Chongqing dog: breed description, feeding and care

Chongqing, or the Chinese bulldog, is one of the rarest breeds, and even in China the number of these unusual dogs numbers only a few hundred. The uniqueness of Chongqing lies primarily in the fact that their gene pool does not contain blood of other breeds, which is why Chinese bulldogs are considered a primitive population. Since ancient times, such animals have been valued for loyalty to the owner, courage and skills of an excellent hunter.

The history of the emergence of the Chongqing breed is rooted in the distant past, but in Chinese sources there is little information about its origin. It is only known that the dogs are from the vicinity of the city of Chongqing, Sichuan Province, and The first mention of them belong to the III century BC. er .: to the time of the Han dynasty. At that time, animal husbandry flourished in China, and the ancestors of modern Chongqing helped the peasants to graze the herds and protected their property from the raids of nomads. And for the guard and security services, only the most hardy and fearless dogs were selected, the rest were simply eaten. As a result, only the strongest and strongest representatives of the breed were allowed to breed, which gave their best working qualities to their descendants.

In the first half of the 20th century, the Chinese Bulldog population was on the verge of extinction.and it has been preserved thanks to enthusiasts and true connoisseurs of the breed. Only at the end of the century, Chinese canine scientists were concerned about the preservation of Chongqing and began to carry out active work on the restoration of the breed. However, not everything went as smoothly as we would like, and as a result of the 2003 epidemic, most animals had to be eliminated.

After the stabilization of the epidemiological situation, breeding work was continued, and today, through the efforts of dog handlers and breeders, the number of the global population has been raised to 2 thousand individuals. Great contribution to the development and restoration of the breed is made by American specialists, which, despite the non-recognition of Chongqing by the International Cynological Federation, actively promote and popularize this distinctive breed. As for the progenitors of the Chinese bulldog, there is no consensus in the circles of specialists on this subject. Most of them, relying on the visual similarity with some other breeds from China, suggest that they have a common ancestor. Thus, the language of dark blue, according to scientists, speaks about the relationship with the Chow Chow, and wrinkled skin indicates a relationship with Sharpei.

Considering the origin history of the breed, It is necessary to note such an important point as the long-term isolation of the population from the outside world.. On the one hand, it allowed a unique exterior to form and obtain pure blood, and on the other, it led to negative consequences. So, being isolated and not receiving an infusion of fresh blood, the breed experienced several mutations that provoked a number of hereditary diseases.

Over time, the ailments are so ingrained that the appearance of a healthy puppy was rather the exception. However, this state of affairs is quite characteristic of the majority of closed populations, where diseases are firmly fixed in the genotype and transmitted to each new generation. In many ways, this fact did not allow Chongqing to become more popular, since it is rather difficult and expensive to raise such a dog at home.

Today, few can afford the purchase and maintenance of a Chinese bulldog. This is due to the small number of nurseries that can be counted on the fingers, and the puppies cost too much. The price for them starts from $ 3,700 and often reaches 4.5 thousand.

The Chinese Bulldog is an average-sized athletically folded dog, resembling in its build the American pit bull. The animal has rather prominent muscles, clearly appearing through the elastic skin with short hair. The height of males varies from 35 to 45 cm, females - from 30 to 40 cm.

Such a large run-up in growth is due to the presence of 3 types of chongqing: small, medium and large, which is explained by the formation in each region of its own breed type. So, bulldogs from the mountainous areas are markedly different from the plains and in comparison with them are more squat and strong. The weight of dogs, depending on the type varies from 14 to 25 kg, bitches - from 12 to 20 kg.

A characteristic feature of the Chinese bulldogs is a straight, medium-sized thick tail, pointed at the end. It rises high relative to the back line and completely devoid of coat. The head of Chongqing in comparison with the body is somewhat disproportionate and looks rather large. The upper part of the skull has a flattened shape, which, in combination with clearly defined cheekbones, gives the head a square shape. The bulldog's muzzle is shortened and wide, which, combined with the square head, looks intimidating.

