I’ve always been interested in Chow Chows… there is just something about their appearance and even their name that catches your attention.
In my hometown, one guy owned a Chow Chow, and I didn’t see them often, but sometimes I would run into them on the street, and every time, I would excitedly think, “oh, I want to have that teddy-bear dog”.
Since then, I have learned a lot more about this breed, and it’s safe to say that I’m even more fascinated by them. You might also find these fun facts about Chow Chows interesting.
1. Purple Tongue Dogs
Chow Chows are frequently referred to as the dogs with the purple or blue tongue. And, yes… they are one of the unique dog breeds that have a distinctive blue, grayish, purple, and even black tongue. This characteristic is, however, more often seen in lizards than in dogs.
But, these dogs are not born with this distinctive purple tongue. As with any other breed, they are born with a pink tongue. In fact, the color starts to develop as their eyes open.
According to the AKC, by the time the puppy is about six months old, the color should be completely developed, otherwise, the dog won’t be eligible to compete in conformation dog shows.
2. Cat-Like Personality (clean)
If you were to ask a Chow Chow owner what their personality is like, they would most likely tell you that they are similar to cats.
Chow Chows are aloof, proud, independent, strong-willed, and even stubborn. They’re not like other dogs that will rush to greet you, but they will happily observe from a distance… much like felines.
Another characteristic that connects them to cats is their cleanliness. They are extremely clean dogs, and they have very little dog odor if brushed regularly.
3. Unique Looks
Chow Chows have an exotic-looking coat, so when you see one, you’ll probably think of how fluffy they actually are. It is because of this that they differ from most other breeds of dogs.
In addition, they have a thick mane and rounded ears, giving them an appearance similar to the “king of the jungle”, a.k.a., the lion. And, you can’t miss their curly tail, which is set high and carried close to their back.
4. Old Souls
Chow Chows are believed to be one of the oldest dog breeds. Demographic analysis using a refined sequencing approach found that these dogs originated from the Chinese indigenous dog about 8300 years ago.
This proved that Chow Chows are one of the most basal lineages of dog evolution (relating to gray wolves) that originated with some other East Asian breeds, such as the Akita Inu or the Shar-Pei.
5. Two Extra Teeth
Another unusual feature of Chow Chows is their extra set of teeth. They are the only dogs in the world that have 44 teeth instead of 42, like other dog breeds.
Chow Chow puppies are born with an extra pair of milk teeth, which they usually end up losing; however, this interesting feature makes their infant bite more similar to a wild bear’s one than a dog’s.
6. Foot Fetish
According to many Chow Chow owners, a lot of these dogs have a strange foot fetish… that’s right — a foot fetish. They either love to sit or lay on your feet, or lick them.
7. Suspicious Of Strangers
Chow Chows are very territorial and protective dogs, which makes them also very suspicious of strangers and even other dogs. If they are not properly trained, things can even get out of control.
However, they are very loyal, and they become pretty attached to one person and their immediate family, which is also one more characteristic that is similar to felines.
8. Name Origin
The origin of the Chow Chow’s name still remains a subject to debate, but many believe that it was derived from an English term in the 18th century used to describe cargo that came from the far East.
It’s a nickname, like “knick-knack” describing miscellaneous things. So, it’s highly likely that when this breed first arrived in England, they referred to it as Chow Chow – something that came from the East.
The breed’s proper Chinese name is actually “Songshi Quan”, which means puffy-lion dog, but they’re also called “Lang Kou” (Wolf Dog), “Hsiung Kou” (Bear Dog), “Hei Shet Kou” (Black-tongued Dog), and “Kwantung Kou” (Dog of Canton).
9. Retired Working Dogs
Today, people mostly see Chow Chows as fluffy pets, but during their long history, they played many important roles. They served as hard-working dogs, and were trained to be hunters, guarders, and haulers. At some point, Chow Chows were even companions to the lords. According to the AKC, an emperor of the Tang Dynasty (the 8th century) was so impressed with these dogs that he owned a kennel with 5,000 Chows.