Chow Chow: temperament, size, care and health

About the Chow Chow

The Chow Chow is a stocky, square, powerfully built spitz with a broad head, a short muzzle, small rounded ears and deep-set eyes that give it a scowling, lion-like expression. Its most distinctive features are the blue-black tongue and mouth lining, and the straight stiff hind legs that produce a short, stilted gait. The coat is a plush double layer in solid red, black, blue, cinnamon or cream. Two forms exist, the rough coat, which is much more common, and the smooth coat.

The Chow was a guard and utility dog in northern China. Today it is kept as a dignified household companion for its looks and for its loyalty to a small circle of people.

Temperament and family life

A Chow is often described as cat-like: clean, independent and not demonstrative. It tends to choose one person as its favorite and to be quietly devoted to its family, but it does not usually seek constant attention. Toward strangers it is aloof and suspicious, and it can be fiercely protective of its home.

The breed needs early and steady socialization because adults that have met few people may become aggressive. Many are intolerant of other dogs, especially of the same sex. Chows are not usually good choices for families with small children, since they dislike being grabbed or crowded and warn only briefly before biting. They are generally quiet, clean in the house and easy to housetrain.

Exercise and training

The Chow needs only moderate exercise, such as a daily walk and time in a secure yard. It is not an athlete, and heat is a real problem. In warm weather exercise should be done early or late in the day, with shade and water, and the dog should spend most of its time in cool indoor spaces.

Training can be slow, since the Chow is intelligent but independent and will not respond to harsh methods. Short sessions with firm, fair direction and rewards work best. Early socialization to people, places and other dogs matters more than formal obedience. First-time owners often find the breed's reserve and stubbornness difficult.

Grooming and shedding

The Chow sheds heavily, with a large blowout of undercoat once or twice a year and steady hair loss in between. Brushing several times a week, and daily during the shed, is required to prevent mats against the skin. The rough coat can hold a lot of dirt and moisture, so drying the dog thoroughly after baths is important to prevent skin infections.

Clip the nails, clean the ears and wipe the facial wrinkles. Never shave the coat, since it protects the skin from sun and heat. The breed's thick fur is rarely comfortable in hot climates.

Health

Chows are prone to hip and elbow dysplasia. Entropion, in which the eyelid turns inward, is common and may need surgery. Glaucoma, thyroid disease, autoimmune conditions, skin allergies, and bloat or gastric torsion are also reported. The heavy coat and broad head make heatstroke a risk.

Responsible breeders screen hips, elbows and eyes and avoid extreme facial features. This is general information about the Chow Chow, and a veterinarian is the person to ask about a particular dog.

History

The Chow is among the oldest spitz-type breeds and is generally traced to northern China, where it worked as a guard, hunter and sled puller. Dogs of this type were taken to Europe by traders and sailors, and in the late nineteenth century they appeared in Britain, where they became fashionable and were shown. The breed reached the United States soon afterward and was registered there in the early twentieth century. Its popularity rose and fell over the twentieth century, and it remains a well-known if uncommon pet.

Is the Chow Chow right for you?

A Chow suits a quiet adult household in a cool climate where someone is willing to groom regularly, socialize the dog thoroughly and respect its independence. It does best with an experienced owner.

It is a poor choice for families with young children, for hot regions, for those who want a friendly dog that loves visitors, or for people who dislike dog hair. The Chinese Shar-Pei and Akita share its reserve. A warmer spitz with a similar look is the Keeshond, and the Samoyed is more outgoing.