Looking like a combination between a lion and a bear, The Chow Chows are a genuine

head turner and one of the most beautiful and admired dog breed.
This breed has also famous ambassadors: Jo-Fi, Sigmund Freuds Chow Chow attended
all his therapy sessions. Freud said that Jofi helped him asses the mental state of his
patience. Elvis Presley had his Getlow, Martha Steward had her Ghenghis Khan and
President Calvin Coolidge had a Chow Chow named Timmy.
The Chow Chows are the only dogs born with 44 teeth, comparing to the other dogs that
have 42. And while they have a cute and a cuddly exterior, they have a reputation for
being aggressive towards kids and strangers and, in the past, have been classified as the
most aggressive dogs in America.
Despite this reputation, all well trained and socialized Chows make good, pleasant and
loyal companions. Once you get through the outer layers of this dogs personality, you
discover a fun, warm, loving spirit.
The Chow Chow is one of the most ancient breeds: it originated in northern China more
then 2000 years ago.
The Chows were bred to be working and guarding dogs
The Chow Chow has a strong body, a broad skull, almond shaped eyes and his ears are
triangular, with rounded tips. The Chows most notable characteristic is his blue tone
tongue. Chow puppies are born with pink tongue that darkens when they age.
They also have their distinctive straight back legs while their dense double coat is their
most easy recognizable trade.
Their coat can be smooth or rough, which gives them that lioness appearance.
Chows coat comes in five colors: black, blue, cream, cinnamon and red (the most
popular one). His thick haired tail is curly and lies on its back.
Fiercely loyal and protective of their owners, The Chows make great pets for adults and
are not recommended for families with young children.
The Chows are not an active breed and they adapt well to apartment living as long as
they receive their daily walk so they dont get lethargic, overweight or even cranky, at
times. They thrive in cold weather and they need to be on a cool place in hot days.
They are seasonal heavy shedders and regular grooming is important as their very dense
thick coat needs constant brushing. Dont ever shave them.
Chows can become very territorial with their house and family so early training and
socializing is indicated. It is important to meet other persons and pets and not only bond
with their family. This way, no trouble will arise when new people come to visit.
Health wise, they are not the healthiest breed, most common problems being elbow and
hip dysplasia and eye problems like entropion and glaucoma.
To conclude, every dog is special, but in general, The Chow Chow:
- thrive in cold weather
- have joint and eye heath issues
- need to be brushed daily
- training and socializing need to start early
- is best suited for adults