The chow chow dog is probably one of the most popular dog breeds originating from China in the world. It should be noted that the most distinctive feature of the chow chow is the color of its tongue, which is blue. But why does the chow chow have a blue tongue? This peculiarity is mainly due to the genetics of the dog, although it is true that there are some myths and legends surrounding this difference… Do not hesitate to visit the article to discover it!
Next in this breed file on our site we will show you everything you need to know about the chow chow dog breed, reviewing its history and origin, characteristics most notable physical, possible he alth problems, details about its education and we will also talk about the traits of thechow chow character most common in the breed. Thinking of adopting a chow chow? Do you already have one? Keep reading, in this complete record of the Chow Chow breed you will solve all your doubts and you will find useful information prepared by specialists in the sector.
Origin of chow chow
The history of the chow chow has its beginnings in northern China and it is estimated that it began to be bred approximately 2,000 or 3,000 years ago years. Although there are no studies that really show such longevity, we can confirm that it is one of the oldest dog breeds according to a recent study[1]The origin of the name of the chow chow literally means "soft and fluffy lion", probably due to its physical characteristics. An ancient Chinese legend even refers to a powerful war animal, described as a lion with a black tongue, details of the morphology that make us think of the direct ancestor of the current chow chow.
The evolution of the breed is unknown, although it is suspected that after the origin of chow chow dogs in the arctic region of Asia, over time, they would have migrated toSiberia, Mongolia and finally to China Its physical attributes are in fact reminiscent of a Nordic-type sptiz, perhaps crossed with some type of mastiff dog.
The history of the chow chow dog represents him as an excellent dog guardian of the sacred temples and of some homes, but he is also known as attribute other jobs, such as hunting or herdingOther sources even assure that they were used as food and that their skins were used as a coat. In addition, a writing by Marco Polo reveals that they also worked pulling sleds. Without a doubt, we are facing a very versatile breed. The origin of the chow chow dog is therefore somewhat uncertain, especially considering that in the past China maintained strict "closed door" policies.
During the first years of the 19th century, the chow chow began to appear in other countries, such as England, where it did not particularly stand out, in fact, it was exhibited at the London Zoo in the 1820s as Chinese wild dog. While the specimens continued to travel around the world, Queen Victoria decided to acquire one and it was then that the breed became enormously popular in the United Kingdom.
The breed was officially exhibited in 1890 and was admitted to the AKC (American Kennel Club) in 1903. Currently the Chow Chow is one of the best known dog breeds, although its ownership does not stand out for be especially common.
Characteristics of chow chow
The Chow Chow is considered a Medium-sized dog and displays a well-proportioned, compact body. Obviously, the physical characteristics of the chow chow dog remind us of a small lion, especially due to its fur, which forms a kind of mane around its face. Its head is wide and with a flattened skull. The naso-frontal depression (stop) is not pronounced. The nose is black in almost all dogs, but may be lighter in light-colored dogs, or the color of the coat in blue or fawn dogs. The blue-black tongue is characteristic of the breed. The eyes are dark, oval and medium. The ears are small, thick, erect and with slightly rounded ends.
The body is compact and both the back and the loin are short. The chest is broad and deep. The tail is set high and the dog carries it folded over his back. The straight angulation of the hind legs makes the chow chow have a short step and almost without lifting the hind feet. The coat can be made up of long or short hair. In long-haired dogs, the outer coat is abundant, dense, rough, straight and not excessively long, while the inner fleece is soft. In short-haired dogs the coat is short, dense, straight and fluffy. The color of the dog must be unique, although there may be different shades, and it can be black, red, blue, fawn, cream or white
The characteristics of the chow chow dog indicate a height at the withers in males between 48 and 56 cm, while females are They are between 46 and 51 centimeters. The approximate weight in males is around 25 and 32 kilograms and that of females in 20 and 25 kilograms.
To find out the characteristics of a "purebred" chow chow, don't forget to compare the official standard of a canine association with that of your dog or go directly to a chow chow dog club so that a judge or experienced owner can guide you.
Chow chow character
Generally, the character of the Chow Chow breed is Calm, reserved, independent and quiet It does not stand out especially for being a lover of exercise On the contrary, it prefers to carry out short surveillance walks within its territory and rest while making sure that no human or strange dog approaches. These characteristics probably made him an excellent guard dog in the past.
In addition to being calm, the character of the chow chow stands out for being especially loyal and faithful to his guardian, with whom he will forge a unique and different link from the others. Likewise, it is usually shown reserved with strangers In this sense it is important to note that the Chow Chow can show an overprotective attitude towards the guide, for this reason it is It is advisable never to reinforce protective or possessive behaviors, since this can trigger the appearance of behaviors related to aggressiveness. Given its reserved nature, its hunting instinct and its tendency to be overprotective, we must pay special attention to the socialization of the dog, a topic that we will discuss in more detail in the education section.
