How to Identify a Chinese Foo Dog
- 1). Assess the size, weight, shape of the dog. This species actually has three sizes and can stand anywhere between 8 and 15 inches high at the shoulder. While this may not seem very big, realize that this is a very wide and heavily built breed in keeping with all the other breeds of Northern Chinese dogs. As a result, this breed weighs between 20 and 60 pounds. The tail should be short, maybe 6 inches long, and curled up so far as to lay completely over the top of the back. The chest should be deep and broad, the dog’s general shape very squared and compact. The dog’s feet should be very small for the overall size of the animal, with toes pressed tightly together.
- 2). Examine the dog’s fur. You may get the impression that the dog is fat. Don’t be fooled. This is primarily due to the twin coats of very thick and heavy fur that keep the dog warm in winter. The neck, chest, hindquarters, part of legs, and underside of the tail have the longest hair. This breed comes in a wide array of colors including white, cream, black, blue, grey, brown, and red. Regardless of coloring, the dog will have a black mask. This may be very small, covering only the chin and lips, or be very large, covering the entire muzzle and forehead.
- 3). Look at the dog’s head. It should be short, wedge shaped, and rounded into a dome over the top of the skull. Often only the muzzle and ears will be noticeable around the thick mane of fur surrounding the rear portion of the dog’s head. The eyes will always be well recessed in the head and are a sparkling black. The ears are large, triangular, upright, and manage to protrude through all the fur at the top of the skull.
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