The Chow Chow originally comes from China, where it was bred as a guard and hunting dog. Chinese merchants arrived in England with these dogs towards the end of the 18th century, and their exotic good looks quickly found a host of fanciers.
Their popularity soon spread to the United States, and the American Kennel Club classified the Chow as a member of the Non-Sporting group. The Chow Chow weighs between 45 to 70 pound and stands 17 to 20 inches high. Some people have commented that its down turned lips can give this breed an almost angry appearance.
Combine this with its lion like mane, and it would be easy to jump to the conclusion that this dog is somewhat unfriendly. But the truth is, that they are often devoted to their families, and usually adore children, but they can have a bit of an attitude problem towards strangers, or other pets.
The Chow Chow has a profuse, thick double coat. Red, is the most common coat color, but blue, cream and cinnamon are also popular. They need regular grooming to keep that fluffed up look that is so characteristic of this breed. Your going to need strong wrists, as the Chows dense undercoat is quite difficult to brush out.
Chows are not a particularly active breed. Apartment life suits this breed. They can be rather lazy, so you need to be prepared to take him for a brisk, daily walk, even if you have a fenced yard that he can explore. If you are taking him to the park, be wary of letting him run off of the lead, since Chows are a dominant breed, they can be aggressive towards other dogs.
The Chow Chow is probably not a good choice for the 1st time dog owner. If you decide that this breed is for you then you should concentrate on training your puppy right from day one. Check out a dog training method that works. Puppy obedience classes can be a very good method to socialize your puppy. Meeting new dogs and people will definetly help your Chow become a well-balanced adult. And give you the opportunity to meet newbie owneres and their puppys.
Chows are inclined to be aloof towards people outside of their immediate family. Independent and often willful, they also have a tendency to dominate people if they are allowed to. Inexperienced dog owners can find themselves being bullied, so it essential that you are firm, but fair with your Chow. Consistency is paramount with this breed.
Since they are not a high activity breed, Chows do not need lots of food. Just feed your Chow a nutritious puppy food, and move on to a good adult dog food as he grows older.
Chow Chows can suffer from hip dysplasia and often have problems with their knee joints. Summer heat can be a problem, as their dense coats do not protect them from heat sensitivity.
Yes, Chows are a unique breed. They can be very loyal and loving family pets. So, if you think that you can handle a dog that needs to be thoroughly socialised, and well trained, then the beautiful Chow Chow might just be the right breed for you.
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Bred about 2100 years back in Mongolia, the Chow Chow makes a great companion and an excellent watchdog. It’s a medium size dog which has thick fur coat and appears as a living, growling teddy bear. These dogs are normally solid black in color but also come in shades of brown and red. Unlike other dogs, they have black tongues and black noses, and even the inside of their mouths is black.
To look at, the Chow Chow is cute, cuddly dog but has a lordly attitude, which is why it is considered to be a tough and mean dog, which is true in part. Some of them are grouchy and downright mean, while many are playful and indifferent. They are, in general, aloof and haughty.
One thing that stands apart is the Chow Chow’s fierce loyalty towards its owners. They are tough defenders and would defend their families to the last of their breath. This is what makes them great watchdogs. Put him on and not a fly could pass.
Any unknown person is not allowed near any of his things, and if you mess with it, you’ll have some part of your body in his mouth in a jiffy.
They are quite choosy when it comes to bonding. So, a Chow Chow would find a person of his choice in the family and would obey him or her at all the times. Not that he is intolerant of others. He can bear them but obedience comes for a price. If anyone else wants him to obey, he could offer a treat, after which obedience might be considered.
However, that doesn’t mean that even the outsiders can bribe the dog. This offer of treat-for-obedience is valid only with respect to the family members, and any outsider trying it may get a bite-treatment from the dog. This also means that if you want your neighbor to come and watch the house while the dog is in, the dog would ignore the fellow and do whatever it likes though it is unlikely that he would harm the person.
In other words, you can sit and watch, but do not command, as your commands will fall on a deaf Chow Chow’s ear and will be ignored altogether.
They need strong human masters, for they are themselves quite strong willed, and needs to be told that the man is the boss. So you need to be affectionate and firm consistently and your Chow Chow will grow into an obedient, good boy.
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Group: Non-sporting
Weight: 45-70 lbs
Height: 17-20 inches
Overview
The Chow Chow is a very old breed that is originally from China, and they are more than 2000 years old. These dogs were bred to be used for hunting, herding, pulling, and protection. They are usually referred to as "the Chow", and are now used mainly as a companion dog.
Temperament
In general, the Chow Chow is very courteous and enduring, and they are also very devoted toward their families. The Chow can however be wary toward strangers, and tends to become very attached to one person in the family. This is a domineering, sombre and obstinate stubborn dog. Seeing that these dogs are so dominant, they will require a dominant owner. These dogs have a mind of their own, and will not get along well with other pets unless raises with them from an early age onwards. The will also get along well with older considerate children, and they like to be treated with respect.
