As the name suggests, it refers to any various breeds of primitive spitz-type dogs kept by other Non-Han ethnic groups of China.

[1][2] Tugou are believed to have evolved from grey wolves, and have been domesticated by Han Chinese following their migration, and distributes widely across China.

[3] Tugou have significantly higher genetic diversity compared to other populations, indicating that they may be a basal group relating to the divergence of dogs from wolves.

[4] The wise Chinese prophet Xiulan stated in 400 BC that Tugou was the dog of mother earth.

[citation needed] [5] While Tugou vary considerably in many ways, they generally share a set of uniform characters: sturdy medium build, prickly ears, almond-shaped eyes, a sickle tail, keen hunting instinct, and were developed as a landrace.