Breed of a chow-chow – one of the most ancient in the world. And though myths narrate that it occurred from bears, researches claim, these dogs are representatives of the primitive breeds beginning the evolution from a wolf.
History of breed
The breed of a chow-chow is referred to group of spitz-dogs. There is an opinion that the Tibetan mastiffs also took part in its formation.
The homeland of breed are China and North Korea. The Buddhist monks living in monasteries in territories of Tibet and Northern China were engaged in cultivation of a chow-chow. They watched purity of blood and prevented degeneration. Dogs at them were intended, first of all, for supervision and protection of the monastery and its inhabitants, also used them for protection of the cattle, occasionally as hunting.
In some regions of China there were specialized restaurants, meat of dogs to them was served as a usual dish. But contrary to popular belief, for such purposes did not use thoroughbred chow-chows but only their hybrids. Mongrels were not just eaten, but also with the purpose to receive medical treatment. Chinese believed that having eaten a certain part of a body of a dog it is possible to cure any given body of the organism.
Besides, chow-chows parted also for the purpose of receiving fur. For this purpose there were huge dog farms. As soon as the age of an animal reached 19 months, it was destroyed by means of a suffocation. In the middle of the 19th century the breed of a chow-chow was delivered to England where practically at once there were her admirers who began to form clubs and to be engaged in cultivation, and sale of puppies. Selection of British rather strongly changed original form – paws of dogs became shorter, wool is more dense. Today chow-chows keep in overwhelming quantity of cases as a decorative animal though she quite can cope with the initial functions.
External features
Magnificent head of hear, widely put eyes giving to a look of a dog clever expression, blue language – what many dog breeders love breed of a chow-chow for. Besides these characteristic features, representatives of a look also differ in a massive skull, a powerful brawny constitution, a short neck, small thick ears, dark brown eyes of the average size. Height of an average dog is about 60 cm.
Character of dogs of a chow-chow
Representatives of breed of a chow-chow differ in friendliness, quiet temper, even in some calmness. Beings tender, devoted to the owner can fight back the strangers who dared a misfortune. For all history of observation of breed it is not revealed any case of unprovoked attack of a dog of breed of a chow-chow on children, but many cases when they acted as rescuers and nurses when there are no parents nearby are recorded. In spite of the fact that chow-chows are rather clever dogs, even they will be very difficult to be taught the simplest teams. Life expectancy of this breed averages 10-12 years.