Coreen's "Creepy"

This is a picture of my "Lucky Dogs".   I bought these little statues in Japan for about $5.00.  They were the smallest and cheapest ones I could find.    But these gargoyles are all over Japan.   Very large ones are at the entrances of all the important buildings and temples. 
Many of the homes have them at the front doors.   I do not know the full story on them but it seems to be tied to ancient practices of Asian religions.  I understand they are in China as well.   The figures are supposed to ward off evil spirits.   So I brought two of them home with me and I call them my LUCKY DOGS??