The first consideration you should think about before you chose a Chow for a pet is to realize that the Chow is a heavily coated dog that cannot withstand hot climates. Even the smooth coated chows have a dense double coat, and this breed is prone to heat stroke in temperatures above 80 degrees. Shaving the chow's coat every summer will not help, and in fact can make matters worse, because the coat serves as insulation from the heat, at least up to a point. Chows go through a natural shedding process, often referred to as blowing coat, which means the soft undercoat sheds out during hot weather. Due to the long coat and shedding process, the Chow is a breed that needs constant brushing and grooming to prohibit mats in his long, lion-like mane and coat. If you don't want a family dog  that requires quite a bit of grooming and has to be in the house during hot days while dropping undercoat, you do not want a Chow.

      However, if you want a smart, head-strong and loyal family dog, the Chow may be perfect for you. The Chow is very well suited for life in an apartment, a condo or a house with limited yard space. Despite their size (16-21" at the shoulder, 40-85 pounds), they are very quiet, naturally well-behaved, not diggers or barkers and aren't destructive. They do not require allot of exercise or space. They are the easiest breed to housebreak, in fact chow puppies usually housebreak themselves between 6 and 10 weeks of age. Despite their long, plush coats and grooming requirements, they are extremely clean dogs. As long as they receive occasional baths, they seldom carry the usual "doggy" odor known to most breeds. They are extremely cat-like in their attitudes: aloof, reserved with affection, independent, dignified and stubborn. Although they look irresistibly cuddly, they don't care for allot of hugging, nor do they enjoy being fussed over by children or strangers. For people who want a cuddly lap dog that will instantly love all their friends, the Chow is likely to be a disappointment.

         Still, Chows are high maintenance animals.  At least once per week, a good brushing is necessary. A gentle cleaning of the wrinkles and folds of skin on the face and under the eyes with a kleenex or soft towel is a must. The ears need to be cleaned and checked often to make sure the long hair inside has not become a breeding ground for infection. The hair between the pads of the feet needs to be trimmed or it will grow long and cause the chow to slide on slick surfaces such as tile, hardwood, or linoleum floors. When bathing a Chow, it's best to dilute the shampoo with a large amount of warm water, and RINSE RINSE RINSE....  the dense, plush coat grabs the soap, making it hard to rinse out, and if any soapy residue is left on the Chow, it will assuredly create hot spots - nasty, oozing, painful, unsightly sores that create hair loss.

      Definitely one of the most impressive of all dogs, the Chow Chow is an awesome creature with his lion-like appearance and regal manner. With puppies that look like walking teddy bears, it's no wonder that the Chow is one of the most irresistible breeds today. Chow puppies are naturally well-behaved, more so than most breeds. They're seldom destructive or disobedient. Because of their good behavior, many people fail to train them properly. When an untrained Chow reaches adolescence, he may refuse to accept your authority. Chow puppies also need much more socialization with humans than other breeds, or they will become "one owner, one family" dogs. Once they have had several rounds of vaccinations, you should take your chow puppy with you to visit friends and for public walks as often as possible, or he will grow into a chow with poor social skills and will most likely be less tolerant of people and other breeds of dogs. Chows without training don't always get along with cats or other dogs. They aren't "pack" dogs either and seldom get along with large dogs of the same sex. Most people who've had behavior problems with their Chows failed to train them, socialize them, or earn their respect.

      The Chow Chow can have one of two different types of coat; either rough or smooth. The most common coat is the long-haired or rough, which has an outer coat containing long, straight, coarse guard hairs which do not mat or tangle as easily as the soft, thick undercoat. The smooth coated Chow Chow has a short, hard, dense "smooth" outer coat and a definite undercoat. The rough and smooth are two distinct varieties of Chow and although there are many rough coated Chows with fairly short coats these should not be confused with the actual unique, smooth coat. Most importantly, the Chow is unique in
it's blue-black tongue and stilted gait. No other breed carries this gait, and only the Chinese Shar-Pei, a descendant of the Chow, has a blue-black tongue.

      Chows' tongues are pink at birth and usually turn completely blue-black between 5 and 16 weeks, preferably by the age of eight weeks. Some tongues remain spotted, and although this does not necessarily mean the dog is a chow mix, it is a fault that disqualifies the Chow from the show ring and it shouldn't be used  for breeding. How the Chow got his blue-black tongue is also a mystery. A delightful old fable provides an answer:

When God was painting the sky blue, He spilled a few drops of blue paint that fell from the heavens.... the Chow followed after, licking up the drops of paint and from that day forward, the Chow Chow had a blue tongue!

      Chows are naturally suspicious of strangers and very territorial. They take their homes and family very seriously as well as their responsibility to protect what they love. On his own property and especially without his owner present, the Chow can appear to be quite fierce. He will seldom let a stranger pass unchallenged. People used to the warm welcomes of other breeds are unprepared for the seriousness of the Chow; guests must be greeted by the owners before the dog accepts them. The Chow's appearance also contributes to the myths about his temperament.  The scowling, sometimes wrinkled face, small deep-set eyes, and lion like ruff are intimidating. Some people complain that they can't "read" a Chow's expression as easily as other breeds'.

      In all honesty, some Chows do have temperament problems. The breed has undergone periods of popularity, and in a rush to cash in on this and sell puppies quickly for a profit, unscrupulous or inexperienced breeders often used Chows with unsuitable temperaments for breeding. Believing the myths that Chows were supposed to be unfriendly or aggressive, they didn't know or didn't care that this kind of disposition is not acceptable in reputable circles. Experienced, responsible breeders with a sincere interest in what's good for Chows and the people who buy them refuse to use stock that is aggressive, unhealthy, or shy. When selecting your chow, finding a reputable breed is ESSENTIAL. Otherwise, you are most likely to end up a dog riddled with temperament and health problems.

      Chows come in five colors: red, black, cream, blue and cinnamon. There's no such thing as "champagne," "silver," "lilac," "pink, "chocolate" "brown," or "white" Chows -- these "exotic" colors are just creative interpretations of the regularly accepted colors. Red and cinnamon can come in a wide variation of shaded colors and are often confused. Red ranges from the softest blonde with snow white shadings on the neck, feathers, and rear, and this lighter shade is sometimes confused with cream. Reds can be as deep as a rich mahogany red, with dark, almost black ears or tips of the fur. Cinnamons are various shades of pinkish-tan, and can have white shadings on the chest and rear.

      Those of us who know and understand Chow Chows cherish their quiet dignity, proud aloofness and their deep loyalty to those they love. To be loved by a Chow is like no other experience. After that, anything else is just another dog.

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