What You Need to Know Before You Adopt a Chow Chow
The Chow Chow is one of the most unique dog breeds that you'll ever lay eyes on. They have lots of rolls that are filled with hair, happy smiles when they pant, and big puppy hair around their neck. This gives them a lion-like appearance that's hard to mistake for another dog breed.
While Chow Chows are great dogs, there's a lot that you need to learn about them before you adopt one. The good news? We cover everything you need to know in this guide. Read on to learn more about what you need to know before you adopt a Chow Chow.
Chow Chow Breed Traits
First and foremost, it helps to know what you’re walking into, and this is where Chow Chow breed traits can help you. You'll find that Chow Chows vary in personality, but they're consistent in other areas. Learn more about their physical traits, personality, and care needs below.
Chow Chow Temperament
We’ll start with the Chow Chow’s temperament. Chow Chows are smart and friendly dogs, although they're aloof with strangers. This can result in biting, nipping, or other issues if you don't socialize them from a young age.
Aside from this problem, Chow Chows are independent, loyal, and generally fun to interact with. Chow Chows are also smart enough for many types of training, so you shouldn't have any issues teaching them a trick or two.
Chow Chow Physical Traits
There are a lot of physical traits to consider before you adopt a Chow Chow. These dogs tend to weigh between 45 and 60 pounds, and females are smaller than males. Height-wise, Chow Chows reach around 18 to 22 inches at the shoulder; females tend to be a little smaller.
They also have coats that vary in color, with common variations being cream, fawn, white, and red. Their coats tend to be long and straight, and they have curly tails and thick hair around their neck.
Chow Chow Care Needs
Care-wise, Chow Chows need grooming. Unfortunately, some groomers may reject them if they're not socialized or well-trained due to their aloofness. Make sure you handle this early so you can keep an eye on the length and cleanliness of their coats. This is important for Chow Chows due to the rolls of hair they have.
Chow Chows are otherwise easy to care for. Expect them to live for 10 to 15 years and bring them to the vet annually to watch for signs of cancer and other health problems.
How to Adopt a Chow Chow
When you want to adopt a Chow Chow, there are a few simple steps that you can follow. Now, it all starts with finding a Chow Chow to adopt, and this is easier said than done. To help with the process, Dog Academy can help you find a Chow Chow to adopt in your area.
Once you find a Chow Chow to adopt, you can follow the steps below to complete the process.
Fill out the necessary adoption paperwork; this includes personal information, experience with dogs, and your home situation.
Speak with the staff at the shelter, rescue, or foster home.
Pass a background check, home visit, and reference check.
Pay the necessary adoption fees.
Bring your Chow Chow home with you; if adopting a puppy, you may need to have them spayed or neutered.
These steps remain consistent across most shelters, rescues, and animal foster programs.
Adopt a Chow Chow Today!
Chow Chows are great dogs, and adopting them is a great way to help a dog in need. However, you need to know more about the Chow Chow before you bring them into your home. Sure, they look unique and can be loyal, smart companions, but they also tend to be aloof and independent. It's also important to socialize them from a young age for the best results, especially for trips to groomers or the vet.
Once you know what a Chow Chow is right for you, Dog Academy can help you find listings in your area. From there, it's about finding a Chow Chow, spending time with them, and then bringing them home.
Throughout the adoption process, make sure you spend time with them and bring everyone who will live with the dog. This can make the experience better for everyone, your new Chow Chow included.
