Asia consists of 49 countries and is the most populated continent in the world. It has an enormous historical timeline and, therefore, plenty of time to breed a variety of lovable canines. Here are 6 of the cutest dog breeds from Asia.
Chinese Crested Dog
Chinese Crested Dogs can either be mostly hairless with tufts of hair on their head, ankles and tail or possess a long silky coat. The ones with hair are sometimes known as ‘powder puff dogs.’ These cute canines grow up to a height of 13 inches. These dogs make great pets for house proud people, or those with allergies as the hairless variety obviously does not shed excessively and has no noticeable doggy odor.
Hairless varieties of this breed can be prone to sunburn and blackheads. Tooth loss is a very common concern as powder puff dogs have thinner tooth enamel than other breeds.
Chow Chow
Chow chows are probably one of the cutest dog breeds as they are so fluffy and puffy that they look like teddy bears. They are known for their blue\black tongues. It has been said that these dogs originated in Arctic Asia 3,000 years ago. Some Chinese emperors used the breed to pull dog sleds across icy terrain. Chow Chows can be very stubborn and can become aggressive and highly strung if they are not trained properly when they are young. They are very possessive of their owner and will stick closely to them and keep other people at a distance.
These cute dogs can suffer from hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia, both of which may eventually lead to arthritis. Dogs should be X-rayed for these conditions before they are allowed to breed.
Pug
Pugs were bred as lap dogs for Chinese nobility and much admired by King Louis XIV, Napoleon’s partner Josephine and Queen Victoria. Nowadays, they are enjoyed as pets because of their lovable nature and quirky looks with their wrinkly, flat faces and curly tails. Pugs aren’t great at endurance running, but they love a quick visit to a new place where they will get lots of human attention.
The flat faced anatomy of the pug can cause them to have breathing problems as their nasal passages are squashed. They can also develop eye infections, keratoconjunctivitis and corneal ulcers as their eye sockets are so shallow.
Shar-Pei
Another dog breed originating in China is the Shar-Pei. These unusual-looking dogs were used as guard dogs long ago and faced extinction during the 1970s, and are still considered one of the world’s rarest dog breeds. These dogs are closely related to the Chow Chow and have a similar body shape. However, instead of a thick coat of hair like the Chow, they have short hair, and their body, especially their face and back, is covered in deep wrinkles. If these wrinkles are not cleaned properly, the dog can develop skin infections such as psoriasis.
Lhasa Apso
Lhasa Apsos are pretty little dogs originating from Tibet, where they were used as indoor guard dogs. They are known for their long, coarse hair that sheds continuously throughout the year, unlike most other dogs whose coat falls out during particular seasons of the year. Because they come from a very cold climate in the Himalayan mountains, their coats are incredibly thick and consist of a few layers of hair.
Pekingese
Dating back to 8th century China, these toy dogs were bred as companions to members of the Chinese imperial palace. They are small, intelligent, feisty, and loyal dogs. Pekingese are instantly recognizable by their long, voluminous coat and flat face. If you own a Peke, you will need to devote some time each day to grooming them to ensure their luxurious coat doesn’t become matted.
Reply