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Happy 4703

Do you have a deep sense of loyalty and honesty? Are you friendly with all human beings? If so, you may have been born during the Year of the Dog, which marks you as one who is bound to principled action and who will struggle for fairness and equal rights no matter how formidable the obstacles. In fact, you are possessed of all the best features of "man's best friend," which means your admirable qualities are almost numberless. You can be hard-headed at times, but you are also almost certainly well-respected and, above all, loyal.

So with the rooster of the Year of the Rooster heading out the door, perhaps heading to a veterinarian's office to get an inoculation against avian influenza, we welcome Chinese Lunar Year 4703, the Year of the Dog.

But for all that, with the growing popularity of pet ownership in China's capital city, one may wonder, what is the history of the place of the dog in Chinese life? BTM's Jewell Ran has some answers.

The Dog: A Holy Animal in Ancient China
There are some scientists who believe that domestic dogs probably derived directly from wolves. Evidence indicates that relationships between mankind and wolves date to more than 10,000 years ago. Experts say ancient people used domestic dogs for hunting, keeping herds together and for warning and self-protection against approaching enemies. Chinese regard dogs as guards, companions, and loyal friends of humane beings.

Many ethnic groups in China consider dogs as holy animals. In Manchu legend one dog rescued Emperor Tai Zu Nurhaci, the first emperor of the Qing Dynasty during a fierce battle. Because of this heroic act, the Manchu people accord great respect to dogs and take good care of them. Eating dog meat is taboo in the Manchu world.

In Southwest China, there's a myth, widely spread among ethnic groups, including Bouyei, Jingpo, Hani and Lisu, that says "once upon a time" there was a dog that stole the food seed from heaven and rescued the common people from starvation. On every Chinese New Year's Day, local residents make sacrifices in memory of the brave dog.

Dogs were also widely used in sacrificial ceremonies honouring ancestors. This is recorded in inscriptions on bones or tortoise shells of the Shang Dynasty (16th-11th centuries BC), and we must recall that only holy animals could be used in sacrifices.
Dog Ala Carte?
Since the Chinese have almost always worshipped dogs, why do some eat them??Some people simply freak out at the mere mention of having dog meat on the dinner table, as if eating dog meat is physically repulsive or?morally wrong. But eating dog meat is customary in East and Northeast China where many restaurants dedicated to such fare dot the culinary landscape. Just look for the shadow outline of a dog above or alongside doors to restaurants and you're halfway there.

Searching for the history of dog meat eating among humans is not difficult. According to the Li ji, an important Chinese ancient record of ritual matters, dog meat was added to the menu for the peerage in the pre-Qin period (before 221 BC). At that time, the emperor would award dog meat to people who had made contributions to the nation. But explanations about why this was the case and why the ancient Chinese ate dog meat is not easy because of gaps in the record.
Although the Chinese have a long gastronomic culture, experts believe dog meat was first eaten for its curative effects, not for its flavour. It is believed, in some quarters, that eating dog meat brings warmth to the body in the winter. Based on traditional Chinese medical philosophy, dog meat is invigorating, which is good for a body's joints, blood circulation and digestion. Lin Yutang, one of the foremost Chinese thinkers of modern times, once said in his work My Country and my People that dog eating presented as an aspect of culture, in this case, superstition in the name of the science of healing.
Some regard the custom of dog meat eating as symptomatic of a deep-seated adherence to the so-called feudal mode of production.
From the genesis of European civilization, it is easy to see that herding, fishing and hunting were major human activities. Of course, dogs were significant actors in the living drama of hunting and herding animals such as sheep. On the one hand, dogs are a most subservient tool of production; on the other hand, they are also the intimate friends of humane beings.
However, things were totally different in China, a country that relied on agriculture, with a feudal history of more than 3,000 years. Instead of dogs, cattle served as food in the west, but cattle were the main tools used in ploughing in China and the common people were prohibited from eating them. In Shuowen jiezi (Explaining Simple and Analyzing Compound Characters), the oldest Chinese dictionary, the "dog" is defined as an animal for guarding houses. Clearly, dogs did not hold an important position in Chinese productive life.
In Bencao gangmu (The Compendium of Materia Medica), Li Shizhen, a great Chinese herbalist sorted dogs into different species in term of their characteristics, such as hounds, watchdogs and dogs for food. In the ancient Chinese eyes, dogs as food were a source of meat just as sheep and pigs.
Interestingly, the custom of eating dog meat was only prevalent among the Han people, the majority ethnic group in China. Eating dog meat was prohibited by some minority ethnic groups, who were dependent upon dogs for shepherding, hunting or fishing, especially the Tibetan, Uygur, Mongol, Hui, Manchu and Kazak people.

Dogs as Companions

In the modern age, many Chinese people truly agree that the brutal killing of dogs should stop. They have come to realize that it is time to reconsider the relations between people, nature and animals. Most Chinese in the cities now keep pets that live as a part of a family and they recognize the value of dogs as companions.
Keeping dogs as pets originated among the peerage during the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) and became fashionable during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). In Qingbai leichao (A Collection of Anecdotes of the Qing Dynasty), six kinds of noble Beijing dogs are recorded, including the Pekinese, which can be seen everywhere now in Beijing.
Instead of giving love to dogs, many Chinese during the Qing era thought that they should keep a pet dog for show purposes only. People did not become aware of the essence of having pets. It dawns on the Chinese these years that loving and respecting pets begins with learning to care and be responsible for them.

And now, with increasing numbers of Chinese people keeping pets, the local pet industry is dramatically flourishing. Pet shops offering all kinds of pet-care services abound; you can even find dog food and other related products in the city's supermarkets.

At the same time, contradictions between the dog eating tradition and the modern revision of values and relations still exist, though they are not given much attention. But more Chinese have been discovering a new relation with their dogs from a real experience.
SIDEBAR
Since the pet-care industry has gained much prosperity, it's not at all unusual that people can be found attending a dog's wedding or funeral in Beijing. Dog supplies are readily available to suit every taste in the pet shops of Beijing.
Dog Toys
In most of the pet shops, there are a variety of dog toys that your dog might enjoy, such as items they can chew on like faux bones. Some dogs are happy with gnawing on a bone, while others prefer exercising by chasing around after a ball or toy. Keep various dog toys on hand in case they get bored with the same old one.

Dog Clothes

When dressing up your dog in Beijing, glamour should be kept in mind, but the perfect dog outfit shouldn't be merely fashionable; it must also be functional. The clothes should be designed specifically with your dog in mind and easy to put on and take off.
Health Supplies
When your dog's health is in doubt, you should never hesitate to call your veterinarian. The pet hospital is the best choice, but health supplies are also available in some pet shops. Health check ups are obligatory, especially for senior pets, as kidney, heart, and liver diseases are all associated with old age.
Dog Training 
The proper training of dogs will build a foundation for a rewarding, lifelong friendship. How to train your dog to be a well behaved companion? If you don't acquire adequate knowledge and skills, you can ask a dog trainer for help. The basic training usually includes communication, manners, basic obedience control and solving common problems.