Chow Chows are best known for their big coats and their cute and cuddly bear-like faces. They’re also well known for their blue coloured tongues, which are often found dangling from their mouths. However, while Chow Chows do have an adorable appearance, there’s much more to them than just this.
The Chow Chow temperament is really what makes the breed stand out. Chow Chows have a very easy-going nature, and they’re very independently minded. They’re well mannered, and they don’t ask for too much of your attention and affection. At the same time, Chow Chows still form a close bond with their owners and are very good natured dogs.
While they are too aloof for some people, Chow Chows are very popular dogs.
Chow Chows tend to suit people who want a laid back, lower maintenance dog. Before you get one, however, be aware that they do need an owner who is willing to train them properly. Chow Chows are great dogs, but sometimes, they can be stubborn.
The typical lifespan of a Chow Chow is 9 – 12 years. Like other purebred dogs, they are prone to health issues. Some common health issues with Chow Chows are joint problems such as hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia and patellar luxation.
In this Chow Chow breed profile, we’ll cover:
What makes Chow Chows unique?
Grooming and hygiene
Behaviour and training needs
Mental and physical stimulation requirements
Nutritional requirements
Are Chow Chows a good family dog?
How to find a responsible breeder
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 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 Chow Chows can sometimes also be less prone to the health problems you can get with purebred animals.
Chow Chow characteristics: What makes them unique?
Chow Chows are one of the world’s most ancient dog breeds. Studies have traced their lineage back over 8000 years to indigenous dogs in central China. Chow Chows originally lived alongside ancient Chinese communities and nomads as utility dogs. Their main job was guarding, but they also did other jobs like herding, hunting, sledge pulling, or even fighting in battle.
The Chow Chow’s thick fur originally protected these animals from extremely cold temperatures in China, Mongolia and as far north as the Arctic.
Chow Chows are medium size dogs:
- Chow Chows typically weigh 20 – 31 kg
- Chow Chows are normally 43 – 50 cm tall
Male Chow Chows are usually larger than females.
Chow Chows have a long fur coat that comes as either a rough or smooth type. Chow Chows are traditionally black, tan, red, cream, blue and cinnamon colours. Nowadays, you can also find white and cream colour Chow Chows
Chow Chows look fantastic, but it’s the Chow Chow’s temperament that really sets it apart from other dog breeds. Chow Chows are intelligent and independent dogs that don’t demand a huge amount of attention. They are very good pets, and they form a strong bond with their owners, but they don’t need constant affection, play or admiration.
Some people find Chows too aloof. Other people love them for their independent and easy going nature.
The typical lifespan of a Chow Chow is 9 - 12 years
Some breeds of dog that are similar to the Chow Chow are:
Pomeranians and Shih Tzus are smaller in size than Chow Chows.
A Chow Chow’s grooming and hygiene needs
Chow Chows definitely have needs when it comes to grooming. They’re known for taking care of their own personal hygiene like cats, but they also need brushing. They can also shed a lot of hair in your house.
Chow Chows come with two types of coats:
Rough coated – These are the more common type. Rough coated Chow Chows have a long and dense double coat of fur with a distinctive mane feature around the neck.
Smooth coated Chow Chows - Less common and with a shorter, denser coat that doesn’t need quite as much maintenance.
Rough coated Chow Chows need lots of grooming. It’s normally best to brush one every day to keep their coat clean and in good condition. It will also stop them from shedding so much hair around your house. Fifteen minutes every day is normally enough, but you’ll need to be well equipped with a pin brush, a slicker brush and a metal comb.
Getting into a regular and effective home routine will also help keep the cost of dog grooming down.
Smooth coated Chow Chows need less grooming than rough coated Chow Chows. They do, however, still need grooming 2 - 3 times per week.
When fed daily, Pedigree DentaStix are scientifically proven to reduce tartar by up to 80% and are a tasty way to care for your dog's teeth and gums. You can also cope with some ear hygiene issues at home, although it’s important to be careful with a dog’s ears. They shouldn’t be over-cleaned, in particular. You should also get your Chow Chow used to claw trimming from a young age and check their claws regularly to see if they need trimming.
A Chow Chow’s behaviour and training needs
Chow Chows 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 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.
The first thing to know is that the Chow Chow's independent temperament can lead them to be stubborn or dominant. As a result, Chow Chow owners need to know exactly how to handle their dog from the get go. Chow Chows are very trainable, responding well to dog training methods such as positive reinforcement with treats. You do, however, need to know how to assert complete authority over a dog.
Don’t forget to keep teaching your Chow Chow when it’s an adult with adult dog treats.
Chow Chows are also naturally apprehensive of strangers because of their guardian instincts. They need to be actively socialised from a young age to prevent apprehension from turning into nervousness or even aggression.
Another good tip with Chow Chows is to pay attention to recall training. They have a tendency to run after animals (including cats if they’re not socialised with them). Good recall training will help with this.
Recall training is often the next step after you teach your dog to sit.
A Chow Chow’s mental and physical stimulation
Chow 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.
Chow Chows are intelligent dogs, and they need to have plenty of mental stimulation throughout the day. They enjoy activities that engage their minds, such as training activities or walks in places where they will meet other dogs and people. They also like to be with their owners as much as possible. This keeps them psychologically engaged and gives them a feeling of security.
Chow Chows also need daily physical exercise. They don’t need as much as more active breeds like Jack Russel Terriers, but they do still need around 1 - 1.5 hours of exercise every day. This includes as much time off the lead as possible so they can run. They also tend to enjoy new scents and having the time to explore independently outdoors.
Chow Chows that don’t get enough mental and physical stimulation can become destructive, defensive or stubborn. It’s important not to buy a Chow Chow unless you can give it all the mental stimulation and physical exercise it needs.
Are Chow Chows ok to be left alone?
Chow Chows generally don’t mind being left on their own as much as more social breeds like terriers or poodles.
Chow 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 Chow on its own with plenty of caution.
Chow Chows do form a strong bond with their owners, and you shouldn’t overestimate their independence. Chow Chows are known to suffer from separation anxiety, and they do struggle if they’re left on their own for several hours. While Chow Chows 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 nutritional requirements
Chow Chows are medium sized dogs, and they normally have a moderate level of activity.
You should feed a Chow Chow a standard, high quality dog food suitable for a medium sized breed. Make sure you buy a dog food that contains all the protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals your dog needs to sustain itself. Your choice of food should also match the stage your Chow 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 Chow’s teeth. Dog multivitamins will also help your dog get all the vitamins and minerals it needs.
Find out how much to feed your dog.
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, Chow 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 Chow Chows aren’t suited to households with young children. Older children and teenagers who understand a Chow Chow’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 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.
Chow 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 puppy.
A responsible breeder will:
Breed healthy puppies with a good temperament
Make sure puppies are correctly socialised from a young age (essential for avoiding fear or aggression)
Vaccinate puppies
Care for the mothers well
The Kennel Club lists accredited breeders with registered puppies for sale. Go to the Kennel Club to search.
When you go to a breeder to look for puppies, make sure they have clean premises and that the dogs are all happy. The breeder should also show you registration papers for the mother and puppies. You should also expect them to ask you plenty of questions to make sure you’ll take good care of the puppy they've bred.
On top of this, the puppy and its mother should clearly be in good health.
Before you buy any puppy, make sure you know what things you need to check to make sure it’s healthy. You should always check the eyes, ears and nose for redness or discharge, for example. There are also other things you should check, such as their skin condition, the health of their coat and their weight.
Don’t forget that you can also adopt a dog, and there are many dog breeds to choose from as well.
