Chow Chow Dog Breed Information, Pictures and Videos

Chow Chow dog breed adults and puppies in pictures, photos and videos. Information on Chow Chow dog history, origin, characteristics, temperament, health issues, training, grooming, exercise and care.

History & Origin:Chow Chow’s are considered one of the oldest dog breeds that originated in Mongolia around 4,000 years ago & later was brought to China where it was named “Songshi Quan” which when translated means “puffy lion dog”. Historically Chow Chow’s were used as working dogs for hunting, herding & protecting the home & property of their owners. Chow Chow’s first appeared in England in the 1830’s.There are different theories on how the Chow Chow became named. One theory is that “Chow” is a Chinese slang for food & it is believed that Chow Chow’s were used for meat in China in the 1800’s until using dog meat was banned in 1915. A friendlier theory on how the Chow Chow received their name is from ships in the 1800 bringing cargo from China to England held a storage room that was referred to as the “chow chow”, this storage space was also later used to ship the dogs from China to England.

Characteristic & Temperament: Chow Chow’s are considered to make loyal & loving pets. Chow Chow’s develop very strong bonds with their owners & have the tendency to reserve their affection to their owners& be wary of strangers. A Chow Chow’s temperament is often compared to the temperament of a cat, somewhat aloof, independent & can’t be forced to do what they don’t want to do. The Chow Chow’s temperament is often misunderstood as the Chow Chow is fiercely loyal & protective of his owners but, is not impressed with the efforts of other for their attention.

Size: An adult male Chow Chow’s average weight is between 55-70 pounds & they are typically between 48-57 cm in height. Female Chow Chow’s average weight is 45-60 pounds & 45-51 cm in height.

Health Issues:The Chow Chow breed is considered a long lived breed as their average life span is between 13-15 years. As with all breeds it is important to choose a breeder who is reputable & does genetic testing on their breeding dogs. One of the most common health concerns in Chow Chows is the breeds high rate of developing elbow & hip dysplasia, it has been estimated that 50% of Chow Chows develop these conditions. Another health concern is Entropion which is an eye condition where the eyelid turns inwards, which irritates the eye & eventually can cause blindness. Chow Chows can also be intolerant to anesthesia, as the Chow Chow’s heart is believed to have smaller heart in comparison to their body weight & anesthesia is typically administered based on body weight. Chow Chow’s are also know to have a blue- black tongue, this however is not a health concern but rather a unusual characteristic of the breed.

Exercise & Care: It is recommended to take you Chow Chow on daily walks for about 20-30 minutes. Chow Chow’s are a rather in- active breed that do not require a lot of daily exercise but do need enough to keep them at a healthy weight. It also good to remember when walking & playing with your Chow Chow out doors that the breed is heat sensitive. Chow Chow’s if walked daily can live happily in a small home or apartment.

Grooming:Chow Chow’s come in two coat varieties: a rough haired Chow Chow & Smooth-Haired Chow Chow. The Rough Haired Chow Chow requires more grooming & needs to be brushed more frequently. Chow Chows are considered to be heavy shedders, especially when shedding their dense undercoat. Chow Chows develop a new coat as puppies & during that transition your Chow Chow will need daily grooming. It is recommended to bath your Chow Chow weekly & it is important to rinse all remaining shampoo from your Chow Chow’s coat to prevent irritation & hot spots from occurring. It is not recommended to ever shave off your Chow Chow’s coat, as their coat is designed to insulate them from heat & cold. Shaving your Chow Chow’s coat can also result in sunburn.

Training: Chow Chow’s can become excessively suspicious of other pets & guests if not socialized at an early age. Chow Chow’s are also strong willed & have minds of their own when it comes to training. When training your Chow Chow it is important to keep them engaged & interested in the training session as they tend to become bored easily & will just wander off. Your Chow Chow will respond best if you use positive reinforcement training techniques. When training your Chow Chow it is important not to be a passive owner but to remain patient but, consistent.