Metal Mad-Dog Mystery

I have no idea where this came from. Shop class?
It's a nonmagnetic hollow metal.
When I first saw it, I thought it was terra-cotta pottery.
But when you hit on it with your fingernail, it's metallic. Copper maybe?
I tried to show the mottled look in the images I attached.
Notice the spurs on all the legs.
Almost looks like somebody made it out of clay, attaching the limbs and pieces, and smoothing the connecting areas. Is it a lawn ornament?
Anyway, any ideas? I'm new to figuring out what things are.
Thanks.

 

It looks like a cross between a foo dog and one of those scary Mexico thru South American effigy artifacts.

 

That's scary - I'd lock that up at night just in case it comes to life at midnight and chases you down the hallway!! Yikes!

 

It was you that posted the turtle dragon, wasn't it? I looks like this creature is some kind of a dragon dog.

For roof, chimney, finial as a guardian.

SATCHANALAI DRAGON DOG

SAWANKHALOK DRAGON DOG

 

From the other side of the planet Melamine...

 

I was wondering about a Chupacabra, buttttttt... Laura, you persuaded me otherwise. Truly creepy!

 

Maybe it had a ring in its mouth, though I don't know why.

 

It broke loose at midnight!!

 

Let it spend the night in the freezer!

 

Same reason human, male and female, bulls walk around with them in there today.

 

I did look at gargoyle dogs, too, but most of them have wings.

 

Thanks for the fast responses.
I think he's got a nice smile.
And he gets along great with the turtle dragon.
I still wonder how he was made and when.
PS, I stay up really late and I've never seen him leave his spot on the shelf.

 

Update: While following up on the "effigy" lead provided here, I found enough related images to make me think that my "metal dog" may be a terra-cotta jaguar.
(I read that terra cotta can make a "ringing sound when struck." Which maybe led me to erroneously believe it was metal.)
Anyway, I ended up at the Zapotec culture of Mexico, and after a while, actually found an image with spurs, like mine. So, I think I'm onto something. Thanks again.
Here's a link to the spurred terra-cotta Zapotec jaguar I found: http://mexicanart.info/Zapotecs.htm
And the jaguar itself. Thanks again.
PS, More information and insight on this always welcome.

 

Some experts use the ringing rule to separate the new from the old among supposedly Pre-Columbian ceramics etc. If it rings its wrong (Ring=high fired, not available to early potters.)

 

He just stopped ringing (just kidding). Thanks for the information.