Used as guard dogs or as hunting dogs in Northern China several thousands of years ago, this blue-black tongue dog which looks pretty much like a teddy bear thanks to its thick, smooth coat, has gained popularity in Western countries across the globe.
If you’re interested in learning more about this breed and what to expect when it comes to its size and weight, this extensive Chow Chow growth guide will provide you with everything you will need to know.
The Chow Chow is a purebred hunting dog that is classed as a medium-sized dog breed. Although, their huge coats after make them look much bigger than they actually are. Male Chows are also larger than females.
According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), Chows tend to reach their adult size around their first birthday but will definitely have fully matured after 18 months; from then on, they should only gain weight marginally.
A Chow Chow’s height is influenced by the size of its pet parents, as well as its sex. An adult Chow will be around 48 cm tall and have an average weight of anything between 25 to 33 kilos.
Males tend to be slightly bigger than females:
About 48 cm tall and weigh anything between 25 and 33 kilos.
About 46 cm tall and between 20 to 27 kilogrammes heavy.
With short-haired dogs, it is quite easy to make out whether they look a little chubby. Your Chow’s thick fur coat makes this a bit more difficult.
To make sure your dog is not overweight, routine vet visits are highly recommended, where a vet will weigh your dog and give you useful insights on whether your dog requires more food or more exercise.
A good way of knowing if your Chow Chow has a good weight is if you can slightly feel its ribs when petting it on the ribcage, but not so much that they feel like they are standing out.
Feeding your Chow high-quality dog food, daily exercise (Chow Chows can be quite the couch potato) and not being too generous with treats will also help in maintaining a good shape.
To make sure your puppy grows into a healthy bear dog, you should feed it frequent meals of high-quality dog food suitable for medium-sized dog breeds.
A good balance of proteins, fibre and fatty acids, as well as sufficient water and exercise, will make sure your puppy grows properly and has the appropriate weight gain for its age.
Below is a weight chart that will give you an insight into the appropriate estimated weight your puppy should have until it is fully grown:
Yes, you can certainly give your cuddle buddy some treats every now and then. You should just make sure that they do not contain any sugar or artificial additives and stick to more healthy snacks.
An overweight dog will be more prone to health problems such as hip dysplasia as there is too much strain on its joints when it’s overweight.
Your dog will also be less active and not want to participate or excel in dog sports as much anymore.
A good way to know how big your Chow Chow will turn out to be as your dog ages is by looking at the puppy’s parents and their respective sizes.
These purebred dogs have a rich history and are becoming more and more popular across the globe. Thanks to that, there is loads of information to be found on how to take care of them as a new family member of yours.
Should you have further questions that go beyond what was covered in this guide, you can always contact a local breed club and inform yourself further about this breed.
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