40-55 lbs
13-20"
Unknown
The Chow Hound is a fairly new hybrid canine and, as expected, not a great deal of specific breed information is available on the hybrid itself. However, there is plenty of breed information available for both of the parent breeds, the Chow Chow and the Basset Hound. The Basset parent hails from northern France somewhere in the 1500’s and was utilized to track rabbits, fox, squirrels, deer, pheasants, raccoons and badgers. Their short-legged, stocky build and bloodhound nose worked perfectly for this function. Their loving personality with family and low maintenance makes them extremely popular worldwide. The Chow Chow parent hails from the northern parts of Siberia and drawings which depict canines resembling the Chow Chow have been found dating back to the 2000’s B.C., making this a very old breed. This breed was utilized for centuries as a sporting type by emperors and wealthy sportsmen, their scenting abilities, speed and stamina strongly befitting these activities. While the dense coat of the Chow Chow parent requires higher levels of maintenance, it provides protection against the cold and bitter temperatures of northern China and still, today protects him from the elements. While he is currently mainly utilized as a companion dog, his hunting prowess must always be considered when living and working with your Chow Chow family member.
There is little information on the Chow Hound hybrid itself but there is plenty of information about the parent breeds of Chow Chow and Basset Hound from which to glean a background on your hybrid family member. The name “Chow Hound” emanates from the two parent breeds but the origin of the the hybrid itself is unknown. The Chow Chow parent breed appears to be the older of the two parent breeds, being traced back to drawings depicting dogs resembling the Chow Chow found in the 200’s B.C. in northern China while the Basset Hound parent breed can be traced back to northern France in the 1500’s. Both parent breeds were utilized as hunting/tracking dogs as well as for companions and protection. Today, the purpose of both parent breeds tends to be more companionship and protection with some secondary emphasis placed on hunting in some circumstances. Both parent breeds are recognized by the American Kennel Club (Chow Chow in 1903 and Basset Hound in 1885), as well as: American Canine Association Inc., American Canine Registry, Australian National Kennel Club, American Pet Registry, Inc., Canadian Kennel Club, Continental Kennel Club, Dog Registry of America, Inc., Fédération Cynologique Internationale, Kennel Club of Great Britain, North American Purebred Registry, Inc., National Kennel Club, New Zealand Kennel Club and United Kennel Club. Additionally, the Chow Hound hybrid is recognized by the Designer Breed Registry and the International Designer Canine Registry. This hybrid is a smart and friendly canine who makes a wonderful family pet.
Though the appearance of Your Chow Hound hybrid could take on the physical appearance attributes of either or both parent breeds, he will likely have a brown or brindle coat which is soft and teddy bear-like with a body that will likely be long and stocky like the Basset parent. His ears will be of medium length and floppy and a muzzle that is shorter than the Basset parents with a shorter dewlap with a speckled tongue and a saber-like tail. The other colors that your pet could inherit are the tri-color of the Basset parent (black, white and tan or lemon and white or red and white) or the colors of the Chow Chow parent (cream/white, fawn, red, blue or black). The other possible appearance traits: eyes could be almond or lozenger shaped and dark in color, a scissors bite and feet that are either large and well padded or small and round with good padding. The coats of both parent breeds are moderate shedders and will likely require moderate levels of grooming maintenance, mostly a contribution from the Chow Chow side of the equation.
Your Chow Hound hybrid will likely require some grooming maintenance, the type and frequency of which will be dependent upon how much of the coat was contributed by the Chow Chow parent and the season of the year. The Basset parent has a low maintenance coat, needing only weekly brushing and bathing as needed while the longer and more dense coat from the Chow Chow parent requires more frequent (several times a week) brushing and bathing (monthly or more often if needed) to keep it clean and beautiful, reducing the “doggy” smell which can accompany ownership of canines. Neither of the parent breeds are hypoallergenic and the floppy ears contributed by the Basset parent will require frequent checking and cleaning to prevent infections. Both breeds require regular teeth cleaning and oral check ups to prevent periodontal disease which can result in tooth loss.
The Chow Hound hybrid has been described as smart, friendly and a great family dog. If your pet inherits the personality traits from the Basset parent, he could be affectionate, alert, friendly, gentle and sweet. If he inherits the personality traits of the Chow Chow parent, he could be aggressive, alert, detached, independent, intelligent, loyal, protective and quiet. Both parent breeds are considered occasional barkers with moderate levels of hunting and wandering tendencies. The Basset parent breed is good with kids and cats and for new owners but the Chow Chow parent is on the opposite end of the spectrum in these areas. Both parent breeds contribute difficult training to the bio mix, requiring large amounts of patience and perseverance and even perhaps some obedience training to get the job done. In the area of exercise, both parent breeds contribute lower energy levels to the bio mix. Though both parent breeds have a high tendency to gain weight, the actual exercise needs are lower than some other higher energy breeds. You should expect that your pet will be wary of strangers due to the protective contribution from the Chow Chow breed parent.
Your Chow Hound hybrid will require 40 to 80 minutes of daily exercise to keep fit, healthy and avoid obesity. He will be quite happy to lay in front of the fireplace or curl up on that thick, fluffy rug and sleep all day but these activities are not healthy for him. Daily walks around the park or around the block will suit him well, but be warned that the hound nose can pick up an interesting scent anywhere and at anytime which will stimulate him to follow and investigate without any thought or care to obey your command to “come” when he runs. To avoid the inevitable chase, keep him on a leash when you have your pet outside for exercise. If you have a fenced yard, be sure it is secure because the Chow Hound can be quite the escape artist. This hybrid is suited to apartment, condo or family home living, provided adequate exercise can be provided. He will do well in urban as well as rural areas and can tolerate warmer temperatures as well as cooler ones, depending on the thickness and density of the coat he has inherited.
Written by Loreziel Ortega
Published: 10/17/2017, edited: 10/14/2021
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