The Chow Chow is a beautiful protective dog who has a bit of a mind of her own. She can stand very cold weather because of her double coat. She can live in an apartment as long as she gets frequent walks but might prefer a fenced enclosure for exercise. She can tend to be a one person dog and she needs a firm hand to be her master.

*Good With Children? She is generally good with children in the family as long as she has been socialized. As a reminder, never leave a young child unsupervised with a puppy or dog.

*Good With Other Pets? She may do ok with other pets as long as she is socialized with them at an early age.

*Trainability: Very high in intelligence and very trainable but may lack in obedience. She is very strong willed.

*Approximate Adult Size. The approximate adult size (two years old or older) of the Chow Chow is 18 to 22 inches to the withers (highest point of the shoulder) and 45 to 70 pounds.

*Special Health Considerations. Most dog breeds have certain inherited health problems associated with that specific breed and the Chow Chow is no exception. Look for Entropion, (hereditary disorder where eyelid, usually lower one, rolls inward and irritates the cornea and can cause visual problems. Surgery can correct this condition but may disqualify the dog from shows), canine hip dysplasia (genetic based looseness in the hip joint that can lead to arthritis pain and lameness), ingrown eye lashes and hot skin spots. This disease list is an informative guideline only. Other diseases may also be significant threats, please contact your veterinarian for a complete list.

She should visit the veterinarian several times in the first year for shots, boosters and check up. Then, as an adult, she should visit the veterinarian yearly for shots and check up. As she gets older, six years and on, she should visit the veterinarian twice a year for check ups and shots. Remember; avoid feeding your dog sweets.

*Grooming. The Chow Chow comes in two kinds of coats, rough and smooth, both coats are double coated. She should be brushed regularly. She is a seasonally heavy shedder so brushing will help control excess hair, help her maintain a clean and healthy coat and help you keep a closer eye on her health and strengthen your emotional bond with her.

Her teeth should be brushed at least twice a week with toothpaste and toothbrush designed for dogs. Brushing removes the accumulation of plaque and tartar which can cause cavities (rarely) and periodontal disease. Dog periodontal disease can lead to pain, loss of teeth, bad breath and other serious disease.

Her toenails may need to be examined for growth and clipped regularly. The toenails of the rear feet grow slower than the toenails of the front feet. Generally a guillotine type trimmer is the best for this chore and competent instructions to accomplish this can be found on the net.

*Life Span. The Chow Chow can live between 12 and 15 years with proper nutrition, medical care and excellent living conditions.

*History. The Chow Chow is a northern Chinese ancient breed. She was an all purpose dog used for hunting, pulling, herding and protection. Some were even used for foog and pelts. In fact, Chow Chow is Cantonese for food. They were first registered by the American Kennel Association in 1903.

Some Registries:
*Chow Chow Club Inc.
*UKC United Kennel Club
*NKC National Kennel Club
*CKC Continental Kennel Club
*APRI Americas Pet Registry Inc.
*AKC American Kennel Club
*FCI Federation Cynologique Internationale
*NZKC New Zealand Kennel Club
*KCGB = Kennel Club of Great Britain
*ANKC = Australian National Kennel Club
*ACR = American Canine Registry

Litter Size: 3 to 6 Chow Chow puppies

Category: Spitz, Non Sporting

Terms To Describe: Dignified, strong willed, alert, powerful, sturdy, squarely built, intelligent,

*SPECIAL GOOD POINTS
Good watch dog.
Good guard dog.
Highly intelligent.
She demands respect.
Very good in cold climates.

*SPECIAL BAD POINTS
Not good for hot climates.
Can be very strong willed.
She can be a one person dog.
May need an experienced handler.
Can not stand too much heat because of her double coat.

*Every dog is an individual so not everything in this information may be correct for your dog. This information is meant as a good faith guideline only.

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