Do you want to meet one of the most particular dog breeds in the world? Here we are going to present the curiosities of the chow chow.
Many people think that this dog resembles a small lion, because it has a huge and abundant mane. Other people consider the Chow chow to have the appearance of a bear, because of its rounded shapes. But there is another feature that causes this dog to stand out from the rest of the dog breeds; and we refer to the color of his tongue, which has shades between blue and purple.
In this article, we give you a real vision about this breed of dogs and you can discover the curiosities of the chow chow.
Origins of chow chow
Some people believe that, the word “Chow Chow deriba from the ancient term “chaou” or “tchaou”, names assigned to merchants of Chinese origin who traded with ancient Europe. However, the version best accepted by experts says that, the name chow-chow means “soft and fluffy lion”
This breed of dog is one of the oldest in the world. It has its beginnings in the northern part of China more than 3,000 years ago. And it was used for different purposes; he was an excellent watchdog of sacred temples and some homes. In the same way, they carried out hunting or grazing tasks. Even the people of that time used their skins as a coat. They also worked towing sleds.
During the early years of the nineteenth century the chow chow arrived in England, where it was exhibited at the London Zoo, but Queen Victoria decided to acquire one and that was when the breed became popular in the United Kingdom.
Legends about the language of Chow Chow
Another of the curiosities of chow chow is that over the years, people have tried to give an explanation of why chow chow has bluish tongue. For that reason, they have created interesting legends about it. And here we will tell you two of those legends.
The first legend tells that many years ago, there was an old monk who had several pet chow chow dogs. One day, this monk became very ill and could not go to collect wood to set fire and warm himself. So he asked his faithful four-legged friends for help.
The Chow Chows quickly went into the woods to look for the firewood, but something went wrong; there was charred waste due to a fire. And when the dogs grabbed that debris with their mouths, they slightly hurt their tongues slightly. From that moment on they acquired a purple tone due to the burns they suffered.
Another legend that speaks about the color of the language of the Chow Chow; refers to Buddha. It is said that when this god intended to paint the sky blue in the company of his Chow Chow; the animal used its tongue to clean the various drops of color that fell from the Celestial vault; making the language of this breed acquire the coloration it currently has.
But leaving aside, these interesting legends, and taking up a scientific approach; we can say that it is simply a natural feature of this breed. It is important to mention that when a chow chow is born, its tongue is pink. Its particular blue color appears months after the birth of the puppy.
Features of the Chow Chow
After this brief historical tour and legends; It’s time to get to know another of the curiosities of the Chow chow, and we refer to the physical characteristics of this beautiful breed of dog.
The Chow Chow is classified in the Spitz type category. It can weigh between 25 and 28 kilograms and measure on average about 50 centimeters. There is not much difference between male and female specimens.
They have a fairly thick mane that can be comparable to that of a lion. Even, its way of walking resembles that of any feline.
The breed has a rather large and heavy skeleton. The eyes are small and dark, slightly almond-shaped. The tail is always located above the back. The hair is thicker than that of other dogs. Colors vary from shades of brown to black. There are white specimens but it is very rare to find one of that color.
The character of the chow chow.
Continuing with the curiosities of the chow chow, we can say that this dog tends to have a calm and polite character; this breed does not bark much and almost never bothers. It is a dog that seems to have all the security and pride of the lion and the bear.
The Chow Chow is above all a reserved dog, which rarely offers immediate confidence. He prefers to be alone, enjoying his spaces, but this does not mean that he is not used to demonstrations of affection and affection: he simply does it his way, without making so much fuss.
This is a very independent breed, but despite this feature, you can’t leave it long alone. The Chow Chow appreciates the presence of its owners in the house and always shows affection in a discreet way, but is not indifferent.
After all, despite his initial “shyness”, a faithful and loyal dog is confirmed, in addition to being very patient. However, he does not like impositions at all, since he is predisposed to have a contrary attitude towards commandos: consequently, training this breed is not an easy task and certainly requires the intervention of an expert.
But the Chow Chow is also a great pet dog. You can live small places, like an apartment. However, you will need to go for a walk every day. Since a sedentary life can cause obesity in your chow chow.
Feeding
Surely you are wondering, What is the best diet for this breed? One of the main bases that make up the diet of a large dog like this, protein. Avoid carbohydrates, which contain starch in large quantities and do not digest them easily, as much as possible.
In general, if the dog was purchased from a certified breeding establishment, it is recommended to rely on the diet recommended by the breeder. But also try to assess your furry friend’s needs as he grows.
In this sense, you can opt for prepared foods, always focusing on quality products or a homemade diet (if you have time and skill). To be a little more specific, we can say that 200 to 300 grams of white meat or fish, and adding another 200 grams of well-cooked pasta or rice should be enough food to feed your Chow Chow, and above all to keep your pet at the ideal weight.
For any questions we recommend that you consult a trusted veterinarian directly.
Price of chow chow
These are not too expensive dogs. A chow chow calf, duly certified, its price ranges between 600 and 800 euros. However, the price can go up to 1000-1200 euros, depending on the pedigree of the specimen.
In short, it is quite affordable. In any case, always carefully evaluate the breeder you visit.
Now that we have presented the curiosities of the Chow chow, you can go in search of your new 4-legged best friend, who is surely waiting for you.
Discussion about this post