This is bear we saved him from the street. People, even my mom, thought he was chow because of the spots. I kept telling her no thank you. This website proved my point ... here's his pic its hard to see his spots they aren't that dark.
Diane El Paso TX
Here is our Daphne, We adopted her from AZ humane society in 06. Her description then said Chow Chow mix. When I took her to the vet for her follow up check up, the vet said there was no way she could be Chow. Wish we knew what she is, we get asked at least once a week "what breed is she"? Her purple tongue gets people's attention for sure!
Marcy Jones Yelm, WA
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you,
for giving me some information to "defend my pup"
I am so sick of everyone telling me she has chow when
I know she does not. It drives me crazy.
Gracie is a competitve frisbee dog, won 1st place in the
Novice division at the World Finals last year. So she is front
of so many people that comment on her tounge.
Thank you Crystal and Gracie, Tulsa Oklahoma
I love your site! Here is Kadie, she is a rescue dog from the California wild fires. She is 3 years old and we think she is part Scottie, part mutt.
Linda, Seattle WA
Hi, submitting a photo of my dog with black spots on her tongue. Love your site!
This is Moxie, an Australian Cattle Dog mix (maybe Shepherd?). Some think that she is part chow because of her spots, even when I explain that all breeds can have spots. She looks and acts nothing like a chow. Moxie and I are ecstatic with this webpage, and enjoy seeing all the other "CHOWS" (-:
Crystal - Fort Collins, CO
Thank you so much for your very informative article about black tongues and puppy dogs. We are frequent visitors to the Laurel Canyon Dog Park here in Los Angeles. The best explanation we ever heard is the following story from a gentleman who loved his chow until she passed at age 16.
When God was cutting out the stars in the night sky, he didn't want to waste the bits leftover. He gave the bits to the chow-chow so their tongues would be sweeter when the gave you kisses.
If one knows anything about chow-chows and how aloof they can be, a chow-chow kiss is truly a blessing! :)
Thank you again! Sincerely,
Elizabeth & Rick, Los Angeles CA
Hi Kellie, Thanks for your informative site. This is Elsa - a mystery mix dog adopted from a shelter that is either a mix of Germ Shepherd or Belgian Malinois with pit and perhaps some lab. She weighs 75 lbs and has a short dual coat (fluffy hair underneath a hard flat coat.) Lots of people see the black spots on her tongue and say she must be part chow. I know she sheds a lot but there is nothing chow-like about her. Someone looked at her big ears and long toes and said she was part kangaroo! If anything her personality is like a lab (loves to eat, fetch and get wet) or German Shepherd (protective and suspicious of strangers in the house), but she is also super affectionate like a pit (she is my shadow.) She also has a smear of black hair on the top of her tail. Nobody knows what she is, but she is definitely unique, and the spotted tongue is just another thing that makes her special.
Thanks! Susan - San Luis Obispo, CA
Mom is pure Husky show dog.
Dad is pure black Lab
Nicole, Minneola, FL
We bought Kato from a pet store who said he was a Lab/Husky which we believed but everyone we know wants to call him a Chow because of his tongue.
Though at ten months old he is 92lbs and has no other actual characteristics of a Chow.
We still are still unsure what his actual breed is.
Tom
Hi. This is cooper, our Blue Heeler and we think Lab cross, Cooper. His mom is Blue Heeler. And as many of the others noted, most people think he has some Chow in him. But he has not one Chow characteristic. He is 10 months old.
Thanks, Maria in Texas
This web page has really helped me explain to people why my dog is not a chow
(despite the bet saying so too haha).
Mona is an 8 year old mix who loves to dig in mud! She also loves to run, bark and get her neck scratched. She's a wild thing and is very vocal when she wants something. She isn't much of a licker, and she loves pig ears! She carries her tail on her back and is pretty fluffy.
Had a husky mask as a puppy.
Giovanna, Gustavus, Alaska
This is Leonard (Lenny), my amazingly fun and loving purebred Golden Retriever. Lenny is 4 yrs. , but still has a puppy face; which includes his spotted tongue. When he was a puppy, he did not have any spots on his tongue, then one developed. At 3 yrs. old, another spot appeared!
I like his tongue freckles, but did not know they were so common! =)
Rebecca Columbus OH
This is Mulligan, a 5 month-old Chocolate lab, German Shepherd mix adopted from the York Co H S. He has a curled tail so we think he might have a little chow in him. He enjoys long walks in the woods, toys that squeak and the occasional cake frosting he can steal, refer to photo with some on his nose.