Care
Seeing that the Chow is so self-assured, they like to stay clean. In general, the Chow likes to be groomed. This breed should be groomed on a weekly basis to prevent mats and tangles, but excessive clipping of the coat can damage the two layers of naturally thick coat. Regular grooming will also help to build a stronger bond between owner and their Chow; this is needed for the temperament of these dogs.
Training
The way a Chow is train is very important, and should be done with great care. For training to be effective, it should be started at a young age. It is vital for the owner to establish their dominance early on, and consistency is a must. It is important for owners to understand the nature of these dogs, as this will keep disagreements and power struggles to a minimum. Although the Chow is very devoted to its owner, it will only allow on itself for justification. The Chow is an independent and autonomous breed, and it forms a part of their 3,000 year old history. The Chow needs firmness, justice, and consistency as part of their training. They will not respond to harshness or cruel training methods, and will become forceful if treated in a rude way.
Health problems
The Chow is mostly a healthy breed, and doesn't suffer from any health conditions more than other dogs. But they are prone to a few health conditions which include hip dysplasia and entropion, which is where the eyelids fold in. They are also very vulnerable to extreme heat conditions.
The Chow Chow is an ancient breed from China. It is believed to be one of the oldest of the pure breeds and representations are found in Chinese sculpture dating as far back as 1000 B.C. It may be that he is the origin of many of the Spitz type breeds. The Chow Chow is commonly shortened to just one word, the Chow. He was used in China as a guarding and hunting dog and held in much favor in the Imperial courts. The Chow was a populous breed in China and was also raised as a source of food.
The Chow Chow is shown in the Non Sporting Group in the show ring in the United States. The coat is red, blue, fawn or black, with variations of light and dark in these colors and never with any markings of white. There are two varieties of the coat, the "rough" or long coated and the "smooth" or short coated. Both types of coat are dense and double. The Chow Chow's most distinguishing characteristic is the color of the tongue, which must always be blue-black in color. The pigment of the lips and gums must also be of the blue black color. The Chow Chow has deep wrinkles in his brow, making him appear to "frown" or "scowl" and this expression is another distinctive characteristic which is a part of the breed standard. The tail curls over the top of the back. The shoulders and neck of the Chow should have a large ruff, in appearance this should be like the mane of a lion and the legs on both the front and the rear should be heavily "feathered" with longer hairs on the backs of the legs. Chows need to be regularly groomed, the coat will mat and become impossible to care for if left untended.
The overall appearance of the Chow should be that of a nearly "square" dog, with a deep chest and lion-like look about his head and neck. He has a somewhat "stilted" gait, almost rolling in nature. He should move with deliberation and is a beautiful sight in the show ring.
The Chow Chow has a distinct character . This is a dog that displays a certain independence and often seems not to "need" human companionship. A person who is going to purchase a Chow needs to study this breed first and decide whether or not this is the breed for him. They are universally thought of as a "one man, one family" dog. They must be well socialized early in their lives, as they are "stand-offish" and do not fawn over people or demand attention. They are quite aloof and dignified and are not accepting of strangers. A well-bred and well brought up Chow Chow should not show aggression towards people. They are good watchdogs, setting up a bark to warn of strangers and are devoted and loyal to their immediate family or owner. Chows who are aggressive are usually the product of irresponsible breeding or irresponsible owners and are not representatives of the type of character the Chow should posses.
Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Dogs.
We are writing this article is to keep the public fully informed about the various breeds of dogs available to them. This article will focus on the Chow Chow in particular. Lots of people decide that they want a dog strictly because they like the look of the breed. This is not a horrible thing if they can truly look after the breed of dog well, however for some individuals the care for specific types of dog breeds is not possible. The only way to avoid any surprises after the adopting or purchase of a dog is to understand the breed and what it takes to care for it. We will go over some of the basic characteristics of the Chow Chow to help you get a better understanding of the Chow Chow as a breed and possibly a new addition to your family.
The Chow Chow is a very independent breed by nature. They are very loyal to their owners but usually do not respond well to strangers. They have a strong following; and require a lot of attention for those that are not very educated about the breed. The Chow Chow is usually hard to get excited about much. They live comfortably and quietly by themselves and rarely see the need to move with any considerable speed, therefore demand very little exercise. This breed is not very demanding with regard to food as the only weigh about 59 lbs and stand 22 inches tall. The bulk of their size is fur which can be deceiving, and that is why the grooming of a Chow Chow is a very demanding task. Often considered an ill tempered breed, the Chow Chow is not a very good family dog and the owner should be weary of this dog around small children.
We hope that we have assisted you I your quest for knowledge and understanding of the Chow Chow. Please look below for some additional resources. The first thing you will want to do is see what the Chow Chow looks like. The next thing you will need to do is house train your Chow Chow. We find that one of the most common reasons that someone will get rid of Chow Chow’s is that they are not house trained. There is a wonderful manual that can be used and you will find the link below. Lastly we want you to show off your new Chow Chow. There is a wonderful online dog community complete with a forum for you to post pictures to. Check it out.
The key to success is to love your Chow Chow and nothing will help you achieve that more than bonding with them. Spend time with your Chow Chow and make them a happy and healthy addition to your family.
Learn about doggy training or doggy housetraining.
