About the Chow Chow
The Chow Chow is an ancient breed from China, famous for its lion-like mane and blue-black tongue. It is a sturdy, square dog about 43 to 51 cm tall and 20 to 32 kg, with a thick double coat in either a rough or smooth type.
It carries itself with a proud, serious air, and its personality is nothing like a cuddly toy.
Temperament: what living with one is like
Chow Chows are calm, dignified and independent. They bond strongly with their family but are aloof with strangers and may be wary or protective. They are not especially playful, and they are not demanding about exercise.
They need very early, thorough socialisation, because an unsocialised Chow can become aggressive towards strangers and other dogs. They are strong-willed, so they are better suited to experienced owners. They also do not like being handled roughly or hugged.
Living with a Chow Chow in Delhi NCR
Heat is the main question for Chow Chow owners in Delhi NCR. A thick coat is made for cold climates, and Delhi summers regularly cross 40°C. Many families keep the breed happily, but only with a few habits:
- Keep them cool indoors. A room with an AC or a good cooler is strongly recommended from April to September.
- Walk at the right time. Early morning and late evening in summer. Skip midday walks and check that the pavement is not too hot for their paws.
- Always have fresh water available, and never leave a dog in a parked car.
- Do not shave the coat to cool the dog. The coat insulates against heat as well as cold, so regular brushing and a cool room do more good.
- Watch the monsoon. Humidity can bring skin problems, ticks and fleas, so keep the coat dry and ask your vet about tick and flea control.
The Chow Chow is one of the breeds that find Delhi's summer hardest. Its heavy coat and sturdy build make overheating a serious risk, so it should live in an air-conditioned or well-cooled room in summer and walk only at the coolest times.
Flats and apartments: A Chow Chow can live in a flat because it is calm and needs moderate exercise, but it must have an AC in summer. Check your society's rules on dogs and lifts before you decide.
Grooming and shedding
The thick coat needs brushing three to four times a week and daily during heavy seasonal shedding, with a slicker brush and undercoat rake. The mane and the folds around the face need extra care to avoid matting and skin problems.
Do not shave the coat. Check ears and skin folds, trim nails and brush teeth.
Exercise and training
A Chow Chow needs about 30 to 60 minutes of moderate activity a day: calm walks in the cool hours and some sniffing time. It is not an athletic or playful dog, and heat can quickly become dangerous.
Early, thorough socialisation with people, places and other dogs is the most important part of raising a Chow. Use calm, consistent, reward-based training.
Health: what to know before you choose
Every breed has conditions it is more prone to. For the Chow Chow, it is better to know these early:
- Hip and elbow dysplasia.
- Eyelid problems (entropion) that can scratch the eye and may need surgery.
- Heat stroke and breathing trouble, because of the thick coat and short muzzle.
- Skin infections in folds and under the dense coat.
- Thyroid and other hormone conditions.
Ask about the puppy's parents and any health records that exist, and book a vet check soon after your puppy comes home. Keeping your dog at a healthy weight and having regular check-ups is the best thing you can do.
Feeding and puppy care
Medium-breed puppies usually eat three meals a day, moving to two as they grow. Ask your vet to recommend a good puppy food and a feeding amount, and measure portions so weight stays healthy.
Your vet will set your puppy's vaccination and deworming schedule. Puppies usually start their vaccines at around six to eight weeks, with boosters a few weeks apart, so ask us which vaccines and dewormers have already been given and when the next ones are due. We will always tell you the puppy's real age and what it has been eating.
Chow Chow puppy price in Delhi NCR
There is no single price for a Chow Chow puppy, and be careful of anyone who quotes one without asking questions. What you pay depends on the puppy's age, lineage and records, coat type and colour, health checks and current availability. Prices can change from one litter to the next.
Remember the price of the puppy is only the start. Plan for food, vaccines, vet visits, grooming, training, a cool place to sleep and the unexpected. A puppy priced far below what others ask is worth questioning: ask where it was born, how old it really is and what records exist.
Message or call us and we will share what is available for this breed right now, what is included, and what we can and cannot show you. You can meet the puppy by appointment before you decide.
Is a Chow Chow right for you?
A Chow Chow may suit you if you have experience with strong-willed dogs, can keep the home cool in summer and prefer a calm, dignified companion.
You may want a different breed if you want a sociable dog that loves everyone, have young children, or cannot air-condition a room in summer. In that case another breed might fit better, and we will tell you honestly.
