Golden Chow Retriever

50-75 lbs
20-25"
Unknown
Golden Retriever
Chow Chow
Golden Chow

Gentle, smart, and protective, the Golden Chow Retriever is a hybrid breed developed with the combination of the Golden Retriever and the Chow Chow. This energetic hybrid is known for his perception and devotion. Reserved, he is known to be protective of his family and his surroundings and must be provided with early socialization in order to be able to get along with other dogs and strangers. The Golden Chow Retriever weighs an average of 50 to 75 pounds and stands tall at 20 to 25 inches.

purpose Purpose
Companion, Guarding, Hunting
history Date of Origin
Unknown
ancestry Ancestry
Golden Retriever, Chow Chow

Golden Chow Retriever Health

Average Size
Male Golden Chow Retriever size stats
Height: 20-25 inches Weight: 50-75 lbs
Female Golden Chow Retriever size stats
Height: 20-25 inches Weight: 50-75 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Allergies
  • Hip Dysplasia
Minor Concerns
  • Hypothyroidism
Occasional Diagnoses
  • Entropion
  • Ectropion
Occasional Tests
  • X-Rays
  • Physical Examination
  • Complete Blood Count

Golden Chow Retriever Breed History

The history of the Golden Chow Retriever is vague and not well documented. Hybrid breeds have increased in popularity throughout the last two decades and while the hybrid's origins are not known, it is just as important to review the history of his parent breeds. The Chow Chow is thought to have originated about 2000 years ago from the Samoyed and the Tibetan Mastiff. The breed was widely popular as a sporting dog in China. The Chow Chow was a favorite among the wealthy, especially emperors. This large canine was used as pointers and scenting dogs who could protect, herd, and pull wagons and carts. In the late 1700s, the Chow Chow was imported to England. In 1890, the breed was imported to the United States. In 1903, the Chow Chow was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club. The Golden Retriever was believed to have descended from local dogs in Britain in the 1800s. The breed can be traced back to the St. John's Dog of Newfoundland. With time, the Red Setter, black Wavy-Coated Retrievers and Tweed Water Spaniels were developed. These dogs were also under the umbrella “Retrievers – Yellow or Golden”. In the 1900s, the Golden Retriever was imported to the United States and quickly rose in popularity. The breed was known as a great companion for families. In 1925, the first Golden Retriever was registered with the American Kennel Club. To this day, the Golden Retriever is a family-favorite and remains one of the most popular dogs in the country. The Golden Chow Retriever is not recognized by the AKC due to his hybrid breed status.

Golden Chow Retriever Breed Appearance

The Golden Chow Retriever may inherit either parent breed's coat in terms of length and it is usually dense, thick, wavy, and non-water-repellent. With a large build that requires him to have significant space within the home, he stands between 20 to 25 inches and weighs an average of 50 to 75 pounds. His dropped ears hang to the sides of the face, and his long tail is slightly curved. This large canine's feet are massive as well. The Golden Chow Retriever's snout is medium-length with a black nose and he has dark eyes. His expression is a solemn and protective one.

Eye Color Possibilities
brown Golden Chow Retriever eyes
Brown
Nose Color Possibilities
black Golden Chow Retriever nose
Black
Coat Color Possibilities
blue Golden Chow Retriever coat
Blue
red Golden Chow Retriever coat
Red
black Golden Chow Retriever coat
Black
fawn Golden Chow Retriever coat
Fawn
Coat Length
coat
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
coat density
pin
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
coat texture
Golden Chow Retriever straight coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Golden Chow Retriever Breed Maintenance

The Golden Chow Retriever is not considered a hypoallergenic hybrid and will shed extensively throughout the year. Brushing is a high priority with this mix and daily care is a must. Groom him with a firm bristle brush, greyhound comb, and a rake to remove shedding hairs. The Golden Chow Retriever will look his best with a professional grooming session every 4 to 6 weeks to prevent mats and to have the coat trimmed and shaped. The teeth should not be neglected; cleaning two to three times a week at minimum will prevent tartar accumulation. Each week, take a look at your dog's ears to make sure there is no buildup of dirt or moisture that can lead to odor or infection. Trim his nails every two weeks.

