Zas is a Chinese Foo Dog

This video is about my dog Zas when he was a puppy and then grown about 8 years old. One of the most lovable dogs on earth. The Chinese Foo Dog is so versatile that he can hunt, graze livestock, transport sleds and serve as a guard. I gave him the Greek name Zas for Mount Zas in Naxos, Greece the tallest mountain in the Cyclades. I purchased Zas from a breeder out of Colorado and he was flown to my hometown in Tampa, Florida when he was 10 weeks old.

This breed was used for guarding Buddhist temples and is considered sacred. The Chinese Foo Dog is believed to be the mascot of the most secretive sects in the world, known as the Tang. Members of this society sincerely believe that the Foo brings them good luck. He brought joy to our household for over 12 years which is at the high end of life-expectancy.

This dog breed is friendly, loyal, courageous and obedient. But in spite of his gentle character, the Foo is truly suspicious of strangers; and although not too large, this dog is always ready to defend his family and territory. This dog breed is completely focused on their family and seek to maximize communication with the man. I have witnessed the love he gives to all living things and amazed with his gentleness with children and other pets.

The weather on the day this video was shot, was about 50 degrees and windy which is heaven for Zas. The Chinese Foo Dog has a double-layered coat which is very warm, protecting the dog from bad weather. The outer layer is thick, hard, dense and straight. Beneath it lies a soft and dense undercoat. The Chinese Foo Dog requires frequent cleaning with a stiff brush and you will notice a lot of hair bundled up near you’re A/C return vent.

Zas was a male Standard Chinese Foo Dog breed’s height was approximately 16 – 18 inches and he weighed around 70 pounds. He was a very playful dog, especially in cold weather. He loved playing with the bigger dogs so when he was young, we made sure he had plenty of playtime at the bigger doggy parks. When he was cornered with too much aggressiveness from the other dogs, he would show those wolf teeth of his with a growl and they would all back down.

I found Zas to be a smart and clever dog that learns very quickly. I advise you to carry out early socialization and obedience training. The fact that this is quite a dominant breed, teaching process can be a challenge and because of his thick hair you will need a prong collar. Rough or oppressive methods in dealing with this dog breed are ineffective. On the contrary, education should be based on love, respect, firmness, fairness and consistency.

The Chinese Foo Dog is a very versatile breed that can adapt to almost any environment, that is, if you provide enough physical exercises and mental stimulation. I would recommend a house with a doggy door so they can have open place where he can walk freely especially at night.