Serious help needed!

When one starts buying poodles there is no return, this is my first one and I hope it is the last.
He is about 20 cm x 15 cm, no marks.
I was trying to find something similar and came across one by Royal Japan (eBay 260794924600), not so good looking and much smaller but it seems to be made with the same technique.
What do you think about his provenance? 1950s Japanese for the american market??



Portrait:



A few dots on the collar, could these mean something?

A very colourful little guy , wonder why the little face on the collar tag , OH ! and he smokes too much

Hi Ed, I love this yellow fellow!
Although it looks like a face in the picture it actualy are five dots, like in a dice.
Why do you say he smokes to much? He looks quite healthy to me...

Hi Rita, I think he looks as though he has a mouthful of Ciggies and he's covered in dog-ends

Oh! yes, I see. In fact there were some old tobacco jars that used to have the same finishing, normaly in dark browns. Well, he must have at least one dog-end, after all he is a dog!

Yes he certainly is , BTW , for what it's worth I would guess Japan /China also for makers.