Hebei Xigou

Hebei Xigou

He is not recognized by the F.C.I.

Origin

Translation

En français, cette race se dit

Diese Norm ist in deutscher Sprache sichtbar

En español, esta raza se dice

In het Nederlands, wordt dit ras gezegd

This breed is also known as

Kangxi Imperial Dog

The Hebei Xigou (or Chinese Greyhound) is an ancient and rare Chinese breed, renowned for its speed, endurance, and hunting prowess. Resembling a Greyhound with an elegant silhouette, it was once used by Chinese nobility and emperors to hunt game, such as hares, on the plains. Also known as the Kangxi Imperial Dog or Shandong Xigou, this loyal hunting dog with an exceptional sense of smell is declining in numbers, but it remains a prized part of China's canine heritage, praised for its loyalty and keen sense of smell. The Xigou is a dog breed native to China, with evidence of its existence dating back over 2,500 years. Historically, it has been highly valued by both nobility and commoners throughout the various Chinese dynasties. Representations of the breed appear in numerous Chinese tombs and cultural relics. While some dog experts believe the Xigou is the primary ancestor of all sighthounds known today, others suggest that more recent crossbreeding may have occurred, particularly with sighthounds imported to China by the East India Company.

Once used to hunt game on the vast plains of the Huangtu Plateau, the Xigou is now endangered, its numbers plummeting due to government restrictions on hunting rights. The Chinese Kennel Club (CKU) classifies it as "rare" and is working to revive it. To this end, the CKU launched a DNA collection program in 2017. Existing Xigou varieties include the Shaanxi Xigou, the Shandong Xigou, the Hebei Xigou, and the Menggu Xigou. The Hebei Xigou, also known as the Kangxi Imperial Dog, closely resembles a greyhound. This breed was primarily used for hare hunting and is highly valued for its loyalty, prodigious memory, keen sense of smell, strong prey drive, and exceptional endurance. The Hebei Xigou is perfectly suited for hunting on the plains and can also serve as an effective guard dog. It is an improved and enlarged variety of the Shandong Xigou, with some researchers suggesting it originated during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. Under the Qing Dynasty, the Hebei Xigou was chosen as the royal hunting dog and was a favorite of the Kangxi Emperor.