Chow Chow Puppies: Adopt or Buy in Australia?

The short answer

A Chow Chow suits a calm household that wants a loyal, independent dog rather than an obedient playmate, and that can manage a thick coat in Australian summers. If you buy, use a Dogs Australia registered breeder who can show both parents' hip and elbow scores and talk honestly about entropion, and insist on Dogs Australia (ANKC) pedigree papers. One member breeder published $6,000 for a Chow puppy on its own website in November 2026; one breeder is not a range, so ask several. If you adopt, Chows and Chow crosses reach general rescues, mostly as adults, and need time to settle because they bond deeply. Prices and fees here are reference figures, not quotes; they change, so check with the breeder or rescue.

A fluffy red Chow Chow puppy with a lion-like mane sitting in the shade on a verandah — Chow Chows bond deeply with one household and need shade in summer. Ask for the parents’ hip, elbow and eye results.

Should you adopt or buy a Chow Chow?

Start with the breed, not the route. The Dogs Australia breed standard places the Chow Chow in Group 7 (Non Sporting) and describes “a well balanced dog, leonine in appearance, with proud dignified bearing; loyal yet aloof; unique in its stilted gait and bluish-black tongue.” Dogs Victoria calls the breed intelligent, loyal, stubborn and standoffish with strangers, and adds a line every adopter should read: a Chow “will bond for life and will not rehome easily”.

Either route can work. A registered breeder gives you a puppy from screened parents that you can socialise from the start, and Dogs Victoria says Chows need vast amounts of socialising as youngsters. A rescue gives you an adult whose habits are already known, though it may take longer to trust you. The route to avoid is an online ad with no papers and no health results.

Route	Reference cost	What you usually get	Main risk
Dogs Australia registered breeder	One member breeder published $6,000 (November 2026); one breeder is not a range	A puppy with Dogs Australia pedigree papers, Limited Register for a pet, from hip and elbow scored parents	Waiting lists; registrations have fallen since 2018
General rescue or council pound	The standard fee, for example $395 to $1,000 at the RSPCA rows below	Adult Chows and Chow crosses, desexed and microchipped	Listings are uncommon; an adult may take time to settle
Online ad or unregistered seller	Any price; a cheap price is a scam warning	Papers from another association, untested parents, or no puppy at all	Eye and hip risk unknown, and scams

Reference only, not quotes. The breeder figure is from one member breeder's own website and the rescue figures from the RSPCA NSW, RSPCA ACT and RSPCA Victoria fee pages, all read in November 2026. Breeders and rescues set their own prices and change them, so check with them.

How much is a Chow Chow puppy from a registered breeder?

In November 2026 we read the own websites of Chow Chow breeders that show Dogs Australia state membership, leaving out listing and marketplace sites. One Dogs NSW member published a price on a page that refers to its 2026 breeding plans: $6,000 for a Chow puppy, the same for every colour. A second member breeder's own page also gave a price, but the same page referred to litter plans for 2023, so we left it out because we cannot show it is current. The other member breeders we found publish no price on their own sites, or have no website of their own. We found no Australian Chow Chow club that publishes a guide price.

Who published it	Reference figure	Read
One Dogs NSW member breeder, own website	$6,000 for a Chow puppy	11 Nov 2026
Australian Chow Chow clubs	No guide price published	11 Nov 2026

Reference only, not a quote. One breeder is not a range, so ask several registered breeders and compare what each price includes. Prices change; check with the breeder.

When you ask, find out what the price includes: the parents' hip and elbow scores and any eye examination, vaccinations and microchip, the register type and desexing agreement, and whether the breeder will take the dog back. The breeder we read says it does not charge more for colour, and that is a fair question to put to any breeder. The dog cost calculator gives a first-year figure, and our guides to cheaper vet care and desexing costs help with the rest.

Registered numbers are falling. Dogs Australia's registration figures show 242 Chow Chows registered in 2018 and 135 in 2025. These are registrations, not every Chow born, but they help explain why breeders keep waiting lists.

Which health checks should a Chow Chow breeder show you?

Dogs Victoria calls the Chow generally healthy, then names the problems to ask about. Its points for a buyer:

Issue	What Dogs Victoria says	What to ask for
Entropion (eyelid rolling in)	Probably the most common health issue found in Chows	Whether the parents or earlier litters needed eyelid treatment
Hips and elbows	Hip and elbow scoring for dysplasia should be carried out on breeding stock as a minimum	Both parents' hip and elbow scores
Eyes	Eye testing is becoming more common	Any eye examination results for the parents
Hotspots	Can be a regular problem with the wrong diet, allergies, or grooming not kept up	The diet and grooming routine the puppy is used to
Soft palate	Not seen as commonly in Australia as overseas, but buyers should be aware of it	Whether the parents breathe easily at rest and in warm weather

Source: Dogs Victoria Chow Chow page, read 11 November 2026. This is a buying checklist, not veterinary advice; see a vet about any eye or breathing concern.

