Chow Chow

All you need to know about the breed

Maybe it was years of keeping watch at the palaces of Chinese Emperors and hanging with nobility that formed the Chow Chow into the noble breed they are, but the world is better for it. Their dignified stare emanates from a face enrobed by a thick mane of fur that’s usually golden, but also red, black, blue (!), chestnut or cream white. Leontyne in appearance, they’re finished off by sturdy limbs, substantial paws, and a hefty but strong body.

The Chow Chow dog is not at all shy or aggressive. Call them the strong silent type. They may sport what looks like a bit of a scowl but their overall demeanour is quite serene. The Chow Chow was bred over centuries to be incredibly loyal, just one of their many winning attributes.

One of the Chow Chow’s other great qualities is their clean nature. They are practically odour-free and very meticulous with their surroundings and conduct.

The Chow Chow dog also takes to city life without missing a beat—not that they can’t also adjust to bigger, more rural spaces but given their particular nature, being in a more low-key place is preferable. When newcomers enter their domain, the Chow Chow is often quite wary, but with early socialisation, your dog can grow up to be a regular canine social butterfly.

Look closely at artifacts from China’s Han Dynasty in the year 206 B.C. and you will see the large fluffy Chow Chow often depicted. The breed counts themselves among the world’s oldest breeds, and were traditionally a prized companion of nobles. In the 8th century, it is said one emperor of the Tang Dynasty housed 5,000 Chow Chows in his kennel. A working dog as well, they’ve been used for sport, as a guardian, and for labour.

The Chow Chow’s plush coat and curved tail is said to be the original of the spitz-type breeds, giving rise to others like the Pomeranian and Akita. Their name stems from British importers who brought the breed in along with other foreign goods from Asia, logging them simply as “various goods” on shipping manifests.

An exhibition of Chow Chows at the London Zoo in the 1820s brought the breed into prominence and Queen Victoria, who reigned later in the century, was a proponent of the breed. They then made their way to America in the 1890s, reaching huge popularity in the 1980s. The American Kennel Club had already recognised the breed in 1903.