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The Chow Chow is a large, compact, bear-like dog with a thick, abundant top coat, a woolly undercoat and a tail curled over its back. This breed is gaining in popularity and with their striking looks they’re sure to leave a lasting impression on everyone who lays eyes on them.
The most common health problems in the Chow are:
- Hip dysplasia
- Elbow dysplasia
- Panosteitis
- Entropion which is a painful conditions where the eyelids turn inwards, this can happen as a result of excessive skin around the eyes.
- Cruciate disease¹ which is where the ligaments in the knee become diseased and damaged which can lead to pain and limping.
Priority Kennel Club health schemes and testing:
None but there are several recommended schemes that the Kennel Club recommends which can be found here.
While bonded to their owner, the Chow Chow is generally aloof and reserved, is both stubborn and independent, is not playful, and in general neither gives or likes affection (and may actively object to it!). This can be problematic in a dog who looks like a giant teddy bear.
Their thick coat also means that in hot weather they can get over-heated which can increase any irritability. Breeders have worked hard over the years to improve temperaments so it’s important to get your puppy from a responsible source.
The Chow Chow will suit an owner who will enjoy their aloofness and independence and who doesn’t want a dog that shows a great deal of affection and instead gives their love at a distance!
| Family-friendly: | 2/5 |
| Exercise needs: | 2/5 |
| Easy to train: | 2/5 |
| Tolerates being alone: | 5/5 |
| Likes other pets: | 1/5 |
| Energy level: | 2/5 |
| Grooming needs: | 3/5 |
| Shedding: | 1/5 |
The Chow needs a calm, pragmatic owner who can work hard on training and socialisation and yet keep this big fluffy breed safe from accident or misunderstanding. Chows attract people due to their appearance but rarely welcome attention from strangers, and owners must be prepared for this – along with a degree of aloofness even towards their loved ones. Ideal owner qualities also include a desire to do a lot of grooming and cleaning up of a muddy dog, the ability to provide a large, secure garden and not too many visitors. Better with teenagers or child-free families, and suited to rural and semi-rural homes.
The Chow Chow does not require a lot of exercise – about an hour daily – but they do like the outdoors, and are quite happy doing their own thing in the back garden. They must have somewhere shaded and cool that they can retreat to in warm and hot weather. Too much exercise too young can lead to bone and joint problems in later life, so exercise must be monitored closely.
The Chow Chow is a large dog with territorial tendencies so they do best in a large house with a big well-fenced garden. They need to have shade so they can enjoy the outdoors without getting over-heated.
Your Chow Chow's diet needs to have the right balance of all the main nutrient groups including a constant supply of fresh water. It's important to conduct regular body condition scores to ensure you keep your dog in ideal shape and remember to feed them at least twice daily and in accordance with the feeding guidelines of their particular food.
Both Chow coats are dense and straight. The rough variety is coarse-textured, stand-off, not excessive in length, and the undercoat is soft and woolly. There is thicker hair around the neck and the backs of the thighs. This rough coat needs grooming daily. The smooth coat is shorter and needs grooming two or three times a week.
Chow chows are resistant to obedience training but do need to be taught to walk well on a lead and should have plenty of early and ongoing socialisation. They are unlikely to be particularly social to dogs or people they don’t know but they do need to learn to tolerate them.
Any training should be done with positive reinforcement as this breed does not tolerate being told off.
The Chow Chow doesn’t make a great family dog as they are not particularly tolerant or playful, although they can learn to live with sensible older children.
While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with and respect each other, and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.
