Do Chow Chows Bite Their Owners?

Do you own a Chow Chow dog breed? Or are you thinking of buying one? Surely one of the biggest questions on your mind would be whether the Chow Chow dog breed bites its owner. 

Sure, the dog is supposed to protect you and your family from strangers and thieves at night, but does it turn and “bite the hands that feed it”? 

This article contains the answer to that question. Along with your answer, you’ll also find a ton of information about the Chow Chow dog breed.  

Let’s begin with the dog’s history. 

History of Chow Chow Dog Breed 

The Chow Chow is a dog breed that originally came from China as far back as more than 2,000 years ago.  

There it has been used as a war dog, guard, and also for hunting. These dogs first came into China when the Mongols and Tatars invaded China. During that period, the dogs served as war dogs for the warriors. 

These dogs were described as ferocious-looking lions with blue tongues. Sometimes people described them as dogs of the barbarians.  

The emperors themselves highly valued these dogs, recognizing their great qualities for hunting, thanks to the fact that they have an outstanding sense of smell, which, together with their great strength and power, makes them lethal when hunting all kinds of wild animals.  

This contributed to the emperors beginning to raise them in their palaces, as witnessed by a painting that is more than 2,000 years old that decorates an imperial hall in which a dog with red fur appears lying under a table, with an expression identical to that of the Chow Chow breed. 

These dogs were expanding throughout the Asian territory, and they were not only found in palaces. Buddhist monks in the mountains of Mongolia and Manchuria brought these dogs to their monasteries to guard them against evildoers and to care for their flocks. 

But when the Tang Dynasty ended, the country was ravaged by famine, and poverty led these dogs and other domestic animals to lose all the privileges they once enjoyed. 

They only kept them as guardians in some houses of the richest nobles and monasteries. It lived through a hard time in which it began to be used for the consumption of its meat and the use of its skins to make clothing. 

In the XIX century, the first specimens arrived in England. This breed became the favorite animal of Queen Victoria. The origin of the name “Chow Chow” is thought to have come from the mandarin inscription that meant ” diverse merchandise ” with which they marked the boxes in which the first dogs of this breed were transported from China to England. 

In 1894 they were officially recognized by the English Kennel Club. 

The official translation of their name is “black mouth” or “black tongue”, although they have a bluish or purple tongue. 

From England, the Chow Chow breed continues to spread across America and Europe. 

Characteristics of the Chow Chow Breed 

The Chow Chow breed stands around 20 inches and can weigh up to 70 pounds. The breed has a big head full of hair that extends to other parts of its body.  

Although Chow Chow may present some nuances of lighter color in the tail and the hip, it usually has uniform colors, being red, black, cinnamon, cream, and blue some of the possibilities. Red Chow Chows are the most common, ranging from light golden brown to the color of mahogany. 

Chow chow temperament 

Reserved, distant, not very fond of affection, independent, and stubborn are some of the adjectives that just begin to describe the personality of Chow Chow. Although their fluffy fur is very inviting, they don’t much like being teased or grabbed by children and strangers. 

It is a very intelligent breed, being easily trained, but it has the spirit of a cat. So don’t expect to see that excitement and adoration when you get home. Chow Chow also does not tolerate physical punishment, as it expects to be treated with dignity and respect and will return treatment to the same extent – if it thinks you are worthy of it. 

Chow chow with children, strangers, and other animals 

Often misunderstood, Chow Chows tends to suspect strangers, as it is very territorial and takes its home and family very seriously.

In the presence of the tutor or owner and making the necessary presentations, Chow Chow will know how to live with a stranger, but in the absence of his tutor or owner, he will rarely let a stranger pass unscathed.  

If you want your Chow Chow to live well with children, it is good to start training him from a puppy, with socialization and obedience training. And children too: teach them how to handle and deal with the dog, for peaceful coexistence between both. 

Does Chow Chow bark a lot? 

Known for his attitude, Chow Chow will not bark unless strictly necessary. Do you know the saying “dog that barks, don’t bite”? Well, Chow Chow is exactly the opposite, bite first, ask later. 

Is the breed destructive? 

Chow chow puppies are generally well-behaved and do not exhibit destructive or disobedient behavior, but this does not usually last long. As adolescence approaches, Chow Chows tends to challenge the owner’s authority, and if he gets stuck with something, there will be no saint to change his mind. 

As the breed is known for its introspective personality, it is recommended to train it from a puppy, to accept strange people, places, and dogs with calm and tranquility. 

Do Chow Chows bite their owners? 

Yes. Chow Chows sometimes bite their owners. This happens only when it feels threatened by its owner.  

Suppose the owner moves aggressively or in a suspecting manner, a Chow Chow would attack. Also because of the amount of fur that covers its eyes, it is not wise to approach the dog from behind. 

The fur often blocks its view and would make the dog consider you as a threat. 

What do you do when your Chow Chow bites you? 

Regardless of the size of the dog and the severity of the wound, a bite must always be treated, otherwise, it could become infected and even lead to very serious complications.  

The first thing to do is wash your hands well and put on latex gloves, if they are nearby, to avoid possible infections. 

Then the wound must be thoroughly cleaned for several minutes, first with pressure saline and then with warm water and mild soap, if it is superficial or shallow, to try to eliminate any possible remains that may remain in it. 

After washing the wound with serum, apply warm water and mild soap 

Keep in mind that a dog’s mouth has a multitude of germs since it is in frequent contact with the ground, so they are lesions prone to infection. This means that the doctors must administer certain antiseptics. 

Once the wound has been washed and disinfected, it should be covered with a clean, lint-free bandage. 

If it is an ugly, torn, deep, and bleeding wound, you should go to the doctor immediately, covering the area with a clean handkerchief or cloth while pressing on it to help stop the bleeding. 

When faced with a Chow Chow bite, you should always see a doctor within 8 hours of the injury, regardless of the severity of the injury. 

As banal as it may seem, the specialist must assess whether it is necessary to get the rabies vaccine, even if you own the dog. You should always go to the doctor within 8 hours of the bite. 

Rabies is a disease caused by a virus that is transmitted through the dog’s saliva and has a mortality rate of almost 100% of cases. Deeper brushing of the wound by healthcare personnel can save us from complications. 

Most likely, the doctor will prescribe antibiotic treatment to avoid possible bacterial infections. And, if the last dose of tetanus was received more than 10 years ago, it is necessary to receive a booster because the bacteria that cause this disease can be transmitted through bites. 

If after the doctor sees you the injury worsens over the hours, you must go back to the clinic to examine and assess the extent of the wound. 

You must provide the doctor with all the information you have about the animal (including veterinary documentation if you have it) to help him or her in establishing the best treatment. 

Conclusion 

Although the Chow Chow dog was originally used in battle and for hunting, it has now grown to become the protector of the home. It takes pride in protecting its owner from strangers. However, there are times when the dog bites its owner. 

This happens mostly because of some misunderstanding between the dog and its owner – mostly if the owner looks like a threat. If that ever happens, immediately seek medical help from a clinic or hospital.