Village Dog-East Asia
These dogs originated in different areas of Central Asia and are thought to be some of the first breeds of domestic dogs going back over 15,000 years. These Chinese Village dogs come from central Asia and have high genetic diversity. They also have stayed closely related to their ancestors as they have not been selected for specific traits nor have they been bred with other European breeds. These dogs live near people in what is present day Nepal and spreading as far as Mongolia. They are direct descendants of the first domesticated dogs in this region. Genetically there is a clear divergence between village dog populations in India, sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and East Asia. These dogs likely descended from Eurasian gray wolves in the area that over time became tamer, had a smaller body size and eventually led to what is seen today as Chinese village dogs. These dogs are generally medium size and can have a variety of coat types ranging from smooth, to wire-haired, long and curly; tails can be curly or straight and ears come in all varieties.
- Origin
- East Asia
- Alternate Names
- Chinese Indigenous Dog, Chinese Village Dog
- Life Expectancy
- Varies
- Average Male Height
- Varies
- Average Female Height
- Varies
- Average Male Weight
- Varies
- Average Female Weight
- Varies
- Coat Length
- LongMediumShort
- Coat Type
- Varies
- Coat Colors
- Varies
- Coat Pattern
- Varies
Genetic Predispositions and Health
Currently, there are no known genetic conditions tightly associated with the Chinese Village Dog breed. As for all breeds, genetic screening is recommended to assist veterinarians with diagnosis and proactive care, as well as help breeders identify affected and carrier dogs.
Personality and Behavior
There is a wide range of genetic diversity within this group which means temperaments can be very different. These dogs are protective, and can be great guard dogs, they are not known to be aggressive. They may bark a lot to alert their owners of strangers, however positive training techniques may help to reduce this instinct. Some populations of Chinese village dogs will have high prey drive if they are used for hunting; these dogs may not be able to walk off leash unless recall training has been a priority for these adopted dogs.
Fun Facts
This breed carries more mitochondrial haplotypes than the other village dogs.
References
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn/2013/621836/
https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2015/10/central-asian-village-dogs-closest-original-dogs
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgene.2019.01174/full