Mary Allen
Chow Chows have been bred in their native China as hunting dogs (and meat suppliers) for as long as 2000 years. This breed has also been bred in the West since the mid-19th century but is definitely not for inexperienced owners.
This beautiful, reserved dog needs a strong, kind, consistent hand and good training. He’s not interested in strangers. He can be aggressive towards other dogs.
Chow Chow – a very old breed
This breed has two absolutely unique characteristics: the animal’s lips and tongue must be blue-black, and its gait is peculiarly stilted, with the rear legs being practically stiff. In ancient times, the chow-chow was considered the enemy of evil spirits and therefore had the task of protecting the temples from their evil influence.
Appearance
This muscular dog is well proportioned with a short and straight torso. The broad and flat head goes over a small stop into a square snout. The almond-shaped and small eyes are generally dark in color.
The small, thick ears are erect and wide apart. The hair of the rather long, dense, and lush coat sticks out all over the body. The coat must always be of a solid color: black, blue, cream, white, or cinnamon, generally lighter on the backs of the thighs and under the tail.
There are two varieties: one short-haired and one long-haired. The long-haired Chow Chows are more common and have a thick mane around their necks and tufts of hair on their paws. The tail is set high and curves forward over the back.
Grooming – Short-Haired Chow Chow
As expected, grooming the short coat is less time-consuming than the long-haired variety. Nevertheless, the short-haired coat must also be brushed regularly, especially during the change of coat.
Grooming – Long-Haired Chow Chow
The Chow Chow needs a good brushing on a regular basis, especially in those areas where burrs tend to form. You should get the dog used to this ritual from a young age, so that later when the dog is bigger and stronger, there doesn’t have to be a “test of strength”.
Temperament
The Chow Chow may look like a big, fluffy teddy bear, but it’s anything but a cuddly animal, which you can see on closer inspection by the grumpy facial expression. He is what the specialist calls a “one-man dog”, i.e. one who only subordinates himself to a superior and consistent master.
He remains reserved even towards his two-legged packmates, and he treats strangers with dismissive suspicion. He can even snap at lightning speed if he’s bothered. On the other hand, this blue-tongued aristocrat has a calm, easy-going nature. He doesn’t think much of playing and romping around with children anyway.
Breeding and upbringing – Short-haired Chow Chow
The short-haired Chow Chow needs an owner who exudes calm and superiority. The short-haired variety is generally said to be more active and learn faster than its long-haired cousins.
Breeding and education – Long-haired Chow Chow
The Chow Chow needs an owner who radiates calm and superiority so that its character traits can develop ideally. Don’t expect excellence in obedience from these dogs—their stubbornness and stubbornness are innate. That’s not to say that a Chow Chow can’t be taught – the dogs are by no means stupid. It’s more like the dog has to learn to understand the commands. Consistency is always important.
Attitude
This is an intermediate-level dog with a strong hand. Since he doesn’t like to exercise much, he makes do with a city apartment. Its lush coat requires intensive care.
Compatibility
Most Chow Chows are quite dominant towards other dogs. They generally get along well with children. Introducing them to other pets early on will prevent any problems that may arise. The dogs are quite reserved towards strangers.
Movement
The breed doesn’t need a lot of exercises, but still enjoys being outdoors. In summer you should offer the dog a place where he can retreat if he gets too warm.
History
This breed probably originated in Mongolia, and from there came to China long ago, where the imperial court and aristocrats made guard and hunting dogs out of these animals. In China, his name means something like “delicious-delicious”. In his homeland in the Far East, he was and is not only used as a meat supplier but also primarily as a guard, hunting, and sled dog.
Its origins are obscure, but it is clear that it descended from Nordic peaks and that the ancestors of the current breed date back 4000 years. In the second half of the 19th century, the first copies made their way to Europe via England on board merchant ships.