Chow Chow

Breed Type: Non-sporting
Weight: 45 to 70 lbs
Height: 17 to 20 inches
Coat type: Available in both longhaired and shorthaired varieties. Longhaired Chow-chows have long straight hair on their coats.
Color: Chowchow puppies are available in solid red, black, blue cinnamon, and cream colors.

Chow Chow is a strong, powerful and muscular breed of Arctic type of dog. The looks of Chow Chow are similar to that of a Royal Lion. The breed is available in five colors - red, black, blue, cinnamon and cream. A Chow Chow breed is also identified for its blue/black tongue and stiff gait. Due to its blue back tongue, it is often genetically related to the Chinese Shar Pei breed. Though this breed was originally a working dog, it has now popularly become a pet dog and a fighting dog.

History
The Chow Chow was assumed to be one of the oldest dig breeds in the world. A recent DNA analysis confirmed this assumption recently. It is now scientifically evident that this ancient breed has emerged from the wolf about 4000 years back in the regions of Northern China or Mongolia. A Chinese Bas- Relief of 150 B.C. exhibits a hunting dog very similar in appearance to the existing Chow Chow breed. Later, as the evidences say, Chow Chows were bred as working dogs for herding, hunting, pulling and guarding.

Chow Chow emerged as one of the most popular breed of pet dogs during the early 20th century. In the United States, it became the pet dogs of the rich and famous people during this phase. Even the US president Calvin Coolidge and his wife owned a black Chow named Timmy. The craze of the Chow Chow breed increased again in the 1980�s. Today, Chow Chow is a moderately popular breed with lots of loyal admirers.

Appearance
Chow Chow is a strong and squarely built upstanding dog which is medium in size and average in terms of weight. It has a compact body with a small and thick tail set high on the back. The Chow Chow breed has a characteristic shorter, stilted gait which makes this breed distinct. It has a huge head with flat skull and deep muzzle. The coat of the Chow Chow breed is thick found in both smooth as well as rough texture. The three most unique feature of this breed which are its blue-black tongue, scowling expression and stilted gait, which also makes it extremely popular amongst people who love unique breeds. Chow Chow dogs are available in various colors like solid red, black, blue cinnamon, and cream colors.

Personality
Chow Chow dogs are adorable and fluffy. They don't take long to grow into a strong, powerful, highly intelligent, very loyal and independent dog. Serious, proud, calm, vigilant and dignifies, it does not care for nonsense and need an experienced dog owner. It is domineering with other dogs but is usually good to children and household pets that it has known since early in life. Suspicious of strangers, Chow Chow is not very obedient though short-haired variety seems to learn faster than the long-haired ones. They need firm and consistent training and a cool place to rest in summers as it cannot tolerate heat or high temperature for long.