Chow Chow

Chow chow is a domesticated breed of dog, among the various breeds chow chow is considered to be a very adorable breed of dog. The popularity of chow chow among dog breeders can be attributed to the fact that they have long fur or hair. Based on the color of the fur there are various types of dog breeds. Some of the examples of such dog breeds include black chow chow, blue chow chow, white chow chow. The dog breed was originally found and bred in ancient China province, due to this reason they are also sometimes referred to as Chinese Chow chow This article focuses on the physical appearance, nature, diet, history, morphological features, diseases, and behavior of the dog breed.

History of Chow Chow Breed

This dog breed was originally found in the Chinese dynasty, the history of them dates back to the Han dynasty which was around (206 BC-AD 220).  Many historians believe that the dog breed originated 3000 years ago in the Arctic, due to the low availability of resources then migrated to Mongolia and eventually reached China. The history of the dog breed also suggests that they were basal breeds. The basal breed can be defined as the breed of dog that was created using selective mating; these breeds are often used for providing assistance to human chores. They were originally used for hunting the emergence of the new breeds that were introduced. They were more commonly used for herding, protection, or guarding. The behavioral history of the chow chow dog breed suggests that they were immensely loyal to the breeder yet were not very social, this shows the agility and the independence of the dog breed.

There are many Chinese legends that suggest that the breed of dog was considered as a war dog. According to one of those legends, the chow breed of dog was described as a black tongue tiger that fiercely fought in the war. According to another merchant, traveler, writer of the 12th century named Marco Polo mentioned in his travel logs that the breed of dog was used to carry sleds. A sled was a sliding ice chariot that was used to carry royals on the ice. It was also common for the royals to personally own chow chow dogs, as they are of a very projective nature. According to one of the legends a Chinese ruler owned approximately five thousand chows.

Introduction of Chow Breed in Western Society

The chow breed of dogs was introduced in western society by merchants and travelers. It is documented that the chow breed of dog was first introduced in the late 18th century. They were brought to England by a cargo ship, among the various listed things the chow chow dog was also among them. The name chow chow originally came into existence because of the translation of mandarin into English in which the literal translation of the word was curious. Some of the historians claim that the name chow chow was rather used as slang because of the Chinese origin of the dog. The dog was then called Chinese chow chow. The number of the chow dog breed or how many different types of the chow breed were introduced by the cargo is not well documented. As England saw an uprising in the Chinese trend, and everything that has any ethical connection to China was considered valuable, the popularity of the chow dog breed increased, it was even presented as a royal gift to the queen of England, Queen Elizabeth. 

It was also showcased in the national zoological museum as a wild creature of eastern civilization and wild dog of China. Following this, they were introduced in the United States of America, due to the fluffy appearance they were considered as cute chow chow dogs. The trend of cute chow chow continued from that and till modern times, the chow breed became a domesticated dog breed. 

Relatives of Chow Chow

Chow chow dogs are believed to be the descendants of wolves, their DNA makeup and other evolutionary studies support this theory. The DNA test also revealed a much older origin dating back to 8300 years and postulates a Southern origin along the Yangtze River. The following dogs are considered as an evolutionary relative of the chow breed, Sahr Pei, Akita, and Shiba Inu. The similarity with the descendants can be seen in their agility and the strength of their hind limbs.

Morphology of Chow Chow Dogs

Chow dogs are seen to have a strong muscular build, the outer layer of the body has a double coat of fur. The distinguishing feature of this dog breed is the presence of the thick layer of the fur, based on the fur the chow chow is classified. They have a strong skull which is very broad, the theory profile can be described as a squared profile. The ears of the dog breed are small and triangular in shape, they have erect ears. The fur of the body acts as a thick coat; the thick coat forms a ruff around the neck. The body weight of a fully grown chow dog can range up to  45-70 pounds. The height of the dog can range up to 17-20 inches. The complete breed of the dog is said to be very agile. Based on the type of fur the chow dogs are classified into the following dog breeds, black chow chow, blue chow chow, white chow chow. The only difference between these different breeds of chow is the difference in color. 

Chow dogs are not only known for their thick fur, but they also have a very muscular nature, since the history of they are reported to be used as war dogs, they have strong hind limbs. The fur coat on the body also provides a shield of defense against any potential harm, another use of the fur is believed to be the maintenance of the body heat. Since the dog breed originally originated in the Arctic and then later moved to China, at reasonably colder temperatures, the presence of thermoregulation also provides a strong chance of survival. The eyes of the chow chow dogs are deep and can be described as the shape of an almond.

Another distinctive feature only present in the chow breed of the dog is the presence of a black tongue. The color of the tongue is actually bluish-black. This tongue color is found in all the dog types of chow breed, black chow chow, blue chow chow, white chow chow. The bluish color of the tongue extends from the oral cavity to the nose area, thus giving a blue appearance around the mouth that is unique to the chow breeds.

The tail of the chow breeds is also very special, it is found that this dog breed has a very unique tail structure, they have a curly tail. The tail has a thick layer of hair that is curled at the back or the tip of the tail.  

