Chow Chow Dog Breed

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Chow Chow

Dog Breed

The Chow Chow is a dog breed originally from China, where it is referred to as Songshi Quan, which means "puffy-lion dog". The breed has also been called the Tang Quan, "Dog of the Tang Empire." Wikipedia

Lifespan: 9 – 15 y

Higher classification: Dog

Height: 43 – 51 cm (Adult)

Origin: China

Temperament: Aloof, Loyal, Quiet, Independent

Colors: Red, Fawn, Cream, Black

he Chow Chow (sometimes simply Chow^[2]) is a dog breed originally from China,^[3] where it is referred to as Songshi Quan (Pinyin: sōngshī quǎn 鬆獅犬), which means "puffy-lion dog". The breed has also been called the Tang Quan, "Dog of the Tang Empire." It is believed that the Chow Chow is one of the native dogs used as the model for the Foo dog, the traditional stone guardians found in front of Buddhist temples and palaces.

ppearance[edit]

The Chow Chow is a sturdily built dog, square in profile, with a broad skull and small, triangular, erect ears with rounded tips. The breed is known for a very dense double coat that is either smooth or rough.^[1] The fur is particularly thick in the neck area, giving it a distinctive ruff or mane appearance. The coat may be red, black, blue, cinnamon/fawn, or cream.^[1][9] Not all these color varieties are recognized as valid in all countries. Individuals with patchy or multicolored coats are considered to be outside the breed standard. Chow Chow eyes are typically deep set and almond shaped. The breed is distinguished by its unusual blue-black/purple tongue and very straight hind legs, resulting in a rather stilted gait.^[1] The bluish color extends to the Chow Chow's lips; this is the only dog breed with this distinctive bluish color in its lips and oral cavity (other dogs have black or a piebald pattern skin in their mouths).^[1] One other distinctive feature is the curly tail.^[1] It has thick hair and lies curled on its back. The nose should be black, but blue-coated Chow Chow can have a solid blue or slate-colored nose. According to the American Kennel Club breed standards, any other tone is not acceptable for contests.^[10] FCI countries, however, do allow a self-colored nose in the cream.^[11]

The blue-black/purple tongue gene appears to be dominant, as almost all mixed breed dogs that come from a Chow Chow retain that tongue color.^{[citation needed]} This is not to say, however, that every mixed breed dog with spots of purple on the tongue is descended from Chow Chow, as purple spots on the tongue can be found on a multitude of pure breed dogs.^[12]

• The distinctive Chow Chow features
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Temperament[edit]

A close-up of the Chow Chow's characteristic blue-black tongue

Chow Chow of different coat colors.

Most commonly kept as pets, Chow Chows tend to display discernment of strangers and can become fiercely protective of their owners and property. TheAmerican Kennel Club standards, however, consider an all-too aggressive or all-too timid Chow Chow to be unacceptable.^[10] For that reason, some owners have attributed a cat-like personality to the Chow Chow.^[13][14]

Chow Chow are not excessively active, meaning that they can be housed in an apartment. However, Chow Chow living in apartments will need daily exercise to prevent restlessness and boredom. Upon realizing that exercise is a daily occurrence, Chow Chow will tend to be more assertive with owners in anticipation of such activities.

This breed of dog has many strong loyal bonds with friends and family, however the Chow Chow dog is usually overly protective of one or two main family member(s).^[15] It is in the breed’s nature to be quiet and well behaved. However, it is also resistant to training. Chow Chows become very stubborn and attach to certain individuals, as they age. This is why training them when they are puppies is so crucial; they gain respect for those who care for them.

In order to avoid aggressive and over-protectiveness as an adult, continuous socialization as early as possible could allow the dog to adjust. When Chow Chows have reached adolescence they reject authority from any other owner who failed to earn its admiration. Aggression can be one distinctive behavioural characteristic in this breed, though while some are of an aggressive nature, many are known to be easy-going in nature - sometimes adopting an aloof disposition to individuals other than their owners. Aggression when it does appear is often towards other dogs of the same sex, especially Chows. Due to their strong hunting instincts, it is recommended that these dogs stay fenced, leashed, and away from cats and small dogs. This is why it is crucial that they are socialized early and consistently in order to act appropriately with strangers. At first, chow chows are very hesitant in interacting with strangers. However, this problem can be avoided if the owners train the chow chow at a young age. Owning a Chow Chow can raise the cost of homeowners insurance because some companies consider them high-risk dogs.^[16] In a study in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, out of 238 fatalities related to dog bites from 1979 to 1998, Chow Chow were responsible for eight.^[17]

• The different Chow Chow colours
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Health[edit]

The Chow Chow can suffer from entropion,^[18][19] glaucoma,^[20][21] juvenile cataracts,^[22] lymphoma,^[23] hip dysplasia,^[24] diabetes mellitus,^[25] canine pemphigus,^[26] and gastric cancer.^[27] Chow Chows are a high risk breed for autoimmune disease ^[28] and are at a predisposition for skin melanoma.^[29]

Due to the Chow Chow's thick coat, fleas can be a problem.^[30]

Feeding[edit]

A modern adult Chow Chow with smooth facial features.

Evidently, any high quality type of food can require the right nutrients for any dog’s skin, hair, and overall health. However, the characteristics of a Chow Chow breed contain 95% of protein in their hair, heavy weight for its height.^{[citation needed]} Therefore, ensuring that the food contains enough digestible proteins is crucial. The maturation of a Chow Chow occurs at a fast pace due to its size, by 18 months a Chow Chow is an adult dog.^{[citation needed]} The adjustment of the diet is also necessary. How much this breed eats all depends on the physiological characteristics, such as: size, metabolism, age etc. Chow Chow dogs must eat twice a day.^[40] Due to the Chow Chow’s heavy build, it is important that this dog never be overweight or can lead to injuries of the hip. Most chows eat four cups of food a day, two in the morning and two at night. Chows cannot be fed a lot of meat, it is recommended that they are fed with different sources of protein such as eggs, and rice and in more portions.

Grooming[edit]

A Chow Chow with reddish coat.

The Chow Chow's fur is particularly thick in the neck area, giving it a distinctive ruff or mane appearance.

Chow breed will heavily shed their fur in the seasons of spring and fall, which requires more grooming attention than other seasons. It is important that owners use the correct tool in order to avoid harming the skin and facilitate grooming. Three kinds of brushes that owners can use on their Chow Chow are a medium-coarse brush for the larger parts of the body, a slick brush for smaller areas, and a pin brush to maintain the longer strands of hair.^[41] Chow Chows are known to have either short and smooth coat, or a rougher and longer coat. Both create a thick woolly layer, as it gets closer to the skin. They should be brushed four times a week; however shedding seasons may require daily grooming. Also, a spray conditioner can help avoiding breakage and tearing to the thick coat of hair. Lastly, a monthly bath is required to avoid fleas and keep a clean coat of fur.^[40]