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Brushes for Golden Chow Retriever
Pin Brush
Pin Brush
Comb
Comb
Deshedder
Deshedder
Nail Clipper
Nail Clipper
Brushing Frequency
fur daily fur weekly fur monthly
Golden Chow Retriever requires daily brushing
Daily Weekly Monthly

Golden Chow Retriever Temperament

The Golden Chow Retriever's temperament will vary on several factors such as genetics and training. If he inherits dominant traits from the Chow Chow, he is more likely to be aggressive and additionally, protective of his environment. On the other hand, the Golden Retriever is a lovable goofball searching for affection. Generally speaking, your Golden Chow Retriever will be guarded against strangers and people he may not be familiar with. It will take guidance and socialization when young to ensure he welcomes others. This hybrid is most suited to  a family without young children and he is also not recommended for first-time owners as he may be stubborn to train. Working consistently and firmly with him will allow your Golden Chow Retriever to become more friendly, loving, social, and playful. This canine may be guarded in the presence of other dogs without the proper instruction and encouragement. 

Golden Chow Retriever Activity Requirements

The Golden Chow Retriever possesses a moderate level of energy that will require 60 minutes of activity per day. Your well-built dog will enjoy swimming, playing games of fetch and may join you for a short jog. Walk him at least twice a day. If he gets along well with other dogs, racing around with others within the enclosure of the dog park is a good way to burn off energy and as well, practise his social skills. Not a couch potato, he will be willing to rest at the end of the day as long as his body and mind were worked throughout the day. Apartment living is not the place for this hybrid; he'll need a home with a yard where he can get outside for plenty of fresh air. He likes a cool climate and shouldn't be exercised too vigorously in the heat.

Activity Level
low activity medium activity high activity
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
10 miles
walk mileage
Minutes of Activity Per Day
60 minutes
activity minutes

Golden Chow Retriever Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
3 cups
cup per day cost cup per day cost cup per day cost
Daily Cost
$1.50 - $1.90
food bowls daily cost
Monthly Cost
$39.00 - $52.00
food bag monthly cost

