With their dramatic coat, reserved personality, lion-like head, and alert expression, the Chow Chow never fails to attract admiration and attention. But their good looks aren鈥檛 the only things that make them stand out. In fact, there are many fascinating Chow Chow facts to surprise and delight dog lovers.
They Have Blue-Black Tongues
The two AKC-registered breeds with blue-black tongues聽are the Chow Chow and the Chinese Shar-Pei. But Chow Chow puppies are born with pink tongues. The blue-black color develops as they age.
They Walk Stiffly
The Chow walk is referred to as 鈥渟tilted,鈥� meaning they move in a stiff-legged way. So when you see them out walking on the street, you can tell your friends, 鈥淭hat鈥檚 how they鈥檙e supposed to walk.鈥�
Their Name Didn鈥檛 Originate in China
Even though the breed was originally developed in China, the name 鈥淐how Chow鈥� doesn鈥檛 originate there. It鈥檚 believed that the name is a sort of mangled English term meaning 鈥渒nick-knacks,鈥� dating back to the 1700s.
There Are Several Theories About Their Origins
Speaking of how the Chow Chow came to be, there have been several theories. But since the breed has been around for a long, long time, there is debate.
One theory is that the Chow is a cross between the Samoyed of Siberia and the Mastiff of Tibet. But experts in the breed believe that the Chow鈥檚 blue-black tongue contradicts that notion, showing that they might be probably one of the original dog breeds.
Chows Come in Multiple Colors
Most people think of a Chow as having a red coat. But according to the , Chow Chows can also come in black, blue, cinnamon, and cream.
They Have Two Coat Types
Chow Chows often have full coats, which are called 鈥渞ough.鈥� However, they can also have shorter coats, which are called 鈥渟mooth.鈥�
One Emperor May Have Kept Thousands of Chows
According to the official breed club, the , in the 7th century, a T鈥檃ng emperor absolutely adored these dogs. It鈥檚 reported that he kept around 2,500 Chows to hunt and participate in other sporting activities with.
Martha Stewart Adores the Breed
Martha Stewart has , and she often featured them on her TV show and website. She even had a champion named 鈥淕enghis Khan鈥� (GK to his friends), who .
The AKC Recognized the Breed in 1903
The AKC formally recognized the Chow Chow in 1903. That recognition came five years after the previous breed recognition (the French Bulldog in 1898) and one year before the next four (the Boxer, Chihuahua, Schipperke, and Standard Schnauzer, all in 1904).
They Belong to the Non-Sporting Group
The Chow is a member of the AKC鈥檚聽Non-Sporting Group, along with the聽Dalmatian,听Boston Terrier,听Bulldog,听Bichon Frise, and others.