Chow Chow

The Chow Chow is one of the oldest breeds with confirmed genetic evidence — DNA studies place its divergence at roughly 8,300 years ago along the Yangtze River, and Han-dynasty (206 BC – AD 220) figurines and texts already show ancestors closely resembling today's dogs[1][2]. In imperial China the Chow served in multiple roles — royal hunter, frontier guardian, temple watchdog, and companion in the households of Tibetan lamas alongside small lap breeds. Chinese names include "Xiao-xiao", "bear dog", and "Songshi Quan" — all built around the "lion head" motif[2].

The first Chows reached the West in the 1780s as "exotic curiosities" in British royal menageries; the name "chow chow" itself came from 19th-century pidgin English used by sailors to refer to miscellaneous cargo — pottery, curios, fruit — brought from China, and it eventually stuck to the dogs that arrived on the same ships[1][3]. Around 1865 Queen Victoria received a Chow as a gift and appeared with it in public, launching the breed in British high society. The Kennel Club recognised the breed in 1895; the AKC registered its first Chow, Yen How, in 1903, and the American Chow Chow Club was founded in 1906[3]. Today "Songshi Quan" — literally "puffy lion dog" — visually shares its symbolism with the guardian lion statues at the Forbidden City.

AKC and FCI standards describe the Chow as a "medium-sized, square-built dog with heavy bone and a puffy double coat": 43–51 cm at the shoulder, males 25–32 kg and females 20–27 kg; two coat types — the common **rough** and the shorter **smooth** — with the rough carrying an unmistakable lion-like mane on the neck and shoulders and thick pantalons on legs and tail[3][4]. Five official colours: red, black, blue (grey-blue), cinnamon (tan-cream), and cream.

Two anatomical features vets and geneticists cite constantly: **44 permanent teeth** (two more than average), and **blue-black tongue, oral cavity, and gums** — a pigmentation only Chows and Shar-Peis carry (other breeds only get spotted tongues at best)[1][4]. Puppies are born pink-tongued, with pigment settling in from about 6 weeks and completing by 6 months. The Chow's gait is equally singular — nearly straight rear legs and a short stiff "stilted gait", which the AKC standard names as the breed's most recognisable movement signature.

In canine-behaviour rubrics, no one calls a Chow "friendly" — the AKC standard defines them as **"aloof and discerning"**, and owners and trainers alike compare them to **"the cat of the dog world"**: closely bonded to one or two core family members, distant with strangers, unlikely to wag and lean into a stranger's hand, more inclined to observe from a chosen high vantage[3][5]. The temperament is a legacy of ancient guardian + independent hunter roles.

Chows dislike forced dog-to-dog socialisation and can develop resource-guarding tension around same-sex peers. Training them isn't about compliance — it's about voluntary cooperation. Early socialisation is essential: from 8–16 weeks expose them to varied people, sounds, and surfaces; use food-based positive reinforcement with a calm tone; harsh corrections shut them down. They naturally guard the home and warn strangers off with a low rumble, but true aggression is not innate — most cases stem from insufficient socialisation and an owner who models over-suspicion[5].

The Chow's double coat means year-round shedding punctuated by explosive spring/autumn coat blows. Rough coats need brushing at least 3× a week using a pin brush that separates the outer and inner coats, focusing on behind-the-ears, armpits, and inner thighs where matting starts. During coat blows, brush daily with an undercoat rake to clear loose fluff, or the trapped down forms felt against the skin and triggers eczema and infections in warm weather[3][6]. Bathe every 4–6 weeks, drying thoroughly to the skin — any residual moisture becomes a hot spot.

Chows are **extremely heat-intolerant** — the dense double coat plus a somewhat short muzzle mean cooling efficiency is well below average, and above 26 °C outdoor time should shift to early morning and late evening; midday walks on hot pavement are simply off-limits[6]. Daily exercise needs are modest: two slow walks totalling 30–45 minutes for adults. What matters is mental engagement, not distance — scent walks, food-search puzzles, and simple target training suit them best. Diet-wise, they're allergy-prone and gain weight easily; keep adults on measured twice-daily meals with minimal treats, watching stomach and joint load.

The Chow is one of the **most heavily screened breeds** for large-dog health. Orthopedically, OFA reports elbow dysplasia around **49.8%** — the highest of any registered breed — with hip dysplasia also on the high side, so responsible breeders submit both hip and elbow OFA/PennHIP evaluations[7]. Ophthalmically, **entropion** is defined by ACVO as a "breed-characteristic" issue — heavy facial folds roll the eyelid inward, and eyelashes rub the cornea, often requiring surgical correction[7][8].

Endocrine and immune systems get equal attention: the Chow is one of the **top breeds for canine hypothyroidism**, and mid-life dogs commonly show pigment changes, thinning coat, and weight gain. Immune-mediated skin conditions — Alopecia X and uveodermatologic syndrome (VKH-like, hitting eyes and skin simultaneously) — are documented in the breed[8]. Oncologically, gastric adenocarcinoma, mast cell tumour, and melanoma occur above the canine average[7]. Deep-chested breed classics — GDV and cranial cruciate ligament rupture — are also on the list. UK KC data put breed inbreeding coefficient around 6.6%, so both breeders and adopters should look at family screening rather than a single dog's records[8].

The Chow's top environmental need is **cool temperatures** — the breed suits temperate climates and climate-controlled interiors, avoiding hot balconies, unventilated garages, and humid southern summers. City apartments are perfectly fine — adults have modest exercise needs and spend most of the day dozing in a cool corner; the essentials are AC, shade, and ceramic cooling mats[3][6]. They tolerate solitude reasonably well — 6–8 hours alone during the day rarely provokes anxiety like it does in high-interaction breeds — but puzzle toys and snuffle mats are still worth leaving out.

Household-wise, Chows fit **adult-only households or homes with older children** best: they're not built for toddler grabs and sudden hugs, and startled Chows warn with a growl. Introduce them to existing pets gradually, especially same-sex peers where resource-guarding tendencies need active management. On walks, watch fences and leashes — they're not high-drive, but at 30 kg they pull hard once they've decided to leave; unfenced balconies and open bathtubs also warrant jump-proofing.