The Golden Retriever Chow mix, often referred to as the Golden Chow, is a beautiful hybrid breed that looks a bit like a fluffy teddy bear. They are a combination of a Chow Chow and a Golden Retriever, and these dogs look so cuddly and fluffy. If you’re thinking about bringing one of these adorable dogs into your home, you’ll want to learn a bit more about them first. Take a closer look at their history, temperament, appearance, grooming needs, and health before you decide this is the right hybrid dog for you.
Origin and History
Hybrid breeds have become quite popular over the past few decades, and it’s likely that the Golden Retriever Chow mix came into being sometime in the last 20-30 years. However, no one is quite sure of the hybrid’s exact origins. Of course, by looking at both the Chow Chow and the Golden Retriever, we can learn more about the history of the Golden Chow mix.
It’s thought that the Chow Chow is at least 2,000 years old, and the breed originated from a mix of a Samoyed and Tibetan Mastiff, resembling both of the parent breeds. For centuries, this dog was a sporting dog that was very popular in China, particularly with wealthy sportsmen and emperors. These dogs were used as both pointers and scenting dogs, and they’ve also been used for protection, herding, and pulling in the past. It wasn’t until the late 1700s that these dogs were imported to England, and later in 1890 they would be exhibited within the United States. In 1903, the breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club.
The Golden Retriever is thought to descend from dogs that were bred in Britain back in the 1800s. The breed, like most all retrievers, traces back to Saint John’s Dog of Newfoundland. Through the years, other breeds were brought into the mix, including a red setter, black Wavy-Coated Retrievers, a Tweed Water Spaniel, and more. These dogs were recognized as “Retrievers – Yellow or Golden” in 1913. They’d come to the United States in the 1900s, quickly becoming very popular. The first Golden was registered with the American Kennel Club in 1925. Still today they continue to be one of the most popular dog breeds.
Appearance
Since both the Golden and the Chow Chow are medium to large dogs, you can expect your Golden Retriever Chow mix to be a medium to large dog as well. They usually stand at between 20 and 25 inches and may weigh between 50 and 75 pounds. Their long tail is often slightly curved up, and they generally have dropped ears, a black nose, and large feet. In many cases, they inherit the black tongue of the Chow Chow. Usually these dogs have a coat that is solid color, but the colors can vary.
Some of the potential coat colors for the Golden Chow include red, black, blue, and golden. The coat is very fluffy and they often have a thick mane that gives them a lion-like appearance.
The Golden Chow Temperament
Golden Retrievers are known for being very loyal, people pleasers, and gentle. However, the Chow Chow can sometimes bring some aggressiveness and stubbornness to this hybrid. This means that early socialization and training is very important. Usually the Golden Retriever Chow mix has some traits from both of the parents, and they usually end up being a bit aloof towards strangers but very loving and loyal with their family. They often bark, which can make them a great guard dog to have around.
These dogs are very intelligent, and they may be a little stubborn, making them a bit tough to train. You definitely want to engage in obedience training with the Golden Chow. You’ll need to be firm when training these dogs.
These medium-large dogs will also need plenty of exercise and they love being outdoors. They’ll enjoy nice walks or jogs as well as fun games, such as fetch. Make sure you give them plenty of mental and physical exercise.
Grooming
Since they have the thick fur or the Chow Chow and the long coat of the Golden, usually the Golden Retriever Chow mix is going to require a lot of regular grooming. Their thick fur will be prone to tangling and matting, so they’ll need to be brushed several times a week, or even daily. Golden Chow dogs can be expected to shed profusely a couple times a year. Along with regular brushing, you’ll need to keep their ears clean and check them regularly for infection. Teeth need to be brushed a couple times a week, and if they don’t wear their nails down naturally, they’ll need to be clipped regularly as well.
Working Roles
Currently the Golden Retriever Chow mix isn’t used in any working roles, but they do make some wonderful pets.
Health
Usually the Chow Chow lives from 10 to 15 years, while a Golden Retriever has an average life span of 10 to 12 years. You can expect a Golden Retriever Chow mix to have an average life span of somewhere between 10 and 15 years. Although the Golden Chow hybrid is expected to be healthier than the pure bred parents, you still need to be aware of health concerns the mix can inherit from the parents. Some of the potential health concerns may include:
- Hypothyroidism
- Various forms of cancer
- Hip dysplasia
- Pericardial effusion
- Insulinoma
- Cataracts
- Progressive retinal atrophy
- Skin disorders
- Mucocutaneous
- Muscular dystrophy
- Elbow dysplasia
- Obesity
- Myasthenia gravis
- Hypopigmentation
- Hock osteochondrosis
- Ectropion
- Thyroid disease
- Entropion
- Patellar luxation