Chow Chow

Its origins go back at least 2,000 years in northern China, where dogs of this type worked as guards, haulers and hunters, and were also, in leaner periods, bred for meat and fur, a fact rarely mentioned in modern breed histories but part of the honest record. The breed's Western name likely comes from "chow", a pidgin English term British traders used for miscellaneous cargo brought from China in the 19th century, under which category the dogs were shipped. Queen Victoria kept Chow Chows in the 1890s, which helped popularise the breed in Britain.

Living with a Chow Chow means accepting a dog that is dignified rather than demonstrative; it is not typically a breed that seeks constant affection or plays fetch enthusiastically, and it can be reserved to the point of standoffishness with people outside its household. Early, thorough socialisation is important, since an unsocialised Chow can become genuinely difficult around strangers and other dogs. Its dense double coat, whether smooth or rough, sheds heavily and needs several sessions of brushing a week to prevent matting, more during its twice-yearly heavy shed.

The breed's stiff-legged gait and deep-set eyes are distinctive but linked to some structural and eye issues, so buying from breeders who screen for these conditions matters more than usual with this breed.

Today the Chow Chow is kept mainly as a companion and show dog rather than a working animal, suited to owners who want an independent, low-key dog and are prepared to put in real effort on socialisation and coat care.