The Chow Chow: A Wonderful and Loyal Breed of Dog
Chow Chows are amazing and loyal dogs.
I've Loved My Chow Chows the Most
Currently, I don't have a dog. A man needs a dog, and this really can't be argued. The next dog that I get—and I will be getting another dog—will be a Chow Chow. In my 37 years (so far), I've had many dogs; or rather, my family has had many dogs, and I've had a few dogs that were just mine and nobody else's. Of all the dogs that I've had (and I've loved them all with increasing levels of affection as I've grown older), I've loved my Chow Chows the most.
Now, first off, we do not call these dogs "Chow Chows" in Texas; we simply call them "Chows" or "Chow dogs," so from this point on in this article, I'm mostly going to refer to these dogs as either "Chows" or "Chow dogs." That doesn't change the fact, however, that they are mostly known as Chow Chows.
The Chow Chow's Temperament
Now, it should be stated clearly that the Chow Chow is not the most friendly dog that you will encounter in your life. I'd say that if you are looking to run into friendly dogs to visit with, pet, and get licked by, then you should look towards a breed like the Labrador.
The Chow Chow, however, is a family dog or even a one-person dog. It's not the dog that is going to like you very much unless it's your dog. If you buy, raise, and love a Chow Chow, then the dog will forever love you as if you are its mother, father, brother, and sister. Honestly, the Chow Chow that you love, care for, and raise yourself will regard you as God Almighty.
But your friends who only visit every once in a while and your long-lost cousins would best keep their distance and behave as they should around you, at least whenever your Chow dog is present. Your Chow dog will simply not tolerate any disrespect towards you from other people, other dogs, or anything else that might come around. Satan himself had best beware in front of the man or woman who's raised a beautiful and wonderful Chow dog, lest the devil lose a chunk of flesh from his rear end.
The Chow dog is the ultimate family guard dog, in my opinion, and my opinion in that regard is based on lots of experience with Chows. I've owned German Shepherds, another very fine and beautiful breed of dog; I've owned Labradors, an exceedingly friendly breed of dog, but only the Chow dog has ever proved to me that he is so utterly and completely devoted to me and my well being that he'd even had the foreknowledge to check blind corners before I get to them.
What do I mean? I mean that should I be walking the length of my home, the Chows would run ahead of me and look around the corner to make certain that my path was without intruders or any sort of danger. Those dogs, with their lion's mane and their deep growls of confidence and authority, are a force to be dealt with should you be out of place, and they will promptly let you know it.
Chow Chow History
According to Wikipedia, the Chow Chow (or Chow Dog) is one of the oldest breeds of dogs in existence. I can also confirm the statement below about Chow's being friendly towards children. I clearly remember when my youngest niece was first able to walk around on her own, and that was when she was first introduced to my Chow dog, "Rambo," who promptly walked up to her on my parent's back porch and licked her in the face; a clear way for my dog to say, "I love you too!"
From Wikipedia:
Recent DNA analysis confirms that the chow chow is one of the oldest breeds of dogs. Research indicates it is one of the first primitive breeds to evolve from the wolf, and is thought to have originated in the arid steppes of northern China and Mongolia. A Chinese bas-relief from 150 BC shows a hunting dog and a dog very friendly toward children similar in appearance to the chow. Later, chow chows were bred as general-purpose working dogs for hunting, herding, pulling and protection of the home.
For anyone interested in becoming the owner of and raising a beautiful Chow dog, I strongly suggest that you read up on this breed of dog from a number of sources; the Chow isn't a dog for rookie dog owners unless you are properly educated for the experience.
The experience of "owning" a Chow is very rewarding, and should you be a good owner to the dog, then you will have a lifetime of beautiful memories and experiences from this. You must be educated for it, though, as the Chow dog has a very strong will and a very dominant personality, especially in regards to persons that the dog is unfamiliar with and other dogs.
The Chow Chow also has some particular health concerns that are commonly occurring with the breed, and the thick coat when shedding may cause some irritations with owners who were not ready for that. It is no fault of the beautiful Chow Chow should you be an ignorant and ill-prepared dog owner.
Rowdy Dog!
The Chow Mix
My cream-colored Chow Chow, "Rambo," had been "apprenticed" by our older Chow dog, "Sampson." When Sampson passed away, my mother decided that Rambo needed an apprentice of his own.
The First Monday flea market in Canton, Texas, is not only a wonderful place to shop for everything under the sun, but it is also a great place to purchase animals. And so, my mother and father returned one weekend with a Chow mix pup. The man selling the litter of dogs had tried to pass these off as Chows, and when my mother asked him, "Are these really Chow Dogs?" The man promptly replied, "These are good dogs!"
'Nuff said!
And "Rowdy Dog," our Chow dog mix, was indeed a very, very good dog for a very long time. While he had a completely blue/black tongue, which is the hallmark of a Chow Chow, it was obvious that he was not a full-blooded Chow dog. We never held it against him, and he never disappointed us.
The Chow mix can be a supremely wonderful pet, as well. Of course, we have no real idea of what he was mixed with, but he displayed a lot of the characteristics of a Chow but was also less inclined to get into fights with other dogs, while at the same time had all of the guard dog and loyalty characteristics of a family Chow dog. You could have called this particular Chow mix a "Chow Light."
Me and Rowdy Dog
One of the Oldest and Most Loved Dog Breeds on Earth
I hope that I have shed some light and interest in the beautiful animal that is the Chow Chow, one of the oldest and most loved, most loyal breeds of dogs on Earth. While the Chow Chow does have a somewhat bad reputation, this is not due to the nature of the dog; there are no bad dogs, there are only bad owners.
