE: Ideal height at withers: Dog 40-45cm；Bitch 35-40cm
FAULTS:
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded as exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health, welfare of the dog and its ability to perform its traditional work.
- over 5mm undershot bite
- shown under bite
DISQUALIFYING FAULTS:
Aggressive or overly shy.
Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
N.B.:
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into scrotum.
Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation should be used for breeding.