Chow chow - breed standard
- Origin: China.
- Utility: guard and companion dog.
- Patronage: Great Britain.
- According to the FCI classification: Group 5- Spitz and primitive breeds, Section 5 - Asian Spitz and related breeds.
- Size: males 48-56 cm, females 46-51 cm.
- Weight: dogs 25-32 kg, female dogs 20-27 kg.
- Characteristic: black and blue tongue, palate and gums.
- Head: large, in proportion to the entire body. The distance from the elbow to the ground should be equal to the distance from the withers to the elbow. Characteristically wrinkled forehead.
- Ridge: even, strong, short.
- Chest: deep and wide.
- Tail: set high, definitely raised.
- Married: wide, large, black.
- Eyes: oval, medium, dark, almond-shaped, clean. Color harmonizing with the color of the coat.
- Ears: thick, small, slightly rounded at the tips. Raised stiffly, motionless, straight, and set wide apart.
- Robe:
- long hair: very dense (especially around the neck, where it forms a mane), straight, abundant,
- short hair: lush, dense, straight, stand-off.
- Ointment: uniform - black, blue, red, cinnamon, ecru, white; shaded, without spots or patches (underside of tail and back of a lighter color thighs allowed).
- Length of life: 9-12 years
Chow chow character
The Chow Chow is a dog with a balanced, strong character. Confident, proud, courageous, fearless, stubborn and independent. He likes to dominate. From among the household members, he usually chooses one person to whom he is faithful and devoted. Due to his innate stubbornness, he is reluctant to study, tolerating training only from the person with whom he is friends. Inadequately raised, it can develop in a dangerous direction and become difficult to tame. He does not like stroking, cuddling or caressing. He is an independent loner, calm and quiet. He loves walking and playing with the owner and his family, but only when he wants to. The Chow Chow is a dog with a strong genetic need for protection. In addition, remarkable vigilance and focus make it an ideal guardian.
Behavior
The representative of this breed is a homebody, prefers silence and solitude, willingly stays at home alone. Left for long hours, it does not get bored, does not cause damage. Usually behaves very restrained, barks extremely rarely. On a walk, he does not show any tendency to escape, although he often emphasizes independence in choosing the direction of the walk. His determined, independent, strong nature requires appropriate upbringing methods.
Suggested sizes and widths of accessories for this breed of dog:
Here are the suggested sizes for adult dogs of this breed. They were selected on the basis of many years of experience in sewing accessories and the most common choices of other dog owners of this breed. Remember, only measuring will give you 100% certainty - every dog is different.
Health
The Chow chow is a hardy, hardy breed. The dense coat and thick undercoat provide him with great protection against adverse external factors, especially cold and moisture. On hot days, however, dogs of this breed quickly get out of breath, struggle, look for shaded, cool places.
The most common diseases include:
- entropy, i.e. turning the eyelid inwards,
- hip and elbow dysplasia, hypertrophy of the ankle joint,
- distichiasis, i.e. a double row of eyelashes,
- degenerative joint diseases,
- ligament problems, including cruciate ligament rupture
- skin allergies, dermatological diseases,
- dislocation of the kneecap.
Care
The lush fur of a longhaired chow requires regular, preferably daily brushing. Especially during the molting period (autumn and spring), you should take care of the hair intensively by combing it with a metal comb, a wire brush or a hard bristle brush. The hair should not be dry-brushed, because the hair is electrified and damaged. Before combing, it should be sprayed with a suitable, antistatic conditioner. Due to the frequent tendency to excessive tearing, you should regularly rub your eyes with a cloth or gauze. Due to the fact that the chow-chow's hair has self-cleaning properties, only occasional baths are recommended, during which we must pay special attention to thoroughly rinsing the shampoo. The tedious drying process is also a big challenge. The hair of short-haired Chow Chow is much easier to care for, although in this case you should take care of the folds on the head every day, which must be wiped with a wet cloth. A smooth, short hair should be combed 2-3 times a week.
Chow chow - nutrition
Dogs of this breed require high-quality, balanced food. The daily dose of food should be divided into smaller portions and given several times a day. Homemade meals should be supplemented with a dose of supplements appropriate for this breed. Particular attention should be paid to supplementation, which will keep their lush hair in good condition. Meat should predominate in a varied meal. The tibia administration should be strictly avoided. You should also remember to provide your pet with constant access to water.
Curiosity
In addition to the chow chow, blue tongues also have chameleons and giraffes.
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