Chow dogs, however, are simply not dogs that are going to become friends with or friendly towards strangers or even semi-consistent visitors. It's a dog that will love the family around it unconditionally and be very, very protective of it. It is perfect for single women, or rural families, or just anyone who wishes to have a powerful, loyal, and not so hyper a dog. The Chow isn't a dog that needs or wants constant attention. He is all at once aloof and hyper-alert, but he is always your closest friend anywhere.
© 2011 Wesman Todd Shaw
Comments
Wesman Todd Shaw (author) from Kaufman, Texas on July 29, 2020:
Thanks Elena. I'm in Texas, and they are damned hard to find here too.
I don't think I've seen a chow anywhere in years. Last time I was in Mexico I saw Chows were popular residential guard dogs down there, but no way I can afford to travel that far to buy a dog. I can't speak the language, even.
Elena Lawson on July 29, 2020:
I love Chows!! They are my favorite breed. I also owned two in my lifetime and would love to have another. I agree with everything you said, I'm from Pittsburgh and would love to find one!!
Bernestine BrownIm looking for a chow and cant fine one on July 28, 2020:
Looking for a chow
I live in Pa
Wesman Todd Shaw (author) from Kaufman, Texas on June 30, 2020:
You lost a home and some family members, Octavia. I'm truly sorry to hear it.
Octavia on June 29, 2020:
Chows are very smary and loyal dogs one of a kind dogs i had two red and blue chows name king and queen i love them so much i had to give them up cause i had no home for them any more i cry all the time wondering are the ok
Wesman Todd Shaw (author) from Kaufman, Texas on June 18, 2020:
@Michaelanthony - I'm really sad to hear about the horrible family situation.
Mothers are supposed to be the best thing in every child's life.
I am glad for you and the dog though. Dogs are so very very wonderful if you treat them well at all. You only have to be half nice to a dog, and it will love you forever and ever.
I hug mine about ten times each day, at the least.
Michaelanthony on June 17, 2020:
I had a chow chow he was a really great dog my mother was not really kind to me I remember one time my mother tried to bet me like always for no reason But she always put my chew bear outside before she started to bet me But one time I spilled a glass of milk like kids to she ran at me and I screamed and chew bear went off I mean really crazy he Attacked her and she was in the hospital for a while I told my dad what happened when he came back home from his business trip and he let me keep my chew bear and got his Divorce from that hateful mother of mine and told me he always wondered why I always had Bruises on my face and body And mother always said he falls a lot down the steps I spoke up that time for once in my life and he asked my mother why no bruises on his face now this time he comes back home so he got my chew out of the dog pound and we lived happy ever after I will never own any other breed of dog to be with my wife and two sons thir great dogsI have not seen my mother in 46 years now thank god
Wesman Todd Shaw (author) from Kaufman, Texas on August 22, 2018:
I would, but I've currently got 3 accounts in 'facebook jail.' I hate the nannies on that website.
Chow Chows on August 22, 2018:
https://www.facebook.com/robgolfi/photos/a.1015516...
If you love chows, come like this photo to help them shoot to the front of the line in the cutest dog concert!
Wesman Todd Shaw (author) from Kaufman, Texas on August 20, 2018:
I hope you find one, Mildred. I hope to have another one some day too. There is something different about Chow dogs. They seem to, of this is possible, love their humans even more than other breeds of dog do.
Mildred on August 20, 2018:
My first doggie was a Chow, adopted from the Toronto Humane Society at two years of age. He was my baby, my comfort and my best buddy. Our vet called her a 'lovely lady' and that she definitely was. Would love to have another Chow and my next one hopefully will be another loyal, protective, loving and georgous regal Chow.
Wesman Todd Shaw (author) from Kaufman, Texas on December 08, 2017:
Absolutely Stephanie. Yours sound much of the same mind as the chows I have had.
Stephanie ward on December 08, 2017:
We could not live without our chow,most loyal breed on earth,not a dog for everyone at all,very agressive,very protective, my Chevy likes two people my husband n i,he's our dog,he's never once touched anything while he's home alone,easily house trained,very thick coated,if u don't love to brush then not the dog for u,nobody but me n my husband can touch him period I'm just being honest,if u mistreat them or hit them,it breaks their heart n spirit,their life is spent making every step u make n guarding u every minute,no breed thinks as highly of itself as the chow,they aren't scared of anybody or any animal, when I have company my chow is on people's trail every move n it gets worse the longer they stay,not better,it's scary to people once again I'm being honest,we have given our lives to our boy n its been great,but a chow is not for everyone trust me,mine is very hot natured n we leave our ac on even when we're cold bc chows are very expensive n have allergies n ear yeast often,mine is on grain free,ask me if u want to know anything I'll be honest,if u want a dog that can be touched by strangers or friendly company dogs,do not own a chow,they are weary of strangers,vet cannot touch my chow,I am always at his face its a ritual n ordeal once again I'm being honest,most don't like kids that I've known unless they are raised,my brother can touch my chow he's the only one besides my husband period,he will bite,he hates kids,dogs,horses,n cats,he kills cats if they come around
Suzie from Carson City on April 05, 2017:
Wes....As a dog lover in general, I appreciate any & all sources of information on breeds of dogs and the experiences of individuals who have raised them. I have to comment that from all that I have ever been able to glean, so much of our dog's behavior & tendencies, (aside from instinct, of course) largely results from their training, how we raise them and the dog-owner relationship. Would you agree with this? The popular & expert "Dog Whisperer," Caesar Milan, has a couple of invaluable books out on just about anything we could possibly want & need to know about man's best friend. His expertise is astounding and I have one of his books. I refer to it often.