Amy Tega Cay, South Carolina
Hi. Xiao bao bei came from S. China. She is 31 lbs, non-aggressive, sweet and lovely. Her tail is short and bushy, but does not roll over onto her back like chow tails do. All the dogs like her that I saw while I was in China have black tongues. Some Chinese people think that her breed is the original chow-chow. In fact, I saw dogs like her in ancient pottery and paintings. If anyone tells you that they also have such a dog please let me know, as I wish to acquire another one in N. America. Thank you
Royann Vancouver, BC Canada
Schatze was adopted as a puppy from a shelter
in Nov. 2008. They said she was a shepherd mix. We think she may be predominantly Icelandic Sheepdog, but probably not purebred. She looks remarkably like Icelandics, but is taller and heavier.
Janette, Massachusetts
Rosco was given to us when he was a little puppy. The people said that they weren't sure what they where mixed with, but it had to be Chow. So their guess was Chow and Black Lab. But when I came across your website, I though that he couldn't be Chow because he looked just like a flat coated retriever.
Which do you think he is?
Tatyana
The pound said that I am a Wheaten Terrier mix, but my parents saw a book that had a Schnoodle that looked just like me. We had the same brown beard and the same coat,
but I sport a black tongue which remains
a mystery to everyone.
Woody and Allison
Gilbert, AZ
This is Freckles, my 11 month old Australian Cattle Dog I sprang from the shelter. Thanks
for your site! People ask me too if he is part
chow (even though he doesn't look like it at all) and now I can tell them that a lot of breeds
have black spots!
Rachel Fort Huachuca, AZ
Bobby is a rescue. The vet said he was a Lhasa Apso, but I think he is mixed with something else
as he weights 30 lbs and is larger that a Lhasa Apso. As you can see his tongue has black spots. The first thing people try to tell me is he is mixed with Chow. I doubt it!
Janet Montverde, FL
Hello, My Irish Setter Rowan had one black dot at 5 months old at the back of his tongue and now at 10 months another one has just appeared towards the end of his tongue, he is a Pedigree dog of show quality.
Mike
County of Lincolnshire in the UK, on the top of the Lincolnshire Wolds
This is Bailey, and Australian Shepherd/Cocker Spaniel mix with a tongue even Gene Simmons would be envious of. His tongue is ultra long and hangs out of his mouth to the side when he's really panting. Bailey is a great dog that we adopted from the Humane Society.
Bailey was actually a local celebrity in Phoenix. He made the news when the Humane Society's van was stolen with 10 dogs inside. When the van was recovered they found that one dog was missing(Bailey). The local news stations carried the story and showed pictures of the dog. The human society posted a $1000 reward for his return. Bailey was a big celebrity and was adopted quickly by another family, but they found him to play a bit too rough with their dog. My wife and I had no idea of his history when we walked in and saw him in his cage, we just thought he was adorable.
Now Bailey sleeps 16 hours a day and is generally on the receiving end of rough play from our other dog.
MG Phoenix, AZ
This is my Chow-Chow / German shepherd Mix (Charlie). The owner want to put him a sleep that's how I wound up with him. He is carrying the Chow sign of the blue tong. His hair is splendid and he is a little stubborn. I am working on to graduate to the alfa position but it is
hard when you are not the owner from puppy stage and he has not been properly broken in.
Best regards,
Erno (from Hungary)
These are photos of Felony (we sprang him
from doggy jail). He's a mix of sorts with
traits from several breeds. We think Chow Chow may be included in the mix due to the spotted tongue, thick coat in the front of the neck and high, (semi-)sickle tail. He has a feathered coat, similar to a golden retriever, on his legs, tail, belly and box type ears. His head is definitely hound (redbone, we think), with the drooling, and unstoppable chase
and treeing instincts.
Tim Arlington Washington
Here's my boy. You can see the front spot,
also the back of his tongue is solid black, and just for fun -
I turned my attention elsewhere for probably 30 seconds
and boom!..mud....it was a hot Arizona desert day.
Hi. I know I sent you a pic of my dog's spotted tongue ages ago, but I didn't have a very good one at the time. I thought I'd submit a couple new ones if you want to replace them or post up a couple better ones! Dahlia is a border collie or Aussie mix (likely with some sort of retriever) and has several spots on her tongue.