Golden Chow Retriever Owner Experiences

HONEYBUG
6 Years
4 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walk
Tug-of-war
Run
Fetch
H HoneyBug is the four legged love of my life!! She's smart and sweet and loving as well as protective and beautiful! 😍 Literally the best doggie ever!! ❤️
6 months, 2 weeks ago
Maple
9 Years
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
sleep
Run
Walk
Fetch
My fiance and I have had our golden chow for almost two years now, and she is awesome. She is very affectionate and sweet with us, however, she can be a bit aggressive and excitable when around other animals. We are currently working on socializing her more. Overall I would recommend a golden chow to anyone looking for a big, goofy, loveable dog.
2 years ago
Bear
4 Years
4 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Our golden chow, Bear is a wonderful companion. He’s almost 5 years old and I still see so much of an excited puppy in him. He is always happy to greet our family on any day. He is loyal and protective of our house and especially “his” yard. He loves to hunt birds and squirrels and leave them on the porch as a gift just like a cat. He never eats anything he kills so it’s more for sport. He will bark at anyone or any animal that gets within his sight. He’s very affectionate with us and friends he knows. He will lean against you and paw at you to love on him. He loves to lick as well to show affection. He was pretty stubborn with potty training at first but is fine now that he’s older. As far as grooming, he sheds a lot and seasonally in clumps. He’s never been to a groomer as I think it would give him anxiety. I do brush him as often as I can and vacuum a lot! He is worth it though. I will always recommend this breed. We get so many compliments on how pretty he is. He really is just a big ol goof.
2 years, 4 months ago
Joey
14 Years
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
In the past 14 years that we've had Joey, our golden retriever chow mix, he has been one of the best dogs I've ever owned. He's playful, loving, overly affectionate, etc. He's lived a long prosperous life and he's so loyal it's unreal. He didn't even need to be trained to stay by my side like he does, but he chooses to. One thing is, is he used to jump about twice his height. He would do this quite often when wanting in or out, or when he would come in contact with people. Obviously given his age he's unable to do that now, but he's still very active for his old age, and very playful and young at heart. He's been like I said one of the best dogs I've ever owned, and I couldn't have asked for a better one. The only issue is I do believe he has hip dysplasia, because you can obviously tell that his hips are bothering him nowadays, and he does stumble a little bit, but he still does his best to play and be active.
4 years, 6 months ago
Milo
12 Weeks
5 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
toys
Throwing balls
Very different one min he’s ok than the next min he snaps
6 years, 3 months ago
Nico
3 Years
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Just barely got Nico a couple days ago, he’s a rescue and so far the most docile and shy dog I’ve ever come across. I’m sure it will change as he gets used to our super hyper Aussie/boarder collie mix. After he warms up to us I can see him bring a really fun companion.
6 years, 3 months ago
Bella
10 Years
3 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
She is a great dog. Beautiful coat and adorable face. Her temperament is a good mix of sweet and playful. She’s rather lazy and sleeps about 18 hours a day. So gentle with my daughter. I’m definitely her master, but my husband is the person she follows around all day (mostly because he feeds her scraps of food). She won’t fetch and does not care about toys but she loves a kong and comes up with creative ways to get every last bit out! I highly recommend this breed. A great loyal family dog.
6 years, 2 months ago
Bear
2 Years
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Chasing birds
Swim
Walk
snuggling
Absolutely the best dog. He is more of my child than a dog even. I rescued him from a shelter at 2 months old and he has been my best friend ever since. He will come up and cuddle with me or bring me his toy to play. I started teaching him tricks pretty young so he knows how to sit, shake, jump, and lay down. He was stubborn at first but once he got the hang of it he would do anything for a treat. He gets short bursts of energy where he will run around the house and back yard for about 5 minutes and then wear himself out. He sleeps all day long but right when you come home he greets you (or my roommates) at the door and gets absolutely so excited to see you every time. I have never not been greeted at the door by him no matter if I have been gone for 5 minutes or 5 hours he is always so excited to see you. He loves playing with kids but he is terrified of some men. Most likely he had a bad experience when he was younger but he loves my dad and boyfriend. Overall, you can’t go wrong with this breed as long as you love on them and give them POSITIVE reinforcement as they do have a tendency to be aggressive IF you mistreat them. If you are sweet to them they will be sweet back and will be your forever best friend.
6 years, 2 months ago
Aslan
10 Years
4 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Aslan is very loyal to our family but is very protective when he is in our home, when he is away from home he seems more docile.
6 years, 1 month ago
Shasta
11 Years
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
We adopted Shasta when she was ~ 10 months old. It took her a few months to become comfortable on a leash but she is always quick when it comes to learning new tricks. She is stubborn, almost cat-like and very independent. Shasta will only cuddle when SHE wants to, any spontaneous cuddles will lead to her grunting and finding a new place to sit. She is very protective of our household and will bark at anyone walking past our house but once face to face with a new adult, baby, or child, she is very calm and gentle. She is very vocal (whines/grunts) when meeting new pets(puppies, kittens) but eventually opens up to them as long as they give her space. High prey drive, she will chase field mice, bunnies, and squirrels without thinking twice. Fun quirks include heavy sighs at the perfect time, taking FOREVER to poop, and removing and disabling squeakers in every toy in the house.
