Among the Ethiopians there were people who kept a dog as king. They made judgments based upon the dog king. In China and Tibet especially, dogs appear from very early times as royal animals. From at the least the Han Dynasty, dogs had royal status. The Emperor Ling Ti  gave royal titles to the palace dogs as imperial guards and viceroys. This was the beginning of a tradition in which the emperor appeared with dogs forming part of the royal guard.  Even today, scientists have found the remains of very important kings.....along with the remains of their dogs.