Smooths, being a short-haired variety of Chow Chow, are distinguished by their calm, if not unflappable, character.
Their fur is not too long, but it is thick and dense, with a plush appearance.
Otherwise, their exterior is no different from the appearance of other representatives of the breed - they have a strong and muscular body, a tail thrown over the back, a characteristic shape of the head and muzzle and small rounded erect ears.
In general, smooths look quite unusual, reminiscent of oriental figurines of sacred lions.
History of appearance
The Chow Chow is one of the most ancient dog breeds in the world.
Presumably, their ancestors, descended from one of the species of wolves, appeared in the steppes of Mongolia and Northern China about 2000 years ago. According to another version, these dogs were bred in the Arctic regions of Asia about 3,000 years ago, after which, together with tribes wandering south, they ended up in the Mongolian and North Chinese steppes.
NOTE!
One of the ancient Chinese legends mentions large fighting dogs from Central Asia that look like lions with black and purple tongues.
Even in ancient times, dogs of this breed were used for a wide variety of work - they hunted with them, they were used to transport goods, and also helped herd livestock and guard houses and monasteries.
Actually, it was Buddhist monasteries that became breeding centers in Ancient China. The monks monitored the purity of the blood of their dogs and kept special journals, which can be regarded as the first pedigree books. To ensure that inbreeding did not harm the quality of the puppies, the monasteries periodically exchanged sires.
Chow chows were also popular among the Chinese nobility. Historical chronicles mention that one of the ancient emperors owned 5,000 of these dogs.
Smooths were brought to England at the same time as their long-haired relatives. From the very beginning they became very popular in Europe and had a significant influence on the formation of the current Chow Chow population.
Brown
Another name, Tsimt. Perhaps this variety has the widest palette. Here you will find coffee shades, a light beige version of a fur coat, and the purest cinnamon. Some adults have a mask of light and dark hair on their face. This combination produces a gray hair effect.
To read: Origin of the Commander breed, cost and reviews from owners
Representatives of cinquefoil are often confused with red ones, and in the early stages with blue ones.
When a puppy is just born, his fur coat has a silvery tint, but it changes towards cinnamon already in the first few weeks of life. Only an experienced breeder can correctly determine the color. Never hesitate to seek professional advice.
Description of the breed
A harmoniously built, quite powerful and at the same time majestic dog, similar to a lion.
Description of the Chow Chow breed standard:
- The cranial part of the head is wide and somewhat flattened. The transition to the muzzle is well marked.
- The muzzle is medium in length, evenly wide.
- The lips are quite massive, and the upper ones are also damp and slightly drooping.
- The jaws are strong and strong with a scissor bite.
- The ears are dense, small, rounded at the ends. Set wide apart and slightly inclined forward.
- The eyes are oval, dark, rather deep-set, and have a slightly frowning, but not angry, expression.
- The nose is preferably black, although in light cream Chow Chows it can be light, and in blue and cinnamon it can be the color of the main color.
- The neck is of medium length, powerful, voluminous and slightly arched.
- The coat is short, standing almost vertically, dense and very thick. The structure resembles plush.
There are three main types of smooths, differing from each other in length and wool structure:
- The first type includes dogs with the thickest and most dense undercoat and vertical hair.
- Smooths of the second type also have a fairly thick undercoat, but their outer coat is elongated on the neck, shoulders, hind legs and tail. It falls a little to the side, which is why such animals look less plush.
- Finally, the short-haired Chow Chow of the third type, due to its not very well developed undercoat and short hair, looks almost like a smooth coat.
Reproduction
Transition to a teenager - 1st heat at 9 months, but mating is not advisable. Only at 20 months (2 years), the dog bears and gives birth to healthy puppies.
Ovulation on day 8 (cycle 25 days), the pet becomes calmer and will be able to accept a candidate as a “husband”. A sign of pregnancy is reluctance to eat.
It is better to give her milk, eggs or fish.
Childbirth will approximately occur on days 59-63, everything will depend on the number of puppies.