Michelle and Dahlia
Syracuse, NY
Hobo at 6 monthsThis is Hobo, a Chinook. He has a pretty heavily spotted tongue, including the bottom, the interior of his mouth is all black. His tongue has been spotted from the time he was a baby, although the spots have gotten much more prevalent. Hobo is currently 5 and a half, and most of the pictures are from the past year, but I did include two from when he was younger so you could see how the spots have changed. He has absolutely no resemblance to a chow whatsoever in looks or temperament.
Ang, Nashua, NH
4months
8 months 1yr
Hello, I have attached 3 photos of Miss Maddie showing the progression of her tong spots. It went from none at 4 months to several large spots at 1 year. We got her from a shelter but I doubt there is any chow in this pup.
Daniel, Murrieta, CA
Nana was being chased by some kids that were throwing things at her in the rain. She was VERY sick but is now VERY healthy although she is extremely anxious. We always thought she was a lab/chow mix (and that the chow explained why she didn't like water- that and being a stray in the rain) and why she can be a little moody sometimes but now I'm not sure! I really like your site and I enjoyed looking at the pictures and reading the descriptions. Nana's spots have gotten bigger and more spread out as she has gotten older. They are now pretty much covering her whole tongue and are not really "spots" anymore. It is strange to see her next to our Flat Coat Retriever whose tongue is all pink. We have become so used to seeing the black tongue that it is odd to us to see a dog without one!
Thank you,
Katie Bower St Augustine FL
This is Aster.
They first said she was a collie mix,
but we think she is possibly Newfoundland. She is so young and big already.
Thank you for your informative web site! Here’s my Norwegian Elkhound with his Hershey’s kiss-shaped black spot on his tongue. He’s a therapy dog and the patients he visits don’t mention his tongue because his beautiful tail is wagging so happily!
Julie Johnson City, TN
This is Hanzo! He is (probably) a Mastiff mix stray that I rescued when he was 8 wks. His mother was a poorly-bred Mastiff who I was trying to rescue but she was sadly hit by a car before I could earn her trust. Fortunately, I was able to save her one pup!
I have no idea what he is crossed with but I got sick of people telling me he must be a Chow Chow mix because of his fantastic spotted tongue! There isn't an ounce of Chow in this fella, and I felt vindicated seeing that Mastiffs of several types made your list.
I also see that German Shepherds and Malinois made the list, which are two possible (mutt version) suspects for daddy's parentage. Of course, he also looks a lot like a pit bull and 90% of the strays around here are lovable pitty mixes! Whatever he is, he is 65 lbs of love aimed at the world in general and anything in his path! His tongue is one of his most endearing features and adds a great deal of charm to his giant grin :)
Thanks for the great site!
Erica in Conyers, GA
I work at the Jacksonville Humane Society in Florida, I wanted to know what other breeds have all black or black spotted tongues. Cause I knew chows weren't the only breed that have black tongues. And my dog KissKiss whose an American Bulldog, about 1yr & 7mos old, has a black spot on her tongue. I adopted at the Humane Society when she was 9wks old. When she first came into the shelter, she came in litter of 8 or 9pups. All of them were absolutely gorgeous, each with different coloring and markings. The guy who brought the litter of puppies in said that both parents were American Bulldog, not sure if the parents were both purebred American Bulldogs. Well she's about 60lbs now, and is just a big mama's girl. She is like my shadow, wherever I am she is not too far away.
Melissa, Jacksonville FL
Hi, I have been tired of hearing that Dusti is part chow because of the spots. I am glad I found your site and have been passing it along so the non-believers can see for themselves.
We adopted Dusti from the Tampa Bay Humane Society when he was 9 weeks old, he is now 8 months old. He had the spots on his tongue when we got him, they have become more defined as he gets older.
They said he was a miniature schnauzer mix. He is around 40 pounds so I think that guess is out.
Thanks for your site.
De, Plant City FL
This is Gretchen. She is 3 years old. We rescued her from the pound, so we're not too sure what kind of breed she is.
Anne Whyte
Chino Hills, CA
Mickey is a purebred Black and Tan Siberian Husky, when we first got him his tongue was blotchy black, now at a year and a half it's practically ALL black.
Davie, Fl
I stumbled upon your site the other day. This is my 3 year old Rott/Chow mix bear. We were told he was a rottweiler and chow chow mix but I have my doubts. We didn't really argue because he was very fluffy as a puppy and developed the spots. Now it is possible he is something else. From his size I have always figured he had some mastiff in him.
