Everything about the Chow Chow captures the imagination, from its magnificent, lion-like appearance to its ancient history. But one feature stands out above all others: its blue-black tongue. sets it apart from almost every other dog breed. Although no one knows exactly why Chow Chows have blue-black tongues, the trait has been associated with the breed for centuries. It remains one of its most recognizable characteristics today.
What Is the Origin of the Chow Chow’s Blue Tongue?
Chow Chows are among the world’s oldest dog breeds. They appear in Chinese artifacts dating back to 206 B.C., and some evidence suggests the breed may be even older.
Despite the breed’s long history, Linda Love Banghart, an officer in the Chow Chow Club, Inc., says there is “no documentation of why Chow Chows have a blue-black tongue.”
Over time, several legends emerged to explain the unusual coloration. Some stories claim the gods let Chow Chows lick up little pieces of blue sky that fell to earth when they set the stars in the heavens. Other tales suggest the breed inherited its tongue color from a bear. While the Chow Chow’s appearance can seem bear-like, the true reason for the blue-black tongue remains unknown.
When Did People First Document the Trait?
What is known is that Chow Chows had blue-black tongues in the 1820s, when they were exhibited at the London Zoo as “the wild dogs of China.”
Caretakers noticed the distinctive coloring inside the mouth and on the tongue. Banghart explains that “as managed breeding began,” breeders used this unique characteristic as a requirement for identifying purebred offspring.
The trait remains an important part of the breed standard today. The standard states:
“Mouth and Tongue – Edges of the lips black, tissues of the mouth mostly black, gums preferably black. A solid black mouth is ideal. The top surface and edges of the tongue a solid blue-black, the darker the better. Disqualifying Fault – The top surface or edges of the tongue red or pink or with one or more spots of red or pink.”
Does a Blue Spot on a Dog’s Tongue Mean It Has Chow Ancestry?
Many people believe that a dog with a blue or black spot on its tongue must be part Chow Chow. However, tongue pigmentation alone cannot confirm Chow ancestry — dark spots also appear in other breeds, including purebred Newfoundlands and Labrador Retrievers.
The difference is that these spots generally reflect random pigmentation rather than an inherited breed characteristic. In Chow Chows, a solid blue-black tongue is a defining and heritable trait that helps distinguish the breed.
Are Chow Chow Puppies Born With Blue Tongues?
Chow Chows aren’t born with blue tongues. In fact, Chow Chow puppies have pink tongues, just like other breeds.
As the puppies grow and their eyes begin to open, their tongues gradually develop their blue-black pigmentation.
“Sometimes the pigment change is slower, but the tongue pigment must always be complete by the time the puppy is about six months old,” says Banghart. “A Chow Chow with incomplete pigment won’t be eligible to compete in conformation dog shows and is disqualified from the breed standard.”
What Other Breeds Have Blue-Black Tongues?
The Chow Chow is nearly unique in the dog world for its blue-black tongue. The only other breed with a similar requirement is the Chinese Shar-Pei.
Like the Chow Chow, the Shar-Pei’s breed standard calls for bluish-black pigmentation in the mouth and tongue. An exception exists for dilute-colored dogs, which may have lavender pigmentation instead. Distant shared ancestry between the two breeds likely explains the similarity.
Blue-black tongue pigmentation also appears outside the dog world, in polar bears, giraffes, and several breeds of cattle.
Think the Chow Chow is the breed for you? You can find Chow Chow puppies from reputable breeders on the AKC Marketplace.