Childbirth does not rejuvenate, this is a myth. The dog will live well without puppies. A healthy dog will not be affected by childbirth.
Fluffy puppies are absolutely adorable. You can look at the photos of different Chow Chow breeds to decide on purchasing a puppy with a complex character.
Character traits
Smooths are not averse to communicating with people and are quite inquisitive. They love to explore everything new, and in order not to be disturbed from doing what they love, they can be smart and even use cunning.
The short-haired Chow Chow is loyal to its owners, loves to accompany them everywhere and, despite its serious appearance, this dog loves to run and play various games. Many owners note that pets, staying in a house or apartment for the whole day, prefer to nap on their beds. But on the street they give vent to their accumulated energy during the whole day.
Smooths are majestic and proud dogs who, despite the fact that they love their owners very much and are ready to protect them from any danger, prefer to act somewhat independently. At the same time, shorthaired Chow Chows are very patient.
Despite their rather gentle nature, they sometimes show stubbornness and are quite touchy.
Expert opinion
Kozhevin Semyon Kirillovich
Expert dog handler.
“Chow-chow smooths have a calm, but at the same time somewhat independent character. They do not like noise and fuss and feel best in homes where there is a calm atmosphere. Smooths do not have a tendency to sabotage: such a pet, remaining in the house all day, will most likely simply rest on its bed. They treat children quite kindly and even patronizingly, but they will not tolerate their pranks for too long. In general, we can say that the smooth chow chow is ideal as a pet for people who value peace, tranquility and comfort.”
Training
The difficulty in learning is not due to stupidity or poor memory, but because of the dog’s pride and stubbornness. She loves to rule, does not like pressure, so she does not want to obey, she loves to be a leader and control everything. When trained, the Chow is similar to a cat.
From a very young age, try to patiently train your pet for commands and for society.
Teach what is possible/not possible in a stern voice, and be sure to put a leash on the dog. You cannot hit or show aggression towards your pet. He will ignore the scream, hide and be able to take revenge.
You can’t pamper him either, lest he grow up to be an uncontrollable dog.
The main thing is to stick to the middle, persistently and positively educate, without shouting. Experts therefore do not advise beginners to own a Chow Chow.
Advantages and disadvantages
Pros:
- Beautiful and original appearance.
- Calm and balanced.
- They make excellent watchdogs.
- They will protect their owner to the last in case of threat.
- Suitable for living in the courtyard of a private house and in an enclosure.
- On walks they are active and energetic, but at home they try to behave decorously and nobly.
Minuses:
- They need firm, but not rude, handling and early education.
- They do not always follow the owner's commands.
- Distrustful of strangers.
- They are not very kind to other animals unless they grew up in the same house with them.
- They are not suitable for the role of a nanny dog: they are rather indifferent to children, and they do not like noise and fuss.
- They behave distinctly independently.
IMPORTANT!
Smooth Chow Chows may seem phlegmatic and very calm, but some of them are subject to frequent mood swings and sometimes show intemperance.
Price
Pedigree bear dogs cost a lot. There are 2 options for purchasing them:
- Hands-on - cheaper, but not reliable. The price of a chow chow without vaccinations and pedigree is from 15 to 25 thousand rubles.
- From a professional breeder or nursery. The cost of such a puppy is from 30 to 55 thousand rubles.
Some blue-colored representatives of the breed are sold for 60-70 thousand rubles. But when purchasing such an animal from a nursery, be sure that it fully complies with the generally accepted international breed standard.
Photos with color examples
The standard recognizes five colors acceptable for shorthaired Chow Chows:
- Black. The main jet black background may have shading to dark gray on the tail and hind legs. Also, under the influence of the sun, the ends of the guard hairs acquire a brownish tint, so that from a distance such a dog can look almost chocolate-colored.
- Ginger. The most popular color in the breed. It can be either apricot or deep red.
- Tsimt. The coat color of cinnamon smooths can be any pale brownish color: from pale sand to a light shade of coffee with milk. At the same time, the hairs always have a grayish or silvery tint.