Heat. A UK study of 905,543 dogs under veterinary care in 2016 found that Chow Chows had 16.61 times the odds of heat-related illness compared with Labrador Retrievers in its adjusted analysis; the authors note the confidence interval is very wide because few Chows were in the study. In an Australian summer that means walks at the cool ends of the day, shade, water and never a parked car. Our guide to dogs in hot weather covers the signs of heatstroke. If a puppy has to fly interstate, Qantas Freight lists the Chow Chow among brachycephalic breeds, so check its pet travel rules first. Our Chow Chow health guide goes into more depth.

See the Chow Chows listed right now

Chow Chows and Chow crosses from the rescues, shelters and council pounds we aggregate. Every listing links to the rescue, where you apply directly.

Chow Chows in Australia →Sydney →Melbourne →Brisbane →Perth →Adelaide →

What do Chow Chows in rescue look like?

Mostly adults, plus Chow crosses. Chows come into rescue for the usual reasons, such as a move or a change in the household. Because Dogs Victoria says a Chow bonds for life and does not rehome easily, an adopted adult may be reserved at first: ask the foster carer or shelter how the dog has settled, how it handles being groomed and touched, and how it goes with visitors, children and other pets. Dogs Victoria adds that Chows have a strong prey drive, so living with rabbits or poultry is not usually successful, and that a cat may not be ideal if the Chow was not raised with cats.

Our Chow Chow adoption guide for Sydney and temperament and grooming guide cover the local side.

What does a rescue Chow cost?

Rescue	Fee as published	Read
RSPCA NSW	$620 puppy under 12 months; $500 dog over 12 months	11 Nov 2026
RSPCA ACT	$395 for dogs over 6 months and under 8 years; $650 for popular breeds and mixes with high adoption demand over 12 months and under 8 years (the page does not say which breeds count as popular)	11 Nov 2026
RSPCA Victoria	$500 to $1,000 for adult dogs	11 Nov 2026

Reference only, not a quote. These are the fees each rescue published on the date shown; fees change and some dogs are priced individually, so check with the rescue. The fee normally covers desexing, microchipping, vaccinations and a vet check. Read our guide to adopting a dog in Australia.

If no Chow is listed near you, browse calmer dogs as well: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide.

How do Chow Chow puppy scams work?

Never send money for a Chow Chow puppy you have not seen with its mother, in person or at least on a live video call.

The Chow Chow Club of NSW warns buyers to avoid puppies from Gumtree or other online sites, because scammers often ask lower prices and request payment up front for a puppy that never existed. Scamwatch says the same about fake websites and marketplace listings, and that a very cheap pet is likely a scam, and Dogs Victoria's puppy scam fact sheet adds that fake ads may display microchip, source or membership numbers lifted from legitimate breeders. What to watch for with a Chow:

Papers from another association. The club tells buyers to expect Full or Limited Registration pedigree papers through Dogs NSW and the national body, and: “DO NOT accept registration papers from another Association.”
“Rare” colours. The standard allows black, red, blue, fawn, cream or white, whole coloured, and calls any other colour highly undesirable. A premium for an unusual colour is a sales pitch.
A copied breeder name. A real breeder's name or number in an ad proves nothing on its own. Contact the breeder through the club's registered breeders page, Dogs Australia or the state body, not through the ad.
No hip, elbow or eye results. “Vet checked” is not the same as scored parents.

Our guide to puppies for sale in Australia has the state-by-state table of breeder numbers, how to check each one, and what to do if you have already paid.

When is a registered breeder the better choice?

Rescue is not right for everyone. A registered breeder is a reasonable choice if you want a puppy you can socialise from day one, which suits a breed that is aloof with strangers, or if you want papers and screened parents. The Chow Chow Club of NSW suggests talking to as many registered breeders as possible and spending time with their Chows, often at weekend dog shows. Check these before you pay:

Registration. Ask for the breeder's prefix and membership number and check them with Dogs Australia or the state body. It confirms membership, not puppy quality.
Hip and elbow scores for both parents, by registered name, and any eye results.
The mother, in person, and where the puppies are raised, before any deposit.
What comes home with the puppy: the club lists a vaccination certificate, worming record, microchip paperwork and a puppy pack with diet and grooming information.
A written contract covering health problems, register type, desexing and return to the breeder.

Is a Chow Chow the right dog for you?