To finish, we will point out that the character of the chow chow with children is usually very positive, especially if both have lived together since childhood, because the dog will have a tendency to protect you, watch over you and take care of you, as well as be patient during your interactions. This does not mean that the dog "should accept" inappropriate behavior on the part of children, let us remember that the main causes of aggression of dogs towards children are due precisely to negative behavior on the part of children, for that reason we advise you to supervise always the interaction between both and correctly educate both so that they relate positively.
Chow chow care
When we talk about caring for chow chows, one of the most important aspects is coat care, especially in those long haired dogs How should we take care of the hair of a chow chow? To begin with, we will pay special attention to ensuring that the coat is not excessively long, as this can cause the appearance of knots and tangles We can go to a hairdresser on a regular basis to trim the ends and do a bath, but if we do not want to cut it, we can choose to carry out a suitable routine of brushing the chow chow, which would be around four o'clock times per week. Also, during the moulting period, which is during the spring and fall, we will increase the routine to five or six days a week. This will also help us prevent the appearance of parasites and other skin problems, common in the chow chow dog.
It is also advisable to bathe a chow chow regularly to avoid accumulated dirt. The frequency of bathing of the chow chow could be between one month and three months. Remember that excessive bathing damages your dermis and fur, in addition to causing a drop in defenses, for this reason, it is more advisable to spend time brushing and a little less time bathing. Don't forget to apply a specific shampoo for dogs, never one for human use.
Another important aspect that we must take into account when learning how to take care of a chow chow dog will be learning about physical exercise and walks. Although it is a calm dog with little predisposition to exercise, it will be essential to spend some time exercising it, even moderately, to prevent overweight and obesity, as well as the possible appearance of behavioral problems. How to walk a chow chow? The ideal is to carry out a daily routine of between 3 and 4 walks, lasting approximately 20 minutes. During the walks we will allow him to sniff, socialize with other dogs and carry out a relaxed activity, exclusively for him.
On the other hand, and as we have mentioned, the exercise of the chow chow should be moderate, so we can do with it walks in the mountains, bathing on the beach or teaching him to fetch the ball, for example. Of course, do not force your dog to exercise excessively during the hot months, as this could predispose him to suffer from heat stroke, due to his thick and dense coat. These dogs can live outdoors in cold to temperate climates, but do not tolerate hot climates well In all cases, it is best if they can live indoors Also they adapt easily to apartment life if they get enough walks and physical exercise.
The feed of chow chow dogs must be nutritionally complete and balanced. You can choose to buy high quality feed, regularly combining it with wet food to enrich his diet or start him on homemade diets, either semi-cooked or raw diets (known as BARF). In any case, the diet of the chow chow must be based on high quality products.
Chow chow education
The optimal adoption age of the chow chow is between 8 and 12 weeks of age, since staying with its mother and siblings will help you to know the canine language, the limits of the game, to control the force of the bite, etc. From then on and after receiving the first vaccinations, the dog should begin to socialize with all kinds of people, animals and environments, always making sure that he has positive social contact with them. The socialization of the dog is especially important, since it will depend on it that in the future it is a balanced dog and that it shows behaviors related to fear or aggressiveness. When he is still a puppy, we will have to educate the Chow Chow in different aspects but, aside from socialization, the most important will be teaching him to urinate in the street, an essential routine for every dog.
Later we can begin to practice training the chow chow, which should always be done through positive education. Clicker training can work well with the breed, but any other variant of positive training works. It is important to train this dog from when he is a puppy, to overcome his natural independence to some extent. Discover on our site what the basic commands for dogs are and how to start practicing them.
These dogs aren't barkers and generally don't cause a lot of damage (once they're past adolescence, of course). However, the main behavior problem is aggressiveness when they have not been properly socialized or trained. It is not an easy dog to train because at times it can be somewhat stubborn and because it has a fairly independent character, however, with patience and determination we can make our Chow Chow respond perfectly to obedience orders and live wonderfully with us.
Chow chow he alth
As it happens with many other dog breeds, there are some chow chow he alth problems quite frequent and with a high incidence in the race. It is essential that any owner is aware of, at least, those that are most common, for that reason, below we offer you a list with the most common diseases of chow chows, of course we are talking about congenital diseases:
- Entropion
- Ectropion
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy
- Waterfalls
- Glaucoma
- Hip dysplasia
- Elbow dysplasia
- Ataxia
- Wobbler Syndrome
- Mellitus diabetes
- Hypothyroidism
- Sebaceous adenitis
- Ulcerative dermatitis
It is important to note that chow chows are prone to autoimmune diseases as well as skin cancer. For all these reasons, don't forget to visit the veterinary every 6 or 12 months, follow the vaccination schedule and regular deworming. With good care and preventive medicine the life expectancy of the chow chow is between 9 and 15 years
