Everything you need to know about Chow Chow puppies

Is it a cloud? Is it a cushion? No, it’s a Chow Chow puppy! Although teddy bears are in appearance, they’re not as docile and cuddly as they first appear. Chow Chows make wonderfully loyal and protective dogs to their humans, but this also comes with a lot of Chow's attitude and stubbornness.

Chow Chow puppy care isn’t for the faint-hearted, but it has a huge reward if you’re happy to put in the time. Let’s learn a bit more about how to take care of a Chow Chow puppy, the Chow Chow temperament, Chow Chow behavior, and the history of these fascinating, fluff, floof-balls.

Chow Chow puppy facts

Origin

Chow Chows are an ancient breed of Chinese used as guard dogs and working pups. Their size and strength meant they could be used to pull heavy loads, as well as protect livestock and humans. Their Chinese name is Songshi Quan which translates as ‘puffy-lion dog”. Sometimes, the cuteness is too much!

Size

Chow Chow puppies are quite big babies. At three months old, they can be as much as 22 pounds and 12 inches tall! Even at that size, they still have much more growth. As adults, they’re considered a big dog breed and can be anywhere from 20 to 22 inches tall (around 50cm) and up to 75 pounds (40kg).

Character

If properly trained, socialized, and mentally stimulated, you will not find a more loyal dog than a Chow Chow. Forming a bond with your puppy is essential for future adult handling. Known for being aloof and independent, Chow Chow puppies are curious creatures who don’t like being restricted with cuddles or closed doors. This doesn’t mean they don’t appreciate a stroking session, oh no! They will use part of their day to do their own thing and won’t be constantly seeking snuggles. However, as the day winds down, they may potter over for some love and hugs before they go to sleep.

Grooming

Dog grooming was invented for this dog breed. Chow Chow puppies will need to be trained and acclimated to grooming as soon as possible. Why? Well, a lot of their life will be spent brushing and cleaning their thick, double-layered coats. These pooches are heavy shedders all year round and need to be brushed daily. When it comes to bath time, home washes are fine for a few months, but a professional groom will be needed at least twice a year.

Health needs

As puppies, Chow Chows can be susceptible to health problems such as skin and seasonal allergies and issues with bloating. In later life, Chow Chow dogs can develop several health issues including hip and elbow dysplasia, eye problems, thyroid issues, dental disease, neurological problems, and diabetes. If you’ve just become the parent to a Chow Chow puppy, have a frank discussion with their vet about regular checkups and preventative options.

Chow Chows have a life expectancy of 11 to 15, which isn’t bad for a large dog breed, particularly one known to have a lengthy history of health problems.

Training

First off, if you’re a first-time puppy person, a Chow Chow puppy may not be for you. Although smart they are independent, stubborn, and lack any patience. If you’re not meeting their mental expectations, you’ll soon find them ruling the household as the top dog. A strict regime, persistence, and patience will pay off and help to create a stronger bond between you and your miniature lion.

Energy levels

Despite being bred as working dogs, Chow Chow pups will only require about an hour of exercise a day. As puppies, they’ll tire a lot more easily, but they’ll still need plenty of physical and mental stimulation. 

Intelligence

The Chow Chow is a clever pup, even when they're tiny and chubby. Their curious, independent nature means they’ll explore every nook and cranny of your home and have no problem investigating locked doors and closed bins. They’ll need as much mental stimulation as physical, along with a strict training schedule and routine. Even as babies, they’ll try to outsmart and undermine their humans.

Noise levels

If well-trained and socialized from a young age, Chow Chows are relatively quiet dogs, meaning they’re great protectors. They’ll only bark if something is very wrong or they feel genuinely threatened. 

Chow Chow puppy appearance

The puffy-lion dog is perfectly named, it says it all! Their magnificently thick double coats can come in rough or smooth fluff, a head surrounded by a mane of extra poof, and colors ranging from golden honey to dark chocolate or even black. Amongst all the floof, you’ll find two rounded teddy bear ears on the top of their heads and the distinctive blue, black tongue in their mouths. As puppies, Chow Chows look like miniature stuffed toy animals, however, it’s important to remember that the bundles of cuteness are not an accessory.

