F1 Chowdoodle

Just like a lion, the Chow Chow has a large mane, courageous attitude, and mean streak. They bond with their owners but don’t have as good of a track record with other dogs or strangers. If you’re considering a Chow Chow, prepare for an independent pup with a dominant demeanor. Full-grown, they typically weigh 45-70 pounds and stand 17-20 inches tall.

Chow Chows are generally okay with older children who know how to handle dogs. Chow Chows don’t get along well with other dogs and will try to dominate them, especially if they don’t have a pack leader. They can be trained and socialized to co-exist with other pets, but it won’t come naturally to them. They're relatively quiet and don't bark much.

The Chow Chow enjoys being outdoors, but it doesn’t need a lot of exercise. A daily walk or playtime in a fenced yard should do the trick. Keep in mind their aversion to the heat. Overall, their exercise needs are low.

There are two varieties of Chow Chow coats: those with long, straight, and rough hair and those with short, smooth hair. Both coats are very dense and are thicker around the neck, making them look like they have a mane. The Chow Chow can be any solid color, including red, black, blue, and cream. Grooming-wise, this breed is moderate.

Chow Chows are best suited for a home with a yard, though they can adapt to apartment life with enough exercise. Chow Chows are well-suited for apartment life but also enjoy houses with large yards where they can run and play. However, they don’t like the heat, so be sure to keep them indoors when it’s warm. They are moderately trainable with consistent effort.

France has been officially recognized as the Poodle’s country of origin, but the Poodle’s earlier ancestors came from central Asia. The German variety has probably influenced the modern breed most (‘Poodle’ is German for ‘splash’ or ‘puddle’). In 18th and 19th century Europe, the Poodle served a wide variety of purposes, including duck hunting, guiding, and later circus performing, from whence the modern grooming style likely arose. The Poodle became a popular pet for the French aristocracy, and in time was officially adopted as the national dog. Poodles were imported to America in the 20th century. They slowly rose in popularity and eventually became the country’s most popular dog. Famous Poodles include author John Steinbeck’s dog Charley, subject of the book ‘Travels with Charley: In Search of America’, and Weird Al’s Poodle Bela, who…uhm… sat on his head for the album cover of ‘Poodle Hat.’ Full-grown, they typically weigh 12-55 pounds and stand 10-15 inches tall.

Standard Poodles are generally excellent with children of all ages. The Standard Poodle gets along well with other animals, other dogs, and children. Standard Poodles are highly adaptable and make good watchdogs. They're moderate barkers — they'll alert you when something's up but aren't excessive.

The Standard Poodle requires substantial amounts of exercise. Standard Poodles require long walks and outdoor activities such as swimming or playing catch. The Standard Poodle is fond of retrieving, as it has origins as a hunting dog. Overall, their exercise needs are high.

The Standard Poodle has a distinctive fine, frizzy, wooly coat similar in texture to sheep’s wool. Solid white is most common, but the coat may also be solid grey, brown, apricot, or black. There are three distinct grooming styles for show Poodles: puppy clip, continental clip, and English saddle clip. Grooming-wise, this breed is high-maintenance. Standard Poodles are considered hypoallergenic, which can be a plus for allergy sufferers.

Standard Poodles are best suited for apartments and smaller homes. They are highly trainable and eager to learn.