Animal register · DogIn the app
Chow Chow
Chow, Chow-Chow
The Chow Chow is a compact, lion-like Spitz from China with a dense stand-off coat in one solid colour: black, red, blue, fawn, cream or white (FCI breed standard). The FCI standard gives a height of 48–56 cm for males and 46–51 cm for females; PDSA gives an average weight of 20–30 kg. A dog of this size is fully grown at about 15–18 months (PetMD); PDSA gives a lifespan of under 10 years and PetMD eight to 12 years.
PDSA writes that the breed needs at least one hour of exercise a day, brushing every day, and a gap between eating and exercise. It describes loyal dogs that can be ideal pets in the right household, ideally with experienced owners, does not recommend the breed with small children, and notes a high prey drive, that they may not tolerate being alone and should be well socialised from a young age. PetMD adds that the thick coat and short snout make them more likely to overheat.
Available in the 12-week PetPrep Challenge (paid breed).
Updated:
At a glance
- Size
- large — PDSA S700
- Adult weight
- males 20–30 kg, females 20–30 kg — PDSA S700
- Daily exercise
- at least 1 hour a day — PDSA S700
- Brushing
- every day — PDSA S700
- Shedding
- sheds — PDSA S700
Key facts from the sources at the bottom of the page. Where sources differ, each value is listed.
Who it suits
Keep in mind:
- large dog — not for homes with small childrenS700
- loves company — best with someone home most of the dayS700
- needs mental challengesS700
- thick coat — struggles in hot weatherS701
- eyelids and eyes — check eye testsS700
- sensitive skin — prone to itching and inflammationS700
- shorter lifespanS700
- shedsS700
- needs brushing several times a weekS700S701
- strong prey drive — may chase small petsS700
The same tags as in the app. Each tag is backed by the sources listed at the bottom of the page.
What it needs
From breed standards, kennel clubs, veterinary charities and studies. Where sources differ, each one is shown.
Questions and answers
Answered only from the sourced facts on this page; every answer names its sources.
How much exercise does a Chow Chow need?
According to our sources, the Chow Chow needs this much exercise: at least 1 hour a day — PDSA S700.
How long does a Chow Chow live?
According to our sources, the lifespan of the Chow Chow is: less than 10 years — PDSA S700; 8–12 years — PetMD S701. The sources give different values, so each one is listed.
Game rules, not veterinary advice
How PetPrep simulates it
In PetPrep one real week is one month of the pet's life. These are the rules the game uses for this breed. PetPrep chose them from the sources on this page; they are not care instructions for a real animal.
| Life stage | Starts | Meals a day | Daily step goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puppy | arrives at 2 months | 4; from month 3: 3; from month 6: 2 | 1,000 steps per month of age (2,000 on arrival), up to 6,000 from month 6 |
| Young dog | month 9 | 2 | 6,000 steps |
| Adult | month 36 (3 years) | 2 | 6,000 steps |
| Senior | month 90 (7.5 years) | 2 | 4,500 steps |
- Step goal = minutes of daily exercise × 100 steps: an adult gets 1 hour, so 6,000 steps a day.
- Learns commands more slowly than the mixed breed of the free plan (0.5× its speed).
- Becomes a senior in month 90 (7.5 years) — the last quarter of the breed's expected lifespan.
- Walks count real steps from Apple Health or Health Connect (with permission, read-only) and the phone's motion sensor — no GPS.
- Combing 7 times a week.
Each game number is a PetPrep decision recorded with its sources. — PetMD, AAHA, Dogs Trust, ASPCA, VCA Animal Hospitals, The Royal Kennel Club, Purdue University Canine Welfare Science, Wikipedia, British Journal of Sports Medicine, PDSA S10S11S14S18S19S21S24S35S45S700
Common Chow Chow owner mistakes
Small habits that cause bigger problems — each point comes from the sources of this breed.
- Too little daily exerciseExercise needed: at least 1 hour a day. Plan it into every day, not only at weekends. — PDSA S700
- Skipping coat careBrushing: every day. Sheds. — PDSA S700
- Forgetting that the puppy is still growingAdult size reached at: about 15–18 months (guidance for its size class). Until then, plan exercise and food for a young animal that is still growing, and ask your vet what suits yours. — PetMD S10
- Overlooking the breed's known health issuesCan be prone to hip and elbow dysplasia; breeders are advised to have the parents' hips and elbows tested before breeding. Bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus), where the stomach twists, can occur in the breed — it is an emergency that needs a vet straight away. Entropion, where the eyelids turn inwards and irritate the eye, can occur in the breed; ask for eye-checked parents. The skin folds, especially on the face, can trap moisture and become infected (skin fold pyoderma); the facial wrinkles need daily cleaning. Panosteitis, a painful inflammation of the long bones that usually affects young, growing dogs, can occur in the breed. An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), which can affect weight, skin and energy levels, can occur in the breed. — PDSA S700
In PetPrep a child practises exactly these habits — steps, meals, care — before the real pet comes home.
