Chow chow dog: Origin, characteristics, behavior, reproduction, training and mix

Chow Chow dog information including pictures, origin, characteristics, training, behavior, and care of Chow Chows and dog breed mixes.

Chow chow dog origin/ history

Chow chow was known about 2,000 years ago in Northern China, where it is called Tong sui, meaning “poodle lion dog”. This breed is also called Duong Khuyen, “dog of the Tang dynasty”.

or may have originated in the Arctic 3,000 years ago and migrated to Mongolia, Siberia, then to China. First introduced into England in 1800, the name Chow chow derives from the British calling all foreign animals brought in from the Far East. But in China, this breed is called songhi quan.

In the past, this breed was used as hunting animals, towing vehicles or to look after the houses of farmers. They do not like and enjoy a happy life like other dogs.

In 1880, through many crossbreeds, Chow Chow dogs possessed the good qualities of a pet dog and were very popular with everyone. Not long after that, Chow became the dog of the upper class.

The Chinese believe that the Chow dog is a symbol of good luck and peace. Therefore, there are many Chow dog statues placed in front of the temple, the royal door.

Chow chow dog origin
Chow chow dog origin

Chow chow dog characteristics

The Chow Chow dog has a slightly round body, almost like a bear from Tibet. The outstanding physical features that help you recognize this breed are:

– Feather chow chow: The thick and dense coat comes in two different types, smooth and coarse, especially purebred Chow chow without patchy coat mixed with colors, need to be brushed regularly with a specialized brush because Chow chow has level a lot of hair loss. The short-haired Chow chow is more active and docile than the long-haired.

– Eyes chow chow: Chow Chow’s face has a characteristic frown due to wrinkles on his forehead and narrowed eyes.

– Ear chow chow: Small, round ears are hidden by feathers.

– Tongue chow chow: Chow Chow’s tongue is very special. It does not have pink like other breeds but has a very fancy purple blue color.

– Nose chow chow: Chow’s head is big, wide, flat forehead, snout is quite big and fits nose into a protruding mass.

– Teeth chow chow:  Chow Chow has very special teeth. If other dogs only have 42 teeth, Chow Chow has 44 teeth. And all of these teeth are straight, even, strong.

– Tail chow chow: The Tail is ruffled and the tail is of medium length, with many feathers and is always loose.

– Foot chow chow: The short and large legs make them slightly coarse whenever they move.

– Height chow chow: Male: 48–56 cm, Female: 46–51 cm.

– Weight chow chow: Male: 25–32 kg, Female: 20–32 kg.

–  Longevity chow chow: 9 to 15 years.

– Shape chow chow: The length and height are approximately equal, so the body is square.

– Color chow chow: Black, Blue, Sepia, Cream, Red.– Chow chow bark: A guard dog that always barks at any stranger. The Chow Chows are not a dog known to bark much.

Chow chow dog characteristics
Chow chow dog characteristics

Chow chow behavior characteristics

Chow chows are fairly intelligent but they have both an independent and a stubborn streak, so training them can be a challenge. 

This ancient breed is affectionate and bonds with family members, although most remain wary of strangers. They are good with children and can get along with other pets when raised together.

– Aloof: Chow chows are not usually social, outgoing dogs. They tend to be aloof with strangers and can be aggressive with other dogs, but are devoted and protective of their family.

– Independent:  Chow Chows are very independent  and they need an owner who appreciates those traits. Chow Chows may bond with just one person or to their immediate family.

– Loyal: Though the breed sometimes has a reputation for being aggressive, most chows are loyal, calm dogs that make excellent companions.

– Quiet: Chows make exceptional house pets. Despite their size (17-21″ at the shoulder, 45-85 pounds), they are very quiet, naturally well-behaved, not diggers or barkers and aren’t destructive.

Chow chow behavior characteristics: Aloof, Independent, Loyal, Quiet.

chow chow puppys
Chow chow puppys

Mix chow chow

All cross-breed dogs will inherit some of the looks, personality, and health problems that affect both their parents. Chow Chow mix puppies can be as adorable as their Chow parent.

