I am the proud owner of the “the worlds oldest chow!! Here is another treasure that makes you stop and think…hmmmmm how long did the average chow live back then.
I found this newspaper article some time ago and recently acquired the original photo used for the article… A real piece of chow collector history!. This could possibly be a smooth but it is hard to tell laying down. The head looks very smoothie in coat texture. .
See the original press photo featuring the front and back of the image from the newspaper archives
Oldest Dog in United States (The news article converted to text)
MONDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1934.
Oldest dog in the United States is claim made for Crow,a black chow,owned by Mrs. J. Mack, Burlinggame Calif.ornia. He’ll be 21 in May.
His mistress declares there is no other registered dog of his age in this country and that he’s the world’s oldest chow. Crow’s normally black hair has turned gray and muzzle and paws are white. 
AND BELOW IS ANOTHER 1929 REFERENCE TO THE EL CHER KENNELS AND THEIR OLDER CHOWS
My Chow, Ariel is 18 years old. (2015)
She lives in Takoma Park, MD.
Wow Larry that is amazing. Is she still with you? Bless her heart and yours for taking such great care of Ariel!!!!!
I have a very light colored cream [almost White] female chow, chow who is 13.5 yrs old. She started getting more rust colored on her topside after 8yrs.
But she is in amazing good health. She can still jump out of my semi truck on to the ground, which is a huge distance for her small stature.
my Chow Griffin just turned 16 years old
That is not a chow chow has ears of a husky and has the nose and muzzle of a lab
Hello jack. This is what chows looked like in the 1930s. The original 1930’s article and press photo both state that ‘Crow’ was a chow. Chows have similar ears to huskies as they are both northern breeds. The face of a very old chow takes on the look of a lab at times. Each dog is unique in how they age
My chow Bruno is 16 years and 8 months old. I have been blessed. He recently is now not doing well. I only hope he passes in his sleep. He has been the best blessing to our family we have owned him since he was a baby. He is red with cream mixed in a little black on the tips. I will never have a dog that has touched my life as he has. He has lived up to his duties and protected us, loved us.
God bless you all! August 2018 .. i have a 3-legged cancer survivor (more like live-er with) Chow cross who is at least 13. He is a rescue from 2005. His name is Chewy. I love him so much. He is full of beans but his starting to lose his hearing. What are the updates of Ariel and Bruno?
Thank you all for your comments. My chow chow will be 15 in April 2021. I rescued her after she was abandoned in Beaufort SC in Oct 2007. The estimate was she was 18 months old. She has lived all over the US with me. She had bright red fur when she was younger, now it’s light red with grey. I got her to be a guard dog and she ended up being the worst guard dog ever because she loves everybody. She has had problems with her hips for the last couple years and the glucosamine isn’t helping as much lately. I’m considering pet CBD.
That first picture with the woman IS NOT A CHOWCHOW!