Pet Topics

The Chow Chow is an instantly recognizable dog. These natives of China are easy to spot with their dense fur, lush tails, “bear-like” faces, and trademark blue tongues. They are medium sized, and can be up to 22 inches in height and weigh up to 70 pounds. The coat is most commonly red, but can also be black, cream or blue.

This is an ancient dog breed that is believed to have originated in the region of Mongolia, circa 200 BC. They were versatile dogs that were used for hunting, herding, guarding, and pulling carts. They were also used as a food source.

The origin of the name is uncertain. A common theory is that it derives from the Mandarin word for “food”, by this is generally discredited. A more widely accepted idea is that it comes from the word used by English sailors to refer to cargo. The Chow Chow is believed to be the progenitor of several other dog breeds, including the Keeshond, Pomeranian and other Spitz type dogs.The Chow Chow is not an ideal dog for the first time dog owner, as they can be quite dominant. The need the firm hand of an experienced dog owner to keep them in check. They are often characterized as aggressive, but this is mostly undeserved. In general Chows are affectionate, confident dogs who tend to bond very closely with a single person. With everyone else they can come across as aloof.

They generally get on well with older children and will also tolerate other dogs and non-canine pets they’ve been socialized with.

Training is an absolute must with this breed. However, you’ll need tons of patience to train a Chow, they are famously strong-willed and while they may sometimes be co=operative, at other times they’ll flatly ignore you. They are however very eager to please their bonded human, so training is not entirely a lost cause.

Although they are generally healthy dogs, Chows do suffer from a number of congenital diseases. Hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and entropion are all known to occur. Another common problem is gastric torsion, a serious condition, that requires immediate veterinary treatment. You can reduce the risk of bloat by feeding your dog small, regular meals, and avoiding exercise immediately before an after meals. Average lifespan for the Chow is 15 years.

Grooming a Chow requires quite a bit of work. They are heavy shedders and the dense coat needs to be brushed daily to keep it in good condition.

Chows are quite happy to live outdoors as they don’t crave human attention as much as most other dog breeds. Their thick coat helps them to withstand very cold whether but they are not as well suited to warm, humid climates.

Finding good dog names, for a Chow Chow can be a challenge. Your best bet is to use an online dog names database like Puppy Names HQ, which has literally thousands of excellent dog names, including a mega-list of boy dog names.