Chow Chow
About the Chow Chow
Temperament
Physical Characteristics
| Size Category | Medium (25-50 lbs) |
|---|---|
| Height | 17-20" |
| Weight | 45-70 lbs |
| Coat Type | Double |
| Coat Length | Long |
| Colors | |
| Hypoallergenic | No |
Care Requirements
Exercise Needs
Moderate (30-60 min/day)
30 minutes per day recommended
Grooming
Regular - 2-3x/week
Mental Stimulation
★★★★★Low mental stimulation needs
Drooling
★★★★★Living Conditions
Cost of Ownership
| Purchase Price | $1,000-$3,000 |
|---|---|
| Annual Cost | $1,400/year |
Costs vary based on location, breeder, and individual needs. Annual costs include food, veterinary care, grooming, and supplies.
Health Considerations
Like all breeds, Chow Chows may be prone to certain health conditions:
Regular veterinary check-ups and proper care can help prevent or manage many health issues.
Best For
- Working Professionals
May Not Be Ideal For
- Families with Small Children
- First-Time Owners
Guides for your Chow Chow
The story behind the Chow Chow
The Chow Chow is an ancient Chinese breed; depictions of similar dogs appear in Han dynasty artifacts roughly two thousand years old, and its true origins likely reach back further into northern China or Mongolia. Over the centuries Chows served remarkably varied roles as hunting dogs, cart pullers, guardians of temples and homes, and sources of fur and meat. The name is thought to derive from pidgin-English shipping slang for miscellaneous cargo carried from the East in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. British imports drew attention in the Victorian era, with Queen Victoria among notable fanciers, and the breed reached the United States soon after, gaining American Kennel Club recognition in 1903. It has been a companion and show dog ever since.
Originally bred for: Hunting, Guarding, Cart hauling. You can trace how working roles shaped today’s breeds across our dog guides.
Feeding a Chow Chow
A dense double coat and a deliberate, low-output temperament call for modest calories alongside fats that support coat quality. Many owners settle on one steady food instead of rotating, and careful portioning matters because heavy fur hides weight gain.
Watch for: Chows appear on most lists of allergy-prone breeds; itchy paws, hot spots and inflamed ears are the usual complaints, sometimes diet-linked. Food trials need veterinary planning, since skin problems here have many possible causes.
Mealtime extras: training treats worth keeping in your pocket. Everything else lives in our dog nutrition and feeding hub.
Living with a Chow Chow
Day to day, the basics matter most: how much exercise your dog needs, how often to get out for a walk, and how much sleep is normal.
For play and enrichment, browse our favorite dog toys and interactive toys for rainy days.
Gear that fits the breed makes life easier: a well-sized dog bed, a properly sized crate.
Raising a puppy? Work through crate training and the teething timeline — or see how old your dog is in human years with our dog age calculator.