Chow Chow
- For the food, see Chow-chow.
| Chow Chow | |||||||||
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| Origin | China | ||||||||
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| Dog (domestic dog) | |||||||||
Chow Chow, or Chow, is a breed of dog originating from Mongolia and Northern China, where it is referred to as Songshi Quan (鬆獅犬 Pinyin: sōngshī quǎn), which literally means "puffy-lion dog." The breed has also been called the Tang Quan, "Dog of the Tang Empire." It is believed that the Chow Chow is one of the native dogs used as the model for the Foo dog, the traditional stone guardians found in front of Buddhist temples and palaces.
Appearance
The Chow is a stocky dog with broad skull and small, rounded ears. The breed has a very dense coat that is either smooth or rough. The fur is particularly thick around the neck, giving the distinctive ruff or mane. The coat may be one of several colors including reddish-brown (described as "red"), black, blue, cinnamon, and cream. Not all these color varieties are recognized as valid in all countries. Individuals with patchy or multicolored coats are considered to be outside the breed standard. Chows are distinguished by their unusual blue-black/purple tongue and very straight hind legs, resulting in a rather stilted gait. The blue-black/purple tongue gene appears to be dominant, as almost all mixed breed dogs who come from a Chow retain the tongue color.
Temperament
While commonly kept as a companion dog, the Chow has a reputation for being a willful and independent breed that is sometimes difficult to train. They may be very aloof and wary of strangers. They often do not get along well with other dogs unless properly socialized. Chows are extremely loyal to their own family, though they may be less friendly to strangers. The typical Chow's behavior is commonly thought to be more similar to a domestic cat rather than a domestic dog.
Health
Like many heavy-set dogs, the Chow may be prone to hip dysplasia. They may also be susceptible to entropion, an eye irritation caused by an eyelid abnormality. Their average lifespan is between 12 and 15 years.
History
The Chow is a unique breed of dog thought to be one of the oldest recognizable breeds. Research indicates it is one of the first primitive breeds to evolve from the wolf. Recent DNA analysis confirms that this is one of the oldest breeds of dog that probably originated in the high steppe regions of Siberia or Mongolia, and much later used as temple guards in China, Mongolia and Tibet.[1] From what records survive, some historians believe that the Chow was the dog described as accompanying the Mongolian armies as they invaded south into China as well as west into Europe and southwest into the Middle East. A bas-relief from 150 BC (during the Han Dynasty) includes a hunting dog similar in appearance to the Chow. Later Chow Chows were bred as a general-purpose working dog for herding, hunting, pulling and guarding. Chows are reputed to be one of the many dog breeds in China fattened up and eaten during times of famine by peasants living in sparse, rural lands.
Images
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Chow Chows have an unusual blue-black/purple tongue. -
Mao, a black puppy. -
Jasmine, a red puppy. Red puppies are often blonde until they lose their woolly puppy coat. -
Olive, a black female adult. -
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BONO, a 1-year old chowchow
Trivia
- U.S. President Calvin Coolidge owned a black Chow Chow named Timmy who lived with him in the White House[2].
- Arcanine and Growlithe, two Pokemon of the fire type resemble the Chow Chow with their fluffy tails that sit on their back.
- In American Psycho, a novel by Bret Easton Ellis, serial killer Patrick Bateman buys a chow for his girlfriend, then subsequently drowns it.
- In another novel by Bret Easton Ellis, Glamorama, one of the Victor Ward's girlfriends, Allison, owns two Chows named Mr. and Mrs. Chow. When Victor enters Allison's apartment without her there, the chows defend their territory and proceed to attack him.
- Martha Stewart owns several chows, which are frequently seen on Martha's shows and public appearances.
- A subplot in the Japanese anime Excel Saga features a Chow Chow called Menchi (ground meat) that is referred to as an emergency ration.
References
- ^ Collie or Pug? Study Finds the Genetic Code. New York Times Online. May 21, 2004. Accessed December 25, 2006.
- ^ Atkinson, James B. (1988) Chow Chows: A Complete Pet Owner's Manual. Barron's Educational Series. ISBN 0-8120-3952-1
External links
