The Chow Chow has been known for thousands of years in China, where the breed was put to work as a hunter, cart puller and boat guard.  One Emperor is said to have kept 2500 Chow pairs as his guards.  This beautiful dog was first brought to England by merchants in the late 1800's and then on to the United States as a faithful companion dog.  Definitely one of the most impressive of all breeds is the Chow Chow.

The two most distinctive feature of the Chow Chow is its blue black tongue and its huge ruff of fur behind the head, which gives it a lion like appearance.  The most common coat color is red, like Martha Stewarts two Chows, but they also come in black, blue and cinnamon. The color you don't see much of is cream.  Also, the average weight of a Chow Chow is 45-70 pounds and a height of 18-22 inches to the shoulders.  Chows are considered to be dignified, independent and reserved with affection.  Yes, Chow Chows are an "excellent" family dog.