The Chow Chow can be traced back almost 2,000 years when they were bred as hunting and guard dogs in China. Known for their cute, teddy bear-like appearance and a unique blue-black tongue, the Chow Chow is both independent but also very loyal.
Facts & advice
Chow Chow
These teddy bear-like dogs are fiercely loyal with a low-maintenance personality but a high-maintenance grooming regime.
Vital stats
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| Size: | Large |
| Coat: | Very thick and heavy shedding |
| Exercise | Up to 1 hour daily |
| Life span: | 10 – 15 years |
| Breed group: | Utility |
| Temperament: | Independent, loyal, aloof |
Chow Chow temperament & personality
The Chow Chow is an extremely loyal, very independent and highly intelligent breed. They have a low-maintenance personality that means they can often demand little in the way of attention or affection. In fact, they can be quite aloof at times.
- Chow Chows are very devoted dog and form incredibly strong bonds with their owners, making them loyal and loving companions.
- With a strong guarding instinct, Chows can be quite wary of strangers so early socialisation is important for this breed.
- Chows make good family pets but aren’t known for their playfulness or patience so they are better suited to families without boisterous younger children.
- As well as being physically strong, Chow Chows can be quite strong-willed and stubborn so they are not the best choice for novice owners.
Chow Chow training & exercise
The strong-willed Chow can be challenging to train. However, in the hands of a patient and experienced handler, Chow Chows’ intelligence makes them quick learners.
Training tips
- As they can be wary of others outside their household, socialisation training should be ongoing throughout your dog’s life.
- Dog training should start from an early age to help mould your pup’s behaviour and stop their independent streak taking over.
- A tendency to do their own thing coupled with a strong hunting instinct means that extra attention should be paid to a Chow’s recall and lead training.
- Chows will not respond well to harsh or forceful training methods. The best way to train a Chow is through consistent, positive, reward-based training.
Keeping them happy
- A Chow will be happy and content the more time they can spend with their owner so try and involve them in anything and everything going on around the home.
- Because Chows form such strong bonds with their owners, they can sometimes be prone to separation anxiety if left alone for too long and they will thrive in households where there is usually someone around.
Exercise
- For a large breed of dog, Chows need a relatively low amount of exercise – 40-60 minutes per day is usually enough. This should always include a couple of walks with off-lead playtime in a secure area.
- A Chow’s thick coat means they can get hot very easily. Exercise in the hotter summer months should be taken earlier and later in the day when it’s cooler and more comfortable for your dog.
- Their thick coats also mean that Chows don’t make for good swimmers, so it’s best to keep them away from water.
Game ideas
- Hunting, herding and hide-and-seek games will prove popular with a Chow Chow by tapping in to their hunting instinct.
- A Chow Chow will enjoy the mental and physical stimulation of an agility course. You can try setting one up in a garden or secure outside space with ramps, hurdles, tunnels and balls attached to ropes.
Chow Chow grooming
Chows are known to be a very clean breed – almost cat-like in their approach to personal hygiene. However, because of their high shedding coats, Chows can be particularly high-maintenance when it comes to grooming.
- Chow Chows come with one of two types of coat: rough coat and smooth coat. Rough coated Chows have a thick, coarse, medium-length outer coat covering a softer, woolly undercoat that tends to require regular, daily brushing. Smooth coated Chows have shorter hair that is much easier to maintain. They tend to need brushing around 2 or 3 times a week.
- Chows are a particularly high shedding breed, so any new owner should be prepared for cleaning up hair around their home. Extra care and more brushing will be needed during moulting season (usually spring and autumn) to keep their coats in top condition.
- Their heavy coats can mean they have a tendency to overheat in the summer months so need access to shaded outdoor space to keep cool.
- As well as checking their ears for infections caused by the build-up of wax, take time to check the skin folds that Chows are often known for – particularly around their necks. Make sure these folds are clean and dry to avoid any unwanted skin infections.
