Where does “子犬” come from?

子犬 (Japanese) comes from Japanese 子, from Japanese 鼠, from Japanese nezumi.

子犬 (Japanese): puppy, young dog

Definitions

子犬 traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

Step	Language	Word	Meaning
1	Japanese	子	a child; a girl, especially a dear or desired...
2	Japanese	鼠	a mouse or a rat; general term for members of...
3	Japanese	nezumi	—

Step	Language	Word	Meaning
1	Japanese	犬	dog; canine; one who is loyal; a spy
2	Old Japanese	いぬ	—