  • The Lab-Chow: Lab Chow Mix is a crossbreed of Labrador Retriever and Chow Chow, also known as Chabrador, Labrachow, or Chow Lab Mix. The Labrador Chow Mix lifespan is about 9 to 12 years. The Lab Chow Mix is small to medium in size, weighing between 50 to 70 pounds (22 to 31 kg) and measuring between 18 to 24 inches (45 to 60 cm) tall. Most Chabradors have a longer muzzle and a head similar to the Labrador. They often have brown eyes but some may have blue eyes.
  • The Chow Pei:  The Chow Pei is a hybrid resulting from breeding a Chow Chow with a Chinese Shar Pei. The Chow Pei hybrid combines the hunting attributes of the Chow Chow and the guard dog attributes of the Shar Pei, creating a hybrid canine which performs quite well in these tasks and makes a great guard dog for the family. Average weight‎: ‎40 to 60 pounds, Life Span‎: ‎10 to 15 years, Average height‎: ‎15 to 20 inches
  • The Chow Hound: The Chow Hound has been described as smart, friendly, and a great family dog. If he inherits the personality traits from the Basset Hound parent, he can be affectionate, alert, friendly, gentle, and sweet. Both parent breeds are known to be occasional barkers, with moderate levels of wandering and hunting tendencies. Male Chow Hound size stats. Height: 13-22 inches Weight: 40-70 lbs. Female Chow Hound size stats. Height: 13-20 inches.
  • The Chow Shepherd: The Chow Shepherd is a mixed breed dog–a cross between the Chow Chow and German Shepherd dog breeds. Medium to large in size, protective, and playful, these pups inherited some of the best traits from both of their parents. While Chow Shepherds are not excessively barky, they will alert when strangers approach. Chow Shepherds are extremely intelligent dogs, as both parent breeds are among the smartest in the canine world. Lifespan‎: ‎10-12 years, Height‎: ‎18-28 inches, Temperament‎: ‎Protective, independent, intellig. Weight‎: ‎45-105 pounds.
  • The Pitchow: Pitchows, or Chowpits, are hybrid dogs created from American Pitbull Terrier and Chow Chow parents. These unique dogs have an average lifespan of around 10 to 15 years and make great companion pets. This designer breed often has a varying appearance since they can be born with physical traits from both parents. The Pitchow typically does not like a lot of physical attention or to cuddle. Chow chows are most commonly seen in red or black coloration.
  • The Chusky: The Chusky is a mixed breed dog — a cross between the Chow Chow and Siberian Husky dog breeds. Curious, headstrong, and loving, these dogs inherited some of the best qualities from both of their parents. They do get on well with other dogs provided they are well-socialized as puppies. They can also grow very protective of their owners and make excellent. Both the Chow Chow and the Husky are working breeds, so that the Chusky will need lots of stimulation and a moderate amount of exercise. 
The Chusky
The Chusky

Reproduction chow chow:

  • Ideally, a bitch should only be bred every other year and she should not be bred much before two years of age. The average size of a Chow Chow litter ranges from 4 to 6 puppies. The litter size is slightly smaller on average than other dogs of similar size. 
  • A Chow Chow bitch comes into season, once in every six months. Her first sign will be a bloody discharge from the vagina, this discharge lasts for approximately nine days before turning to a light pink or creamy color, it is in these next seven days that the bitch will be ready to accept a male.
  • The best time to mate your bitch is from the 9th day of her discharge to the 16th day. This is when the eggs are being released from the ovaries; the sperm will find their way to the ovaries and will impregnate them. Sperm can live for a period of seven days inside the uterus before dying, -if no eggs are available to impregnate. 
  • Mating can be a particular problem for Chow Chows. There can be an excessive resistance of a bitch to one male chow chow or another. This is usually due to shyness or aggression.
  • The average length of pregnancy This is 63 days
Reproduction chow chow
Reproduction chow chow

How to take care of chow chow

a) How to take care of chow chow puppy:

