Chow Chow

Chow Chow, or Chow, is a breed of dog originating from Mongolia and Northern China, where it is referred to as Songshi Quan which literally means "puffy-lion dog." The breed has also been called the Tang Quan, "Dog of the Tang Empire." It is believed that the Chow Chow is one of the native dogs used as the model for the Foo dog, the traditional stone guardians found in front of Buddhist temples and palaces.

Chow Chow Appearance

The Chow is a stocky dog with broad skull and small, rounded ears. The breed has a very dense coat that is either smooth or rough. The fur is particularly thick around the neck, giving the distinctive ruff or mane. The coat may be one of several colours including reddish-brown (described as "red"), black, blue, cinnamon, and cream. Not all these colour varieties are recognized as valid in all countries. Individuals with patchy or multicoloured coats are considered to be outside the breed standard. Chows are distinguished by their unusual blue-black/purple tongue and very straight hind legs, resulting in a rather stilted gait. The blue-black/purple tongue gene appears to be dominant, as almost all mixed breed dogs who come from a Chow retain the tongue colour.

Chow Chow Temperament

While commonly kept as a companion dog, the Chow has a reputation for being a willful and independent breed that is sometimes difficult to train. They may be very aloof and wary of strangers. They often do not get along well with other dogs unless properly socialized. Chows are extremely loyal to their own family, though they may be less friendly to strangers. The typical Chow's behaviour is commonly thought to be more similar to a domestic cat rather than a domestic dog.

Chow Chow History

The Chow is a unique breed of dog thought to be one of the oldest recognizable breeds. Research indicates it is one of the first primitive breeds to evolve from the wolf. Recent DNA analysis confirms that this is one of the oldest breeds of dog that probably originated in the high steppe regions of Siberia or Mongolia, and much later used as temple guards in China, Mongolia and Tibet. From what records survive, some historians believe that the Chow was the dog described as accompanying the Mongolian armies as they invaded south into China as well as west into Europe and southwest into the Middle East. A bas-relief from 150 BC (during the Han Dynasty) includes a hunting dog similar in appearance to the Chow. Later Chow Chows were bred as a general-purpose working dog for herding, hunting, pulling and guarding. Chows are reputed to be one of the many dog breeds in China fattened up and eaten during times of famine by peasants living in sparse, rural lands.