Chow Chow: the ancient lion dog with the blue-black tongue

In the Palace Museum in Beijing there is a stone relief dated to roughly 200 BCE, during the Han dynasty, showing dogs with a lion-like expression, dense coats, and an upright stance hunting alongside warriors. These are the oldest portraits that can be identified as direct ancestors of the modern Chow Chow. Marco Polo, in his late thirteenth-century accounts of Asia, described similar dogs as "Tartar dogs with black tongues" and noted them guarding temples in northern China.

The breed reached Europe by an indirect route. In 1828 the East India Company brought several dogs from Canton to English ports. At first they were displayed as zoological curiosities, almost as exotic animals, until Queen Victoria acquired one in the 1870s and the breed became fashionable. The Chow Chow Club was founded in Britain in 1894, and the American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1903, placing it in the Non-Sporting Group.

Where does the Chow Chow come from?

China has been breeding spitz-type dogs for more than two thousand years with a triple purpose: temple guardians, boar hunters working in pairs with mounted riders, and, in certain historical periods, a source of meat and fur. That last function, hard on the modern ear, is documented in writings from the Tang dynasty (seventh to tenth centuries) and helps explain the name "chow," from Chinese-pidgin English, derived from the Cantonese chàu (mix, food, or merchandise).

The FCI assigns the breed number 205, in Group 5 (spitz and primitive types), Section 5 (Asian spitz and related breeds). It recognizes two coat varieties: smooth (short) and rough (long). The modern standard was published in 1894 and has been revised periodically without substantive change.

Why is its tongue blue-black?

The Chow Chow is one of only two breeds in the world born with a naturally blue-black tongue and oral mucosa. The other is the Shar-Pei, also Chinese. The breed standard calls for a dark blue tongue with a dark palate and gums. A puppy with a pink tongue is disqualified from breeding and the show ring.

The exact cause is still debated in veterinary literature. The main hypotheses: a high concentration of melanocytes in the mucosa, similar to the pigmentation of darker human skin; inheritance from a common ancestor shared with the Shar-Pei; or an evolutionary adaptation to high-altitude climates.

One veterinary detail matters here. The oral pigmentation is not pathological. Some veterinarians without breed experience mistake the blue tongue for cyanosis, a sign of oxygen deprivation. It is worth flagging the breed in any urgent consultation.

What is the Chow Chow's temperament like?

Four traits define this dog.

Almost feline independence. The Chow Chow is probably the least dog-like dog in the registry. It grooms itself like a cat, keeps social distance like a cat, and chooses when to seek contact. Anyone who adopts one expecting a devoted dog like a Golden Retriever or a Labrador is disappointed in the first month.

Absolute one-person bond. It selects a single person in the household and dedicates its loyalty to that person. The rest of the family receives correct but distant treatment. Changes in the primary caregiver (separations, moves, deaths) affect it emotionally more than most breeds.

Reserve with strangers that can tip into aggression if poorly socialized. This is the most problematic trait. A Chow Chow under-exposed during its critical window (8 to 16 weeks) becomes distrustful, growls at visitors, and may bite out of fear. Intensive early socialization is not optional in this breed.

Dignity. This is not a dog that begs for attention. It does not jump. It does not plead for food. If it wants something, it asks once with a restrained gesture and then walks away. It charms some owners and exasperates others.

How much exercise does a Chow Chow need a day?

Surprisingly little for a dog of its size. A realistic bar for an adult:

Two daily walks of 30 to 45 minutes at a moderate pace.
Short indoor play sessions, brief, with no obsession over agility or long runs.
Mental stimulation of 15 to 20 minutes: simple scent work, occasional interactive toys.

The Chow Chow is notably sedentary indoors. It spends most of the day lying down, watching. It tolerates heat poorly because of its dense double coat and its mild brachycephaly. In hot summer climates, routines should be shifted to early morning and dusk.

This is not a breed for competitive dog sports. It rarely excels at agility, tracking, or advanced obedience. What it offers is calm, loyal presence, not athletic activity.

What health problems are common?

Condition	Type	Test or prevention
Entropion	Hereditary ocular	Corrective surgery for grade II or III; selective breeding
Hip dysplasia	Hereditary joint	Official radiograph (OFA hip evaluation)
Elbow dysplasia	Hereditary joint	Official radiograph
Autoimmune hypothyroidism	Endocrine	Annual thyroid panels from age 3
Mild BOAS	Structural respiratory	Manage weight, avoid heat, surgery if needed
Facial fold dermatitis	Skin	Daily fold hygiene with a dry gauze
Progressive retinal atrophy	Hereditary ocular	DNA test
Pemphigus foliaceus	Autoimmune skin	Diagnostic biopsy, managed with corticosteroids

Average life expectancy: 11 to 13 years. Well cared for and kept lean, a Chow Chow comfortably reaches 14.

How do you care for its coat?

This is one of the most demanding coats in the registry. A very dense double coat, an abundant woolly undercoat, long guard hair in the rough variety, and short, soft guard hair in the smooth variety. Seasonal shedding (spring and fall) is intense and can last three to four weeks with mandatory daily brushing.

A realistic maintenance routine:

Brushing out of season: 3 to 4 times a week, with a slicker brush and an undercoat rake.
Brushing during a coat blow: daily, 20 to 30 minutes per session.
Bathing: every 6 to 8 weeks with a shampoo formulated for dense coats, followed by a complete blow-dry (a wet Chow Chow that is not dried fully develops dermatitis easily).
Facial folds: daily cleaning with a dry or lukewarm gauze to prevent maceration.

