The Chow Chow, originally from Northern China, is one of the oldest recognizable dog breeds, dating back more than 2000 years. He was once used for hunting, herding, pulling and protection. Today, he is primarily a companion dog.
With his lion-like appearance and regal manner, the Chow is truly one of the most beautiful and impressive breeds of dogs. He is very intelligent but has cat-like characteristics in that he does not always have the desire to please like many other breeds, preferring instead to do what suits his particular mood. He is dignified, independent, and reserved with affection.
The properly trained Chow makes a wonderful companion. He is very quiet, well-behaved, not a barker and not destructive. He is excellent with children if raised with them and very protective of his home and family. This natural protective instinct along with his reservation toward strangers make him an excellent watch dog who only barks when necessary.
The Chow Chow's coat is either rough or smooth. The most common coat is the rough (long-haired) which has a outer coat of long, straight, course guard hairs and a soft, thick undercoat. The smooth variety is a short, dense outer coat with a definite undercoat. These are two distinct varieties of Chow. There are, however, many rough coated Chows with fairly short coats but these should not be confused with the true unique, smooth coat.
One unique characteristic that is found in the breed is a blue-black tongue. The coat comes in five colours: red, black, cinnamon, blue and cream. The most common is red which varies from a light golden to a deep mahogany.
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Health Issues:
The Chow is a long-lived breed with most living to about 14 or 15 years. As with all breeds, however, Chows can be prone to some health problems. The following are the most common found in the breed:
If you are considering the adoption of a Chow Chow puppy, or any breed, it is very important to be selective in choosing a responsible and reputable breeder. Ensure that the prospective puppy's parents have all health clearances. This should include, among others, hip x-rays to exclude hip dysplasia and eyes should be checked to see that they are normal. Breeding of any dog should not be done until after they have been proven to be free of evidence of significant hereditary diseases. (For more information on selecting a breeder, see the articles on the main Breed Listing and Breeders page.)
Note: It has been estimated that as many as 50% of all Chows have hip dysplasia.
Entropion is a condition where the dog's eyelids turn inward toward the eyeball rather than outward as they should. This causes irritation to the eye and if left untreated, can lead to blindness. It is usually inherited but can also be acquired later in life as a result of eye injury or infection. It is not always apparent in young puppies so be sure to inspect the puppy's and parents eyes. A Chow's eyes should always be clear, dry, and sparkling on the parents of the litter. Runny, inflamed eyes or crusty eyelids are not normal for a Chow and should be treated by a veterinarian.
Additional Information:
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Breed Standards:
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Grooming:
The adult Chow's thick coat requires a lot of care — at a minimum, he requires weekly grooming. The puppy coat is very dense and soft, easily tangled and can take several hours a week to groom. The transition period from puppy to adult coat may take several months and the Chow needs to be groomed almost daily during that time.
Grooming Resources:
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Training Resources:
Early socialization and training is a must for the Chow Chow as he can be stubborn and very strong willed. While he may seem very well behaved as a young puppy, the adolescent Chow, if not trained when young, may refuse to accept authority. Puppy kindergarten classes are highly recommended for early socialization and obedience classes as soon as the puppy is old enough.
- Chow Chow Socialization
- Training — For information on training your Chow Chow, see this growing section of Canada's Guide to Dogs for tips, articles, as well as listings of training centres across Canada.
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Additional Information:
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