Do not feel threatened by the size of the Chow Chow dog you own. In fact, the furry exterior of this animal makes it seem rather huge in size when it is actually smaller than an average German Shepherd or a Labrador Retriever.
If you own a Chow Chow and are concerned about the growth, height, and weight of your pet, then we have enlisted various FAQs and situations that might pop up in your mind. A pet is a companion that you welcome inside your home and your concern for it is absolutely necessary.
If you are a new owner of the Chow Chow dog, you might be wondering about the growth of this puffy animal.
So, how big do Chow Chows get when fully grown? An adult male Chow Chow grows up to at least 19 inches (48 cm) tall with an average weight of 55 to 71 pounds (25-32kg). The adult female Chow Chow is 18 inches (46 cm) in height with a recorded weight of 44 to 60 pounds (20-27 kg). These entirely depend on the genetics and living environment of the Chow Chow.
The Chow Chow is a fascinating dog, which is almost very similar to a cat. He is said to be reserved, stubborn, and distant like a cat would be. Furthermore, this dog breed is actually very intelligent as well.
The Chow Chow tends to mind its own business and is comfortable in the presence of its owner. Only strangers tend to make the Chow Chow uncomfortable because of its laid back nature.
Talking about its size, the Chow Chow tends to grow according to the environment it lives in. If your Chow Chow has overgrown or has slowed down in growth, then here are some possible FAQs that you would like to know.
How Big Do Chow Chows Get When Fully Grown?
It is recorded that in 16 months, the Chow Chow is a fully grown animal. The combined average height of both male and female Chow Chows is 17 to 20 inches (43 to 51 cm) whereas, the weight is measured to be 50 to 75 pounds or 23-34 kg.
The Chow Chows final growth is fully known when he or she is 16 months of age. As this is the final stage, the growth of the pet in weight and size is not affected.
Other factors such as malnourishment, hookworms, an unattended diet plan, and exercise could affect the Chow Chows weight even after the dog has fully grown and developed. However, the gaining weight or change in size is unlikely to occur in a Chow Chow.
The details which relate to the Chow Chows growth are based on an average and are dependent upon the living environment, training, and other factors for their growth.
Average Height and Weight of Chow Chow by Age: What to Expect?
In order to have a clear understanding of the weight of the Chow Chow in certain time periods, the table has been illustrated below.
The table below illustrates the average weight of both male and female Chow Chow from 3 months up to 16 months:
The difference of the size and weight between the male and the female Chow Chow is evident with the male Chow Chow being heavier than the female Chow Chow. The weight difference is visible from the very start, i.e., 3 months.
The weight of the female Chow Chow is gradually increasing from 6 months to a year. However, the number increases at a sharp speed after 3 months. Similarly, the male Chow Chow also shows an increase in weight between the age of 3 months and 6 months.
It is worth noting that the final weight at 16 months of the female Chow Chow, as mentioned in the previous sections, is 59.5 pounds (27 kg) which is slightly heavier than that of the Chow Chow when it was a 1-year-old pup.
The final weight of the male Chow Chow, similarly, is 70.5 (32 kg) which is not as drastic as that of the pup when it was 12 months old.
The weight difference between the male Chow Chow and the female Chow Chow, therefore, could be due to the fact that the male Chow Chow has more muscle and is heavier than the female one.
The table below shows the average height of the female and male Chow Chow from being a 6-month-old pup to 18 months:
The height of the Chow Chow in both genders is very much the same. However, by 18 months, there is a change in their size. The male Chow Chow stands one inch taller than the female one on average.
The strong built of the male Chow Chow could be a possible reason why there is a difference between their heights.
Factors That Can Affect the Size of a Chow Chow
The Chow Chow requires special care and should be taught how to communicate if one wants to make it a welcoming dog for others.
Therefore, a Chow Chow’s height and weight are rather unlikely to be affected.
However, there are certain factors that could affect the size of a Chow Chow, which are as follows:
Diet: A malnourished Chow Chow would start to lose weight even if it reaches its full growth age. However, if the nutrition of the Chow Chow is followed, then the likelihood of the weight to be affected is low.
Obesity: Obesity is a natural and pre-existing health issue related to the Chow Chow. The worsening of the joints, digestion issues, and heart diseases are common issues if the Chow Chow’s feed is not looked after. A restriction on its food intake is essential to ensure that your Chow Chow does not gain weight. Thus, the average weight may be highly affected by the food intake of this animal.
