Chow Chow Characteristics

Written in collaboration with vets

The Chow Chow is a distinctive and independent dog breed known for its lion-like coat, loyal personality, and dignified nature.

In this guide, you’ll discover the most important characteristics of the breed, including their temperament, typical size, and care requirements. This overview will help you understand whether this breed suits your lifestyle and level of experience as a dog owner.

Key things to know about the Chow Chow

• Temperament and personality: Known for a calm and independent nature. The temperament of this breed is often described as loyal and dignified, forming strong bonds with family while remaining reserved with strangers.
• Size and appearance: A medium-sized dog with a thick double coat, lion-like mane, and distinctive blue-black tongue. Their typical size ranges from 20–32 kg.
• Lifespan and health: The average lifespan is around 9–12 years. Like many purebred dogs, they may be prone to joint issues such as hip or elbow dysplasia.
• Care and grooming: This breed requires consistent grooming to keep their fur from matting. Rough-coated Chows will benefit from 15 minutes of brushing a day, whereas those with smooth coats require brushing two to three times per week.

Throughout the article, you’ll also find helpful guidance on training, nutrition and responsible ownership, along with links to related resources for grooming, feeding and exploring other dog breeds to choose from. 

In this Chow Chow breed profile, we’ll cover:

What makes this breed unique
Grooming and hygiene needs
Behaviour and training requirements
Mental and physical stimulation
Nutritional requirements
Whether they are suitable family dogs
How to find a responsible breeder

Chow Chow characteristics: What makes them unique?

History

Chow Chows are considered one of the world’s oldest dog breeds. Genetic research suggests its lineage can be traced back thousands of years to early dogs living alongside communities in central China. 

Historically, these dogs were valued as versatile working companions. They guarded homes and livestock but were also used for tasks such as herding, hunting and pulling sledges in colder regions.

Their thick double coat helped them withstand harsh climates across northern China and Mongolia, where temperatures could drop dramatically.

Physical appearance and size

The Chow Chow size on average is medium, with a sturdy and compact build. Most adults weigh between 20 and 31 kilograms and stand around 43–50 cm tall at the shoulder. Males are usually slightly larger than females.

One of the breed’s most distinctive features is its dense double coat, which can be either rough or smooth. Traditional coat colours include black, red, cream, cinnamon, blue and tan, though lighter shades such as white or pale cream can also appear.

Personality and temperament

The Chow Chow temperament is often described as calm, dignified and independent. These dogs tend to form strong bonds with their families but are typically more reserved around strangers.

Unlike highly attention-seeking breeds, they are comfortable spending time alone and do not usually require constant affection or stimulation. This independent nature appeals to some owners, while others may find the breed slightly aloof.

Lifespan and health

The average Chow Chow lifespan is around 9 to 12 years. As with many purebred dogs, there can be some hereditary health concerns, particularly joint conditions such as hip or elbow dysplasia. Regular veterinary care, a balanced diet and appropriate exercise all contribute to maintaining good health throughout the dog’s life.

A Chow Chow’s grooming and hygiene needs

This breed’s dense coat requires consistent grooming to keep it clean, healthy and free from matting.

• Rough-coated: Daily brushing helps prevent tangles and reduces shedding around the home. Around 15 minutes of brushing per day using a pin brush, slicker brush and metal comb is usually sufficient.
• Smooth-coated: Brushing two to three times per week is typically enough to keep the coat in good condition.

Regular grooming at home can also help reduce the cost of dog grooming over time. Dental care is equally important. Daily use of Pedigree DentaStix can help reduce tartar buildup and support healthy teeth and gums.

Owners should also check ears regularly, avoid excessive cleaning and introduce nail trimming early so the dog becomes comfortable with routine claw care.

A Chow Chow’s behaviour and training needs

This breed are interesting characters. A lot of people are drawn to them by their laid-back, hassle free vibes.

A well trained and well cared for Chow will be a low maintenance but also bright minded and loyal companion. It is important, however, to understand all of their behavioural and training needs before you buy one.

Behaviour

The Chow Chow temperament is calm, independent and naturally reserved. Many people are drawn to the breed for its laid-back nature, but this independence can sometimes appear stubborn. Chows are also protective and may be cautious around unfamiliar people. 

Early socialisation is important to help them feel comfortable in different environments and around other animals. When properly raised and well cared for, a Chow can be a loyal, observant companion that forms a strong bond with its owner while remaining relatively low maintenance.

Training

Training should start early and remain consistent throughout a Chow’s life. Because of their independent personality, they respond best to clear guidance and positive reinforcement rather than harsh discipline. 

Structured dog training routines and reward-based methods using treats and praise can be effective for encouraging good behaviour. Basic commands should be introduced early. 

Many dog owners begin by learning how to teach your dog to sit before progressing to recall training to help manage their instinct to chase smaller animals. Continuing training into adulthood helps maintain good habits and keeps the dog mentally engaged.

A Chow Chow’s mental and physical stimulation

Chows have an easy going temperament, and they are lower maintenance than other dogs. They do, however, still need regular exercise and lots of mental stimulation.

