Chow Chow · Non-Sporting / Utility
A Chow Chow is a sturdy, dignified Chinese breed with a lion-like ruff and a blue-black tongue. Most are quiet, clean, loyal to a few people, and reserved or suspicious with strangers and unfamiliar dogs. City life works with early, gentle socialisation, calm and respectful handling, and visitors who let the dog decide.
First, the point
Public breed histories describe an old Chinese type used for guarding, hauling, and hunting. The modern pet kept the reserve, the independence, and the loyalty. The teddy-bear look did not make it a dog that enjoys being handled by everyone.
Training works best in short, calm sessions with food. The hard parts are socialisation, grooming tolerance, and visitors. A Chow that feels crowded may defend itself.
From the first month, build two habits. First: new person appears at a distance, the puppy looks, gets a reward, and is never forced closer. Second: brushing and handling come with food and stop before the puppy struggles.
Breed history
Ancestry does not dictate one puppy, but it explains the Chow’s reputation: dignified, reserved with strangers, devoted to a few people, and not interested in being everyone’s friend.
China → guard, hauling, and hunting dog
Public breed histories describe the Chow Chow as an old Chinese breed type used for guarding property, hauling, and hunting. The blue-black tongue, straight hind legs, and lion-like ruff are among its best-known features.
Guarding and independence shaped the temperament. A Chow often watches newcomers before deciding anything, and many do not enjoy being touched by strangers. That reserve is normal for the breed, not a training failure.
Imported to the West → show ring → companion
Public breed lore records Chows reaching Britain in the nineteenth century and quickly becoming a show and companion breed. Two coat types are recognised: rough, with the familiar heavy ruff, and smooth.
The teddy-bear look attracts buyers who expect a cuddly dog. Many Chows prefer quiet, respectful contact on their terms. Living well with one means accepting that.
What the breed was bred for
In plain trainer language: the type was selected for guarding and independence. That is why a well-socialised Chow in a calm home is a quiet, clean, loyal companion — and why a poorly socialised one can become defensive with visitors and other dogs.
Chows tend to respond poorly to force. Short, calm sessions with food, early exposure to people and handling, and respect for the dog’s space work far better than pressure.
Public references: FCI 205, AKC Chow Chow, RKC.
Life together
In a city the Chow’s guardian past shows up as watchfulness at the door, tension with unfamiliar dogs, and dislike of strangers reaching in. Most adults are calm and low-key indoors. The work is protecting the dog’s comfort zone so it never feels it has to defend it.
Many Chows enjoy a moderate walk more than a long run. Choose quieter times and routes, and let the dog look at the world from a comfortable distance.
See loose leash walking and on-leash threshold.
Chows can learn agility and tricks, as the photographs show, but rarely enjoy drilling. Keep sessions brief, use good food, and stop while the dog is still interested.
See reward markers and hand target.
The coat needs regular brushing, so handling has to be comfortable. Build it slowly with food and short sessions, starting in puppyhood if you can.
See: puppy handling, chin rest.
Ask guests not to reach over or stare. Give the Chow a place away from the door. A dog allowed to approach in its own time is more relaxed than one cornered for a pat.
Many Chows like a cool spot and a quiet house. On warm evenings keep activity low and offer shade and water.
See water after exercise and settle after guests.
Care and health themes
General awareness only. I am not a veterinarian. Early signals are changes in appetite, coat, skin, eyes, movement, or temper during handling. For red flags, leave this page and open when to call the vet.
Both coat types have a dense undercoat. Rough coats need thorough brushing to the skin several times a week, more during sheds; smooth coats need less but still shed. Mats hide behind the ears and under the legs.
Keep summer walks short and in cool hours with shade and water. Heavy panting that will not settle, weakness, or collapse is an emergency.
Look at the eyes and skin folds weekly. Redness, squinting, or discharge is a veterinary question, not something to treat from a breed page.
Ask the breeder which health screenings the national breed club recommends and see both parents’ results. A breed page cannot diagnose your dog; your veterinarian can.
