With its stocky build, elaborate tail, bear-like face and characteristic blue tong, the Chow Chow is an easy dog to recognize. This Chinese breed is medium in size, standing 22 inches at the withers, and weighing up to 70 pounds. The most common coat color is red, but it can also be black, cream, or grey (blue).

This ancient breed is thought to have originated in Mongolia round about 200BC. They were used in a number of roles including guarding, herding, hunting and pulling carts. They were also a source of food for the ancient people of this region.

No one knows exactly where the name, Chow Chow derives from. A common, though generally discredited theory, is that it derives from the Chinese word for food. Another theory is that “Chow”, was a slang term used by sailors to refer to Cargo, and this name somehow passed to the dog. The Chow Chow is widely recognized as the father of all modern Spitz breeds, including the Keeshond, Pomeranian, and Icelandic Sheepdog.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 are not a good choice for a family with very young kids, but do well with older children. They also do well with other pets,. as long as they’ve been properly socialized.

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.

Good dog names can be hard to find. The best advice is to try one of the online dog names, sites. My personal favorite is Puppy Names HQ, a site that has tons of excellent dog names to pick from, including thousands of female dog names.

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