Dog with blue tongue: a list and why do they have blue tongues?

Dog with blue tongue - You have to meet her!

Are you looking for something special and do you love dogs? Then you've come to the right place. Officially, there are only three dog breeds where a blue tongue is not a cause for alarm, but a special breed characteristic:

• the Chow-Chow
• the Shar-Pei and
• the Eurasier

Blue tongue of the Chow-Chow

With a shoulder height of up to 56 cm and its dense medium-length coat, the "puffed-up lion dog", as its name translates from Chinese, lives up to its name. It is one of the oldest dog breeds in the world and is said to have been kept as an imperial dog as early as 220 BC. It is considered to be the original breed with a blue tongue and is sometimes named after it - Hek she (engl. blue tongue).

This breed is not suitable for beginners as it is very stubborn. This dog wants a quiet retreat, but also enough exercise.

Shar-Pei

The Shar-Pei has also been known since the Han Dynasty. It has traditionally accompanied mainly the poorer classes as a guard and hunting dog. Around 1976, the breed was almost extinct with only 145 specimens left worldwide. Today the population has recovered. Visually, the approx. 50 cm high dog is distinguished by a luxuriant pleated coat in addition to the blue tongue. The small ears and the athletic build give the breed a sporty look.

The Wrinkled Dog has a strong personality and an indomitable will. It desires a loving and assertive caregiver whom it can faithfully follow.

Eurasier: A popular dog with a blue tongue

The Eurasier was bred in the 1960s in Baden-Württemberg from Chow-Chow, Wolfsspitz and Samoyed. The 50 - 60 cm high breed was listed as an independent dog breed at the FCI in 1973. Not every representative of this breed has a completely blue tongue - it is not part of the breed standard.

The breed is known for building a very close bond with its people. It is well suited as a family and companion dog.

How does the blue tongue in the dog?

Legends say that at the creation of the world pieces of the blue firmament fell to earth when the stars were fixed in the sky. When the "puffed up lion dog" licked them up, the firmament stained his tongue.

Another legend describes the Hek she as a dragon dog who loved the day so much that he licked the night sky to banish its darkness forever. In this legend, the blue tongue is a punishment from the gods to keep him from forgetting his deed.

How it actually comes to the development of the blue tongue in some dog breeds, however, has not yet been conclusively clarified. There are theories that a genetic change, increased melanin production or decreased tyrosine production cause the skin discoloration. Other experts suspect a connection with weaknesses in blood circulation or regulation of body temperature.

What if blue tongue has nothing to do with breed?

If your dog has a blue tongue, but it has nothing to do with his breed, the blue tongue is a sign of insufficient oxygen supply to the mucous membranes. It indicates illness, such as severe overexertion, circulatory shock, or even heart and lung disease.