A low-energy breed can gain weight quietly. Measure the ration and feel for the ribs under the coat. See body condition check at home.
I do not publish toxin amounts. If the dog ate something dangerous, call a veterinarian or a poison-control line; the footer lists public numbers.
Lines and types
Kennel clubs recognise two coat types. The rough coat has the familiar heavy ruff; the smooth coat is shorter and dense. Grooming time differs. Reserve, loyalty, and heat sensitivity are shared.
Fits an owner who enjoys regular grooming and can keep the dog cool in warm weather.
Fits a household that wants the Chow temperament with less coat maintenance.
Socialization windows
AVSAB-aligned in spirit: short, clean exposures at a distance the puppy can still eat, with hygiene while vaccines finish. See the puppy socialization schedule.
Introduce: calm visitors who let the puppy approach, brushing with food, paw and ear handling, a crate or pen.
Do not overload: strangers picking the puppy up, forced cuddles, long grooming sessions.
Introduce: people and dogs seen from a comfortable distance, loose-lead practice, a place cue, muzzle training as a game.
Do not overload: crowded events, on-lead greetings with unknown dogs, rough handling.
Introduce: continued calm exposure, a gate routine for visitors, coat care through the first big shed.
Do not overload: forcing greetings, punishing growls, long walks in the heat.
Introduce: chosen people and dogs, short training sessions, regular grooming.
Do not overload: letting strangers reach over the dog, skipping brushing until mats form.
Introduce: refreshed handling and visitor routines; new places introduced slowly.
Do not overload: assuming a reserved dog is “fine” in crowds, ignoring warning signals.
Before you buy
A Chow suits calm adults who like a dignified, reserved dog, respect its personal space and will commit to coat care and gentle handling.
Good match
Mismatch risk
If you are torn between breeds
Chows are often compared with other Asian breeds that share a reserved, independent nature. The differences lie in coat, size and handling needs.
Chow Chow Aloof and dignified; usually devoted to one or two people.
Chinese Shar-Pei Similar reserve with strangers; often protective of home.
Chow Chow Dense double coat (rough or smooth) that needs regular, thorough brushing.
Akita Thick double coat too, with heavy seasonal shedding.
Chow Chow Medium-large and sturdy, with a stiff, stilted gait.
Akita Larger and more powerful; more demanding on lead.
Chow Chow Often selective; prefers calm, polite dogs.
Chinese Shar-Pei Also commonly dog-selective.
Chow Chow Needs patient handling practice; may react to sudden touch, especially if vision is limited by facial folds.
Both compares Shar-Pei skin folds need care too; Akitas need early handling because of size.
Ownership without surprises
Costs vary by country and breeder. These areas help you plan before bringing a Chow home — not exact prices.
Good brushes and a dryer, plus professional grooming several times a year for most owners.
Routine care plus regular skin, ear and eye checks. Ask the breeder which screenings the national breed club recommends.
Air conditioning or a cool room in summer; the heavy coat makes heat dangerous.
Medium-large, often not very active; measure meals to keep it lean.
A trainer who uses calm, force-free methods, especially for handling and visitors.
A quiet resting area and gates to manage visitors.
With a Chow, grooming and careful handling training are the main ongoing costs.
Before day one at home
A Chow puppy looks like a teddy bear but grows into a reserved adult. Build trust through gentle handling and calm, controlled introductions to people and dogs.
Brush for a few minutes daily with treats. The coat gets thick quickly. See puppy handling.
Ask guests to ignore the puppy and drop treats. Let the puppy approach in its own time.
Chows are often clean and learn routines fast. Follow potty training.
Look at eyes, ears and mouth briefly and reward. See fear of vet handling.
Short meetings with polite adult dogs are better than busy puppy play. See socialisation without the dog park.
A crate or bed in a calm place lets the puppy rest after visitors. Start with crate training.
If the dog is already yours
Chows are intelligent but independent and can be stubborn when pushed. Short, calm sessions with good rewards work better than repetition or raised voices.
