In fact, it's commonly believed that Shar-Peis were originally bred as hunting and guard dogs. Known for their distinctive, wrinkled faces, small ears, and blue-black tongues, Shar-Peis are a very unique and rare breed with roots in ancient China. The Pekingese is believed to have existed in China for as long as 2,000 years and was named after the capital city of Peking (now Beijing). The Pekingese was closely guarded and never allowed to leave the palace let alone the country, but he came to the attention of the Western world as a result of the Opium War in 1860. The dogs became prizes of war and were taken to England where they were presented to the royal family. DNA evidence suggests they are one of the oldest dog breeds. In realty, Pekingese were most likely the result of breeding a larger dog with toy-sized dogs in China, but they remained a favourite and much pampered pet among Chinese royalty for thousands of years. In fact, one story says that Pekingese were actually created when Buddha shrunk a lion down to the size of a small dog. They were also often the subject of Chinese folklore. Often referred to as Pekes, lion dogs, or sun dogs, Pekingese were originally kept as companion pets to Chinese royalty. Some think that the famous Foo Dogs of China are representations of the ancient Pug. Dating back to the Han Dynasty, pugs were considered prized by the Emperors of China and lived in luxurious accommodations, sometimes even being guarded by soldiers. Pugs are one of three types of short-nosed dogs that are known to have been bred by the Chinese, the lion dog, the Pekingese, and the Lo-sze, which was the name for the ancient pug. Although some think pugs are related to the Pekingese, another dog hailing from China, others believe they were ancestors to bulldogs and mastiffs. But did you know that they're one of the world's oldest breeds? It's believed that the pug originated in China, sometime around 400 B.C, and were often kept as companions to Buddhist monks living in Tibet. Pugs are one of the most popular breeds of the last few years, with their popularity growing massively around 2014. They often have a sweet, friendly temperament, and a distinctive facial structure. Puggy Smalls wears our Valour print, shop similar styles here. Because for us, every year is year of the dog! To celebrate this incredible holiday, we wanted to take a look at some of the most fascinating Chinese dog breeds to celebrate our four-legged friends this Lunar New Year. ![]() Chinese New Year has more than 4,000 years of history and is the longest holiday of the year in the Chinese calendar. ![]() Chinese New Year celebrations typically last for 16 days and include memorial ceremonies, lantern festivals, family dinners and much more. Chinese New Year marks the transition between zodiac signs and 2021 is the year of the Ox. Tomorrow marks the most important date in the Chinese calendar - Spring Festival - or as it is more commonly known, Chinese New Year.
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