Chow Chow

Chow Chow

A proud, independent animal with a strong will, the Chow Chow as a pup looks like an endearing, fluffy teddy bear. As it matures, the ruffle at the neck gives it more of the look of a lion; it is a courageous breed.

History:

The Chow Chow is an ancient Chinese breed of Spitz-type dog and arrived in China with the first immigrants from northern Asia. It was bred in Mongolia for its fine fur, which adorned wealthy ladies' coats, and also for its meat, which was regarded as a delicacy. The Chow Chow was once used by the emperors as a hunting dog, and has also worked as a sled dog and gun dog.

Although the Chow Chow has been known in China for at least 2000 years, the West knew nothing of the breed until the late eighteenth century, first arriving in Great Britain around 1780. There the breed was perfected from the Hong Kong strain by breeding out physical imperfections and balancing the proportions. The breed was recognized by the Kennel Club in 1894.

Physical characteristics:

The most unusual feature of the Chow Chow is its blue-black tongue, not seen in any other dog breed. The dog has a solid and well-balanced body. Height: 19 - 22 in (48.3 - 55.9 cm) for the dog and 18 - 20 in (45.7 - 50.8 cm) for the bitch. Weight: 44 - 55 lb (20 - 25 kg). The head is broad and flat with a well-defined stop, and heaviness under the eyes. The muzzle is long and broad, and the large nose is usually black. Teeth are strong with a scissor bite and the lips, palate and gums are black. Chow Chows can either be rough- or smooth-coated. In the rough-coated variety the coat is heavy, with a harsh outer coat and a soft and wooly undercoat. In the smooth-coated variety, the coat is thick, short, dense, and plushy textured.

The Chow Chow is usually a solid color in any of black, red, blue, tawny, cream, or white, with some shading or lightening under the tail and brace of the thighs.

Behavior:

The Chow Chow has a very determined character. Although the puppies look like wooly lambs, the lion-like appearance of the adult dog is more true to its character. Fortunately, most Chow Chows have a wonderfully even temperament and will only react if provoked beyond endurance.

They do make excellent watch-dogs, as they are quick to respond to intruders. Nevertheless, their beautiful appearance makes them a little too cute for the role of guard dog.

In most cases, the Chow Chow gets along very well with other dogs, as they are a very sociable breed. Until your Chow Chow has been properly socialized with people, be a little wary of its reaction to strangers. As the Chow Chow has such a wonderful coat people find it very difficult not to stroke and handle them. Encourage people to slowly offer the back of their hand for the dog to sniff first, before you let them stroke the dog.

If you live in a cold area your Chow Chow will be very comfortable, and should be given plenty of vigorous exercise. However, during hot and humid weather, the Chow Chow may suffer from heat exhaustion and its activities should be moderated until the weather cools. It is important to always provide plenty of water for the dog to keep cool.