The Chow Chow is a native Chinese breed with a history of more than two thousand years. In ancient times it was used as an imperial hunting dog, and today it has become a companion dog known around the world. Perhaps because the breed is so ancient, from a modern perspective it has several traits that seem less suitable for family life, such as stronger body odor, a rather unusual personality, and training difficulty. These are some of the reasons why the breed is now less common.
Strong body odor in the Chow Chow
The Chow Chow is indeed a breed with a relatively strong body odor. First, it tends to drool, and food residue can easily remain around the teeth, which makes bad breath more likely. It is a good idea to brush the dog's teeth regularly and provide dental treats or rubber chew toys to help clean them. In addition, the Chow Chow has a lot of fur, and the dense coat can trap odor, especially in hot weather, when the smell may become stronger and more difficult to clean away. Over time, this can make the dog's body odor quite noticeable.
Why are fewer people raising Chow Chows?
The Chow Chow is an ancient breed, but in modern society fewer and fewer people choose to keep one. Why? First, the breed is generally considered less easy to train because it has relatively lower obedience and a stubborn personality. It may often seem unwilling to listen. The Chow Chow's thick, multi-layered coat is also hard to wash thoroughly, which adds to grooming difficulty. The heavy coat also makes the dog very sensitive to heat, and in hot weather some owners feel the dog requires constant air-conditioning in order to stay comfortable.
Body odor is another practical issue, especially in cities where people and pets share indoor living space. Strong-smelling pets naturally become less attractive to many households. At the same time, social taste changes over time, and there are now many alternative breeds that can fill similar roles. As a result, the Chow Chow is no longer as favored as it once was. Even so, because of its dignified and amusing appearance, the Chow Chow still has many loyal fans, so there is no need to worry that the breed will disappear from people's hearts.