Chowpit (Chow Chow & American Pit Bull Terrier Mix) Dog Breed: Info, Pictures, Traits & Temperament

The Chowpit hybrid is a stunning sight to behold, combining the magnificence of the Chow Chow and American Pit Bull Terrier. Chowpits carry attributes of both breeds, creating a guardian who’s not for the faint of heart. If you’re on the search for a protective, loyal, and physically capable dog—look no further.

Breed Overview

While Chowpits have many desirable traits, these dogs should find homes with seasoned dog owners. They can be domineering and territorial, so you will need the necessary skills to train and socialize this powerful mix properly. In the right hands, Chowpits flourish—making extraordinary pals.

Chowpit Puppies

Since Chowpits are technically a designer dog breed, the price may vary a bit. You won’t want to buy from just anyone selling a litter of Chowpit puppies. It would be best to pick a breeder who has a solid reputation with previously successful litters. Backyard breeding is especially common amongst designer breeds, so you have to be choosy.

Essentially, anyone can breed two dogs together and say that it’s a Chowpit. But unless you choose an authentic breeder, you can’t verify the claims. Also, with backyard breeding, puppies are prone to more health issues, uncertain genetic conditions, and uncertain temperaments.

You could always get lucky and find a lovely Chowpit who needs a home at the local shelter or rescue. Always check to see if any new litters show up—or adopt an adult to give them a second chance.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Chowpit

The Chowpit is an intelligent creature with a very bold character. Because of their inclination to be dominant, they will need firm guidance from their owner, so they learn their place early. An unsocialized and unmannerly Chowpit can pose behavioral problems that are hard to correct.

But with appropriate rearing, they are fiercely loyal. These dogs won’t disappoint in terms of intelligence or waste time picking up new concepts. They have a deep desire to please their owners. Often, your Chowpit will be able to gauge your mood based solely on your voice.

Despite their confidence, they are remarkably soft and affectionate with those they love. They can be goofy, light-hearted, and good-natured. However, they don’t handle harsh punishments and rarely forget mistreatment. It’s very crucial to treat them with firm, loving patience.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪

Chowpits can make very wonderful family additions in the right circumstances. Because of their size, they’re best in homes with older children. They’re quite protective, so expect them to take to the kids and defend them with their lives. Once they bond with your family, the Chowpit is forever devoted.

Chowpits are excellent protectors, but they have to know when to gauge a real threat. Teaching your dog to respect and listen to you will help them develop judgment calls.  Their protective tendencies can be quite challenging at times, so a firm hand is necessary from puppyhood.

Chow Chows and Pit Bulls can both be very aloof with strangers, so exposing them to various people will only help them in the long run. They may never be crazy about newcomers, but they will learn that it’s okay to have company around.

Despite their potential for suspiciousness with others, Chowpits are incredibly loving with people. Unlike some dogs who prefer one person over others, this breed should form solid relationships with the whole family. They will enjoy all the love and cuddles you offer them.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets? 🐶🐱

Depending on the individual dog, they can also be very aggressive or domineering with other dogs. Some dogs have issues with same-sex friendships. Males will want to dominate males—and females will want to dominate females. Usually, these dogs do better with the opposite sex.

It wouldn’t be unheard of that a Chowpit needs to be the only dog in a household. If they are socialized early with another dog, they can bond with them quite well. However, new introductions can be tricky, and in some cases, it may not work at all.

When it comes to cats and other smaller pets, this can often go one of two ways. They may take very well to them, or not at all. The latter is more common. If you have other animals, make sure that you raise them together to get well-adjusted and form healthy relationships.

Especially in Pit Bulls, prey drive is usually high. So, they may never do well with livestock or rodent pets.

Things to Know When Owning a Chowpit

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

Chowpits are a large breed, so they need a diet that wholly supports their bone and muscle development. A high-quality dry kibble will help them develop from puppyhood, but make sure it has adequate protein. Chowpits need a high dose to keep their muscles strong and lean. An adult Chowpit needs up to 4 cups a day spaced out between two meals.

Kibble cleans their teeth, which helps to prevent tartar and plaque buildup—but this is no replacement for occasional brushing. While dry kibble diets should account for most of their daily eating, you can offer fresh fruits, veggies, and lean meat as treats.

These dogs can be prone to weight gain, so you will want to choose food that is high in protein but low in calories. Since Pit Bulls are sometimes allergy-suffers, your Chowpit may benefit from a limited ingredient or filler-free diet.