Bloating: Chow Chows bloat more than an average dog. This is because of their genetic build. A Chow Chow is genetically prone to bloat more, adding to its puffy size.
Hookworms: Hookworms inside a Chow Chow could also heavily affect the size and growth of this breed. However, once treated with care, the Chow Chow restores to its normal growth time.
Gender: As stated in the previous section, the male Chow Chow weighs heavier than the female Chow Chow. This is due to the fact that the male dog breed has more muscle and is heavier. Consequently, where the weight of the male Chow Chow is heavier, so is the height. When fully grown, the height of the female Chow Chow is 18 inches (45.5 cm) whereas the male breed is 19 inches (48 cm).
At What Age Do Chow Chows Stop Growing?
The Chow Chow is a medium-large dog breed and is fully grown by 18 months, whereas they reach their full weight by the age of 2.
However, another study states that the female Chow Chow starts off at 17 to 22.4 pounds (8 to 10 kg) from 3 months to a fully grown breed at the end of its 16th month. The male Chow Chow is also fully grown by the end of its 16th month but is slightly heavier in its first 3 months.
Once the Chow Chow you own reaches its set age, it stops growing. From a 3-month-old pup to a 6-month-old, the increase is rather noteworthy. Reaching its final stage, the Chow Chow is fully grown and developed by the age of 2.
After this, the Chow Chows change in size, and in most cases, the weight would be a result of malnourishment or obesity. Height stays the same throughout and is not affected by external factors unless the Chow Chow is a mixed breed and is short.
Will My Chow Chow Still Grow After Being Neutered or Spayed?
The Chow Chow’s height and weight are purely based on their genes and have little or nothing to do with their hormone alteration. In a male pup, the amount of testosterone is reduced when neutering gives the Chow Chow less muscle mass than the average Chow Chow.
However, this will not affect the breed’s weight and height. If you have neutered your Chow Chow, the size of it will not be affected in any shape or form.
Why Is My Chow Chow Puppy Not Growing?
Don’t worry if your Chow Chow isn’t growing at the pace that you expect it should. There are possible reasons which might affect the growth of the Chow Chow. As listed above, the Chow Chow’s weight and size are not affected by neutering or spaying it.
Another reason that might affect the growth of your Chow Chow could be an infection from hookworms. Hookworms are a dog’s enemy and greatly affect any dog that comes into contact with it.
These Hookworms tend to consume the calories which would normally be taken in by the pup, which in turn slows down its growth. However, once the pests are filtered out of the Chow Chows stomach, the pup resumes its normal growth and development.
You can check this article from PetMD to learn more on the factors that cause a puppy to stop growing.
Is My Chow Chow Too Fat or Too Thin?
One should be able to tell if their pet Chow Chow is too skinny or fat than its average breed. Despite its puffy exterior, the owner can easily identify whether their Chow Chow is too fat or too thin by following the tests listed below.
If your Chow Chow is too skinny or thin, then you would be able to feel its ribs and easily identify them. Near the base of its tail, if a smooth exterior is replaced by sticking out bones, then your Chow Chow is thinner than the usual one.
The shoulder bones, spine, and hips of a skinny Chow Chow is easily felt and seen. The spine and rib bones are visible when looking at your pet from above. If any one of these deficiencies is present in your Chow Chow, then it is most likely that your pet is too thin.
In instances where your Chow Chow may be too fat, one should have to put little or no effort in locating and feeling its ribs. If you are not able to locate the ribs, then your pet has reached a state of obesity.
The tail bone and the shoulder bones, hip bones, and the spine lost in fat and cannot be felt are another sign that your dog is too obese. When looking from above, your dog would be very thick in appearance, with no waistline. Nonetheless, your Chow Chow will be round, overweight and unhealthy.
Consult your vet and take your Chow Chow for regular checkups if any one of these issues arises.
How to Measure Your Chow Chows Height?
You can measure your Chow Chows height at home by following the below listed simple steps:
Step 1 – The first and foremost aspect of it is to make sure that your dog is standing upright on a flat surface.
Step 2 – The Chow Chow should not be shrinking or leaning against any surface as the inaccuracy of height would be evident. The head of your pet should be positioned at a normal height.
Step 3 – Once the Chow Chow is standing in an upright position, the withers of this breed should be found. Because of the hair, it might be difficult to find the withers. However, the withers is the exact place where the neck meets the shoulder and the projecting bone in that area helps to find the wither.