- Blue. The color can range from steel-gray to the color of wet asphalt, but it always has a more or less pronounced bluish tint to the coat.
- Cream. Smooths of this color can have either ivory-colored or darker, light caramel-colored fur.
Regardless of color, a short-haired Chow Chow should have a dark or light blue tongue, but not lavender or pink.
Red
The brightness of the hue can be so intense that it can easily be classified as red. This is the most common type of the five existing ones.
Shades always vary in degree of saturation. In some cases there is actually a red dog standing in front of us, in others we see delicate peach fur. The nose remains dark. The lips are also outlined in black, and the tongue is traditionally blue. The eyes will most often be brown. A newly born puppy that is about to join the ranks of red specimens usually has a brown coat and a dark mask on its face. The mask disappears when the puppy reaches adulthood.
How to properly care?
Smooths can be kept both in the house and in the apartment. Caring for their coat is simple: in normal times, the dog is brushed weekly, and during shedding - once a day.
You can bathe a smoothie using shampoo no more than 3 times a year, therefore, this should only be done if the animal is very dirty. Before the exhibition, it is permissible to rinse the wool with clean water and dry it thoroughly.
Every morning, you need to wipe your pet's eyes with a cotton pad soaked in a cleaning solution recommended by your veterinarian. The ears are cleaned as needed and no more than twice a month, and the claws are trimmed as they grow excessively and the dog begins to click with them when walking on the floor.
The dog will clean its teeth on its own if from time to time you give it the opportunity to chew on a special treat, toy or soft cartilage.
Smooths do not need more physical activity and can easily get by with a calm, leisurely walk in the park or along the street.
If you give your pet the opportunity to run around a little without a leash, he will be immensely happy. But it is necessary to remember that these dogs can only be let off a leash in nature or in a fenced area, in a word, where there are no passers-by, strange animals or moving vehicles.
Maintenance and care
Chow chows are perfectly adapted to living at home, but are not suitable for aviary and outdoor keeping. The room where the dog lives must be spacious enough, otherwise, if household members constantly trip over the animal, it will grow up nervous and grumpy.
Chows are calm and reasonable homebodies. They are not prone to escape and are moderately active. To maintain normal physical shape, they should be walked at least 1 hour a day.
Chow chow on a winter walk
Behind the wool
The luxurious “fur coat” of the Chow Chow requires daily brushing with a massage brush, for at least 15 minutes. Twice a week, care should be more thorough, with deep combing with a metal comb and removing tangles. If you do this carefully, the dog will get used to it and will fall asleep from pleasure.
Chows are washed twice a year, and show dogs also before the show. It would seem that dense and dense fur quickly gets dirty, but in fact, to remove, for example, dirt after a walk, it is enough to wipe the dog’s paws, belly and sides with wet wipes.
The pet is cut only to prevent it from turning into a shaggy bear. The natural length of the coat remains almost unchanged along the body, but is greatly reduced on the paws. To maintain a neat appearance, the “hairstyle” needs to be thinned periodically. Only an experienced groomer can do this correctly.
Luxurious wool requires careful care
Behind the claws
They are shortened as they grow, using a guillotine-type nail clipper. The frequency of the procedure depends on the speed of natural grinding of the claws. The paws of a dog walking on soft ground need more frequent care.
Chow chow nail care takes time
Your dog's nails need to be carefully looked after. Read our article and find out: How to properly trim a dog's nails? Why do dogs need their nails trimmed? How does a dog's claw work? What is the danger of long nails on a dog? What types of nail trimming accessories are there? What possible complications may arise during nail trimming?
Behind the eyes
The Chow's organs of vision are a subject of special attention. Regular care involves gently wiping them with a cotton pad soaked in chlorhexidine or zoo eye lotion. The manipulation should be performed with a light, careful movement, from the outer corner to the inner. For each eye - a separate cotton pad. If the organs of vision are inflamed and discharge is flowing down the face, this is a reason to consult a veterinarian.
