Chow Chow
A blue black tongue and hind legs so straight the walk comes out stilted. An ancient Chinese breed, and it behaves more like a cat than most dogs do.
Photo by Andrea Arden, CC BY 2.0
Overview
The Chow Chow is one of the oldest recognisable dog breeds, appearing in Chinese art from the Han dynasty, and it worked as a guard, a hunter and a cart hauler. It has two features almost unique among dogs: a blue black tongue, and straight hind legs with very little angulation, which give it a stilted stiff gait.
That gait is breed standard and it is also part of why the breed has joint problems.
Temperament
Dignified, aloof and famously catlike. Chows bond to one or two people and are indifferent or actively unfriendly to everyone else, and they do not seek approval.
They are stubborn, territorial and can be aggressive if under socialised, and they are frequently intolerant of other dogs. The deep set eyes and heavy ruff limit their peripheral vision and mask their signals, which contributes to them being startled. This is not a first dog.
Care and grooming
The rough coat needs thorough brushing three times a week and daily during the moults, right down to the skin, or it mats into the undercoat. The smooth coat is easier.
Entropion is very common and often needs surgical correction. Hip and elbow dysplasia, patellar luxation and elongated soft palate all occur, and Chows are prone to heat stroke because of the coat and the shortened muzzle.
Living and exercise
Forty five minutes a day of moderate exercise, in cool weather.
They are calm indoors and undemanding physically. The commitment is the coat and the socialisation, and the socialisation has to start in the first weeks and never stop. Eight to twelve years.
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