To trace the history of chow chow in Nigeria, we will have to trace it back to South Africa and Europe. In this article, we will pay more attention to its South African roots.
A Brief History of Chow chow
Chow chow in South Africa registered its presence about 100 years ago. As one of the oldest breeds of dogs worldwide, the Chow chow is historically found to have existed during the Han Dynasty. This period was from 202 BC to 220 A.D. A different school of thought believes that the chow’s existence could have been earlier. This is because chow chow has been historically recorded to be used for hunting in China.
Therefore, it is believed that chow chow originated in China or the Arctic region and then migrated to other parts of the world through Siberia, Tibet, Mongolia, and China. Read the article from Biomed central blog to understand the ancient origins of the chow chow. Besides being used for hunting, the chow chow also served as watchdogs, a shepherd for cattle and sheep, and a sport dog. They were essential in hunting because of their strength, sight, ability to scent prey from afar, and their speed in attacking predators.
Quick Facts about Chow chow
* Chow chow isn’t the original name!
In China, Chow chows are known as Songshi Quan. The name ‘chow chow’ is a pidgin-English term used as a name for anything brought from the East during the earliest centuries. The dog and every small other item brought were called Chow-chow.
* Looking for a teddy bear? Chow chow isn’t one!
Even though chow chow in Nigeria is often called the teddy bear dog, it is built to be active and smart. It functions best when hunting, working, or as a guard dog because it is territorial. It loves to be in charge and to secure his space. Although its fur and gait could make one perceive it cuddly, this isn’t true about the Chow chow. So if you are looking for a watchdog for your family, Chow chow is here for you. Looking for a teddy bear? Look elsewhere!
* Chow Chows are Good watchdogs but poor hostess.
Chow chows are one of the dogs’ breeds that give sound and clear signals of danger, especially when unfamiliar faces are approaching your home. This breed of dogs are aggressive and not the friendliest when dealing with people other than immediate family members. As a note of warning, stand by the door when expecting a guest to make a formal introduction between your guest and your chow to ease the dog’s aggression. Owners can manage this behaviour with proper training and exercise.
* Chow chow is a workaholic that does not like jogging.
Chow chow has always been a strong dog. Even the modern ones aren’t left out, although they are not as strong as those from centuries ago that were used mainly on farms and in the forest. Chow chows will gladly hunt with you, pull sledges, and shepherd sheep for you. But if you are looking for a hiking partner over a long distance or a jogging partner, the Chow chow will humbly sit at home instead.
* Chow chow is all-round EXTRA!
Chow chow has two significant physiological differences from other breeds of dog: their tongue and teeth, plus a straight back leg that gives them a stilted gait. Dogs generally have 42 teeth, but the chow has an extra 2 to make 44! Chow chow also has a coloured tongue, usually pink as a puppy but blue-black as an adult.
* Chow chow drinks water but not its furs!
While you might be having an awesome time in a swimming pool, your Chow chow should be excluded unless otherwise trained to swim. Chow chow has a double coat which could become heavy when wet thereby weighing on the dog’s pace in moving around or swimming.
Types of chow chows
Chow chow is just a breed, but different varieties exist in the “line”. The chow chow’s line will determine many things like the muzzle’s length (either long or short), snout shapes and sizes ( round, wide, flat, long, very long, chow Spitz.) and whether its face folds or not. Genetics is another factor that brings variation in whether a chow has a long and full mane or a short mane. At Pet Lovers Nigeria, we sell pedigree, disease-free chow chow puppies. To order a puppy, please visit our online pet shop.
nimabi
Thank you very much for sharing, I learned a lot from your article. Very cool. Thanks