What is the origin of the Chow Chow?
The Chow Chow is a very old dog breed, which has its roots in Siberia and Manchuria in the northeast of China. Already in ancient times, these proud animals were used as temple guards in China, Mongolia and Tibet, these dogs were loved by the Chinese emperors. For a long time, the Chow Chow was considered as a status symbol, but was also used as a hunting, sledge and guard dog by the common people. There it was also used as a fur and meat supplier, since dog meat was always considered a delicacy in China. At the end of the 19th century, the lion dog arrived in Europe, first in Great Britain. The origin of the unusual name is not completely clear until today. The most widespread theory is that the breed name is a reference to the Chinese word "Gou" (pronounced "Cow"), which simply means "dog".
What are the breed characteristics of the Chow Chow?
The Chow Chow is a recognised FCI dog breed. Assigned to Group 5, it is defined as a type of Spitz, it specifically belongs to the group of Asian Spitz and related breeds without working test (Section 5, Standard No. 205). A special characteristic of this dog shows when they open their mouth, the mucous membranes in the following places are blue:
The dog's blue tongue is something very special and makes it stand out. A well-known trademark of the Chow Chow. Something that would be a reason for concern in other four-legged friends, is a part of the breed standard of this dog. Another typical characteristic of the lion dog is the high set tail, which is always carried bent over its back. Additionally, Chow Chows are always uni-coloured.