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Columbia Encyclopedia entry: chow chow
Chow chow, breed of powerful nonsporting dog whose origins are obscure but whose development was accomplished many centuries ago in China. It stands from 18 to 20 in. (45.7–50.8 cm) high at the shoulder and weighs from 50 to 60 lb (22.7–27.2 kg). Its abundant double coat consists of a soft, woolly underlayer and a dense, straight topcoat that stands out from the body. It may be any solid color. The ancestors of the chow chow are believed by some to have been the mastiff of Tibet and the Samoyed. However, because it is the only breed possessing a black tongue, other authorities contend that it is a basic breed and the progenitor of the Samoyed, the Keeshond, the Norwegian elkhound, and the Pomeranian. Whatever the truth of its origins, it was used as an all-purpose hunting dog in China 2,000 years ago. Its name derives from the pidgin-English term for miscellaneous cargo, of which the dog formed a part, brought from China to England in the late 18th cent. It is raised as a companion and house pet. See dog.

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Wikipedia search results for: Chow Chow
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Chow Chow, or Chow, is a breed of dog that was first developed in Mongolia about 4,000 years ago and was later introduced into China, where it is referred to as Songshi Quan, which literally means "puffy-lion dog." The Chow is a sturdily built dog that is square in profile with broad skull and small, triangular, erect ears that are rounded at the tip. The breed has a very dense double coat that is either smooth or rough. The fur is particularly thick around the neck, giving the distinctive ruff or mane appearance. The coat may be one of five colors including red, black, blue, cinnamon/fawn, and cream. Their eyes should be deep...more »
Columbia Encyclopedia search results: chow chow
Results 1 - 5  of 5
  • nonsporting dog

    Nonsporting dog, classification used by breeders and kennel clubs to designate dogs that may formerly have been bred to hunt or work but that are now raised chiefly as house pets and companion...

  • Keeshond

    Keeshond (pl. Keeshonden), breed of medium-sized nonsporting dog raised in Holland for several hundred years and introduced into England in the year 1900. It stands about 18 in. (46 cm) high a...

  • dog

    Dog, carnivorous, domesticated wolf (Canis lupus familiaris) of the family Canidae, to which the jackal and fox also belong. The family Canidae is sometimes referred to as the dog family, and ...

  • pasta

    Pasta, generic name for thin pieces of hardened, unleavened dough that are molded into various shapes and boiled, not baked. Pasta is commonly associated with Italian cuisine, though similar w...

  • aerodynamics

    Aerodynamics, study of gases in motion. As the principal application of aerodynamics is the design of aircraft, air is the gas with which the science is most concerned. Although aerodynamics i...

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