Chow Chow eyes require special attention
Nutrition
There is no consensus on the chow chow feeding system. Adherents of a natural diet believe that there is no better food for a dog than food in the human sense. However, choosing a healthy and balanced diet for an animal is not as easy as it seems, especially if you take into account age characteristics and needs. It is also important to remember that representatives of the breed are prone to allergies, so it is better not to experiment with natural food, but to feed them ready-made premium quality diets.
It is better to feed the chow chow with ready-made food.
Life expectancy and diseases
Smooths live from 9 to 15 years, their life expectancy depends on heredity and the quality of care and maintenance.
These dogs may be predisposed to certain diseases, such as:
- Eversion or inversion of the eyelids
- Hypothyroidism
- Glaucoma
- Dysplasia
- Cataract
- Melanoma
- Torn cruciate patellar ligament (congenital or traumatic)
- Diabetes
CAREFULLY!
Chow-chow puppies are susceptible to infectious diseases, in particular enteritis, and therefore it is very important to give your pet vaccinations and deworming on time.
Chow Chow Health
Chow-chow dogs are long-lived. On average, a dog lives 12-15 years.
One of the biggest problems the Chow Chow has is intolerance to extreme heat. Thick fur makes an already hot environment even hotter, so the Chow Chow, during the summer sun, feels like being in a bathhouse.
Overheating is a common problem for Chow Chows, even leading to death.
It is important to know that during the hot period you need to create comfortable, cool conditions for the dog. Also, transporting chow chow in the heat is prohibited!
Nutritional Features
The diet of an adult chow chow smooth should consist of 200-300 grams of meat or meat products daily, to which you need to add buckwheat or rice porridge, cooked in water or broth. It is also necessary to give your pet fermented milk products, raw or cooked vegetables and seasonal fruits, such as green apples.
Until the age of six months, a puppy of this breed is fed 4 times a day, with the first feeding consisting of cottage cheese mixed with kefir or natural yogurt, and the other three feedings consisting of meat and porridge with vegetables. Fruits and hard cheese can be given as treats.
Adult smoothies need to be fed twice a day.
In addition to natural nutrition, feeding smoothies with ready-made dry food is also suitable, but it is very important that the food is of high quality and does not contain dyes or preservatives.
Feeding
It is prohibited to mix 2 types of food (dry and homemade). If you choose dry food, you will not need additional vitamins.
If homemade food, then without fats and proteins. Remove foods with allergens from your diet. In terms of nutrition, the chow is smart and will not feed, but you need to monitor the amount of food.
Need to feed:
- small pieces of fresh meat or fish (sea);
- constantly clean water in a separate bowl;
- cottage cheese 200 g with kefir (ryazhenka);
- rice, buckwheat;
- greens (cabbage, parsley and lettuce).
Important! It is forbidden to give: broths, pork, bones, perch and pollock fish, potatoes.
A controversial issue is chicken; your pet may develop an allergy. When boiled, give a small piece and monitor the dog’s condition.
How to choose a puppy?
Before you start looking for a future pet, you need to decide why you are buying a puppy . Will it be a show-class baby, a dog for breeding, or just a pet?
If you need a future champion of the breed, you will have to spend much more time searching for a dog than when buying a pet-class puppy. And, of course, when talking with breeders, future smooth owners need to immediately talk about what they expect from a puppy and what quality of baby they need.
When choosing a puppy, you need to pay special attention to its physique and other exterior features. A small smoothie should have a compact body and even, strong paws. The head is quite voluminous, the muzzle is slightly shorter than that of adult dogs. The eyes are small, partially covered by eyelids and deep-set. The wool is dense, printed, plush.
NOTE!
Smooth puppies may have quite deep wrinkles on the forehead and muzzle, but excessive sanding is extremely undesirable for babies of this breed.
Where to buy a puppy and what to look for
Like any other pedigree dog, it is better to purchase a chow from a kennel where such animals are professionally bred. The price will depend on the class of the puppy and the titles of its parents. Thus, a pet for the soul (pet class) can be purchased for 5,000-10,000 rubles, and a dog for an exhibition career and breeding (show and breed class) will cost 35,000-50,000 rubles.
