Personality
Today the Chow Chow is most commonly kept as a companion dog. Their keen sense of proprietorship over their homes, paired with a sometimes serious approach to strangers, can be off putting to those unfamiliar with the breed.
The proper Chow owner will be just as willful and stubborn as the Chow they keep. Weaker-willed individuals would be best served to evaluate their commitment in controlling an animal who is happy to take over any household. Specimens of opposite sex typically cohabitate with less tension than those of the same sex, but it is not unheard of for multiple chows of both sexes to live together peacefully in a home setting.
Chows are extremely loyal to their own family and will bond tightly to their masters. The Chow typically shows affection only with those it has bonds to. They will not immediately accept strangers in the same manner as it does members of its own "pack". The typical Chow's behavior is thought to be more similar to a domestic cat rather than a domestic dog.
Activity Requirements
Chows are not a particularly active breed. Apartment life can suit this breed if given enough opportunity for regularly scheduled physical activity each day. Owners need to be prepared to take a Chow for a brisk daily walk, even if they have a fenced yard, in order to meet their needs for mental and physical stimulation. While the Chow exhibits low energy for most of the day, they crave routine time to explore and play to maintain a happy and content disposition.