Annual professional grooming cost: $400 to $700 for baths and routine tidying; $900 to $1,500 to maintain a show coat.

How does it get along with children and other pets?

With older, respectful children it is usually tolerant. With small children who are rough or who invade its space, it can react with a growl and, in poorly managed cases, a corrective nip. It is not the ideal breed for homes with babies and children under 6 years old, except where the owner has prior breed experience.

With dogs of the same sex, conflict is common, especially between males. With dogs of the opposite sex and early socialization, it lives together without issue.

With cats, if they have grown up together, there is no problem. Introducing a cat later into a home with an adult Chow Chow requires a careful introduction protocol.

Training: what works and what does not

This is one of the most demanding breeds to train because of its independence. It does not obey for the pleasure of the work, the way a Border Collie or a German Shepherd does. It obeys when it sees the point and the request seems reasonable.

What works:

Positive reinforcement with high-value rewards: a piece of cheese, hot dog, or cooked turkey.
Short, low-repetition sessions: five to eight minutes each.
Absolute consistency: a rule applied inconsistently is lost immediately.
A handler who does not turn it into a power struggle: the Chow Chow does not submit, it negotiates.

What does not work: physical punishment, yelling, dominance-based methods, or shock collars. Anything coercive produces passive resistance, avoidance, and serious damage to the bond.

Early socialization between 8 and 16 weeks is the single most decisive investment in a Chow Chow's life. Progressive, frequent, positive exposure to other dogs, people, noises, body handling, and travel. Whatever is not worked in that window is paid for dearly over years of behavior consultations.

How do you get a Chow Chow in the US?

Three routes, ordered by reliability.

AKC-registered breeders. The breeder directory of the Chow Chow Club, Inc. (the AKC parent club) is the minimum filter. Parents screened for hips, elbows, eyes, and thyroid. Lines with documented stable temperament. Price in 2026: roughly $1,200 to $2,500 for a puppy from a serious program.

Adoption and rescue. Adult Chow Chows show up regularly in breed-specific rescues, usually surrendered by owners overwhelmed by the breed's independence or by mismanaged socialization problems. An excellent option for adopters with prior experience and a willingness to work with a behaviorist.

Pet stores and unpapered sellers. Not recommended. High risk of eye disease, dysplasia, and poorly developed temperament.

The Chow Chow is not subject to federal breed restrictions in the US, but some homeowners and renters' insurance policies list it among restricted breeds, and a handful of municipalities apply breed-specific legislation framed around size and bite history. Check local ordinances and your insurance policy before committing.

Is the Chow Chow for you?

If you value independence, live in a calm home or a spacious apartment, are not looking for a sports dog, and accept an intense but restrained bond, the breed can be a deeply satisfying companion for twelve or thirteen years. If you expect a dog as devoted as a Labrador, as playful as a Beagle, or as social as a Golden, there are dozens of breeds you will enjoy more.

Complete breed profile

Identification


Canonical name	Chow Chow
Other names	Chow, Chinese lion dog, Tartar dog
Origin	Northern China (ancestral breed, over 2,000 years)
AKC recognition	1903
AKC group	Non-Sporting Group
FCI group and section	Group 5 (spitz and primitive) / Section 5 (Asian spitz and related)
Varieties	Smooth (short) and rough (long)

Physical


Weight, males	55-71 lb (25-32 kg)
Weight, females	44-60 lb (20-27 kg)
Height, males	19-22 in (48-56 cm)
Height, females	18-20 in (46-51 cm)
Coat	Double, dense (long rough or short smooth)
Accepted colors	Red, fawn, cream, black, blue, white
Tongue	Dark blue (pink disqualifies)

Health


Average life expectancy	11-13 years
Recommended testing	Hips, elbows, eyes, thyroid, PRA DNA

Temperament and behavior


Energy level	Low
Trainability	Moderate (independent)
Barking	Low
Reactivity to strangers	High
With children	Good with older, respectful kids; supervised with small ones
With same-sex dogs	Poor
With cats	Possible with socialization

Lifestyle


Recommended daily exercise	60-90 min physical plus 15-20 min mental
Apartment suitable	Yes, in a spacious apartment with heat management
Heat tolerance	Low
Cold tolerance	Excellent
Grooming	Very high, especially during a coat blow

US market 2026


Puppy price, reputable lines	$1,200-2,500
Rescue availability	Moderate
Estimated annual cost	$2,000-3,500
Clubs and associations	Chow Chow Club, Inc. (AKC parent club)

Frequently asked questions

Is it a good breed for first-time owners? Usually not recommended. The combination of independence, social reserve, and a critical need for early socialization demands prior experience or professional guidance from day one.

How long can it tolerate being alone? Five to six hours reasonably well. It is less emotionally demanding than most breeds, but it still needs company and routine.

Is the Chow Chow aggressive? Not by standard, although reactivity toward strangers and intolerance of same-sex dogs are expected behavior. Declared aggression toward people almost always traces back to deficient socialization.

Why is its tongue blue? Because of high melanocyte pigmentation in the mucosa. It is a genetic trait of the breed, physiological and normal. It should not be confused with veterinary cyanosis.

Does it shed a lot? A great deal, especially during the two seasonal coat blows. Out of season, brush every two or three days. During a blow, brush daily for three or four weeks.