How much does a Tugou cost, is it a large dog, and can it be kept as a pet dog?

In the past, almost every rural household kept a Tugou, and wherever you went you could hear dogs barking, but now that conditions are better, fewer people keep them. So if you were to keep one now, how much does one cost? Does it belong to the large dog category? Can it be kept as a pet dog the way people do in the city? It is understood that different Tugou breeds vary greatly in price, ranging from a little over ten yuan to over a thousand yuan.

1. Is the Tugou a large dog?

The Tugou, also called the Chinese rural dog, is a medium-sized dog, weighing around 20 kg, with a shoulder height of about 50 cm. There are also tall individuals among them; they were very common in rural areas in the past, but today there are not many of the larger build. Those that are too small in size with short legs are basically mixed breeds.

Methods for identifying a large dog:

1. Look at the age

Generally, to see whether your dog belongs to the large dog category, you can look at its age. For example, if a dog that has just turned one month is already fairly big, then it is certainly a large dog. A puppy of a large breed may already weigh about 10 jin at one month old.

2. Look at the paws

Generally, large dogs have very big paws. A puppy's paws are already large when it is young, and later they will grow very big.

3. Look at the puppy's bones

When buying, you can feel the puppy, and from the feel you can sense how big the dog's bones are.

4. Look at the dog's father and mother

No matter what kind of dog it is, the makeup of a puppy is mostly inherited from its father and mother. Therefore, if you want to know whether your dog belongs to the large dog category, you still need to know about its ancestors.

5. Keep in mind: buying a dog requires caution; dogs are humanity's friends, and once you buy one you must be responsible for it for a lifetime. Also, do not buy one just because it is cheap; after buying, you must deworm it regularly and give it vaccinations.

2. Can a Tugou be kept as a pet dog?

Actually, the Tugou is very intelligent, and because it is a local breed, its health is good and it is not very prone to illness. Compared with FCI-registered purebred dogs, there is no distinction of being hygienic or not; as long as you pay attention to cleaning it and giving it vaccinations, a Tugou can likewise be kept as a pet dog.

Appendix: Practical methods for keeping a Tugou

1. It is best to choose a male dog to keep

Because a male dog saves you the trouble of breeding puppies, it is relatively less troublesome. Of course, if you plan to keep a pair of Tugou, one male and one female, that is also fine, as long as you are willing to spend a bit more effort and time.

2. Puppies within 2 or 3 months are best kept tethered

Puppies are rather weak, especially Tugou puppies within 3 months, which are relatively frail and unfamiliar with the outside world. If not tethered, they may get lost (be taken away by people) or fall into a ditch, manure pit, or sewer and drown.

3. Dog food should be nutritionally balanced

Besides special dog feed, you can also add some leftovers to give the dog some extra nutrition. But remember that spoiled food must not be given to the dog, otherwise it will easily get sick and the loss will outweigh the gain.

4. The doghouse needs to be cleaned frequently

The doghouse is the Tugou's shelter, and you should try to keep it dry. It is best to spread some disinfected dry grass inside, and place some clean sand under the dry grass. This will help maintain the Tugou's health and reduce the growth of parasites and the occurrence of canine diseases.

5. Suggestions for naming a Tugou

Naming a Tugou should be easy to remember and manage, and should also be distinguishable from the names of other dogs.

6. How do you strengthen your bond with the dog?

The Tugou is very loyal. After the Tugou has reached a certain number of months, you can take it outside to broaden its horizons and play. You can also play small games such as hide-and-seek, all of which can better increase the interaction and mutual trust between the Tugou and its owner, which helps cultivate affection.

7. Notes: after a Tugou grows up, it may easily bite strangers, so watch it carefully; never let children come into contact with unfamiliar Tugou; and be sure to bathe the Tugou regularly.