Blue-tongued dog: what is the name of the breed?

Often the information that a dog has blue or purple tongue Many people are mildly perplexed, and then laugh out loud. But such animals do exist. And this breed is called the Chow Chow. This is one of the oldest dogs, whose origins, like the color of its tongue, are shrouded in many mysteries.

Content

1 Why is my tongue blue or purple?
- 1.1 Legends
- 1.2 Scientific explanations
2 Like puppies
3 What does a Chow Chow look like?

Why is my tongue blue or purple?

Some try to explain the unusual color of the tongue from a scientific point of view, others trust beautiful legends and tales.

Legends

There are several theories and legends explaining this unique phenomenon. One Chinese legend says that during the creation of the world, the gods, after creating the Earth and populating it with numerous living creatures, began "shaping" the sky. While they were distributing the stars across the celestial expanse, a piece of it accidentally broke off and fell to the ground. Animals and birds became frightened and tried to find shelter, but the Chow Chow approached the piece, sniffed it, and cautiously licked it. Since then, the courageous dog's tongue has acquired a heavenly hue. Thanks to this legend, representatives of the breed are also known as "the dog that licked the sky."

According to Korean legend, the Chow Chow was a small Korean bear that ate a lot of blackberries. It later mutated into the modern dog, but its tongue remained blue. This is further supported by the dogs' appearance, which resembles small, fluffy teddy bears, as well as their unique gait and independent nature.

Scientific explanations

Scientists have long studied this breed, but have yet to find a definitive explanation for its unique color. Naturally, they distrust legends and believe that Chow Chows originated in China over 3,000 years ago. This is supported by a figurine from the Han Dynasty (206-220 BCE) depicting representatives of this breed.

Mongolia, where they migrated from Siberia and, before that, from the Arctic, is also considered a possible homeland for these dogs. The animals lived in harsh, low-oxygen conditions. Today, a blue tongue is considered a symptom of severe oxygen deficiency, so this theory seems quite plausible.

One theory suggests that Chow Chows descended from Arctic wolves, which became extinct several centuries ago. It is to them that they owe their tongue color.

Like puppies

Puppies are born with distinctive pink tongues, but their color begins to change within a month of birth, becoming more intense with each passing year. Breeders recommend paying attention to this color when choosing a puppy. Puppies are usually adopted after 1.5 months. If the blue color hasn't developed by this time, it's best to avoid acquiring one. Pigmentation defects can indicate not only insufficient breed purity but also health issues.

Throughout its life, its color changes repeatedly, from intense blue to a light lilac-blue hue. Its color is influenced not only by the animal's health and morale, but also by weather conditions. For example, in hot weather or when very excited, it becomes lighter.

What does a Chow Chow look like?

There are established standards for dogs that allow one to form an impression of the breed's appearance:

a powerful, harmoniously built dog of medium size (46-56 cm in height and weighing from 20 to 32 kg) with a strong body and a high-set tail;
straight limbs, with the hind limbs being more muscular than the front limbs, a stilted gait;
A broad, flat skull with an elongated muzzle, dark oval eyes, and rounded, upright ears; a distinctive feature of the breed is the blue tongue, as seen in the photo.