Mandisha Las Vegas, NV
Hi! Stumbled on your site, love all the pictures! Our adopted dog April's breed is often debated. Most say German Shepherd and Lab, but some suggest Rottie or Doberman, too. It's all about the eyebrows and the tan markings. But the spotted tongue adds more to the debate. Ah well, she's 100% MUTT!
Dawn Havertown, PA
This is Wesson. He is about 7 years old, possible chow-akita mix. He is about 75-80lbs, copper in color, has a massive head, stocky build, and a beautiful over the back tail. I rescued him over 3 years ago from a junk-yard; covered in matted hair, fleas and ticks, and aggressive toward other animals and people. He is now a happy reformed dog (who enjoys my sofa while I am away) whose buddies are 2 cats and a boarder collie-boxer. I couldn't ask for a better friend or more faithful animal.
Thanks for the great site!
Denell Jacksonville, NC
Kellie, Thank you for your website. It's obvious from the pictures that many more dogs have spotted tongues than just Chows. The animal rescue center told me Mia is part Chow and part Flat Hair Retriever. The vet told me she is part Lab and part Flat Hair Retriever. Everybody else tells me she is definitely part Chow - because of her tongue.
It really doesn't matter what the mix is - she is a super dog and companion. btw, she weighs 35-40 lbs. Although the pictures don't show it, she frequently carries her tail circled above her back. If you have an opinion on her lineage, I'd love to hear it. Even though it doesn't matter, it is intriguing.
Tom Batavia, OH
Kellie,I stumbled upon your site when I was searching for dogs with black tongues. My husband and I adopted our dog from the local Humane Society. They said she's a Mastiff/German Shepherd mix. She's big, about 90 pounds. I fell in love with the spots on her tongue and everyone asks if she's part Chow Chow. No one believes me when I say no. Even my aunt and cousins who used to raise Chow Chows said she had to be. They think she looks part Chow Chow. I don't know where they see it. That's why I did a little research. Thanks for your site and here's a picture of our 2 year old Mastiff/German Shepherd mix Rosie.
Stacy, Louisville, Ohio
This is our 12 week old puppy, Pearl.
She is one half Great Pyrennes, one quarter Chow, and one quarter Shar Pei.
People say her tongue looks like a lava lamp. Her father, the Great Pyr, has an all pink tongue. Her mother, the Chow/ Shar Pei mix, has an all purple tongue. This is what we ended up with.
Jody & Jim, Woodbridge, VA
I fostered a chocolate cocker with
her puppies. Of course, I had to keep one pup. The other 6 all had blue/black tongues,
3 pups' coats were all black, 1 was a
little darker than Lorry, and 1 was mixed
brown and black.
Debbie, Loganville, WI
Hi, we rescued Sparks from our local shelter. He is a German Shepherd mixed with... we're not sure. But he has an all black tongue which is always a conversation starter. :-)
Andrew, Plumas Lake, CA
We adopted Rufus from a shelter in Kentucky. He is a lover and loves to be with people and play. He lives with me, my husband, and our other dog Bryan who is a Beagle/Bassett mix. We have no idea what kind of dog Rufus is; he was supposed to be a manchester terrier/pom mix, but he is now 40 pounds. If you have any ideas of what kind of dog he is, please let us know because we're really interested in finding out. My email is iseal_2003@hotmail.com
Thank you for your site. Everyone kept telling me he was a chow, and he might be part chow, but now I know there are many other breeds that he could be. Thank you!
Sherry, Mannogate TN
Hey, I was trying to find answers for why my newly adopted pup had a purple tongue. When I came across your website I found it. She is a Husky/Shepherd mix. She was 8 weeks old when this picture was taken. Thanks for the insight!
Chelsie, Elizabeth IN
This is Wyatt at 6 months old. He was born at the shelter where both of his parents were surrendered; his was dad a German shepherd and mom was a lab mix. In this photo you can only see one spot on his tongue, but he has a whole cluster of them near the back. His spotted tongue is only one of the many things that make him wonderfully unique.
Margaret, Jackson MI
Hello you have a great web site. I just got a puppy and his previous owner and I are trying to figure out the breed of the father. Mom is said to be 1/2 rottie and 1/2 pitt. My pup Shadow has an almost total black tongue! As I was looking at the dogs and snapping a few shots I noticed that our 100% Siberian Husky (Tank) has a blue spot on the tip of his tongue too.
You can just make it out in this funny chance pic -
a rare shot to see his tongue.
