Chow Chow Dog Breed Information

The Chow Chow is the ancient Chinese temple-guard breed that arrived in NZ via British colonial trade and has stayed a small, consistent presence in NZKC Non Sporting registrations. Most NZ Chows live with adult-only households in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch where experienced owners can manage the territorial instinct, the heavy double coat, and the breed’s notable intolerance of summer heat. Living with a Chow is closer to living with a cat than a Labrador: aloof, dignified, selective with affection, and unimpressed by unfamiliar visitors.

Adults stand 43 to 51 cm at the shoulder and weigh 20 to 32 kg. The coat comes in two varieties (rough and smooth), both double and dense, in red, black, blue, cinnamon and cream. Lifespan sits at 8 to 12 years, shorter than most medium dogs, with hip dysplasia, heat stroke and gastric torsion the leading causes of early death.

Personality and behaviour

Chow Chows bond closely with one or two people in the household and remain politely indifferent to everyone else. The breed will tolerate a stranger entering the house but rarely greets one. Many Chow owners describe a “two-thirds cat” temperament: the dog chooses when to be petted, where to sleep, and which family member is worth getting up for.

Around other dogs, the Chow is variable and often selective. Same-sex aggression in adult Chows is well-documented and most NZKC-affiliated breeders place puppies in single-dog or mixed-sex households. Dog parks rarely work for adults; the breed reads ordinary canine play as confrontation and responds in kind. Early socialisation under 16 weeks is the difference between a Chow that copes with neutral park traffic and one that goes after every passing dog on the lead.

The trait that surprises new owners is how little the breed asks for. A Chow does not pester for attention, does not bring toys to be thrown, and does not follow the household around the house. The dog will take itself to a corner of the room and sleep until something interesting happens, which is rarely. Owners who want a dog that engages constantly are in the wrong breed.

The watchdog instinct is real and serious. The Chow is genuinely territorial about its household and will challenge anyone who enters without being escorted by a family member. The deep, rare bark is reserved for events the dog considers worth flagging, which is part of why the breed scores low on barking despite a strong protective drive.

Care and exercise

Plan on around 45 minutes of structured exercise a day, split between two lead walks. The Chow is not a high-energy breed; long runs, hours of fetch and dog-park sprints are not its preference. Steady walks at a firm pace plus garden time meet the daily need. Mental stimulation can come from short training sessions or a slow-feeder bowl rather than puzzle toys.

Heat management is the dominant care item in NZ. The dense double coat plus a shortened muzzle plus a heavy frame combine into a breed that overheats faster than almost any other in the country. Auckland and Northland summers above 26 degrees mean indoor air conditioning during the day, walks before 8 am or after 8 pm, and a strict no-midday rule from December through February. A Chow showing slow recovery from a short walk on a warm day is in early heat distress, and owners need to know the signs (heavy panting that doesn’t slow, brick-red gums, lethargy) and act fast.

Grooming is the second major commitment. The rough variety needs three to four brushings a week with a pin brush and slicker to prevent matting around the ruff, behind the ears, in the armpits and on the rear. Twice-yearly coat blow in spring and autumn means daily brushing for two to three weeks while the undercoat releases in clumps. Most NZ Chow owners book a professional groom every 8 to 10 weeks at NZ$100 to NZ$160 per session for a deshed, tidy and ear-clean. The smooth variety is easier but still sheds heavily.

Eye care is breed-specific. Entropion (the eyelid rolling inward so lashes rub the cornea) is common in young Chows and often needs surgical correction at 6 to 12 months for NZ$1,500 to NZ$3,000 per eye. A reputable NZKC breeder will discuss eye health in the line and pre-screen puppies before sale.

Diet is uncomplicated but matters. A 25 kg adult eats 220 to 320 g of quality dry food a day, split into two meals to reduce gastric torsion risk. The breed gains weight quickly on inactive lifestyles, and a 3 kg overweight Chow stresses an already dysplasia-prone hip joint.

The breed-specific health items to ask any NZKC breeder about are hip and elbow scores (under 10 each side is the common threshold), eye certificates current within the year, and patella scores. NZKC-registered Chow puppies typically run NZ$2,500 to NZ$5,000 from a small group of NZ breeders, with a 12 to 24 month waitlist common. Pet-shop and online listings under NZ$2,000 are usually unscreened backyard litters with predictable orthopaedic and eye costs later.

Council registration is required by 12 weeks under the Dog Control Act. The DIA national dog database holds the record; your local council issues the tag and the annual fee.