Chow Chow
| Size at withers | 43–51 cm |
|---|---|
| Weight range | 20–32 kg |
| Life expectancy | 9–15 years |
| Size class | Large (25–40 kg) |
| Normal resting vitals | Heart rate 60–110 bpm · Respiration 10–30/min · Temperature 38.3–39.2 °C |
| Coat | Very dense double coat, rough or smooth |
| Temperament | Aloof, independent, stubborn; requires experienced handling |
| Common health issues | Hip and elbow dysplasia; entropion; hypothyroidism; melanoma; gastric torsion; skin allergies |
| Exercise needs | Moderate — 30–60 min/day |
| Climate & housing suitability | Poor for hot summers; thick double coat. |
| Owner notes | Distinctive purple-black tongue. Not a beginner's breed. |
Origin and purpose
Non-sporting (AKC). Origin: Northern China.
Distinctive purple-black tongue. Not a beginner's breed.
What a breed was built to do explains most of what it will do in your home. A dog selected for hundreds of years to run, guard, herd, or hunt does not stop wanting to because it now lives in an apartment — the drive is the breed, and the owner's job is to give it somewhere to go.
Temperament and training
Stated temperament: Aloof, independent, stubborn; requires experienced handling
This is an independent-minded breed that was developed to make its own decisions, and it will not work for you simply because you asked. That is not stubbornness or stupidity — it is the trait the breed was selected for. Training must be genuinely rewarding to the dog, and expectations of instant, military obedience are misplaced. Recall, in particular, is often unreliable in these breeds; be honest about that before letting one off-lead near traffic.
Conditions this breed is predisposed to
Gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV, 'bloat')
Atopic dermatitis (canine atopy)
Elbow dysplasia
Entropion
Hypothyroidism
Melanoma
Health screening — what to test, and when
| Screen for | Test | When |
|---|---|---|
| Atopic dermatitis (canine atopy) | No screening test; allergy testing once disease is established | On recurrent itching, ear disease, or paw licking |
| Elbow dysplasia | Radiographic elbow evaluation | Once at 12–24 months |
| Entropion | Eye examination | Annually |
| Gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV, 'bloat') | No screening test. Discuss preventive gastropexy with your vet in deep-chested breeds | At neutering, if the vet agrees it is indicated |
| Hypothyroidism | Thyroid blood panel | On unexplained weight gain, coat loss, or lethargy; annually in predisposed breeds |
Every dog, every breed: an annual health examination (twice yearly from seven years), body-condition scoring at each visit, dental assessment, year-round parasite control, and the core vaccinations.
For breeders — test before you mate
- Atopic dermatitis (canine atopy) — No screening test; allergy testing once disease is established
- Elbow dysplasia — Radiographic elbow evaluation
- Entropion — Eye examination
- Gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV, 'bloat') — No screening test. Discuss preventive gastropexy with your vet in deep-chested breeds
- Hypothyroidism — Thyroid blood panel
Feeding
Growth is the thing that matters. Large-breed puppies must be fed a diet formulated for large-breed growth and must NOT be overfed or supplemented with calcium — growing too fast is a direct route to the joint disease this size of dog is already prone to. A lean puppy is a healthy puppy. As an adult, two measured meals a day, and keep the dog lean for life: excess weight is the single biggest accelerator of hip and elbow disease and arthritis.
Exercise and enrichment
Stated requirement: Moderate — 30–60 min/day
Moderate daily exercise plus mental stimulation. Adaptable to apartment life provided the daily walk actually happens every day.
Coat and grooming
Very dense double coat, rough or smooth. Brush 4× weekly. Brachycephalic AND heavily coated — a difficult combination in hot climates.
Climate and living conditions
Stated suitability: Poor for hot summers; thick double coat.
Ageing and senior care
Life expectancy: 9–15 years. This dog is a senior from around 7 years, at which point wellness examinations should move to twice a year and senior blood and urine screening begins. Large dogs age faster than small ones. Arthritis and cancer are the dominant concerns; do not dismiss a limp in an older large dog as 'just age' — bone cancer presents exactly that way. Senior care →
Before you take one home
- Ask the breeder for the health-test results listed above — for BOTH parents, on paper, before you pay a deposit. A breeder who has done the tests will be proud to show you; one who deflects, or who tells you the tests are unnecessary in this line, is telling you what you need to know.
- This is a short-skulled breed. Choose the puppy with the most open nostrils and the longest muzzle you can find, and reject any that snores, snorts, or struggles for breath at rest — those are not endearing breed traits, they are signs of a dog that cannot breathe properly. Ask whether the parents have been BOAS-graded. In a hot climate this decision has consequences you will live with daily.
- Consider adoption. Shelters and rescues have dogs of every kind, including purebreds, and the local native or landrace dog is often healthier, better adapted to its climate, and more in need of a home than almost anything you can buy. See Part XII.
