Xigou

The Xigou (Chinese: 細狗), also known as Xiquan (Chinese: 細犬), Xiliegou (Chinese: 細獵狗), Xiǎn(Chinese: 獫), and Chinese Xiquan (Chinese: 中國細犬), is a rare breed of sighthound native to China.
The Xigou is an ancient indigenous dog breed from China, with evidence suggesting it has existed for over 2,500 years. Historically, the Xigou has been highly regarded by both nobility and commoners throughout various Chinese dynasties. Representations of the breed can be found in numerous Chinese tombs and cultural relics.
While some cynologists speculate the Xigou is the principal ancestor of all sighthounds known today, others indicate modern stock may have been intermixed in more recent years, pointing to greyhounds shipped to China by the East India Company. Once used to chase and capture prey on the open, flat land of the Huangtu Plateau, the breed is now in trouble, its numbers plummeting as a result of the government curbing the rights of its citizens to hunt. The China Kennel Union (CKU) classifies the breed as 'rare', and is trying to resurrect it. To that end, the CKU initiated an effort to collect DNA from the dogs in 2017.
The Xigou is lanky, with males being 60–78 centimetres (24–31 in) tall and females being shorter, between 65–75 centimetres (26–30 in) tall. The Xigou has a long and narrow head, a flat forehead, small spacing between ears, drooping ears, a slender neck, a slender waist, a curved back, and a long tail. It is divided into short-haired and feathered species, etc. Coat colors include yellow, black, brown, white, and fawn red.
The existing Xigou varieties mainly include Shaanxi Xigou (Chinese: 陝西細狗), Shandong Xigou (Chinese: 山東細狗), Hebei Xigou (Chinese: 河北細狗) and Menggu Xigou (Chinese: 蒙古細狗), etc.
The Shaanxi Xigou, also known as Shanxi Hound, is a versatile breed known for its hunting prowess, reliability as a guard dog, and loyalty as a companion. Some experts contend that the Shaanxi Xigou is the progenitor of all Xigou. This breed is characterized by a long, narrow head resembling that of a sheep.
The Shandong Xigou is renowned for its exceptional sense of smell and strong hunting instincts. Historically, it served as the royal hunting dog during the Tang Dynasty and continued to be favored as a hunting companion for centuries. Beyond its role in hunting, the Shandong Xigou is also highly effective in guarding livestock on farms. The breed can be found in both a long and short-haired variety.
The Hebei Xigou, also known as the Kangxi Imperial Dog (Chinese: 康熙御犬), closely resembles the Greyhound in appearance. This breed was primarily used for hunting hares and is highly regarded for its loyalty, strong memory, keen sense of smell, high prey drive, and excellent endurance. The Hebei Xigou is well-suited for hunting in open plains and can also serve as an effective guard dog. It is an improved and expanded variety of the Shandong Xigou, with some scholars suggesting it emerged during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. During the Qing Dynasty, the Hebei Xigou was selected as the royal hunting dog and was favored by the Kangxi Emperor.
The Mongol Xigou, also known as the Qidan Hound (Chinese: 契丹獵犬), is a distinctively different hound, characterized by a stockier build and a thicker coat. Taller than the other Xigou, this ancient hunting dog is renowned for its tenacity, keen sense of smell, and impressive running ability. Dating back to the Liao dynasty, the Mongol Xigou was favored by northern aristocrats, who relied on it both as a hunting dog and a watchdog. Historical records suggest that Genghis Khan brought the Mongolian Xigou with him during his campaigns through Europe. Experts believe the Mongol Xigou traces its origins to the Saluki. Like other Xigou, the breed is now relatively rare.
Xiaotian Quan (Chinese: 哮天犬) is a Chinese mythological beast and companion of the Chinese god Erlang Shen (Chinese: 二郎神). According to the descriptions of many mythological texts, drawings and sculptures, Xiaotian Quan is a slender, short-haired white dog. For this reason, some scholars believe that Xiaotian Quan is a white short-haired Xigou.