Chow Chow – All Facts About The Noble Dog Breed

It has an imposing character with scowling expression and bellowing bark. They used to hunt from wolves to pheasant. Still, chow is the best guard dogs, when they are treated with respect and love so it attaches to you deeply.

As they are intelligent, they should be trained properly.

Powerful, muscular breed Chow chow with stocky appearance. It has both smooth and rough coat varieties. Smooth coated looks like small Akita, whereas rough coated looks like a lion.

They have wide muzzles, broadheads, black tongue and triangular ears. It has curled back busy tails, which Spitz breeds characteristics.

Due to their thick coats, they need a lot of maintenance.  To keep dogs coat healthy you need to brush three to four times per week. During fall and spring, they shed heavily so daily brushing is recommended.

Medium core brush should be used for body, pin brush for long hair section, silk brush for legs and use spray with dog conditioner while grooming. These dogs require the monthly bath, but if it enjoys more in outdoor need frequent baths.

In addition, they need tooth maintenance, ear cleaning and bathing as a weekly routine. Mostly, try to use vet recommended cleanser for ears.

Chow has both smooth and rough coat varieties. Most familiar chow is the rough double coated one, which has a thick outer coat with dense and soft undercoat. The hair is thick around head and neck, and thick fur on the tail.

Chow with smooth coated has no feathering or ruff with the thick outer coat.

This breed has common health problems includes,

1. Hip dysplasia:

Deformity of hip joints is hip dysplasia. It commonly occurs during a dog’s growth period. Mostly, it occurs in large dog breeds. In this case, the ball of the femur will not fit properly in the hip socket.

• Symptoms – Lameness in hind, narrow stance, decreased activity, pain, stiffness and looseness in joint.
• Treatment – Physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medication and weight reduction to reduce stress on hips.

2. Entropion:

Usually, encryption occurs to lower eyelid dogs, to a part or all of the eyelids folds toward eyeball.  Also, it affects the upper eyelid or both sometimes.

In addition, constant rubbing on eyelashes may result in eye irritation and discomfort. Where, entropion cause blindness, scarring, loss of vision and corneal ulcers.

• Symptoms – Lethargy, squinting, depression, eye redness, corneal abrasion and inner eye inflammation.
• Treatment – Atropine ointments and drops which helps to reduce pain and spasms.

3. Diabetes mellitus:

Diabetes mellitus is a common health issue in dogs. Dogs having diabetes will not able to regulate their metabolism of sugar and they need insulin injections daily.

• Symptoms – Weight loss, increased urination, drinking, and eating.
• Treatment – Healthy diet, medication as per vets advise.

4. Cataracts:

Cataracts are opacity of lens on eyes, which may cause blindness if not treated.

• Symptoms – Scratching or rubbing of eyes, a white, grey or bluish layer in the eye, eye redness and eye irritation.
• Treatment – Eye drops to prevent inflammation and in serious cases, surgery is recommended by a vet.

5. Lymphoma:       

Usually, lymphoma is a group of cancer commonly occurs in dogs. White blood cells are lymphocytes.

• Symptoms – Lack of appetite, lethargy, weight loss and weakness.
• Treatment – Chemotherapy according to vets advice.

6. Patellar luxation:  

It is due to anatomical defects in knee joint bones. They are manifested by kneecap.

• Symptoms – Weak legs, swelling, limping, refusing to exercise and pain while walking.
• Treatment – Medication for inflammation and pain.

Feeding a small amount of food three times per day to your 0 to 52 weeks chow chow puppies. Small amount means 280 to 300 k/cal per day. When your dog is 20lb then you can feed 470 k/cal per day and when it reaches 30lb you can feed 640 k/cal per day.

When it reaches more than 40lb then feed according to calorie requirements. Once it is grown fully, then a good meal per day or split it into two meals per day.

The best foods for your dog include

• Chicken
• Bone meal
• Dog dry food kibbles
• Brewer’s yeast
• Vegetables with grains
• Occasionally fish and soy
• Homemade meal include rice
• Egg and cheese
• Frozen beans, peas and blueberries
• Yogurt

• It is one of the oldest dog breeds originated before 4000 years in China.
• As it is foot fetish, it is a good foot warmer during winter days.
• Chow chow is unique, not due to blue lips and tongue but their lion-like appearance is exotic.
• They are used as working dogs in China.
• Famous psychoanalyst had a chow dog named Jofi, usually, it sits in his sessions.
• In the movie The Lady and the Tramp, chow chow cute puppy appeared.
• Usually, it is dangerous and rude to other people except for the owner but this can be prevented with regular training.
• Walt Disney, Elvis Presley, Martha Stewart and Sigmund Freud are the famous owners of lovely chow chow pets.
• Due to their aggressive behaviour, some insurance companies refuse to give insurance.
• They are loyal and protective to their owners.

The average price of chow chow puppies ranges from $650 to $2500 USD.

Chow chow breeders in the UK:

• Mrs C H Merrion
  Address: St. Ives, Cambridgeshire
  Telephone: 01480 466352
• Mr S B & Mrs P M Godber
  Address: Ripley, Derbyshire
  Telephone: 01773 744634
• Mrs E R Gelderd
  Address: Andover, Hampshire
  Telephone: 01264 359011

Chow chow breeders in the US:

• FlamingStar Chows
  Address: Cathy Clapp, Hodgenville, Kentucky
  Telephone: (270) 307-9228
• Darling AKC Chow puppies
  Address: Linda Fernandez, Winlock, WA 98596
  Telephone: (360) 295-0975
• Chow Chow Puppies
  Address: kurt Williams, Las Vegas, NV 89119
  Telephone: (702) 419-2591