The Chinese Bulldog has a uniform black-blue tongue, but pinkish blotches are also allowed. The nose is large black, slightly towering above the muzzle, which is quite typical for hunting dogs. The muzzle is slightly wrinkled, but the number of wrinkles is much smaller than that of sharpeys and pugs. The eyes of Chongqing are always dark, and the woolless ears have a triangular shape, they stand well and are bent forward.

Separately, it should be said about wool. In most Chinese bulldogs, it is very rare, because of what the pets look like naked, moreover, on the ears, tail, and sometimes on the face of the woolen coat is almost completely absent. Where wool is still present, it is short, rather stiff to the touch and colored in brown shades. Through it, black skin is clearly visible, which creates the illusion of a black mask on the face, and also the animal has a black tail and ears. The dog's chest is often decorated with a white spot. Recently, the line of appearance of black color has been clearly traced, however, experts consider this to be a consequence of cross-breeding - interbreeding.

As for the purpose of the breed, it belongs to the category of hunting and guard dogs.However, recently there has been a tendency to keep Chongqing as a companion and even a guide. It should be noted that to educate a dog for these purposes only by professionals, therefore, in the absence of experience and lack of confidence in their abilities, it is better to opt for a simpler breed.

Chongqing is distinguished by high intelligence and balanced character, however it reacts very aggressively to other animals and poultry, which is explained by its hunting instincts. Therefore, it is better not to bring well-known dogs on a visit. Although in neutral territory the dog will gladly play with the same dogs and will not show even a hint of suspicion and ill will towards them.

Particularly noteworthy are the excellent guard and guard qualities of the Chongqing. The dog will never let the visitor into the house until he receives the owner’s “good”. And this applies not only to strangers, but also to people familiar to the dog, and even to those who come to the house quite often.

A separate topic is the attitude towards children. Despite the fact that some breeders rank Chongqing almost as nannies, they do not forgive grievances and abuse from a child and may well give the juvenile offender a serious rebuff. If the child is friendly and does not offend the pet, then Chongqing in response is ready to endure the endless games of the baby and even take part in them.

Recently, more and more people began to show interest in the Chongqing breed, due to a number of indisputable advantages of these unique original dogs.

• Representatives of the breed have a calm and balanced character and are able to compromise.
• Chinese bulldogs tend to make independent decisions. When a danger arises, the dog itself determines how real the threat is and when to take decisive action. This can also be regarded as a minus, since if Chongqing decided that the owner needs protection, then it is almost impossible to convince him of this.
• Unlimited devotion to his master and his family distinguishes this breed from many other hunting dogs.
• High intelligence and uncommon mental abilities can do without long explanations, since the animal literally understands man from a half-word.
• Chongqing are very courageous and resolute dogs, and in the event of a danger, they will rush, without hesitation, to protect property and people.
• High sensitivity allows bulldogs at a glance to determine the intentions of a stranger and immediately warn the owners of this non-standard behavior.
• The dogs are very active and are happy to accompany the owners on their morning run.

Along with a large number of obvious advantages, the breed also has disadvantages. These include zoo aggression and hunting instinct, in which the maintenance of rabbits and poultry will need to seriously take care of their safety. In addition, Chongqing can not get along with a fighting dog and does not like cats very much.

Another drawback of the breed is the difficulty in shaping the personality of the pet. Despite the fact that the dog is intelligent, intelligent and well trained, it has pronounced leadership qualities, which can cause difficulties in its upbringing. This is especially true for males, which, if they do not recognize the leader in the host, will become uncontrollable. And also the disadvantages of the breed include too high the cost of puppies, due to the small number of nurseries and the rarity of the breed.

The best place to keep Chongqing is the backyard or spacious yard. Keep an animal in an apartment or house is absolutely impossible. Not only can it smash the whole house in the absence of owners (this is especially true for young dogs), the pet will not receive the necessary amount of physical activity it needs.