Diet 

The traditional diet of the dog breed includes meat. But the domestication of the dog has led to the incorporation of dairy, beans and peas, and vegetables into the daily diet. The baby chow chow dog also needs a proper supplement of carbohydrate and fiber for proper growth. The chow species of the dog requires about 1000 calories (for baby chow chow) per day for proper growth and nourishment. The adult chow dog calorie requirement can range from 1000 to 15000 calories per day. Excessive beef in daily diet can result in diseases related to the fur of the animals. Protein concentration required in daily diet for survival and thriving of the chow is 22%, prolonged consumption of a diet that has less than 22% of the protein concentration can lead to protein deficiency. This will affect the overall growth of the chow as well as the metabolism.

For proper development of baby chows, it is very important to incorporate the following into daily diet, grain based food such as rice, and vegetables, as major ingredients of diet, dry weight crude protein must be around 25-30%, it must also contain some of the food sources from non animal or non-meat sources.  There must be some percent of the fiber in the daily diet that improves the digestion and microbial population of the gut. For baby chows, the diet having beef or food formulations based on beef must be avoided. For fiber sources in daily diet, the food source can include vegetables like carrot sticks or green beans. These vegetables are generally liked by the chow chow breed of the dog. 

The diet of the chow breed of dog or as a matter of fact any breed of dog must contain a proper balance between dry food and wet food for proper development and thriving survival of the dog. 

Breeding 

The breeding of the Chinese chow chow is a rather difficult task, the breeding of the chow can take place between the same type of chow chow, they can also be breed within the different types of chow chow, which includes, black chow chow, blue chow chow, white chow chow. 

The breeding is particularly difficult because of the high resistance from the females of the species (bitch). The resistance can be a sign of aggression and shyness or both. The massive fur, short legs, and box-like structure of the chow chow dog also cause problems as it hinders the sexual act, this is also the major problem faced during the natural mating process.

For this reason, the natural method of reproduction and breeding is not usually preferred by dog breeders. The alternative method to avoid such a problem is artificial insemination. In this process the semen from the dog is collected in the mating season and then carefully stored into the sperm bank, then when the females are required to produce baby chows, the sperm is injected into the female reproductive tract of bitches. This complete process is performed by expert medical officials to ensure no health hazards are there. Common health problems like primary hypothyroidism and autoimmune thyroiditis may cause infertility in dogs, which is also the reason that breeders handpick the superior male based on the health of the male. 

Price 

Since the dogs are bred and are domesticated, it is legal to buy or sell a dog. The chow chow dog coast can range from 10,000 to 20,000. The average baby chow chow can sometimes cost up to twenty five thousand.

Diseases 

The chow species of dog are susceptible to the following disease, they are listed as,

1. Entropion

2. Glaucoma,

3. Juvenile cataracts

4. Lymphoma

5. Hip dysplasia

6. Diabetes mellitus

7. Canine pemphigus

8. Gastric cancer 

The breed of dog is also very susceptible to autoimmune disorders. The autoimmune disorders that affect the chow breed of dogs include

1. Pemphigus foliaceus

2. Autoimmune thyroiditis 

3. Uveodermatological Syndrome,

4. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

5. Discoid lupus

6. Degenerative myelopathy

Behavior

The behavior or the temperament of the dog can be explained as the reaction or the response of the animal towards people and external stimuli. Chow chow are not sporting dogs, although they are very loyal to the owner, they usually do not like socializing with a large group of people, they like being aloof. Many behavioral experts say that they show cat-like behavior and like to maintain their private space, this type of behavior is not common among dogs. The Chow dog breed is also considered to be one of the most loyal and protective dog breeds, this common to all types of chow chow including black chow chow, blue chow chow, white chow chow, cute chow chow, and even the baby chow chow. Due to the protective nature of the dog, they have required training and socialization exercises. The aggression in the chow breed is one distinctive behavioral characteristic of this breed, though while some are of an aggressive nature, many are known to be easy-going in nature Chow dogs are suited for city life as they do not require large playing space, but regular exercise and activity is necessary for the mental health of the pet, it also helps in the overall development of the dog. 

Famous Owners

The chow dogs have a reputation for being cute chow chow, the popularity of domestication of the chow breed is ever increasing. The cute chow are owned by several famous figures, one of the most prominent personalities to own a cute chow chow was Queen of England, named Queen Elizabeth. With the increasing trend of owning the dog breed, the dog was frequently gifted among the royals and aristocrats. Here is the list of famous personalities that owned a cute chow chow as a pet.

Georgia O'Keeffe,

Sigmund Freud 

George Dewey 

Martha Stewart 

Calvin Coolidge

Elvis Presley and his girlfriend Linda Thompson

Vanna Bonta

Grooming

There are certain grooming requirements of the chow chow dogs especially related to their furs, there are two types of fur, one rough and the second type is smooth fur. The chow dogs require proper trimming and brushing to maintain their fur health. They need to be brushed 3-4 times a week because these dogs are considered heavy shedders that can help in maintaining the fur of the dog.

Conclusion

Chow chow is a dog breed that was originally found in the Chinese dynasty. They are believed to have migrated from the arctic to China via Mongolia. There are different types of chow breeds, some of them are, black chow chow, blue chow chow, white chow chow, this differentiation is made on the basis of the fur or coat color. Originally chow dogs were bred as a basal breed used for hunting, guarding and herding, they were also owned by kings as war dogs. There are many legends associated with them. Modern-day domestication of the breed has adapted them to be more docile, even though they are considered as cute chow chow, they are very protective and loyal. They like their solitude and space. They eat both flesh and vegetables, moderation of both are very important. The chow chow dog cost can range from ten thousand to twenty thousand for average size baby chow chow.