Many Chows dislike being touched by strangers. Teach visitors to ignore the dog and give it a mat or retreat where it can watch without being disturbed.
Handling and grooming practice are the core of training for this breed. A Chow that trusts its owner accepts care much better.
Load balance
Chows need daily walks but are not high-energy. Heat is the main limit — walk in the cool parts of the day and watch for heavy breathing.
Daily walks, sniffing, short training and food enrichment are enough for most adults. Intense exercise and crowded dog parks are not needed.
A Chow that feels safe and respected is usually calm and easy at home.
Visitors, space and the mat
Practise with one calm visitor first, with the dog on lead or behind a gate.
Put the dog on lead or behind a gate before the visitor arrives, and have the mat ready.
No eye contact, no reaching, no talking to the dog.
Reward the Chow for looking at the visitor and staying relaxed.
Send the dog to its mat and drop treats there while the visit continues.
If the dog approaches, the guest can offer a treat on a flat hand — no petting.
One scene close-up
Many Chows do not enjoy being touched by people they do not know. Walking away is a polite way of saying no; if that is ignored, the dog may growl or snap.
Ask visitors not to touch the dog. Reward the Chow for staying calm on its mat, and let it approach if it chooses. Short, quiet visits build confidence.
If the dog growls, freezes or snaps at visitors, keep it separated and ask a qualified behaviour professional for help.
Typical household scenes
A breed page is only a starting point; the fix depends on health, environment, and the dog in front of you. Each row opens a step-by-step guide.
Stiffens, growls, or avoids guests who approach too fast.
Dislikes pushy greetings and close passes.
Struggles or warns during brushing or vet checks.
Warns people or dogs away from valued spots.
Plants feet or pulls in its own direction.
Avoids or warns children who hug or grab.
Slows down or pants heavily in warm weather.
Squinting, redness, or stiffness — a vet question first.
Practical view
“With a Chow Chow, I do not chase approval from a dog that is naturally aloof. We build trust through consent-based handling, respect the dog’s space with strangers, and keep training short and dignified — because pressure turns independence into stubbornness.”
Sessions cover real scenes: grooming and vet handling, visitors, walking calmly past other dogs, heat management, and quiet time at home. I am a trainer, not a veterinarian. No invented reviews.
Describe age, living setup, and where the dog breaks first — tension with visitors, handling and grooming, other dogs, or settling after walks. Opens WhatsApp to Andrew.
Short answers
If you want a spitz-type dog that is more sociable or easier to care for, these breeds might suit you better.
A calm, wrinkled guardian breed from southern China that is reserved with strangers and needs gentle socialization and skin care.
A large, dignified Japanese breed that needs calm visitor routines, careful introductions to other dogs and an experienced owner.
A friendly, white Siberian herding and sled dog that needs daily exercise, regular grooming and help with barking.
Friendly spitz with a thick coat, much more outgoing with people and visitors.
Other guides from the same group in the breed library. Same group does not mean same dog: read the fit and the failure modes, not only the outline.
A cheerful white companion from Madagascar with a cotton coat. Needs grooming habits, alone-time training and four-paws-down manners.
An athletic, spotted coach dog that loves people and needs daily running, calm greetings and reward-based training.
A gentle, sturdy, short-nosed companion that needs cool, short walks, a lean body and regular skin-fold care.
Finland’s red bark-pointing bird dog. Cheerful and affectionate, with a famous voice that needs an alert routine and daily sniff walks.
A compact companion with a clown reputation and a respiratory system you do not get to ignore.
A friendly, fluffy Dutch barge dog that loves people and needs help with barking, regular grooming and company.
Describe your Chow Chow’s age and the scene that repeats most: tension with visitors, handling and grooming, other dogs, or settling after walks. We check safety first, then pick the first skill.
Written by Andrew Darov, professional dog trainer. Not veterinary advice and not a diagnosis.
Not a kennel club. No invented reviews. No vaccine schedules or toxin doses. Photo credits in
/images/breeds/chow-chow-guide/credits.md.