Thank you,
April, Surprise AZ
Here's Old Crow, a shelter dog who lives in Maine but grew up in Georgia.
Who the hell knows what kind of dog he is...
Hi. We adopted Lily from a shelter in North Carolina in 2005. She'd spent 5 months in the shelter, and we think that part of the reason that no one would adopt her was because of her black tongue (people thought she was a chow). Her tongue has a few pink spots at the front, but it is mostly black near the back, as is the roof of her mouth and her lips. We know she's some sort of spitz, but we have no idea what she is.. a little of this, a little of that - people have suggested chow, shepherd, collie, retriever, carolina dog, husky, shiba inu, jindo, canaan dog, or a mix thereof. Whatever. She's a sweet girl, and a great companion. She's now 4 years old, and lives with us in Switzerland.
Elaine and Lily the Pup, Switzerland
Hello,
Here's a pic of our purebred Golden Retriever boy Midas or "Midy
Mouse". Pic on left at 1yr old. Midas' surprise spot appeared near
2 years old. He is definitely
one in a million!
Thanks for The Great Tounge Debate!!!
Michelle Warren-Williams
Raeford,NC
Hi, I'd like to add our girl to your mix.
Her mother was a border collie
and it's possible dad was a keeshond
which I believe explains the tongue.
Thanks, Len
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
This is Hunter, he is approximately 3 months old. We got him from a friend who found him and 4 of his brothers and sisters (who also have blue tongues) on the side of a dirt road. The vet believes he is mostly Labrador Retriever & up until I found this site I had been told only Chows have blue/black tongues so everyone assumed he was a Lab/Chow mix. I really didn't think so since he displays no other Chow characteristics but I had no proof to back up my argument. Thanks so much for the information!
Hello,
I just came across your website today and was enjoying all of the black tongue pictures. Attached is a picture of my three German Shepherds (although Star we think is mixed with Malamute). They are from left to right: River (who has a few spots), Sage (who has no spots), and Star (who has lots of spots). Everyone always assumes because of the spots and red coat that Star is mixed with Chow, but I disagree based on her body and head shape, plus her incredible widow's peak. I think she's mixed with Malamute. Anyways, thanks for clarifying the great tongue debate and Merry Christmas!
Sincerely,
The Figueroa Family
Riverside, California
I'm
so happy I found your website! I knew that other breeds besides the Chow
could have spots on their tongues, but it's amazing how quickly people
tend to assume that just because my dog has a spotty tongue that he must
be a Chow mix. My dog Luke was a rescue, I got him when he was 12 wks (3
now) so his parents are an unknown and I won't know for sure until I get
him DNA tested but my best guess would be Lab and Golden mix, or
possibly Flat Coat. Defiantly retriever and water dog! I did get to see
a picture of his sister who was a golden/yellow color with short hair.
His coat really is a mixture of super soft, medium length hair around
his head and chest like a golden, and a little more coarse toward the
rear (like long lab hair), water rolls right off of him. He looks like a
black golden retriever and I don't really see any chow in him, but most
people tend to be convinced just off his tongue. Its so great to finally
have some answers, and to see so many other people with purebreds and
mixes who also have spotty tongues. Thank you for the great info! Stephanie Perrins, Fremont CA
We adopted our boy MAX from a local PAWS shelter at just 8 weeks. He is now 10 months old, 22 in. at the withers, and 50 lbs. Local vets seem to think he's a Flat-coated retriever, or a Golden/Lab mix. His entire tongue is black. He has no undercoat and does not shed, and his coat repels water like "Rain-x." His coat is so soft and shiny total strangers stop us to ask what he is. He loves everyone and appears to "kiss" our female BC. He actually licks her lips. I don't know if any of this helps...but no matter what, he is one of the smartest dogs I've ever worked with. He learns every trick in one day, was potty trained in 3 days, etc. He's just as handsome as he is smart too.
Jeanie, Murfreesboro TN
My name is Spike. I am a 6.5 year old GSD/ ?? Mix.My mommy saved me from a horrible home where I Was covered in fleas and just very... Unhappy.If my muzzle was a tad bit longer, and if my ears Were a bit bigger and stood up, You'd mistake me for A purebred German Shepard. I have a nice, thick double coat.And come spring time... I shed like a Siberian Husky!If any one has any ideas as to what I may be mixed with,
Drop my mom
a note at
ladiebug98@yahoo.com
Thanks
bunches, Spike... In
eastern NC
This is Lucy, our beloved shelter mutt.
