Your Chow Chow, Mane Event
The lion ruff, the scowl, the famous blue-black tongue: no other breed looks like this. Upload a photo for a free Chow Chow portrait preview in about 30 seconds, then print it framed or on canvas.
in about 30 seconds
A Chow Chow Portrait as Distinctive as the Dog
A Chow Chow is part lion, part teddy bear, part dignified elder statesman. The thick double coat forms a full ruff around a broad, scowling face, the small ears sit upright and the deep-set eyes give a serious look that melts anyone who knows the breed. Then there’s the tongue, blue-black and unmistakable. That is a lot of character for one custom Chow Chow portrait to hold.
Chows come in red, black, blue, cinnamon and cream, in either a rough (fluffy) coat or a smooth one. They’re famously independent and reserved with strangers, which means the best photo is usually taken by the person the dog trusts most, at home, with no fuss.
Every portrait is created from your photo, so your Chow’s coloring and ruff come through. Preview it free, then order framed from $129 or canvas from $89. For other big-coated companions, see Samoyed portraits and Shiba Inu portraits, or browse the custom dog portrait page.
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Photo Tips for the Ruff, the Scowl and the Tongue
Chows are calm, self-possessed subjects, but their deep-set eyes and thick coats need a little help from the light:
- Light the eyes. Deep-set eyes sit under a heavy brow and fall into shadow easily. Face a bright window or open sky, and avoid overhead sun.
- Don’t underexpose a black or blue Chow. Dark coats lose all detail in a dim room. Shoot in bright, even light and the ruff will show its layers.
- Frame the whole mane. A slightly lower, front-on angle shows the lion ruff around the face. Don’t crop the fluff.
- A panting tongue is a feature. The blue-black tongue is the signature, so a relaxed open mouth can be perfect, as long as the face still looks calm.
- Keep it cool. Chows overheat easily. Shoot in the shade or a cool room, and a relaxed dog gives a better expression.
- Let them come to you. Don’t force a stranger’s lens in their face. A trusted person behind the camera gets a softer look.
- Pick a plain background. A busy lawn makes a red or cream coat blur into the grass.
Art Styles That Suit a Chow Chow
Royal is the one that makes sense at first glance. A classic museum oil portrait of your Chow in a crown, crimson velvet and an ermine robe turns that regal ruff and haughty stare into something that looks like it came from a palace.
For a black, blue or dark-red Chow, Black & White Charcoal shows off the sculptural texture of the coat as a monochrome drawing, with the ruff as the star. It’s also a quiet, lasting choice for a memorial.
Watercolor Earthy uses warm brown and earth-tone washes that complement a red, cinnamon or cream coat and make a fluffy Chow look soft and approachable. Previews are free, so try your photo in all three.
Chow Chow Portrait FAQ
Yes. The blue-black tongue is the breed’s most recognizable trait, and a calm, slightly open-mouth photo is a great choice. Make sure the eyes are visible and the face looks relaxed rather than mid-pant or mid-yawn. If you want a more formal piece, choose a photo with the mouth closed. The free preview shows either one.
Yes, as long as the ruff is visible in your photo. Take it from a slightly low, front-on angle and keep the whole mane in the frame. Soft, even light shows the layers of the coat. A smooth-coated Chow will come out sleeker and more muscular, since the portrait follows your photo.
Shoot in bright, soft light such as open shade at midday or next to a big window, and don’t rely on a dim room. Avoid flash, which creates glare and red eyes. A mid-tone background, like a light gray wall, separates the outline. Black & White Charcoal is a great style for dark coats.
Take the photo yourself in a familiar spot, use natural light instead of flash, and give the dog a few minutes to ignore you. Sit down at their level, stay quiet, and shoot a burst when they glance over. A relaxed, slightly sleepy look usually makes the best Chow portrait.
The ruff gives this breed a big, round outline, so a square format works well: 16″ × 16″ framed ($129) for a face portrait or 24″ × 24″ ($149) for a bold statement piece. A 12″ × 12″ gallery-wrap canvas is $89. Frames come in solid-wood Pecan, White Oak or Matte Black.
More Fluffy and Fierce-Looking Dog Portraits
If you love a thick coat and a lot of character, browse these:
- Samoyed portraits
- Shiba Inu portraits
- Pomeranian portraits
- Siberian Husky portraits
- Pet memorial portraits
- All custom dog portraits
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