Antique CHINESE? Wood Carving~Foo Dog?~Fascinating piece.

Hello Again,
I bought this at a local thrift shop and have had it for about 5 years or so.
It's hanging in the living room and had a little ivory buddha underneath it until Lucky, my scrappy tuxedo kitty, started playing hockey with the Buddha,....now the carving hangs alone,( and the Buddha is safe on top of the frame of a painting over the fireplace )
It came to the shop as part of a lot with another carving which sold a short time before I arrived at the store,( the other piece was an antique folk carved panel from a Sicilian cart ). I had seen both carvings before they were priced and wanted them BOTH:), but they hadn't been priced and wouldn't be priced for a few days.
I got this one just in time, and was pursued around the shop by a woman who almost yanked it from my arms,.....it was ugly, the shop actually got involved, (if she weren't so agressive I would've given it to her, honest ).
Anyway, I have it and love it.
My guess is that it's Chinese. Looks very old, ( that's a square nail sticking out of the back of it )
Part of a much larger piece I reckon.
How old do you think it is? and do you think it is in fact Chinese?
p.s., it's about 17 inches end to end.