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"The Chow Chow is thought to be well over 2000 years old. The breed theoretically originated from a cross of the old Tibetan Mastiff and the Samoyed in the northern parts of Siberia, and it resembles both of those breeds. However, others note the unique blue-black tongue and speculate that this is one of the \u201Cbasic\u201D canine breeds, ancestors of the Samoyed, Norwegian Elkhound, Keeshond and Pomeranian, which are of similar type.  Regardless of ancestry, the Chow Chow was for centuries a sporting dog in China much favored by emperors and wealthy sportsmen.  Chows have been used as both scenting dogs and pointers, with great speed and stamina that is particularly useful in hunting birds.  They also historically were used for herding, pulling and protection.  In early China, the Chow was an important source of food and fur for what is described as a protein-starved culture.  They were considered a dietary delicacy, and their skin was used for clothing."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.petwave.com/Dogs/Breeds/Chow-Chow/Overview.aspx>