Chow Chow Care: A Comprehensive Guide for Australian Pet Owners

By Sophie Kininmonth · 29 Oct 2025 (updated 21 Jul 2026) ·7 min read

Chow Chow Care: A Comprehensive Guide for Australian Pet Owners

The Chow Chow is an ancient working dog from northern China, instantly recognisable for its lion-like mane, deep-set scowling expression and blue-black tongue. It is calm, dignified and quietly devoted, the kind of dog that picks its people and then stays loyal to them. In a steady, unhurried home it makes a wonderful companion. It is also a high-maintenance dog: the dense double coat needs real work, the aloof streak needs early socialisation, and that heavy coat makes Australian summers a genuine hazard. None of that is a dealbreaker, but it should be a plan rather than a surprise.

Size: Medium. Weight: around 20 to 32 kg, varying by sex and build. Height: about 46 to 56 cm at the withers. Coat: dense double coat, rough or smooth. Colours: solid black, red, blue, fawn or cinnamon, cream or white, with shading common. Temperament: loyal yet aloof, independent and reserved. Energy level: low to moderate. Life expectancy: often cited around 10 to 12 years, though individuals vary.

History and Origin

Chow Chows originated in northern China and are considered an ancient breed type. They were used for practical work such as guarding and hunting, and later became popular in the West during the late 1800s.²

Appearance and Physical Characteristics

Chow Chows are compact and squarely built, with a very dense coat and the breed's hallmark bluish-black tongue. They also have a characteristic stilted gait and a distinctive scowling expression created by small, forward-set ears and deep-set eyes.¹

The coat comes in two types:

Rough coat: longer, stand-off outer coat with a heavy undercoat.
Smooth coat: shorter, dense coat that still sheds and still needs regular brushing.

Temperament and Personality

The Chow Chow is known for a dignified, watchful manner, often quiet in the house, selective about affection, and more comfortable with calm handling than constant fuss. Breed standards describe the temperament plainly: loyal yet aloof.¹

That aloofness can be a good thing in the right home. It can also become a problem if a young dog misses early, gentle exposure to visitors, other dogs, grooming, vets and busy streets.

They can make good family dogs, especially in households that respect personal space and keep routines steady. They are usually not ideal for very chaotic homes or rough play. As with any breed, children should be taught calm, supervised interactions, particularly around food, sleeping areas and when the dog is being brushed. Many Chows can also live peacefully with other animals, but early introductions matter. Aim for controlled, positive experiences while the dog is young, and keep management in place until you are confident the relationship is stable.

Is a Chow Chow Right for You?

A Chow Chow suits people who like quiet companionship and do not mind a dog with boundaries. It is a poor match if you want an outgoing, endlessly biddable dog, or if nobody in the home has time for daily grooming. This is a real, ongoing commitment rather than a low-effort pet. If you can offer a calm, predictable routine and stay on top of the coat and the heat, the breed rewards you with a steady, self-possessed presence that often becomes deeply attached in its own way.

Training and Exercise

Chows are intelligent, but they are not reliably eager to please. Training tends to go best when it is short, consistent and reward-based, with good timing, calm repetition and clear boundaries. Heavy-handed methods often create shutdown behaviour or defensive handling responses, especially around grooming and strangers.

Early socialisation is the non-negotiable. Aim to introduce a Chow Chow puppy, safely and gradually, to:

people of different ages and appearances (hats, hi-vis, umbrellas)
gentle handling (paws, ears, brushing, being examined)
car travel and vet visits that are not always needle days
other stable, well-mannered dogs

Keep it calm. Let the dog approach at their pace. The goal is comfort and neutrality, not forced friendliness.

On exercise, most Chow Chows do well with regular daily walks and a bit of quiet exploring, rather than long runs or high-speed dog-park games. Think measured movement, not endurance sport. In Australian heat, plan walks early or late, and prioritise shade, airflow and water. RSPCA advice is clear: avoid exercise in hot conditions, do not walk on scorching surfaces, and bring pets inside if the indoor environment is cooler, such as with air conditioning.³

A thick double coat and compact build can make hot, still days risky. Know the early signs of heat stress and heatstroke, which include heavy panting, drooling, weakness, vomiting and collapse, and treat them as urgent.³ If you suspect heatstroke, start first aid by cooling with tepid or cool water and fanning, then get to a vet immediately. Avoid ice-cold water.³

Health and Lifespan

Chow Chows are often described as sturdy, but a few conditions come up often enough to plan around, especially if you are choosing a puppy or managing an older dog.

Joint disease (hip and elbow dysplasia). Hip and elbow dysplasia can occur in many medium-to-large breeds. Keep your Chow lean, avoid repetitive high-impact exercise in young dogs, and ask your vet about joint-support strategies if stiffness shows up.

Eye problems (including entropion). Entropion is an eyelid condition where the lid turns inward, allowing hair to rub on the eye. It can cause irritation and corneal damage and may need surgical correction.⁴ See your vet promptly if you notice squinting, tearing, redness, or the dog rubbing at their face.

Bloat (GDV). Gastric dilatation-volvulus is a life-threatening emergency. It is more common in deep-chested breeds, but any dog can be affected. Classic signs include repeated unproductive retching, hypersalivation, restlessness and abdominal distension.⁵ If you suspect bloat, go straight to a vet.

Grooming and Care

A Chow Chow coat is beautiful, but it is also dense enough to hide problems. Mats and packed undercoat trap moisture and heat close to the skin, which can set up hot spots, infection, and a dog that becomes increasingly uncomfortable with being handled.

For most rough-coated Chows, daily brushing is a sensible baseline, especially if the coat is long or the dog is shedding. Smooth-coated dogs may need less, but still require regular brushing to prevent undercoat build-up and skin issues.⁶

A practical routine looks like this:

Brush to the skin, not just the topcoat, working in sections.
Check hidden areas: behind ears, mane and neck, armpits, behind thighs, under the tail.
Dry thoroughly after bathing. A damp undercoat can trigger skin trouble.
Nails, ears, teeth: keep them on a schedule so handling stays normal.

If the coat is already matted, do not try to yank it out. A groomer can remove matting more safely, and your vet can help if the skin underneath is sore or infected.

Diet and Nutrition

The most useful nutrition habit for Chow Chows is keeping body condition steady. Extra weight loads the hips and elbows and makes heat stress more likely.

Choose a complete and balanced diet appropriate for the dog's life stage, and do not rely on ingredient lists as a quality shortcut. WSAVA notes that ingredient lists can be misleading, and encourages owners to use the full label information and the manufacturer's nutritional expertise when selecting a diet.⁷

A few feeding tips that help in real life:

Measure meals rather than free-feeding.
Use some of the daily ration for training, instead of piling on extra treats.
Make fresh water easy to reach, especially in warm weather.³

A Few Things Worth Knowing

The blue-black tongue is a breed hallmark, present in both coat types.¹
Common health concerns to watch include hip and elbow dysplasia, entropion, thyroid disease, and skin issues from coat neglect.
Grooming needs are high, especially for rough-coated dogs and during seasonal sheds.
The distinctive stilted gait and scowling expression are normal features of the breed, not signs of trouble.¹

The Bottom Line

A Chow Chow rewards owners who like quiet companionship and do not mind a dog with boundaries. Keep the coat maintained, take heat seriously, train with calm consistency, and prioritise early socialisation. The breed tends to thrive when life is unhurried and predictable.

References

Sophie Kininmonth

Dog lover and writer at My Pets Australia, sharing practical breed guides and care advice for Australian pet owners.