5 years, 11 months ago
Barnaby
5 Years
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Our baby showed up at our friends house and after attempting to find his owner we took him home. We are so blessed to have him our lives! He is the best dog ever. He is sweet and needs a lot of loving but sometimes the amount of hair he sheds make me think we live in big fur ball. He doesn’t like new people and is very hesitant to allow them near us, especially our son. But once he gets used to them he is fine. When we got him we believe he was abused by his previous owners because he was very skiddish and we had to prove to him we weren’t going to hurt him. Now we have had him for 4 years and he is all about his family!
5 years, 10 months ago
Aether
Five Years
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
walks around the neighborhood
petting him as he lays beside my chair
My youngest daughter's boyfriend picked Aether up at the local animal shelter as a puppy . She didn't want him and couldn't keep him because she lived in an apartment with no yard.Aether weighs 101 lbs. He doesn't like strangers , especially the UPS delivery truck.He is very skiddish and startles easily. Sometimes , as I walk him , children will ask to pet him because he looks like a big lovable fur ball , but I won't let them get close because I don't know how he'll react.He's fine with most people he knows , but nervous around others . He likes to chew on grass and sometimes tries to eat dirt .We have another dog as well , smaller female and they get along okay as long as she submits to his authority .He also knows I am his boss , but he can be stubborn .
5 years, 9 months ago
Sophie
12 Years
4 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
She’s a wonderful dog who loves everyone in the family. Very well behaved and super friendly to everyone
5 years, 9 months ago
Kona
6 Months
4 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
she is such a sweet girl and everyone loves her! She has a beautiful coat and gets a long with other dogs great. She loves to play and sometimes gets a bit agresive but she is getting better as she is still a puppy. Potty training is coming along
5 years, 3 months ago
Roger
1 Year
2 People
Condo
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
I love my Golden Chow Retriever! Such an easy going and friendly dog. I have another smaller dog and they get a long great! Highly recommend this breed, very adorable!!❤️❤️
4 years, 8 months ago
Bella
8 Years
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walk
Playing in the snow
Tug-of-war
Snuggle
Fetch
We adopted Bella when she was 1 1/2 years old. She was a love bug from the beginning. She was amazing with our then 2 year old and they are BEST of friends. She loves to play and run and is very gentle with little ones. She does NOT like the mailman though LOL. We are so happy to have her in our life I love this breed, my mother had a Golden Chow when I was younger which is what drew me to her in the shelter.
4 years, 7 months ago
Smokie
6 Months
4 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Belly rub
jog
Walk
Full body scratch
Smokie is very affectionate towards my girlfriend and I. He loves his daily ear scratches and belly rubs. He is very protective of the both of us but is very suspicious around other people. Most of time, he barks at strangers ( altho he made a friend recently yey!!). He is a very independent dog. But may come off slow at times especially during trainings. He is receptive to rewards based training instead of th classic punishment training. He has huge paws, arms, legs, and appetite. He also likes to eat grass (we dont know why but we have been noticing this!). He requires a huge amount of water daily. All in all, our days have become brighter and better because of him!
4 years, 1 month ago
Riggs
15 Years
3 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
We adopted our Riggs almost 16 years ago as a young pup. He was abandoned, found in a field filthy dirty. A friend found him, cleaned him up, and called me. He was by our estimation about two months old when he joined our family. He was high energy as a young dog, VERY smart, and a little aggressive with our then two-year-old son. Riggs thought that he owned everything that belonged to our son. I went through obedience training with him, which helped me to learn how to deal with his young aggression. He just needed an outlet for his energy. He has a spotted tongue, a very thick multilayered fur coat (I think I pull the equivalent of two small dogs worth of hair off of him with every brushing...not kidding folks). He "molts" twice a year, so I have to amp up the brushing during those times. Seriously, he will leave big chunks of hair on the floor two minutes after I clean...bless his heart. But with every brushing session comes a face-licking "thank you" from him for lightening his furry load. He is always so grateful for whatever he gets. Our Riggs is VERY old now, and I think he has surpassed the average lifespan of a Golden Chow Retriever by about two years. Sadly, he is on his way out, struggling to get to his feet, and a real farting machine now. I know he can't live forever. But I'm not ready for him to go. He is essentially deaf, and he has cataracts, so he can't see well at all. He is still eating well, and he can still make it outside to do his business without assistance, so that is a plus! But I don't see him being with us for much longer. He is a grand old man, our Riggs. We will forever love our handsome, wonderful, smart, loving, smiling, protective, hairy, and now very stinky friend. What an adventure we've been lucky to experience together. Our family is so fortunate to know him.
3 years, 11 months ago
Marty
3 Years
2 People
Condo
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Road trip
Walks
Nap