A puppy from the kennel must have:
- veterinary passport with vaccination marks;
- a puppy card of the established form, indicating the breed, nickname, brand, gender, date of birth, information about the parents and breeder. There must be an imprint of the seal of the club or kennel where the dog was purchased.
The best puppies come from professional breeders
It is important to get to know the breeder, see the conditions in which the dogs are kept, and ask for advice on caring for the puppy. Other circumstances should also be taken into account.
Animal age
The right breeder offers dogs for sale from 8-10 weeks and older. When it comes to show and breeding animals, it is believed that the older they are, the better: an older dog has socialization skills, and also allows the potential owner to evaluate show parameters.
Grown up chow chow puppy
He or she
When choosing a dog or bitch, you should take into account their gender characteristics of physiology and temperament.
Male:
- heavier and larger;
- has thicker and longer hair;
- less sociable and stingy with emotions, but not fussy;
- loves solitude, but always keeps the owner in sight.
- more suitable for exhibitions, as it is larger in size and looks more impressive.
Young male
Bitch:
- has an easy-going disposition, a more subtle and complex psyche;
- smarter than a male;
- becomes attached to a person faster and stronger;
- active and inquisitive;
- more emotional than male relatives.
Chow girl
The sexual behavior of male dogs is manifested by a clear desire for leadership from an early age. As the instinct awakens, the male will try to make cages and begin to mark the territory. If sexual intercourse is impossible, he may become irritated and show aggression.
It is noteworthy that viciousness and the habit of leaving marks are also characteristic of bitches during the period of heat, which lasts 21 days. This is a difficult time for both the dog and the owner. You will need to wash the apartment more often and more thoroughly, and be especially attentive to the animal during walks: nearby males are always circling around the female in heat, and the owner’s task is to protect the animal from annoying gentlemen in order to prevent accidental mating.
Color
The color of a chow baby’s coat is often a different shade from its future “adult” color. This is due to the short length of the guard hairs and the characteristics of the puppy's undercoat. To understand what the dog's color will be, you should pay attention to the hair that covers the face (under the eyes) and paws.
The color of the puppies may subsequently change slightly.
Body constitution
A newborn Chow Chow is a robust breed with a well-developed skeletal system. The proportions of his body can be assessed already at the beginning of life. Among other things, the wide base of the tail indicates the massiveness of the bones in the future.
Eyes
It is important to carefully examine your dog's eyes. They should not show signs of inflammation.
It’s worth taking a closer look at the centuries:
- the upper row of eyelashes should not be tucked inward, so as not to irritate the surface of the eye;
- The lower eyelids should not droop too much, otherwise in the future they will turn out and become inflamed.
Character
You can determine your baby's temperament as early as 5-6 weeks. Breeders know how to do this and will not refuse to test the cub in front of a potential buyer. You should refrain from purchasing a puppy that displays arrogance, anger or cowardice. The character of a pet matters whether it becomes a show dog or a family pet.
Reviews
Some owner reviews:
- “We absolutely love our baby Betty. But, despite all our feelings for her, I have to admit that she is simply destructive. Shoes and upholstered furniture in the apartment are especially affected.”
- “I would say that the obvious disadvantage of our Charlie is that the dog only recognizes one owner. This is not a family dog. One person will bask in the pet’s attention, while the rest will be deprived. They are especially indifferent to children, and if children are very annoying, they are capable of biting.”
Panda
Fashion dictates its own bizarre rules, and the fashion for chow chows, colored like pandas, came to us from China. No, we are not talking about the result of the work of brilliant breeders, we are talking about simple dyeing of wool. This procedure is not new; it has already been used in other times and under other fashion trends. There is absolutely no need to worry about your pet's health. The procedure is safe and will not cause any discomfort. Naturally, only cream-colored individuals are transformed into pandas. And the lighter the fur initially, the better the result will be. Your pet will not remain a panda for long, only six weeks. If you want your pet to always be a panda, then the procedure will have to be repeated regularly. We have to admit that the panda-colored fluffy dog really looks touching.
