Xigou

Xigou, often translated as slender dog, is a Chinese name used for sighthounds rather than one universally standardized breed. Regional types such as the Shandong Xigou, Shaanxi Xigou, and Mongolian-influenced hounds have been used for coursing hare and other game across open country. They share the sighthound outline: long legs, deep chest, tucked waist, narrow head, and a flexible back built for speed. Coat length and feathering vary by region and family line, so a Xigou may resemble a smooth greyhound-type dog or a more feathered Saluki-like hound.

Keeping a Xigou requires the same caution as other high-prey-drive sighthounds. They need safe fenced space for sprinting, leash control near wildlife, and soft bedding for a lean body with little padding. Many are quiet indoors once exercised, but reliable recall around moving animals should not be assumed. Because the name covers several local populations and documentation outside China can be thin, buyers and rescues should focus on the individual dog's source, health, behavior, and legal import history rather than expecting consistent registry paperwork.

Colors: Albino, Apricot, Bicolor, Black, Black and Tan, Black and White, Black Mask, Blue, Blue and Tan, Blue Merle, Blue Roan, Blue Tick, Brindle, Brown, Brown and Tan, Brown and White, Chocolate, Cream, Dapple, Domino, Fawn, Fawn and White, Gold, Gray, Grey, Harlequin, Irish Marked, Leucistic, Liver, Liver Mask, Mantle, Mask, Melanistic, Merle, Mottled, Parti-Color, Piebald, Red, Red and White, Red Merle, Red Roan, Red Tick, Reverse Brindle, Roan, Sable, Saddle, Silver, Speckled, Spotted, Tan, Ticked, Tricolor, Tuxedo, White, Yellow