The appeal is real. Dogs Victoria calls Chows extremely clean, not destructive, quiet unless barking is necessary, easy going to live with and able to adapt from apartments to country properties, happy either as couch potatoes or with a long daily walk. Be honest about four things before you apply. Training: obedience training is usually not successful, and a Chow will not come back on recall off lead. Strangers: it is standoffish and aloof with people outside the family. Heat: the coat and the heat risk above mean summer planning. Commitment: it bonds for life and does not rehome easily. Dogs NSW adds that fencing is a must, partly because puppies are commonly stolen.

Not sure it fits? Try the what dog breed am I quiz and the adoption readiness check.

Find a Chow Chow near you

Chow Chows and Chow crosses listed by rescues, by city:

Local guides to adopting a Chow Chow, with the rescues that serve each city: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast.

More adopt-or-buy guides: Shar Pei, Akita, Shiba Inu, Samoyed, Japanese Spitz, Pomeranian, British Bulldog.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a Chow Chow puppy in Australia?▼

One Dogs Australia member breeder published a price on its own website when we read it in November 2026: $6,000 for a Chow puppy. One breeder is not a range, and we found no Australian Chow Chow club that publishes a guide price. Ask several registered breeders what they charge and what it includes. This is a reference figure, not a quote; prices change, so check with the breeder.

What health problems do Chow Chows have?▼

Dogs Victoria says entropion, a curling in of the eyelid, is probably the most common health issue in Chows, that hotspots can be a regular problem if the diet is wrong, allergies are present or grooming is not kept up, and that buyers should be aware of soft palate problems, though these are not seen as commonly in Australia as overseas. It recommends hip and elbow scoring of breeding stock as a minimum and says eye testing is becoming more common.

What health tests should a Chow Chow breeder do?▼

As a minimum, hip and elbow scoring of both parents, which Dogs Victoria says should be carried out on breeding stock. Ask about eye examinations as well, given that entropion is the most common problem Dogs Victoria names for the breed. Ask to see the results by each parent's registered name.

Do Chow Chows cope with Australian heat?▼

Take care in summer. In a UK study of 905,543 dogs under veterinary care in 2016, Chow Chows had 16.61 times the odds of heat-related illness compared with Labrador Retrievers, although the authors note the estimate is imprecise because few Chows were in the study. Walk early or late, give shade and water, and know the signs of heatstroke. Qantas Freight also lists the Chow Chow among brachycephalic breeds, so check its pet travel rules before booking a flight.

Are Chow Chows good family dogs?▼

They can be, with the right expectations. Dogs Victoria says it has no issue recommending a Chow to a family home as long as the child is trained, but that Chows are not a breed that will fetch a ball or play games with children. They are loyal to and protective of their household, aloof with strangers, and need a lot of socialising as youngsters.

Is a Chow Chow easy to train?▼

Not in the usual sense. Dogs Victoria describes the Chow as highly intelligent but with no desire to please, says obedience training is usually not successful, and warns that a Chow should not be left to roam off lead because it will not come back on recall. Plan on a secure yard and a lead on every outing.

How long do Chow Chows live?▼

Dogs Victoria gives an average life span of 12 to 15 years. Plan for that commitment: it also says a Chow will bond for life and will not rehome easily.

How much grooming does a Chow Chow need?▼

Regular, but manageable. Dogs Victoria suggests brushing for about an hour a week, with extra work on a desexed, shedding or puppy coat, a bath about every three months, and says shedding generally runs over two to four weeks twice a year. The Dogs Australia standard says any artificial shortening of the coat that alters the natural outline should be penalised in the show ring.

What colours do Chow Chows come in?▼

The Dogs Australia standard allows whole coloured black, red, blue, fawn, cream or white, often shaded but not in patches or parti-coloured, and says any other colours are highly undesirable. It recognises a rough coat and a smooth coat under the same standard.

Can I adopt a Chow Chow in Australia?▼

Yes, sometimes. Chow Chows and Chow crosses reach general rescues and council pounds, usually as adults. Because Dogs Victoria says Chows bond for life and do not rehome easily, give an adopted adult time and ask the rescue how it has settled in care. You pay the rescue's standard fee, for example $500 for a dog over 12 months at RSPCA NSW, read 11 November 2026: reference only, not a quote, and fees change, so check with the rescue.

How do I avoid Chow Chow puppy scams?▼

The Chow Chow Club of NSW warns that scammers on Gumtree and other online sites often ask lower prices and request payment up front for a puppy that never existed. Only pay for a puppy you have seen with its mother, in person or at least on a live video call. Scamwatch says a very cheap pet is likely a scam, and Dogs Victoria warns that fake ads may show numbers lifted from real breeders.

Sources

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