Step 4 – Using a measuring tape, measure the height of your Chow Chow from its withers to its front paws. This would give you an accurate measurement of the height of the dog.
Step 5 – With the dog in the same upright position, use the measuring tape to measure your Chow Chow’s length from its front paws to its hind paws.
Following the listed methods above would give the height at which your Chow Chow stands. If you are still unsure about the height of the dog, then a visit to the vet would help you determine the accurate height.
Size Info for Common Chow Chow Mixed Breeds
Numerous Chow Chow mixed breeds are present and their size in height and weight varies with each mixed breed. Further details on the mixed breed, their respective hybrid breeds, weight, and height are given below.
Chusky
The mixed breeds of a Chow Chow are various but the most common ones are a Chusky, which is a hybrid of a Husky and a Chow Chow. The Chusky is a medium to large mixed breed dog usually found in North America.
A mixture of both subsequent breeds, the Chusky is a playful and friendly dog. It sheds a lot of hair. The stubbornness of the Chusky requires an owner that is firm and experienced. As a Husky is well-set in a cold environment, its mixed breed prefers the cold climate conditions.
Its average weight is 40-65 pounds (18-29.5 kg) and stands at an average height of 18 to 23 inches (45.5-58.5 cm). The Chusky is also called the Chowski and Husky Chow.
Akita Chow
An Akita Chow is a cross between an Akita and a Chow Chow. Also called the Chakita, the Akita Chow is a rather large dog. Its fur is very long and straight. The thick coat of fur is seen in different colors, black, red, brown, and white to name a few.
Loyalty and possessiveness to his owner is a common characteristic of an Akita Chow. It behaves differently to those whom he or she does not recognize and enjoys a quiet and independent lifestyle.
The Akita Chow’s weight is 88 to 132 pounds (40-60 kg) and stands as tall as 23 to 25 inches (58.5-63.5 cm).
Boxer Chow
The Boxer Chow is a hybrid of a Boxer and a Chow Chow, usually found in the United States. This medium-sized dog inherits qualities from both breeds. This breed lives up to the age of 15, which is more than the normal Chow Chow.
A curly tail and short coats of hair define their physical features. They are overall very playful, gentle, and easy to train dogs. The Boxer Chow weighs 45 to 55 pounds (20.5- 25 kg) and the height of this mixed breed is 18 to 24 inches (45.5-61 cm).
Golden Chow Retriever
A Golden Chow Retriever is a cross between a Golden Retriever and a Chow Chow. It is smart, gentle, and protective of its owner. The Golden Chow Retriever is full of energy and must be trained to socialize with other people.
Its height is 20 to 25 inches (51-63.5 cm) and a weight of 50 to 70 pounds (22.5-31.5 kg).
Chabrador
A Labrador’s and a Chow Chow’s hybrid is called the Chabrador. With a cute alternative name, Chowder, the Chabrador is a loyal and friendly dog. This mixed breed is hyperactive and very aggressive.
The average height of this mixed breed is 20 to 23 inches (50.5-58.5 cm) and the average weight of the Chabrador is 50 to 75 pounds (22.5-34 kg).
Chow Shepherd
A Chow Shepherd is a hybrid of the fierce German Shepherd and a Chow Chow. With a rather strong build, these dogs heavily shed hair. Their independent and aggressive nature requires an owner who is firm.
The Chow Shepherd’s mean weight of 45 to 90 pounds (20.5-41 kg) and a height of 20 to 26 inches (51-66 cm).
If your Chow Chow is a mixed breed, then it should follow these characteristics. A hybrid or mixed breed dog will inherit the physical features, characteristics, qualities, even the personality traits from its parents.
The combination of the physical features and the personality traits within the mixed breed would make up the mixed breed Chow Chow that you have.
My Final Thoughts
The growth and size of your Chow Chow are important to keep a check on, as it is linked with their health and their well-being. If the height is not close to the average or your Chow Chow is too fat than the normal one, then get your pet checked out by the vet as soon as possible.
Numerous genetic and environmental factors affect the health of a Chow Chow and thus, if not taken full care of, the Chow Chow will not follow its normal growth scale.
The height and weight of your Chow Chow are highly dependent on its gender and whether or not it is a mixed breed. Before worrying about the height or weight of your pet, consult a vet and have a thorough checkup of your pet.
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