  • Guide to grooming Chow chow dogs: The coat of Chow Chow has two layers like other Spitz breeds. The coat is thick and dense, but does not require much trimming. You only need regular grooming to remove dead hairs, combined with bathing to keep it clean. Chow Chow sheds twice a year, usually in the spring and fall. The frightening hair loss in Chow Chow will take place within 2 to 3 weeks.
  • Feeding mode chow chow dog: Three meals a day is typically the minimum, but more is also okay so long as you do not over-feed. You can also use suitable food treats during socialization sessions and training. Chow Chows tend to enjoy vegetables, so consider using carrot sticks or green beans
  • Gog food for chow chow: Chow Chows consumed a diet largely consisting of grains,dry dog food and vegetables, with the occasional supplement of soy and fish. For this reason, Chow Chows cannot properly digest high levels of protein. A high-protein diet will lead to skin problems. Chow puppies need puppy food to get all the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development during their first year of life.
  • How to exercise a chow chow: They don’t tolerate heat well, so keep them indoors when the weather is sweltering. Like any dog, an adult Chow Chow needs daily exercise to stay healthy and happy, but not much — he’ll be satisfied with a couple of 15-minute walks daily or one longer walk.
  • Bathing for dogs Chow chow: Long-haired Chow Chow does not need to bathe as often. This bright and dignified dog can be bathed as frequently as weekly up to no longer than every 6 weeks.
Bathing for dogs Chow chow
Bathing for dogs Chow chow

b) Chow chow health:

Rough Coated Chow Chows are susceptible to bacterial and viral infections—the same ones that all dogs can get—such as parvo, rabies, and distemper.

  • Dental Disease: Dental disease is the most common chronic problem in pets, affecting 80% of all dogs by age two. Unfortunately, your Chow Chow is more likely than other dogs to have problems with her teeth. Dental disease starts with tartar build-up on the teeth and progresses to infection of the gums and roots of the teeth. We’ll clean your dog’s teeth regularly: Use a specially designed dog toothbrush or a recommended alternative. Never use human toothpaste. Give your dog a small sample of the toothpaste to introduce the taste. Lift the lip to expose the outside surfaces of your dog’s gums and teeth.
  • Infections: Many of these infections are preventable through vaccination, which we will recommend based on her age, the diseases we see in our area, and other factors.
  • Obesity: There are many adverse consequences for not managing canine obesity, including development of diabetes mellitus and reduced lifespan. Caloric restriction is considered the primary treatment of small animal obesity. To keep your pet at a healthy weight, be sure to provide a healthy balance between food intake and physical activity. For example, give your dog two to three meals a day instead of providing food at all times, and make sure to include at least one daily walk or some playtim.
  • Parvo: Parvo is a highly contagious virus. It causes an infectious gastrointestinal (GI) illness in puppies and young dogs, and without treatment, it is potentially deadly. Part of what makes the virus so dangerous is the ease with which it is spread through the canine population. Most veterinarians treat parvovirus with intravenous fluids and antibiotics.
  • Rabies: “There is no treatment for a dog with rabies.” Since a dog shedding the rabies virus in the saliva will develop clinical signs within days, a 10 day quarantine of the dog will be observed.

c) Train chow chow:

  • Are chow chow easy to train?Temperament and behavior. The Chow Chow is very intelligent but not always easy to train. They don’t have the strong desire to please their masters as do breeds like the Golden Retriever. Its temperament is often misunderstood and many people mistakenly believe that Chows are vicious dogs.
  • How to train a chow chow? While chows tend to require more discipline than other dogs, confrontational training methods such as hitting, yelling and shock collars are ineffective and can lead to aggression. Instead, use reward-based methods with your dog.

Chow chow price

Chow Chow price range stretches from $500 to $9000 with the Chow Chow average price resting around $3200 per dog (Top Quality). And just shy of $900 for low quality or non-show Chow Chow dogs. Chow Chow are considered to be among the most expensive breeds in the world.

  • Chow chow price USA: Buying a Chow Chow of your own will cost approximately $900. And grooming costs for this medium-sized dog average a pricey $90. Chow Chows have a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years, and typical health care costs could total $11,000.
  • Chow chow price in Canada: Black($3500) Blue($4000)
  • Chow chow price in Australia: Your Chow Chow could cost upwards of $9,000.

Published by

Henry Mark

Mark is Editor at dognamesbest.com covering Information about breeds, naming dogs. He's a graduate in veterinary medicine at the agricultural academy.