Chow Chow Breed Focus
Writing by Admin on Wednesday, 7 of March , 2012 at 7:40 am
With its stocky build, elaborate tail, bear-like face and characteristic blue tong, the Chow Chow is an easy dog to recognize. This Chinese breed is medium in size, standing 22 inches at the withers, and weighing up to 70 pounds. The most common coat color is red, but it can also be black, cream, or grey (blue).
This is an ancient dog breed that is believed to have originated in the region of Mongolia, circa 200 BC. They were versatile dogs that were used for hunting, herding, guarding, and pulling carts. They were also used as a food source.
The origin of the name is uncertain. A common theory is that it derives from the Mandarin word for “food”, by this is generally discredited. A more widely accepted idea is that it comes from the word used by English sailors to refer to cargo. The Chow Chow is commonly accepted as the progenitor of most spitz type dogs, including the Samoyed, Keeshond and Pomeranian.The Chow Chow is not an ideal dog for the first time dog owner, as they can be quite dominant. The need the firm hand of an experienced dog owner to keep them in check. They are often characterized as aggressive, but this is mostly undeserved. In general Chows are affectionate, confident dogs who tend to bond very closely with a single person. With everyone else they can come across as aloof.
They are not a good choice for a family with very young kids, but do well with older children. They also do well with other pets,. as long as they’ve been properly socialized.
Training is an absolute must with this breed. However, you’ll need tons of patience to train a Chow, they are famously strong-willed and while they may sometimes be co=operative, at other times they’ll flatly ignore you. They are however very eager to please their bonded human, so training is not entirely a lost cause.
Although they are generally healthy dogs, Chows do suffer from a number of congenital diseases. Hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and entropion are all known to occur. Another common problem is gastric torsion, a serious condition, that requires immediate veterinary treatment. You can reduce the risk of bloat by feeding your dog small, regular meals, and avoiding exercise immediately before an after meals. Average lifespan for the Chow is 15 years.
As you might expect, the Chow Chow’s dense coat requires daily grooming. They are heavy shedders, and also blow their coat twice a year.
The Chow is an independent dog that doesn’t actively seek human companionship, outside of the person they bond with. As such they are quite happy to live outside. The do not do well in warm climates, but their thick coat offers protection in cold weather.
If you’re looking for puppy names, for your Chow Chow, I’d recommend Puppy Names HQ, a site with an extensive database of dog names, including thousands of girl dog names.
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Category: Veterinary
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