Chow Chow nutrition
As with most dogs, Chows will benefit from a balanced diet that follows a consistent routine. Be careful not to overfeed to make sure your dog maintains a healthy weight.
- Historically, Chow Chows have been bred on a largely vegetarian diet and therefore require a low protein, high calcium diet based around grains and vegetables. Meat should still be included, but it should be lean and low in fat – chicken and turkey are good options.
- To help maintain the health of their thick, furry coats, healthy, omega fatty acids (from fish) should also be included in a Chow’s diet.
- Make sure your Chow has an easily accessible supply of fresh water, especially during the hot summer months. This will help avoid overheating and dehydration.
What to know before you buy or rehome a Chow Chow
A Chow Chow will make a great companion for the right owner. If you’re thinking about welcoming one into your home, here are a few important things to keep in mind.
- By forming an incredibly strong bond with their owner, Chow Chows make an ideal choice for anyone looking for a loyal canine companion. But they are better suited to more experienced owners and families without young children.
- Their independent, sometimes aloof nature means they don’t always warm to new people easily. And with a strong guarding instinct, Chows can be very protective and are often wary of strangers. Chow Chow puppies should always be well-socialised from an early age.
- Chows are pretty high-maintenance when it comes to grooming. As a high shedding breed they will leave their hair around a home and rough coated Chows will need daily brushing.
- An independent nature can make training a Chow a bit of a challenge and their training should be ongoing throughout their lives. However, as very intelligent dogs, they have an ability to learn very quickly.
- For a large dog, Chows need a relatively low amount of exercise. Two walks a day with plenty of mental stimulation will keep them happy.
- A strong prey drive and hunting instinct means extra attention should be paid to a Chow’s lead and recall training. Extra care should always be taken when a dog is around wildlife too.
- Always be fussy about the breeder you choose. ‘Lucy’s Law’ dictates that new puppies must be bought directly from a breeder or adopted from rescue. Third party sellers are illegal.
- There are many things to consider before getting a dog. Always find out whether a canine friend is the best pet for you before you make the leap from dog lover to dog owner.
Chow Chow frequently asked questions
Chow Chows are known for their thick woolly coats, that shed seasonally, and the breed is not considered to be hypoallergenic. It’s important to remember that no breed is 100% hypoallergenic, but there are breeds that are better for allergy sufferers than others.
Chow Chows can be trained to get on well with other pets, including cats. However this is an independent and aloof breed and they may not tolerate constant playing well. What’s more, this dominant breed will view themselves as pack leader, no matter what species their other pack members are, so it’s best to avoid introducing a Chow into your home if you already have very territorial pets.
Whilst they are independent and aloof in many ways, Chow Chows are also fiercely loyal and enjoy spending as much time as they can in their owner’s company. For this reason, Chows often suffer from separation anxiety and shouldn’t be left on their own for too long to avoid any unwanted or destructive behaviours.
Chow Chows don’t shed a lot on a daily basis but will have a heavy seasonal shed as during the transitions from summer to autumn and winter to spring. During these times, their coats may need a little more brushing than usual to help loosen and remove some of the excess fur.
Chow Chows are known to be very strong-willed and as such tend to need a more experienced handler when it comes to training. However, once the pack hierarchy is established, Chow Chows are intelligent and quick to catch on when it comes to learning new tricks and commands.
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Chow Chow insurance considerations
Choosing the right insurance for your Chow Chow can help keep them happy and healthy whatever happens. Conditions that we see they are prone to are not always covered as some other providers’ policies limit what they’ll pay for certain conditions, like cruciate ligament injuries. Others won’t cover your pet for dental illness or injury, or for congenital and hereditary conditions. With Petplan’s Covered for Life® dog insurance we have no additional limits for specific conditions or diagnostic tools.
We always offer these things as standard:
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy & pet therapies
Along with physiotherapy, which is covered within the Vet Bills benefit, we also cover Pet Therapies like herbal medicine, homeopathy and acupuncture. You can also claim for hydrotherapy, up to £500 per illness/injury in dogs and cats (no additional limit for rabbits).
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