Before changing your Chowpits diet, always work closely with your veterinarian to ensure you’re giving them the nutrition they require.

Exercise 🐕

Chow Chows have a lower activity requirement, while a Pit Bull has a high drive. So, this creates a really great balance with the Chowpit, who needs moderate exercise. Since Chows are less active than Pits, you could get a dog who winds up on one side of the spectrum or a good combination in the middle.

These dogs benefit from two to three daily walks. They will willingly engage in games that require mental stimulation, agility, and physical exertion. The more you exercise your Chowpit, the better. If these dogs are tied up or put in a kennel a large part of the day, they may develop unhealthy behaviors.

If you allow your Chowpit to run around outside unattended, you need to make sure you have a secure, tall fence to keep them contained. Since these dogs can display aggressive and territorial issues, they could easily clear a fence to get to another animal or passerby if they felt it was necessary.

Training 🥎

Your Chowpit will be incredibly trainable, but the earlier you start—the better. They also do best with positive reinforcement. If you’re too harsh with a Chowpit, it can cause them to develop fear or aggressive tendencies.

Chowpits are the epitome of a strong personality. With that comes stubborn streaks and mischievousness that can make training difficult sometimes. They absolutely require even stronger characters to be their alpha, so they learn the hierarchy of the household.

Untrained Chowpits can feel they run the show, and will if you let them. This hybrid benefits greatly from early socialization and intense training to ensure they are adaptable and obedient later in life.

Chowpits also have a mental thirst, so testing their intelligence and teaching them new concepts helps to curb destructiveness and other bad behaviors.

Grooming ✂️

Grooming your Chowpit won’t be too hard a task. A perfect mix of the Chow Chow and Pitbull, Chowpits have medium-length, thick hair. They can wind up a combination of brown, black, gray, blue, or fawn.

Grooming them should be easy, as a few passes of a brush per week should help to remove dead hair and keep their coat healthy. Also, they tend to have folds or wrinkles around their neck and back area. Make sure that no grime buildup forms to prevent skin infections.

Otherwise, Chowpits should have one deep cleaning per month, no more than two. Since these dogs can have sensitive skin, over-bathing can dry them out and remove their natural moisturizing skin oils.

Health Conditions 🏥

Because the Chowpit is a mixed breed, they can take on health issues of either parent. The Chow Chow and the American Pit Bull Terrier each have ailments that the breed can suffer from, but they may not ever have any of these conditions.

Male vs Female

There are a few differences between male and female Chowpits, but a lot depends on their individual personalities. Also, because of the two different breeds, there are even more possibilities for specific attributes to shine through.

Male Chowpits tend to be larger and broader. They’re also more likely to be protective or aggressive with strangers. They defend their home at all costs and can be very aloof or reserved. With their own family, they are playful and fun-loving, and possibly a tad more hyper than their female counterparts, especially if they take on more of their Chow Chow heritage.

Female Chowpits are a bit smaller framed and usually weigh 5-10 pounds less. Females tend to be more patient and slower to act than boys. While they can be very defensive of their home, they seem to be slightly more accepting of strangers. They’re also playful, but more mindful of their size with small children.

Both male and female Chowpits are inclined to show aggression toward other dogs of the same sex, even when they are spayed or neutered. These dogs do best in homes with opposite-sex companions in most cases.

3 Little-Known Facts About Chowpits

1. Many Chowpits have purple tongues.

In the Chow Chow lineage, some tongues can show up blue, black, or purple. This is similar to a birthmark or freckles in humans. It happens when there are deposits of extra pigment. Since this dog is a hybrid, there may be spots or sections on the tongue—but some may have none whatsoever.

2. The development of Chowpits took off in the 2000s.

It’s hard to say precisely when the Chowpit came into being, but many believe it was sometime in the early 2000s.

3. Chow Chows and American Pit Bulls each have strong personalities.

The Chow Chow is reserved, dignified, and domineering. The Pit Bull is strong-willed, fearless, and stubborn. Combine these two dogs, and you have an authoritarian-like personality.

Conclusion

If you want an unrelenting protector with your family’s best interest at heart, the Chowpit can provide just that. These dogs are loyal, intensely loving creatures that will make the best companions in the right living situations. If the Chowpit sounds like the ideal canine for you, remember to choose a healthy puppy from a responsible breeder.

Featured Image Credit: roboticalatina, Shutterstock