The Chow Chow, or Chow, is considered to be one of the oldest recognizable dog breeds. DNA analysis indicates that the Chow is one of the first primitive breeds to evolve from the wolf, and is thought to have originated in the arid steppes of northern Mongolia about 4,000 years ago. These dogs were later introduced to China where they are still referred to as “Songshi Quan,” which literally translates as the “puffy-lion dog.”
The Chow Chow is a large, stocky canine with two very distinctive features: blue-black lips and tongue and almost straight hind legs, which makes its walk appear somewhat stiff and stilted. This breed also has a thick, curly tail that lies close to its back.
Show off your puffy lion pups in our new Chow gallery!
Chow Chows were originally bred for herding, hunting, pulling and guarding. But for the Chinese, these dogs served as much more than just general-purpose working mutts. The dog’s thick, fluffy fur was used to make human coats and they were also considered a local delicacy. In 1915, a law was passed in China prohibiting the buying and selling of dog meat.
In the 1830s, merchants brought the Chow to England and it is thought that its name most-likely originated from the pidgin English word “chow-chow,” a general term for “bits of this and that” bought back from the far East.
Another name-origin theory claims that in 1878, a British historian and authority on China cited 25 restaurants in Canton featuring chows on the menu. (Chow or “Chou” is Chinese slang for edible as well as English slang for eating.) As the shipments of spices and mixed pickles from China became more commonly referred to as “chow chow,” so too did the dogs that were often aboard.
The Chow Chow is known as a loyal, “well-mannered dog” that is good with children and other pets (including cats) as long as the pups are well socialized when they are young. Males and females typically mesh better than same sex dogs, but it is not unheard of for multiple Chows of both sexes to live together peacefully.
Because Chow Chows are typically “one-man” dogs, they can act reserved and aloof with strangers. Their territorial nature and often serious manner can be off-putting to those unfamiliar with the breed. Inexperienced dog owners should monitor how Chow Chows encounter those it perceives as strangers; their notoriety is so established that many homeowner’s insurance companies excludes this breed. Like most headstrong breeds, Chows need firm, calm authority and consistent training beginning in puppyhood.
Chow Chows are not particularly active and will be content to lounge for much of the day, but they still require regularly-scheduled physical activity. These dogs crave routine time to explore and play to maintain a happy and content disposition.
Although they rank 76th in Stanley Coren’s “The Intelligence of Dogs” (the lowest degree of working and obedience intelligence), many Chow owners believe this is because Chows possess a different type of intelligence than that most dogs. Chows excel with positive reinforcement, particularly “clicker training,” as the Chow is a natural problem solver and gets bored with repetitive tasks.
The Chow Chow is the dog breed most affected by elbow dysplasia. They are also prone to hip dysplasia, patellar luxation (slipping knee caps) and thyroid disease. Eye irritation caused by eyelid abnormality, hot spots and ear infections are also common. Because of their relatively short muzzles they often snore.
The Chow Chow was a popular pet among the jet set during the Roaring Twenties. Famous Chows include Timmy who was owned by President Calvin Coolidge and his wife.
If you’re keen on adding one of these fuzzy fur balls to your clan, check out these rescue groups first to adopt a dog in need:
Read about other dog and cat breeds here.