We rescued Marty during COVID quarantine time and think this breed description is the best fit for him. He is the sweetest dog to us, we love to join him on the floor to watch TV or brush and brush and brush him. He loves other dogs, always whined on walks so we adopted another dog for him (and us). They get along fine, but aren't super playful together, more like brother and sister now. He is very smart, he has memorized every dog's house in the neighborhood, but he is the most stubborn dog - many times I've had to pick him up (all 65 pounds) to redirect him on a walk. One caution is that he flips his lid when he sees dogs, he'll strain on his leash to run to them and bark like crazy - but he actually has been quite agressive with 2 smaller dogs so I don't think we could take him to a dog park - I think it is the chow hunter in him. We are actually moving to a new place soon to have a fenced in yard for him as he loves just sitting outside in the grass or on a patio and feeling the breeze.
3 years, 7 months ago
Mr. Pupper
3 Years
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Fetch
Walk
Hide & Seek
Hike
Tug-of-war
He is the best dog for us! He is very loveable and listens fairly well....when he wants😅. He loves when we take walks on trails so he can get all the sniffs. He also loves having his head hang out of the window during a ride. He wants to be by your side 100% of the time and doesn't do personal space 😆. He can't stand when we show out cats or another animal any attention, because he wants all of the attention. He physically is a beautiful dog and we get compliments on him all the time. He is a loud breather because he is always excited. And he likes to lick you untill you have a raw spot when he has too much energy. He loves to play fetch and tug of war. We are honored to be his forever home ❤️
3 years, 4 months ago
Yuki
13 Weeks
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Tug-of-war
Walk
We got our Golden Chow when he was 8 weeks old. So far, he is a very lovely and excitable puppy. He doesn't bark or growl at other dogs and people. He actually wants to meet other dogs even when they are growling at him. We try not to let him get close to other dogs yet as he hasn't finished his vaccinations. With people, he is a bit suspicious. He doesn't like it if they approach him and not him approaching them. He is fine with them approaching if we carry him. He is a very clingy pupper though. He only barks to get our attention. We would be eating our meal while he is in his own pen after his own meal and after potty, and he would be barking at us to notice him. He sometimes won't sleep unless we stay by his until he sleeps and even wakes as soon as we leave. Luckily, my siblings are students so they are staying home right now. We hope he will grow out of this. He knows how to sit and lay down if we have treats. We even trained him to wait until he is free to eat his food bowl laid in front of him. But he only allows us to train him if food is involved. Otherwise, he does what he wants and is quite stubborn haha. Overall, Yuki is a very lovely and energetic pupper and we are very happy to have him.
3 years, 2 months ago
Laser
13 Years
2 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Fetch
cuddle
Walk
Car ride
Hike
Tug-of-war
Nap
I adopted Laser from the shelter when he was supposedly 8.5 years old (I'm suspicious that he's a little younger than they they thought) and have had him for the last 6 years. He's been the perfect first dog for me, incredibly cuddly and affectionate, sometimes loyal to a fault. He takes a minute to warm up to new roommates/partners, but once you're in--you're in. Since he's a rescue dog and I don't know his full history, there are some behavioral issues that I don't think can be fully attributed to his breed (I fully believe in training over blaming the dog breed anyway). He's a little weary of men, and can be protective over his food around strangers. He's very, very friendly once you get to know him and will follow you around anywhere you go. I get compliments all of the time about his appearance, and he's great with other people and children when we're approached on walks. We do tend to avoid other dogs, but that's mostly because I get nervous. We don't go to the dog park. He never barks at the other dogs, but does whine and pull toward them a little, and has been good with the few that I've let meet him. He seems to switch between being really smart and cat-like and stubborn to being clumsy and doofy in the blink of an eye, I love both versions. He has SO much hair, and the fur around his butt and back legs is particularly coarse. Definitely a dog to take to the groomer or at least brush yourself as often as you can. He's very healthy for a potentially 13 year old dog, I'm thinking he might be closer to 10, but so far no hip problems. If anything he just naps more often now.
2 years, 12 months ago
Leia
5 Years
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
I've had Princess Leia since she was 2 months old. Over the course of 6 years, I have never felt so attached to any other dog. She's gentle, smart, and stubborn when she wants to be. As per behavior issues, she barks at people from a distance but as she walks up or others walk up, she's very gentle and loving. She's not very open to other dogs, took her about 3-4 months to get used to our dachshund when we got him as puppy. She's currently a mother to a litter of pups since we didn't think it was possible for our tiny dachshund to get her pregnant and she surprisingly did the birth all by herself when we weren't home... Truly had me in shock and in awe. Leia has always been protective of our household and has hunted/killed possums and rats. We've accidently left the backyard open when we left to a wedding once and she waited in front of the house door for hours. It doesn't get more loyal than that. She tends to be overly loving but only on her time, if it isn't well we just have to deal with it. Leia has been such a blessing to my family and I. I am so honored and proud to be a part of her life and privileged that she entered my life and will forever be marked her prints on my life.
2 years, 11 months ago
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Golden chow retriever info

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What age can I start training my retriever chow

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