Historical Origins and Significance of the Chow Chow Blue Tongue

Lots of folks have wondered about Chow Chow blue tongue. To explain, let’s look at the history of the Chow Chow breed.

They weren’t bred with specific intentions, so their tongues have been blue since they first appeared. Interestingly, people can also have blue tongues, but that might indicate a lung problem.

Chow Chow tongue color versions, hypotheses

The Chow Chow is the oldest kind of dog. Scientists have checked their DNA to confirm this. They think the first Chow Chows lived in China because there are statues of these dogs made of clay.

In China, people think there are two types of Chow Chows: real ones and “bad” ones that are meant for eating. The bad ones have spotted tongues and pointier heads, which are considered problems for purebred Chow Chows.

The Chinese really liked the Chow Chow breed. These dogs could do a lot of different jobs. In northern China, they pulled sleds, herded animals, guarded houses and ships, and even protected people from bad spirits.

Monks in Tibet bred Chow Chows to guard their holy places. There were rumors that the Chinese raised Chow Chows just to eat them, but that’s not true. Some Chinese people still eat dogs today, even though it’s against the law.

Archaeologists found evidence in Siberia that suggests dogs weren’t completely pets during the Bronze Age. They think these ancient dogs might be the ancestors of today’s Chow Chows.

Some experts say the Chow Chow might come from a mix of a dog and a small bear because bears have black tongues. Another theory is that the breed came from extinct wolves at the North Pole that had blue tongues.

In the far north where the first Chow Chows lived, there wasn’t much oxygen in the air. So, having a purple tongue might have helped them breathe better. Polar bears also have purple tongues.

Even though people have lots of ideas about why Chow Chows have purple tongues, there’s no one answer. There’s a Chinese story that says when the Almighty was making animals and stars, a piece of a star fell to the ground.

The animals were scared, but a brave dog came and licked it, turning its tongue blue. This dog is said to be the ancestor of the modern Chow Chow. These dogs are curious, determined, and confident. They’re not easily scared, unlike other animals that might hide when they’re frightened.

Is the color of a Chow Chow tongue important?

However, such individuality in the form of the color of the tongue of the Chow Chow breed is a sign of its purebred.

From birth, puppies have a pink tongue, then, after about a month, the tongue of a Chow Chow dog becomes blue, which becomes even brighter as they grow older.

When purchasing, pay attention to the pigmentation of the tongue if it is weakly expressed or there is a heterogeneous color, then it is better to refuse the purchase because this fact is related to the health of the dog.

The Chow Chow tongue is usually blue but can vary from purple to black. It also changes throughout life due to changes in the dog’s well-being and environment. For example, if a dog is hot or nervous, then its tongue becomes lighter. If the dog has suffered from the disease, pink spots may appear that disappear over time.

According to the description of the National Chow Chow Breed Club, it follows that the dog’s oral mucosa should be black. Pigmentation of the lower surface of the tongue is not important.

Defects include a red or pink color on the back and sides of the tongue, as well as the presence of one or more red and pink spots on the tongue.

For dogs taking part in shows, the color of the Chow Chow tongue is of particular importance during judging.