Canis lupus familiaris
Chow Chow
Featured photochow-chow.jpgThe Chow Chow is a ancient Chinese Han-dynasty multi-purpose working dog with the breed-defining blue-black tongue. The Chow Chow is one of the oldest documented dog breeds, with statuettes from the Chinese Han dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD) showing dogs of recognizably similar build.
Quick facts
- AKC group
- Non-Sporting
- Origin country
- China
- Origin period
- Han dynasty (modern type from 19th century)
- Coat type
- Double
- Coat colors
- Red, Black, Blue, Cinnamon, Cream
- Average lifespan
- 9-15 years
- Recognition
- AKC 1903 · FCI 1957 · UKC 1948 · Group 5 — Spitz and Primitive Types (Section 5: Asian Spitz and related breeds)
Origin
The Chow Chow is one of the oldest documented dog breeds, with statuettes from the Chinese Han dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD) showing dogs of recognizably similar build. Genetic studies place the Chow Chow among the basal dog lineages, branching from the wolf line earlier than most modern breeds. The breed was kept in northern China for at least 2,000 years as a multi-purpose working dog — hunting, herding, hauling carts, guarding monasteries, and as a food animal in some regions. The English name 'Chow Chow' is derived from the Chinese pidgin term for miscellaneous Chinese cargo brought to Britain during the late 18th century. The breed reached the West in the late 19th century; Queen Victoria kept several Chows from 1865, and the Chow Chow Club of England was founded in 1895. The AKC admitted the breed in 1903.
Recognition
The American Kennel Club admitted the breed in 1903, the United Kennel Club followed in 1948, and the Federation Cynologique Internationale published the international standard (FCI No. 205) in 1957. The FCI assigns the breed to Group 5 — Spitz and Primitive Types (Section 5: Asian Spitz and related breeds).
Standard
The AKC and FCI standards describe an active, compact, short-coupled, and well-balanced dog, well-knit in frame, with a tail set high and carried close to the back, and a stilted gait — caused by the breed's unusually straight rear pasterns. The defining features are the lion-like leonine head with abundant ruff (especially in males), the small, slightly-rounded triangular ears carried erect, and the blue-black tongue (a trait shared only with the Shar Pei). Two coat varieties are recognized: rough (the most common, dense, abundant double coat) and smooth (a rarer single coat without the leonine ruff). Recognized colours are solid red, black, blue, cinnamon, and cream.
Sources & further reading (3)
- kennel-club-registry — accessed 2026-04-30
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-04-30
- fci-standard — accessed 2026-04-30
Frequently asked questions
What is the Chow Chow's AKC group?
The American Kennel Club places the Chow Chow in the Non-Sporting Group. The Non-Sporting Group is the AKC's residual category for breeds whose modern role does not fit the older Sporting / Hound / Working / Terrier / Toy / Herding rubrics; the Bulldog, Dalmatian, and Poodle sit here. The breed's foundation working role was as a ancient Chinese Han-dynasty multi-purpose working dog with the breed-defining blue-black tongue.
When was the Chow Chow officially recognized?
The American Kennel Club admitted the breed in 1903; the United Kennel Club followed in 1948; the Federation Cynologique Internationale published the international standard (FCI No. 205) in 1957.
What is the average lifespan of a Chow Chow?
Kennel-club longevity surveys place the Chow Chow's average lifespan in the 9-15 years range. The figure here represents the spread reported by the major parent-club studies and the Kennel Club (UK) purebred-dog health surveys.
