Facts about Chow Chow
- 07
Chow Chow puppies are born with pink tongues that gradually darken to blue-black over their first 8 to 10 weeks of life.
- 06
Chow Chows originated in northern China where they were bred as hunting and guard dogs, with evidence of the breed appearing in Chinese art and literature dating back at least 2,000 years.
- 05
Chow Chows can weigh between 45 and 70 pounds and typically live 8 to 12 years, making them a medium-sized breed with a relatively short lifespan compared to smaller dog breeds.
- 04
The breed's distinctive lion-like mane caused Chinese breeders to name them Songshi Quan, meaning lion dog, during the Song Dynasty around the 10th century.
- 03
A Chow Chow's double coat sheds approximately 365 days per year, requiring daily brushing to manage the continuous fur loss effectively.
- 02
Ancient Chinese emperors valued Chow Chows so highly that only nobility could own them during the Tang Dynasty, making them among history's most exclusive dog breeds.
- 01
Their distinctive blue-black tongues, unique among dog breeds, contain approximately 10,000 taste buds compared to humans' 9,000 taste buds.