Exercise Needs

Although generally calm, they still need regular daily exercise to stay healthy and balanced. Around one to one and a half hours of activity each day is usually enough. 

This can include walks, time exploring outdoors and opportunities to move freely in safe spaces. While they typically require less exercise than highly active breeds like Jack Russell Terriers, regular physical activity helps maintain a healthy weight and supports overall wellbeing.

Mental Stimulation

Chows are intelligent dogs that benefit from regular mental engagement. Training sessions, interactive play and exploring new environments can help keep their minds active. 

They also enjoy spending time with their owners, which helps them feel secure and emotionally connected. 

Without enough mental stimulation, some dogs may develop unwanted behaviours such as stubbornness or destructiveness, so providing daily enrichment activities is important for maintaining balanced behaviour.

Are Chow Chows ok to be left alone?

Chows generally don’t mind being left on their own as much as more social breeds like terriers or poodles.  

Chows are independent dogs that don’t depend on constant attention and affection from their owners. Their self-sufficient characters often make it okay to leave them on their own for moderate periods of time. It’s important, however, to approach leaving a Chow on its own with plenty of caution.

Chows do form a strong bond with their owners, and you shouldn’t overestimate their independence. They  are known to suffer from separation anxiety, and they do struggle if they’re left on their own for several hours. While this breed will be able to tolerate relatively short periods of time on their own, they don’t like to be left alone for long periods.  

How long you can leave a dog alone depends on its age as well as the breed. A typical maximum amount of time for any dog to be left on its own is six hours.

A Chow Chow’s feeding and nutritional requirements

Chows are medium sized dogs, and they normally have a moderate level of activity.

You should feed a Chow a complete and balanced high quality dog food suitable for a medium sized breed. Make sure you buy dog food that contains all the protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals your dog needs with the nutrients tailored to meet the needs according to both it's life-stage and life-style.

Your choice of food should also match the stage your Chow is at in its life span. Don’t forget to give your dog senior dog food when it’s older, for example.

You can also get Dentastix to help your Chow’s teeth. Dog multivitamins will also help your dog get all the vitamins and minerals it needs. Read how much to feed your dog for more guidance.

Are Chow Chows a good family dog?

Chow Chows do make good family pets, although they tend to suit households where the children aren’t very young.

Although they are aloof, Chows form a very close bond with their family. They are also guard dogs by instinct and will become caring and protective towards their family members. This includes other dogs and other pets in the household if they are socialised with them from a young age.

They tend, however, not to like to have too much attention or to be played with too much. They can find young children challenging, and some Chows aren’t suited to households with young children. Older children and teenagers who understand this dog’s needs are more likely to be a good fit.

More social breeds, such as labradors and golden retrievers, tend to be the best dogs for families with children.

Make sure you socialise your Chow with cats from a young age if you want it to live with cats. They naturally have a predatory instinct towards them. It’s better to get on top of this when they’re young.

Chows are moderately active, medium size dogs. They are large and active enough to prefer a house with plenty of indoor space and an outdoor garden that they can roam in unsupervised. They can tolerate smaller spaces if they are exercised enough.

Chow Chow breeding and finding a responsible breeder

Make sure you find a responsible breeder if you decide to buy a Chow Chow pedigree puppy.

A responsible breeder will:

• Breed healthy puppies with a stable, well-balanced temperament
• Socialise puppies from an early age, helping them become comfortable around people and other animals
• Ensure puppies receive their first vaccinations and basic health checks
• Care properly for the mother, making sure she is healthy and well looked after before and after birth.

Thinking about adopting a Chow Chow? Check your local shelter first!

Don’t forget about dog adoption if you’re planning on getting a Chow. Adoption gives a dog a new chance at life, and there are other benefits as well.

With adoption, you can avoid the difficult puppy phase, and not all rescue dogs come from traumatic backgrounds. Many rescue dogs are well trained and well behaved. Rescue centres will also give you an accurate assessment of a dog’s character, so you know exactly what kind of dog you’re getting.

Rescue dogs also often come with free neutering, vaccinations and microchipping. Mixed breed rescue Chows can sometimes also be less prone to the health problems you can get with purebred animals.

Finding a Chow Chow puppy responsibly

Before bringing a puppy home, it’s important to choose a responsible breeder or consider adoption. Many families choose to adopt a dog, and there are many dog breeds to choose from depending on your lifestyle.

The Kennel Club lists accredited breeders with registered puppies for sale. Go to the Kennel Club to search for Chow Chow pedigree puppies.

When visiting a breeder, the premises should be clean and the dogs healthy, well cared for and comfortable around people. A reputable breeder should also provide registration papers for the mother and puppies and ask questions to ensure the puppy is going to a suitable home.

When meeting a puppy, check that it appears healthy and alert. Its eyes, ears and nose should be clear with no redness or discharge, and its coat, skin condition and weight should all look healthy. Taking time to choose a responsible source helps give your dog the best possible start in life.