Breed Focus: Chow Chow

Often called big teddy bears due to their appearance, Chow Chows are another fairly well recognized breed. Their distinctive fur that forms a mane and their black tongue are characteristics many people can associate with this breed.

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Their coat and appearance seem to draw people to them, however remember before committing to this breed that it will need regularly brushing and grooming. While you may like the hair on the dog, some people find it less appealing on their clothes and furniture. Another very important characteristic of this breed is their personality. It is EXTREMELY important to begin to socialize them to people and other animals at a young age. They are naturally very bonded to one person or family and can turn aggressive to strangers. Protecting their territory is also very important to this breed so it is best to start training the minute they come home. As they get older they become notoriously more stubborn and can be very difficult to train. Exercise can also help with the training. They need to be exercised daily to help keep their mind occupied. This can also help with their training by making sure they learn to focus their attention on appropriate things.

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Typically Chow Chows are very sturdy dogs. Some of the conditions to watch for would include joint issues especially in the elbows and knees. If obtaining from a breeder it is ideal to make sure that the parents do not have any known joint issues. Another consideration is they are more prone to some genetic eye disorders. Cataracts are common in this breed. They also get distichia which are eyelashes that are growing in an unusual location or direction, leading to irritation of the eye. Finally they also tend to be prone to Melanoma which is type of cancer. One place Melanoma seems to grow is on their pigmented tongue. Another good reason to acclimate your puppy to handling is so that they can have a full oral exam at each veterinary visit and hopefully detect issues early.

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Chow chows while appearing like teddy bears or lions do not often offer the cuddly factor of some other fluffy breeds. Be sure to do full research before committing to this breed. They can make wonderful pets but need a strong hand and a commitment to stick with their training, otherwise they could become a liability to your family and others. For more information you can visit the AKC website here or vetstreet pet profile here.