Chow Chows are brachycephalic dogs, which literally means they have flat faces and short snouts. While Chow Chow puppy care and health might not be as demanding as other breeds of brachycephalic dogs (like Pug puppies or French Bulldog pups), this can still mean they struggle with breathing when swimming or are overly exercised.

How much should you feed a Chow Chow puppy?

Like most puppies, Chow Chow pups need to be fed a small amount of food up to three to four times a day. Puppy food contains high amounts of fat and protein to help them grow big and strong. Chow Chows are susceptible to skin and food allergies, so talk to your vet before you decide to start feeding a certain brand. Particularly when you start to move away from puppy food, your vet may have more Chow Chow-friendly recommendations.

What is the right type of home for a Chow Chow puppy?

Experience dog handlers who have time to train and socialize their puppies are ideal homes for Chow Chow pups. While Chow Chows can be trained to live with other animals and children, they may not be happiest in homes where they’re constantly followed. Their lack of patience means they can be snappy with young kids and territorial towards other dogs.

Their massive double coat also makes them very susceptible to overheating and heat stroke. If you live in a hot, humid climate, a Chow Chow baby will not do well in this type of weather. The colder the climate the better.

How to train a Chow Chow puppy

As always, we’ll be completely honest here, pet people. Chow Chow pups are not the easiest to train. Not because of their lack of intelligence, oh no, quite the opposite. The Chow Chow is a highly intelligent breed, but don’t they know it? If they find their training boring they will let their humans know. Stubbornness is the main issue to contend with Chow Chow puppies, even at a young age.

To keep them on track and motivated, stick to a strict training routine with constant positive reinforcement. Training is very important for every dog, but for the Chow Chow, it’s imperative. They’re very territorial and can be aggressive with early socialization and proper training. Needless to say, these puppers are not ideal for first-time dog owners.

Potty training a Chow Chow puppy

Although the Chow Chow temperament can make them challenging to train, you may find potty training a slightly easier task than teaching them to ‘come’ or ‘sit’. The Chow Chow is a very clean breed, often compared to being more cat than dog-like, and even as puppies, they understand that bathroom business should be away from their beds and food. 

The trick with potty training a Chow Chow puppy is consistency and tailoring positive reinforcement. As they’re not known for being food motivated, learn what makes your Chow Chow pup happiest - a favorite toy, a favorite place to scratch them, or extra playtime could be an alternative.

Chow Chow Puppy history

As we said before, Chow Chow pups are indigenous to China, with the first record of the breed noted about 8000 years ago! As an ancient breed of working and guard dog, these pups were favored by Chinese royalty, with one Emprorer allegedly owning 5000 of them. That’s a lot of floof! Since then, they’ve remained a distinct and notable breed in China.

It’s not known where the English term ‘Chow Chow’ originated from and we can’t understand why the name ‘puffy-lion dog’ wasn’t kept. 

A cute and random fact, a Chow Chow puppy was the first dog owned by Walt Disney and his wife, Lily. Apparently, he gifted her the pup in a hat box which inspired one of the first scenes in Lady and The Tramp where Lady is also presented in a hat box. Just to say, as adorable as this scene is, please don’t copy Mr Disney’s choice of puppy gift wrapping. If you want to surprise someone with a Chow Chow puppy make sure you’ve done your diligence and never foister a puppy on an unprepared human, hat box, or no hat box.

Adopting or buying a Chow Chow puppy

If you’re looking to adopt a Chow Chow, you might find it difficult to find a purebred litter of puppies in a shelter. They are an expensive, highly sought-after dog breed and can cost about $1200 to $2000 in the US, or £1000 in the UK. On top of this, Chow Chow pups have a demanding grooming schedule and many health issues, which will also add up the cost.

You never know, though! If you’re keen to say ciao to a Chow Chow lifestyle, keep an eye on any updates at your local shelters or vets.