Normally, a blue-tongued dog would be a cause for concern. But when that blue tongue belongs to your Chow Chow, it’s completely normal. Chow Chows have a black tongue with a distinctive bluish tint.

The Chow Chow originated in China, where it was used as a hunting dog. Asian sailors brought these dogs with them to England, where their exotic appearance quickly made them popular. This breed is classified by the American Kennel Club as a member of the Non-Sporting group.

The Chow Chow is a 45 to 70 pound dog that stands 17 to 20 inches high. Its downturned lips can give this breed a deceptively angry appearance. This unfriendly impression is offset by the tail curling over the dog’s back and its thick double coat. The red Chow Chow is most common, but these furry dogs also can have black, blue, cinnamon, or cream colored coats.

Chow Chows are not high energy dogs, but they do need a bit more exercise than an apartment provides. A small fenced yard is adequate for this breed. If you do live in an apartment, be prepared to take your Chow Chow for a daily run. But don’t allow him to run loose in the park, as Chows are prone to aggressiveness toward other dogs.

While Chow Chows are devoted to their families and usually love children, they often don’t do well with other pets. New owners should concentrate on socializing their puppies to be sure they don’t grow up to be dangerous or aggressive to strangers. Puppy obedience classes are a good way to socialize your puppy while being sure it receives thorough obedience training.

Besides their tendency to be aloof and unfriendly to people outside the family, these dogs do have a few other drawbacks. They have a tendency to dominate people if they can get away with it and they can bully inexperienced dog owners. You’ll have to be firm with your dog and should always be sure to follow through on commands.

Since they are not extremely active dogs, Chows don’t eat a lot. You should feed your dog a nutritious puppy food while he is young and a good adult dog food when he grows older. While they are easy to feed, they do require quite a lot of grooming. Their thick coats are hard to brush because they’re so dense.

While they are big dogs, Chow Chows should not spend too much time outside during the summer, since their thick coats don’t protect Chows from heat sensitivity. These dogs also can suffer from hip dysplasia and often have problems with their knee joints.

If you don’t mind that Chow Chows have a bit of an attitude problem when they’re dealing with strangers or other animals, then this might just be the right breed for you. After all, there’s nothing quite like hugging one of these fuzzy, bear-like dogs on a chilly winter night.