Flat White
A Flat White (通白) is a dog breed that originated in Themiclesia as a companion dog. Notable white dogs are first recorded as an offering to the Restored Meng (543 – 710) court, called the "great white dog" (泰白犬) and, on account of the unusual coloration, considered an auspicious animal. Some centuries later, the "white dog" was actively bred by the Department of Pet Dogs (弄犬) in service to the royal court; these dogs were then used as presents to foreign dignitaries as well as favoured courtiers. It is unknown, however, if these early attestations are really of the same breed as modern Flat Whites.
As its name suggests, the breed is famed for its snowy-white double coat of, ideally, maximal volume. Though breed has always been prized for its size, the modern variety is of large stature, though smaller varieties were known historically. Dogs stand as much as 40 inches (100 cm) and bitches 35 inches (89 cm), and healthy adults generally weigh between 50 kilograms (110 lb) and 80 kilograms (180 lb). A Flat White's head is relatively large in proportion to its body and has a mild stop, with eyes set wide apart. The muzzle is moderate in length and width and usually has flesh-coloured flews. Oblong ears hang from the side of the head and terminate in a round profile. The body is cylindrical, and limbs are large and end with large paws.
Flat Whites have remarkably mellow and equable temperament when met with unfamiliar and loud environments and rarely vocalize. They are docile and friendly to humans and their children, both familiar and unfamiliar, and are considered good pets for new dog owners. These characteristics were cultivated by Themiclesian dog breeders to make them suitable pets for display. Additionally, Flat Whites are easily trained to sit, eat, and sleep fixed places and to expect activity only at fixed times of day. Flat Whites were not selectively bred to serve a utilitarian purpose and thus rarely rank highly on associated tests, but they are suggestible to human instruction and generally eager to please their owners by occasionally seeking them out proactively.
Flat Whites can suffer from issues common to other large breeds of dog, not less a shorter life expectency of 6 to 10 years. Even though Flat Whites are by breeding large dogs, they can be overly pampered with food and insufficient exercise, and obesity is a often threat to their health due to their stationary habits. Flat Whites shed moderately, but due to their long hairs their coats can tangle.
The name of the breed was quoted as merely "white" in some publications dating to the 1800s. However, a breed that had a white coat with large grey dots was also called "white" in Themiclesian literature, so the modern name "flat white", meaning "completely white" came into use around 1881.