Breeds / Large
Chow Chow puppies
The Chow Chow is a compact, heavily coated dog with a blue black tongue and a serious, dignified manner. They are loyal to their own household and aloof with strangers, and their deep set eyes and stilted rear give them limited peripheral vision and a stiff gait.
The facts
- Size class Large
- Country of origin China
- Adult weight 20.4 to 31.8 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 45 to 70 lb
- Adult height 43 to 51 cm
- Energy level Moderate
- Grooming Moderate
- Coat type Medium double and rough and smooth
- Shedding Moderate
- Typical lifespan 8 to 12 years
- Good with children Fine with supervision
- Good with other dogs Careful introductions
About the Chow Chow
The Chow Chow is an ancient northern Chinese breed used for hunting, guarding and hauling long before they became a show dog. This is a solid, square dog of 20.4 to 31.8 kg standing 43 to 51 cm, carrying either a rough or a smooth double coat, a lion-like ruff, a blue black tongue and straight hocks that produce their stilted, short stepping gait. Deep set eyes limit their peripheral vision, which partly explains why they dislike being approached from the side.
Exercise is moderate, several short walks a day, kept out of the heat because the coat and short muzzle make them a poor thermoregulator. Grooming is the real commitment: thorough brushing to the skin at least twice a week or the undercoat mats. They suit a calm adult household and an owner content with a dog that is loyal without being demonstrative. Do not shrug off the aloofness: early socialisation is what this breed needs most.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Chow Chow puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A large breed puppy at eight weeks looks deceptively normal sized and will roughly double every few weeks for a while. Keep exercise short and low impact, the growth plates are wide open. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Entropion, an inward rolling eyelid that rubs the cornea, found on an eye exam and corrected surgically
- Hip and elbow dysplasia, screened by hip and elbow evaluation of breeding stock
- Patellar luxation, a slipping kneecap, found on a patella evaluation
- Thyroid disorders, screened by a thyroid evaluation
- Skin allergies, diagnosed once parasites and infection have been ruled out
- Heat intolerance, because of the dense double coat and short muzzle, so exercise should be timed for cooler hours
Your Chow Chow puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Large for a Chow Chow.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 20.4 to 31.8 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Kit sizes: crate 36 inch (36 x 24 x 26 in, 91 x 61 x 66 cm) for an adult of up to 31.8 kg; chew toys made for large breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.
Buying guides for this
Other large breeds
More on the Chow Chow
Previous: Chorkie · Next: Chug
Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
- akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
- fci.be for country of origin
- Health notes from Chow Chow breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/chow-chow/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Photo: Luigi Borromeo, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.