At the same time limit the freedom of movement of the animal aviary, or even worse - the chain, in any case impossible. Chain Bulldogs are characterized by uncontrolled aggression or, on the contrary, fall into severe depression, often developing into a serious illness. Therefore, the main thing for Chongqing is freedom of movement, which cannot be deprived of it under any circumstances.

At the site will need to build a spacious booth in which the animal could shelter from rain and strong wind. For the winter, Chongqing is often taken into the house, but the best solution would be a heated booth. The area on which the Chinese bulldog lives should be fenced off with a high fence, and a sign warning of the presence of an evil dog should be hung on the gate.

Due to the natural origin of the breed, it is necessary to feed its representatives only natural food. In the diet of the animal must be present turkey, beef, chicken and lamb, as well as the heart, liver, kidney, scar and other by-products. Moreover, the share of meat should be at least 50% of the total volume, and the second half of the diet should consist of buckwheat, rice or barley.

Vegetables must also be present on the menu. Moreover, they can be given both raw and baked. The most useful for the dog's body are spinach and lettuce leaves, pumpkin, cabbage, beets and zucchini. Twice a week, you can give lean fish, pre-cooked and cleaned from large bones, and eggs.

Of course, it is impossible to offer whole milk, but fermented milk products will come in handy. The dog will be happy to eat cottage cheese mixed with raw yolk and hard cheese. The animal can sometimes pamper dried pork and beef ears, trachea and chewing stones, made from pressed veins. In no case can not feed the dog peas, beans, potatoes, corn, pickles, smoked meats, as well as bread, sweets and sweet pastries.

With regard to the frequency of food intake, the puppies should be fed 5-6 times a day. An adult animal will need 2 meals a day. As an additive to food, you must give bone meal, fish oil, vitamins and minerals.

Chongqing care includes a number of mandatory activities and procedures.

• Brushing the dogs is done every 2 weeks, removing loose hairs. In addition, 1-3 times a month, the dog is combed with a rubber brush, while massaging the skin and thereby improving blood circulation.
• It is necessary to bathe Chongqing every six months, using for this natural shampoos that do not cause allergic reactions. After each bath, the skin should be moistened with creams.
• It is recommended to brush your teeth every 3 months using special dog accessories.
• Claw trimming is done as needed, but most dogs safely grind them in the process of walking.
• Eye examinations are carried out daily, and if suspicious symptoms are detected, immediately contact a veterinarian.
• Ears are cleaned once a month, using a cotton swab dipped in vegetable oil.

Chongqing is a dog for people with strong character and requires serious training. It is important to let him know as early as possible who is in charge at home, otherwise the dog will quickly seize the initiative and dominate the owner. Raising a puppy should be engaged from the first days of its appearance in the house. If an animal is taken as a companion, it is necessary to immediately suppress its aggression towards strangers and animals.

If the dog is supposed to be used for protection, then only an experienced specialist should train it. An owner who does not have a firm hand and experience in educating difficult breeds should not take on such a responsible event.

Being engaged with a bulldog independently, the main thing is to be strict and consistent and under no circumstances give up any slack. At the same time, it is not recommended to beat the animal, as this can cause unpredictable consequences, and the dog will grow up either too aggressive or too hunted and cowardly. The most difficult thing in bringing up the Chongqing is to gain credibility with them.As soon as this can be achieved, further training will go like clockwork. Otherwise the dog will dominate. And also it should be remembered that Chongqing needs serious physical exertion, therefore such a dog will not work for a sedentary person.

The isolation of the population has caused a number of mutations that have turned into a hereditary propensity for many diseases. The weakest point of Chongqing is the skin and eyes. Animals are prone to frequent dermatitis, conjunctivitis, corneal inflammation and cataracts. In addition, joint problems, food allergies and respiratory diseases are often observed. The latter is often caused by overcooling of the animal, which, due to the poor wool cover, is very poorly tolerated by the cold.

For more information about the features of the breed, see the following video.