Chow Chow
A dignified, lion-maned Chinese breed with a blue-black tongue, loyal to its family and aloof with others.
At a glance
- Size
- Large
- Height at the withers
- Males 48–56 cm · Females 46–51 cm
- Weight
- Males 25–32 kg · Females 20–27 kg
- Life expectancy
- 9–13 years
- Exercise
- 30–60 min a day
- Grooming
- A few times a week
- Coat
- Double coat, Rough, Smooth, medium, long
- Colours
- Red, Black, Blue, Fawn, Cream, White
- Bred for
- Companionship, Guarding
- Country of origin
- United Kingdom
- FCI
- Group 5, no. 205 · Spitz & primitive types
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 4/5 – High |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 2/5 – Low |
| Good with other dogs | 2/5 – Low |
| Good with cats | 2/5 – Low |
| Open to strangers | 1/5 – Very low |
| Energy | 2/5 – Low |
| Playfulness | 2/5 – Low |
| Needs mental stimulation | 2/5 – Low |
| Easy to train | 2/5 – Low |
| Prey drive | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Watchful and protective | 4/5 – High |
| Barking | 2/5 – Low |
| Shedding | 4/5 – High |
| Grooming effort | 4/5 – High |
| Drooling | 2/5 – Low |
| Good for first-time owners | 1/5 – Very low |
| Suits apartment living | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Adaptability | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with being alone | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with heat | 1/5 – Very low |
| Copes with cold | 4/5 – High |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- want a calm, quiet and dignified dog
- prefer a dog that is reserved with strangers
- live in a cool climate
Think twice if you …
- have young children or a busy, social household
- live somewhere hot
- want a playful, outgoing dog
Care
Temperament
Chow Chows are dignified, independent and reserved, bonding closely with one or a few people. They can be protective and are not usually playful with strangers.
Exercise
Moderate daily walks of 30–60 minutes are enough. Avoid exercise in warm weather; calm walks and sniffing suit them best.
Grooming
The rough coat needs thorough brushing several times a week, and the smooth coat a little less. Both shed heavily during seasonal moults.
Training
They are intelligent but not eager to please. Training should be calm, consistent and respectful, with lots of socialisation from puppyhood.
Health
Entropion and other eyelid problems, hip and elbow dysplasia and heat sensitivity are the main concerns. Ask the breeder for hip, elbow and eye results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
- Elbows (ED)
- Eye examination
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Chow Chow is an ancient breed from China, where it was used as a guard, hunting and draught dog. It reached Britain in the late 18th and 19th centuries, and British breeders shaped the modern show type; the FCI gives Great Britain patronage of the breed.
Chows are calm, clean and quiet at home, often more cat-like than doggy in manner. They are deeply loyal to their own people but reserved or suspicious with strangers and not keen on rough handling. They need early socialisation, careful grooming and protection from heat.
Did you know?
The Chow Chow is one of the few breeds with a blue-black tongue, and its puppies are born with pink tongues that darken as they grow.