Xigou

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Xigou
Menggu Xigou
Other names	Xiquan (細犬) Xilagou (細蠟狗) Xiǎn (獫) Chinese Hound (中國獵犬) Chinese thin dog (中華細犬) Chinese Xiquan (中國細犬) Chinese Xilagou (中華細蠟狗) Chinese Xigou (中國細狗) Chinese Saluk (中國薩路基) Chinese Greyhound (中國格力犬) Qidan Hound (契丹獵犬) Kangxi Xiquan (康熙細犬) Kangxi Xigou (康熙細狗) Kangxi Imperial Dog (康熙御犬) Huang (黃) China Canines
Origin	China
Traits Height 24–31 in (60–78 cm) Weight 44–66 lb (20–30 kg) Coat Short coat and long coat, etc. Color White, cream, buff, ocher, caesious, black, blood red, blue-gray, etc.
Kennel club standards China Kennel Union standard
Dog (domestic dog)

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 breed of sighthound native to China. Xigou is a rare dog breed.

Xigou is an ancient native dog breed in China. Xigou is currently known to be 2,500 years old.^[1] Xigou has always been popular with nobles and citizens of Chinese dynasties.There are traces of Xigou in many Chinese tombs and cultural relics.

While some cynologists speculate just might be the principal ancestor of all sighthounds known today, others indicate some intermixing with modern stock, pointing to greyhounds shipped to China by the East India Company.^[2] 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.^[3]

Xigou is lanky, 60 to 78 centimetres (24 to 31 in) tall and weighs between 20 and 30 kilograms (44 and 66 lb). 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.^[2]

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 an ancient and rare breed that originated in China. These majestic dogs are skilled hunters, dependable guard dogs, and devoted companions. Some experts believe the Shaanxi Xigou is the original sighthound breed.^[4] The Shaanxi Xigou is characterized by a long, narrow sheep-like head, but not all descendants will necessarily inherit this head type.

The Shandong Xigou is a rare breed with a keen sense of smell and innate hunting instinct. Shandong Xigou once served as the royal hunting dog of the Tang dynasty and has been a royal hunting dog for centuries. In fact, in addition to working with hunters, this breed excels at protecting livestock on farms.^[5]

Hebei Xigou, also known as Kangxi Imperial Dog (Chinese: 康熙御犬),^[6] is a rare breed in China. Hebei Xigou is similar in appearance to Greyhound. Hebei Xigou is mainly used for hunting hares. Hebei Xigou is very loyal to the owner, has a strong memory, a keen sense of smell, a high desire to hunt, and has good endurance. It is suitable for hunting in the plains and can also be used as a guard dog. Hebei Xigou is a Xigou variety improved and extended from Shandong Xigou, some scholars believe that the Hebei Xigou appeared around the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period .^[7] During the Qing Dynasty, the Hebei Xigou was selected as the royal hunting dog and was favored by the Kangxi Emperor.^[8]

The Mongol Xigou , also known as Qidan Hound (Chinese: 契丹獵犬).^[9] is a distinctly different looking hound; much stockier and with a thicker coat. The Menggu Xigou is an ancient hunting breed known for its tenacity, keen sense of smell, and running ability. Mongolian Xigou was loved by some northern aristocrats in Chinese history who used Menggu Xigou as a hunting dog and watchdog. Experts believe the Menggu Xigou originated from one of the oldest dog breeds, the Saluki. Once a top hunting dog in Northeastern Mongolia, this breed is relatively rare today.^[10]

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.^[11][12][13]

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  Song Search the Mountain(Partial), middle
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  Two Xigou, painted by the Xuande Emperor of China (1399–1435)
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  Ming Soushan Tu(Partial), top right
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  One of a series in Ten Prized Dogs, painted by the Giuseppe Castiglione
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  One of a series in Ten Prized Dogs, painted by the Giuseppe Castiglione
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  One of a series in Ten Prized Dogs, painted by the Giuseppe Castiglione
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  One of a series in Ten Prized Dogs, painted by the Giuseppe Castiglione
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  One of a series in Ten Prized Dogs, painted by the Giuseppe Castiglione
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  One of a series in Ten Prized Dogs, painted by the Giuseppe Castiglione
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  One of a series in Ten Prized Dogs, painted by the Giuseppe Castiglione
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  One of a series in Ten Prized Dogs, painted by the Giuseppe Castiglione
• 
  One of a series in Ten Prized Dogs, painted by the Giuseppe Castiglione
• 
  One of a series in Ten Prized Dogs, painted by the Giuseppe Castiglione

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