Chow Chow Lifespan: How Long Do Chow Chows Live?

Written by Jaydee Williams
Updated: June 26, 2023
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How Long Do Chow Chows Live? infographic
Chow Chows typically have an average lifespan of 8 to 12 years.
  • Parents of chows chows can lengthen their lifespan with regular exercise, a healthy diet, and the proper environment.
  • This breed is prone to a few hereditary conditions such as hip dysplasia and eyelid entropion.

Chow chows are fuzzy little dogs that look quite like teddy bears. They’re commonly described as the ‘cats’ of the dog world because they are lone rangers who prefer their own company. A chow chow generally isn’t the breed that will be waiting at the door for your arrival. This is because of the background of their breed.

Chow chows are purebred domesticated dogs. In fact, it is mainly agreed upon that they were one of the first breeds to be domesticated when men bred wolves with wild dogs. There are artifacts dating back to 206 BC of chows living in China. The chows’ close relation to wild dogs and wolves is evident in their temperaments as well as their appearances.

They aren’t very social with humans or other animals and can be aggressive toward other dogs. Chows are extremely smart, but stubborn, requiring the most patient trainers. They are fluffy dogs that sport an upturned tail, another characteristic that they share with their wolf ancestors.

chow-chow

Chow chows are fuzzy little dogs that look quite like teddy bears.

©Flower_Garden/Shutterstock.com

How Long Do Chow Chows Live?

Chow chows live for an average of 8 to 12 years. They can live much longer or much shorter depending on how their pet parent cares for them. The breed has a few healthcare concerns, as their genetics predispose them to certain diseases and issues. Even so, with proper care and a healthy diet, chow chows can live much longer than 12 years.

How Old Was the Oldest Chow Chow?

The oldest chow chow on record lived to the age of 21 in 1935. There has not been a challenge to this record, making ‘Crow’, the all-black chow, the oldest to live yet. He lived with his owner, William J. Mack, in California. It was said in his older age that his black hair turned gray and his paws and muzzle turned white.

Chow chow is standing on a yellow foliage in the autumn park.

Chow chows live for an average of 8 to 12 years. They can live much longer or much shorter depending on how they are cared for.

©iStock.com/SergeyTikhomirov

Factors That Impact Chow Chow Lifespan

There are many things that factor in how long a chow chow will live. They need to be fed a good diet, exercised often, and checked for any genetic health issues. These are some of the things to know about and take care of for your chow chow so they can live for a long time.

Genetics and Health Issues

Chow chows are generally healthy dogs but are predisposed to a few health conditions. The first of these is hip dysplasia. This is a genetic issue that affects the growth of the hips. The hip joint is a ball and socket joint. In healthy dogs, both the ball and socket grow at the same rate. In dogs that have hip dysplasia, the two parts grow at different rates, causing pain for the animal and resulting in the need for surgery. There are two main methods to evaluate a dog’s risk for hip dysplasia: DNA tests by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) and the PennHip. The hip screenings by OFA require the dog to be around a year of age at the time of testing, while PennHip offers evaluations to dogs at just 16 weeks.

Eyelid Entropion

Chow chows also have a predisposition to eyelid entropion. This is a condition in which the eyelid rolls inward, making the eyelashes and hair touch the cornea of the eye. Eyelid entropion is incredibly uncomfortable and painful for the dog experiencing it. It can be hereditary or acquired and can afflict puppies as early as two weeks old. Experts recommend that you have an ophthalmologist evaluate this breed to check for the disease as early as puppyhood or upon the occurrence of any symptoms.

Avoiding Obesity and Dental Disease with a High-Quality Diet

Chow chows have a tendency to become overweight easily if fed a rich diet or if overfed. If possible, wet food is the best choice for your chow chow because dry food can cause periodontal disease. Wet food is also usually fresher and higher in nutrients than dry food. We’ve compiled a list of the best dog food brands, as well as the best wet dog foods. Be sure to check it out when considering what a healthy diet looks like for your chow chow.

If you think your chow may be becoming overweight, you can do a check. First, stand over your dog and look at the shape of its’ body. You should be able to see where it indents where your dog’s waist is. After this, put your hands on your dog’s back with your fingers splayed on its side. You should be able to feel the ribs without pressing hard, but you shouldn’t be able to see them.

spinach treats

If possible, wet food is the best choice for your chow chow because dry food can cause periodontal disease.

©Galina-Photo/Shutterstock.com

Exercise

Another way to prevent obesity, keep joints and ligaments healthy, and overall improve a dog’s life is through exercise. Getting in the right amount of daily activities can keep a dog from gaining too much fat and losing muscle. 

One caveat to exercise for chow chows is their complete disdain for it. They need daily activity to stay healthy but don’t generally like doing it very much. They also cannot tolerate much heat, making it hard to maintain a schedule of daily outdoor exercise into the summer months. Providing your chow chow with independent play toys is a way to help them become more interested in exercise.

Environment and Grooming

Any area with extreme temperatures is not the best environment for a chow chow. While they can tolerate the cold decently, hot weather can be more dangerous for this breed. They also do not do well in humidity. Extreme weather can create added stress and even cause them to have heatstroke, which can be fatal. If you live in a hot and humid place, a chow chow would do best living indoors and only going outside when necessary. Exercise and activities would be best if done inside.

With just one look at their long, fluffy coats, there’s no question as to why the heat impacts this breed so much. To help their coats remain clean and sweat and dirt-free, this breed requires regular grooming. The amount of grooming required depends on the type of chow chow you have. For rough-coated chows, daily grooming is optimal. For smooth-coated chows, brushing twice a week should be fine. Be sure to inspect and care for their eyes and ears during grooming sessions, and have their nails routinely clipped. 

A chow chow in a bath

Chow chows require regular grooming to help their coats remain clean and sweat and dirt-free, and should be bathed every six weeks.

©iStock.com/fotoedu

Regular Flea Medication and Routine Parasite Testing for Chows

Every dog should be on regular flea medication to prevent fleas and ticks. Not only can these pests cause skin issues and discomfort, but they can also cause Lyme disease and a few parasites. Fleas are hosts to at least three species of tapeworms. If a dog has fleas and ingests them, it can become the host to tapeworms. 

Humans can also become infected by parasites that they could spread to their dogs. Interacting with other dogs or animals, drinking infected water, and other factors increase the risk of a parasitic infection. Because parasites can become very dangerous in a short time, it’s best to have your vet routinely check for parasites in your dog. They perform this check with a simple fecal exam.

Spaying/Neutering

On average, dogs that are spayed or neutered live for around a year and a half longer than those that aren’t. They usually also have fewer behavioral issues and happier lives overall. Leaving a dog intact can lead to a higher risk of trauma or infection, so be on the lookout for these signs if you choose not to spay or neuter.

Chow-chow dog

On average, dogs that are spayed or neutered live for around a year and a half longer than those that aren’t. They usually also have fewer behavioral issues and happier lives overall.

©Maxim Petrichuk/Shutterstock.com

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Roman Zaiets/Shutterstock.com

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About the Author

Jaydee Williams is a writer at AZ Animals where her primary focus is on gardening, mammals, and travel. She has over 5 years of experience in writing and researching and holds a Master's Degree in English from the American College of Education, which she earned in 2019. A central Florida native, Jaydee loves being on the water, playing music, and petting her cat, Beans.

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