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Chow Chow
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Chow Chow, or Chow, is a breed of dog that was first developed in
Mongolia about 4,000 years ago and was later introduced into
China, where it is referred to as Songshi Quan (Pinyin: sōngshī
quǎn), which literally means "puffy-lion dog."
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Description
Appearance
The Chow is a sturdily built dog that is square in profile with broad
skull and small, triangular, erect ears that are rounded at the tip.
The breed has a very dense double coat that is either smooth or
rough. The fur is particularly thick around the neck, giving the
distinctive ruff or mane appearance. The coat may be one of five
colors including red, black, blue, cinnamon/fawn, and cream.
Their eyes should be deep set and almond in shape. Chows are
distinguished by their unusual blue-black/purple tongue and very
straight hind legs, resulting in a rather stilted gait. The bluish color
extends to the Chow's lips, which is the only dog breed with this
distinctive bluish appearance in its lips and oral cavity (other dogs
have black or a piebald pattern skin in their mouths). One other
distinctive feature is their curly tail. It has thick hair and lays curled
on its back. Their nose should be black (except the blue which can
have a solid blue or slate colored nose). Any other tone is
disqualification for showing in the United States under AKC breed
standard. However, FCI countries do allow for a self-colored nose
in the cream.
The blue-black/purple tongue gene appears to be dominant, as
almost all mixed breed dogs that come from a Chow retain the
tongue color. This is not to say, however, that every mixed breed
dog with spots of purple on the tongue is descended from chows
as purple spots on the tongue can be found on a multitude of pure
breed dogs.
Temperament
Today the Chow Chow is most commonly kept as a pet. Its keen
sense of proprietorship over its home, paired with a sometimes
disconcertingly serious approach to strangers, can be off-putting
to those unfamiliar with the breed. However, displays of timidity and
aggression are uncharacteristic of well-bred and well-socialized
specimens. The Chow is extremely loyal to its own family and will
bond tightly to its master. The Chow typically shows affection only
with those it has bonds to, so new visitors to the home should not
press their physical attention upon the resident Chow as it will not
immediately accept strangers in the same manner as it does
members of its own pack. Inexperienced dog owners should
beware of how Chow Chows encounter those it perceives as
strangers; their notoriety is so established that many homeowners'
insurance companies will not cover dogs from this breed. Males
and females typically co-habitate with less tension than those of
the same sex, but it is not unheard of for multiple chows of both
sexes to live together peacefully in a home setting.
Chows are not a particularly active breed. Apartment life can suit
them, if they are given enough opportunity for regularly-scheduled
physical activity each day. The Chow Chow may appear to be
independent and aloof for much of the day, keeping a comfortable
distance from others while staying within earshot, or preferring to
watch for strangers alone by the entrance. Owners still need to be
prepared to take a Chow Chow for a brisk daily walk, even if they
have a fenced yard, in order to meet the dog's needs for mental
and physical stimulation. While the Chow exhibits low energy for
most of the day, it will crave routine time to explore and play to
maintain a happy and content disposition. They rank 76th in
Stanley Coren's, The Intelligence of Dogs, being of the lowest
degree of working/obedience intelligence. However, most Chow
owners believe this is because the Chow has a different type of
intelligence than that found in most dogs. Many Chows excel with
positive reinforcement methods of training, particularly "Clicker
Training", as the Chow is a natural problem solver and gets bored
with endless, repetitive tasks. Unless the Chow is kept engaged,
boredom sets in and the Chow will simply walk away or refuse to
engage.
Health
The Chow Chow is the dog breed most affected by elbow
dysplasia. It is also prone to hip dysplasia, patellar luxation
(slipping knee caps), thyroid disease, pemphigus foliaceus and
ocular disorders such as entropion and ectropion. The risk of such
disorders increases exponentially when a Chow is purchased from
backyard breeders, pet stores and unscrupulous kennels that do
not test their breeding stock for such genetic disorders. Thus, a
potential Chow buyer should ask to see all health clearances for
the parents of a litter up front. In the United States, these would be
clearances from the Canine Eye Registration Foundation and
Orthopedic Foundation for Animals; other countries will have other
health testing schemes, and contacting the national canine registry
association will provide that information. Reputable kennels should
provide the new owner with a written and signed health warranty as
well. Although there is no way to accurately predict the lifespan of
an animal, one should expect the healthy Chow to live between 10
to 15 years.
History
The Chow is thought to be one of the oldest recognizable dog
breeds, and recent DNA analysis confirms that it is one of the
oldest breeds of dog. Research indicates it is one of the first
primitive breeds to evolve from the wolf, and is thought to have
originated in the arid steppes of northern China/Mongolia. A
Chinese bas-relief from 150 BC shows a hunting dog similar in
appearance to the Chow. Later, Chow Chows were bred as
general-purpose working dogs for herding, hunting, pulling and
guarding.
In the United States, the Chow Chow was a highly popular pet
among the rich and famous during the Roaring Twenties. President
Calvin Coolidge and his wife owned a black Chow named Timmy.
Chow Chows were also popular in the 1930s and 1980s.
There are two different theories as to how the Chow Chow got his
name. Chow, or 'chou', is Chinese slang for edible. Will Judy,
author of "The Chow Chow," wrote that the name meant 'edible
dog of China'. In 1878, a British historian and authority on China
claimed to have found 25 restaurants in Canton featuring chows
on the menu. In 1915, a law was passed in China prohibiting the
buying and selling of dog meat. The word chow means food in
English, and the shipments of spices and mixed pickles from China
became known as chow chow, as did a spicy pickle relish.
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Chow Chow
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Country of origin
China
Weight
45-70 lb
Height
18-22 in
Coat
Thick and coarse
Color
Red, cinnamon, blue, black, cream
Life span
9-12 years
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Chow Chow's blue-black tongue
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