The Chow Chow looks very much like its name suggests. At first glance it almost resembles a lion. This breed originally comes from Tibet in China and has existed for a very long time, with a history of more than two thousand years. It was originally a working dog and, because it performed many roles, it was even called an all-purpose dog. It could be used for hunting, guarding, and pulling loads. It has a lion-like sense of smell and similarly sharp awareness. As regional communication increased, people in other parts of China began bringing the breed home as a family pet and companion. Some people would like to keep such an imposing dog, but the breed's fierce appearance makes them hesitate.
In fact, although the Chow Chow can look intimidating, it is also genuinely adorable. Its large head is set with very small ears, and its eyes are not especially large. The whole head often looks like a round fluffy ball. One particularly distinctive feature is the tongue: while most dogs have pink tongues, the Chow Chow's tongue is dark blue or bluish-black. This is also one of the clearest identifying features when choosing the breed. If a Chow Chow is raised well, it can really look like a miniature lion when taken outside, which means owners should also be mindful not to frighten passersby.
Although the Chow Chow may seem a little clumsy and cute when it is calm, its actual temper is often not very mild. It can be rather irritable. If you want it to live as a family companion, you need to begin training from a young age. Otherwise, letting it grow up without guidance may feel like raising a real lion.
The reason for this difficult temper is closely related to the breed's personality. Chow Chows are independent. They do not like being ordered around, and they do not enjoy being treated like babies or fools to be teased for entertainment. When there is work to do, they do it, but they do not require the owner to coax them constantly. Even so, this does not mean they are impossible to live with. Once a Chow Chow truly accepts you as its owner, it is extremely loyal.
In canine intelligence rankings, the Chow Chow is often placed around number seventy-six, so calling it a little foolish and cute is not entirely inaccurate. But the real challenge is not lack of charm. It is stubbornness. Training a Chow Chow is not easy. Another notable detail is that it often snores while sleeping. If you are a light sleeper, that is something worth considering seriously. Otherwise, hearing that snoring every night might drive you mad. Now that you have a basic sense of the Chow Chow's temperament, do you still think you could raise one?