Facts about Chows!
The Chow with it's lion-like apperance and regal bearing is a masterpiece of beauty, diginity and natural elegance. The Chow is very independent and suspicious of people and other animals. Therefore, they will guard their owners and what they consider to be their territory and possessions to their own death if need be.
The Chow is said to have orginated in China where it was used as a hunting dog, for pulling carts and sleds and as a guard dog. According to " The Complete Dog Book" this beautiful breed is one of the oldest recognizable types of dog. It is also the only breed that can boast of having a blue-black tongue, which some call a purple tongue. One emperor in about the seventh century A.D. was boasted to have a kennel housing 2500 couples of this magnificent breed to be used by his 10,000 hunters.
Some say the Chow was brought to England aboard cargo boats as early as the 1700's. Some say it was in the the 1800's. From there it made its way to America. The name Chow Chow was used to describe various items brought from the Orient aboard the merchants ships. This is where the name of the breed came from.
It is a known fact that Queen Victoria of England owned a Chow as one of her pets. In her autobiography it is told that she loved the cuddly Chow so much that a stuffed replica was created for her. This is said to have pleased her very much and eventually came to be known as her stuffed "Teddy Bear".
Definitely very stubborn and strong willed, the Chow needs an owner that is consistent and just as strong willed. The Chow is very intelligent and can be trained easily if you are willing to spend the time doing it. If you don't let your Chow know you are boss, he will end up dominating you. But this must be done with consistency and with love. You should NEVER hit or beat a Chow. This will result in a vicious, aggressive dog instead of a loving one. If you are stern in your commands, and show love and respect at the same time, you will have a Chow that will return your love and respect with a willingness to please you.
Anderson's Chow Land