Csau-Csau fajtaleírás

Why is the chow-chow different from other breeds? And why are chow-chow owners so different?! Perhaps it's the bluish-black tongue, which is unique among all dog breeds? Or the remarkable proud gait, which is so characteristic?

Why is the chow-chow different from other breeds?
And why are chow-chow owners so different?!
Maybe it’s the bluish-black tongue, unique among all dog breeds?
Or the remarkable proud gait that is so characteristic?
Or perhaps the fact that it doesn’t have a typical dog smell?

These also count, but they are not the most important.
It is the soul of the chow-chow that distinguishes it from all other dogs!
Its character, which binds its owner to this breed forever!

Known as the "Dog of the Gods," as named by Chinese monks, it is recognized both by its external and internal features. Foremost is its bluish-black tongue, similarly pigmented lips, and grayish-black gums. These are special traits not found in any other breed. Its slightly distrustful, rejecting facial expression and dark gaze are striking, caused by the unique characteristic of the upper and lower eyelids, which never fully close but just barely meet. The particularly sharp eyes (as the chow also uses its sight during hunting) appear small in its round, fur-covered face. Around the head and neck, the especially dense, erect, stiff coat commands respect and radiates an air of untouchability.

Breed Description

Due to its Arctic origin and appearance, the chow-chow is classified in the Spitz group, which includes, among others, the Siberian Husky, the Alaskan Malamute, and the Samoyed.
Yet it differs from these dogs. It has numerous characteristics that only it possesses among all dog breeds. Examples include the bluish-black tongue, the near-total absence of the angle in the hind legs, the high-set tail lying on the spine line, the significant large chest, the short toes rounded as so-called "cat’s paws," the broad skull, and strong bone structure. These last traits allowed its identification with the skeletons of dogs found in the graves of ancient peoples. Its exceptional coat provided highly effective protection against the temperatures of Siberia. The square body and the tail curling backward are also main characteristics of the chow-chow, along with the aforementioned proud gait.

Size, i.e. height at the withers

Males: 48 – 56 cm.
Females: 46 – 51 cm.

Coat

The chow-chow’s dense, thick coat comes in two forms:

long version

in short version

Color variants

Red

Cinnamon

The coat is sometimes lighter or darker shades, but never mottled.

Attention Chow fans and future owners!

Recommended chow-chow breeders in Hungary!

Broken Hill’s Heart chow-chow kennel
Breeder: Ildikó Vámosi (Lázárné) – breeding long-haired, red and cream colored chows.
Broken Hill’s Heart kennel facebook profile
The Broken Hill’s Heart chow-chow kennel group on facebook.

Szentmiklósi Csillag Fénye chow-chow kennel
Breeders: Erzsébet Sebestyénné Enyedi & Sándor Sebestyén – breeding long-haired, red and cream colored chows.
Szentmiklósi Csillag Fénye kennel facebook profile

We warmly welcome every chow-chow enthusiast to our facebook community, the Chow-Chow Breeders and Lovers Friends Circle, join us, share photos of your beloved dogs with the chow-loving members of the page and we also gladly read kind stories about them. You can meaningfully ask for advice from breeders and share your own experiences with us and other chow friends. Join us, we warmly welcome every dear chow friend to our group!

Appearance

The chow-chow is a masterpiece of beauty, dignity, and naturalness. When we see this Asian dog in full coat, we immediately notice its strikingly elegant appearance. What achieves this look is, besides the harmoniously built body, its proudly carried head.

The chow-chow is a dog with a well-proportioned build, its body length equals its height at the withers.

The distinctively lion-like appearance is most striking when the dog is lying down or seen from the front. The prominent head, with the mane-like fur around the neck, defines the proportion of the head relative to the body and altogether greatly contributes to this lion-like appearance. It is important that everything on the dog is proportional, from the head to the tail. The harmonious build is what makes the chow so uniquely majestic.

Temperament

The chow-chow is a well-behaved dog, suitable for families with children as well. As a family pet, it accepts affection from its owner, but rarely requests it from strangers. It often favors one selected member of the family, but at the same time accepts the entire family and gladly welcomes guests visiting the house.

A chow-chow does not need to be trained as a guard dog, it instinctively protects its home because it was born for that. It willingly guards its owner's family, their home, and always alerts its owner if there is a stranger nearby or if a stranger arrives. It usually does not bark, except if it has a reason. If there is trouble, it does not hesitate, it attacks immediately. Although often a mere threat is enough: the head held high, the penetrating gaze, accompanied by a deep growl or a short, ominous bark – such an encounter with a chow-chow dog is no joke! This constant state of guard readiness is one of the reasons why there must be unconditional trust between owner and dog. In bad hands, a chow-chow can quickly become uncontrollable.

Important and to be kept in mind

Chow-chows are sensitive to heat, regardless of whether they are kept indoors or outdoors. In summer, in extreme heat or even due to stress, they can suffer from heatstroke, which requires immediate action.
To cool a chow down, the simplest solution is to bathe or sprinkle the entire body with cold or lukewarm water; this lowers the body temperature, after which veterinary care should be sought immediately—in other words, a vet must be called immediately in every case that appears to be heatstroke.
Never leave a chow in the car during warm weather. Not even if the hot weather is accompanied by wind, because the car does not ventilate enough for the temperature to stay down in a parked metal box!