Health
For information only, not vet-reviewed. Ask your vet about your own animal.
- Can be prone to hip and elbow dysplasia; breeders are advised to have the parents' hips and elbows tested before breeding. — PDSA S700
- Bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus), where the stomach twists, can occur in the breed — it is an emergency that needs a vet straight away. — PDSA S700
- Entropion, where the eyelids turn inwards and irritate the eye, can occur in the breed; ask for eye-checked parents. — PDSA S700
- The skin folds, especially on the face, can trap moisture and become infected (skin fold pyoderma); the facial wrinkles need daily cleaning. — PDSA S700
- Panosteitis, a painful inflammation of the long bones that usually affects young, growing dogs, can occur in the breed. — PDSA S700
- An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), which can affect weight, skin and energy levels, can occur in the breed. — PDSA S700
Before you buy: what to check with the breeder
Questions to settle before you take a puppy home. The points are advice from vets, welfare charities and kennel clubs; each cites its source.
For every breed
- See the puppy with its mother, where it was born. — PDSA, RSPCA K1K2
- The puppy should not leave its mother before 8 weeks of age. — PDSA K1
- Ask for the pedigree. Under FCI rules a pedigree may be issued for correct parentage only. — FCI K7
- Ask to see the health-test results of both parents. Which tests matter depends on the breed. — PDSA, British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K1K9K10
- National kennel clubs can set breeding rules that go beyond the FCI's — ask the breed club which tests the parents need. — FCI K7
- Ask for a written sale contract that records the puppy's background and health. — British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K9K10
Laws on the minimum age, microchipping and vaccination differ by country — check the rules where you live.
Health tests of the parents for this breed
We have not yet found a reliable source that lists health tests for the parents of this breed. Ask the breed club and the breeder which tests the parents have done.
Similar breeds
Other dogs in the register with similar needs — each with sourced facts.
Sources
Every fact on this page cites one of these sources.
- S10PetMD — S. C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP, 2025-05-20 — When Do Dogs Stop Growing?https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/when-do-dogs-stop-growing
- S11AAHA — 2019 AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines — Canine life stage definitionshttps://www.aaha.org/resources/life-stage-canine-2019/canine-life-stage-definitions/
- S14Dogs Trust (UK) — Caring for an older doghttps://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/life-with-your-dog/at-home/looking-after-an-older-dog
- S18ASPCA — General Dog Carehttps://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/general-dog-care
- S19VCA Animal Hospitals (2025-02-21) — Feeding Times and Frequency for Your Doghttps://vcahospitals.com/pets-first/know-your-pet/feeding-times-and-frequency-for-your-dog
- S21The Royal Kennel Club (UK) — Puppy feeding tipshttps://www.royalkennelclub.com/health-and-dog-care/health-dog-care/health/health-and-care/a-z-of-health-and-care-issues/puppy-feeding-tips
- S24Purdue University Canine Welfare Science (content: Pet Leadership Council 2019, bedogsmart.com) — Dog Fitness and Exercise (PDF)https://caninewelfare.centers.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Dog-Fitness-and-Exercise.pdf
- S35Wikipedia — The Intelligence of Dogshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Intelligence_of_Dogs
- S45British Journal of Sports Medicine (2018) — Tudor-Locke C. et al. How fast is fast enough? Walking cadence (steps/min) as a practical estimate of intensity in adults. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2017-097628https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6029645
- S696FCI — FCI-Standard N° 205 — Chow Chow (English PDF, official valid standard 08.09.2026)https://WWW.FCI.BE/Nomenclature/Standards/205g05-en.pdf
- S697FCI — Breeds nomenclature — Chow Chow (205)https://fci.be/en/nomenclature/CHOW-CHOW-205.html
- S700PDSA — Chow Chow breed informationhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/medium-dogs/chow-chow
- S701PetMD — Autumn Madden, DVM, reviewed by Teresa Manucy, DVM (updated 2025-10-16) — Chow Chow Dog Breed: Health, Care, and Traininghttps://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/chow-chow
- K1PDSA — Getting a puppyhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/getting-a-puppy
- K2RSPCA — Buying a puppyhttps://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/puppy
- K7FCI (copy hosted by Norsk Kennel Klub) — International Breeding Rules of the FCIhttps://nkk2023.stage22.coretrek.no/getfile.php/131987377-1520848467/Dokumenter/Registrering/FCIs%20avlsregler%202013.pdf
- K9British Veterinary Association — What should you consider when buying a puppy?https://www.bva.co.uk/news-and-blog/blog-article/what-should-you-consider-when-buying-a-puppy/
- K10FOUR PAWS UK — Questions to ask when buying a puppyhttps://www.four-paws.org.uk/our-stories/publications-guides/questions-to-ask-when-buying-a-puppy
PetPrep is a simulation for families. This page is not veterinary advice — for a real animal, ask a vet or the breed club.
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