The staff at the shelter had her marked as a spaniel/chow mix, but I'm really not sure what she is. Although she has a chow-like tail (the fluffy, curled over the back look), that's about where the similarities end. She is 27 lbs, doesn't shed (she has no undercoat), and herds other dogs or children like they're sheep! Other people have guessed she might be part border collie or flat coated retriever.
Thanks for adding her to your site!
Karen, Alexandria VA
This is Bailey, who was rescued from the shelter at about 6 months, and already had a black tongue. I'll have to watch to see if it gets more color!
Megan, New Orleans LA
I
just came across your website and just love the pictures, I am on a
cocker spaniel message board and I posted this picture of
Butters after
she was groomed yesterday, you can see the spots on her tongue
pretty good in this one. I adopted her in 2004 from the
local animal shelter,
they had her down as
Labrador Retriever
Cocker Spaniel mix but anyone else who has seen her says she
is definitely
Golden Retriever
Cocker Spaniel mix.
Jaye,
Fairbanks Alaska
This is Bear..in this picture he was only 3 months old..this halloween
2008 he will be 2! He is a Austrailian Cattle Dog Mix..mixed with what who knows..
but he is primarily aust. cattle dog aka red heeler. his ears stand up now and he is
much bigger but his tongue still has that great pigmentation of blue on top and bottom.
He is the love of my life and loves his baby sister jubilee a 1 year am bulldog who also
has a tiny black spot on her tongue..all the other dogs at the dog park wish they could
be so special to have a blue spotted tongue like my 2!
The Hibbs Family of Tallahassee,FL
This is Nick. He is a 2 year old Border Collie/Golden Retriever Mix that we adopted from a Golden Retriever Rescue
Dawn, Cincinnati OH
Hey Kellie, Love your site. I got Lula Belle when she was just 6 wks and was told she was full chow (1 parent a black chow and the other a red chow). As Lula has aged she is looking more and more like a chow mix. I had Lula Belle's DNA tested and it came back all chow. Go figure. Lula Belle is pretty big for a chow - - she is 8 months old and weighs 65 lbs and her coat is smooth and flat - - more like a golden retriever. Her head and tail are quite chow chow poofy though. Her tongue was pink when she was born (like all chows) and has been changing as she ages. Just for fun i attach a few pics of that progression.
Heidi, Seattle WA
So I was surfing the web
today trying to find out why my dog had black spots on her tongue--didn't
realize it was so common. Anyway, I found your website and was scrolling
through all the pictures when I came across Brownie from CA.
My dog is also named Brownie, has spots on her tongue, and is a
pitbull mix(pitbull/spitz/german shepard/black lab). She has spotted gums
cheeks-all except her roof of mouth(black). She's also got a curly tail. So I'm thinking
she's part chow since chow falls under the spitz category, but I can't say for sure.
Pam Rochester NY
Clarisse was a rescue and I was told she was a Chow / Shepherd mix, but now I am not so sure! They guessed chow because of her tongue, they said her mom looked to be full blooded German Shepherd, so what do you think? Oh she lost her leg due to her mother’s owners leaving her and litter mates outside during their first winter(07) and her paw became frozen to a metal pipe and was so frost bitten she had already lost her paw when the rescue got her so the rest was removed! I don’t care what she is I love My Tripod!
Annie, Kentucky
Onyx
We got him from a rescue,
he might be lab, gsd, and
maybe chow chow
Canada
This is Ghengis, our 3 year old pure bred Siberian we rescued from a local breed rescue group. We love the 'paw print' on his tongue! Thank you for your informative site.
Kelli Clinton UT
This is Scooby, when she was 3 months old. She is now 6 years. When we got her at a shelter I was told she was a blk. lab/cocker spaniel/rat terrier mix. Naturally, I thought the blk. lab was obvious; as she is medium size I thought that was due to the rat terrier, her bounciness too. The vet said because of her black tongue she was chow. I had a dog DNA test done and the results are: 20-36% each of Cocker Spaniel and Rottweiler; 10-19% each of Great Pyrenees, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Yorkshire Terrier and Boston Terrier. No black lab! Who would have guessed. I didn't believe the results until I did a little web research.
Still seems a little unbelievable.
Erika Gray, Surprise AZ
This is Winston. He is
2 yrs and was rescued. The
rescue group
thought he was a
Tibetan Terrier. I own two Tibetan Terriers, and our TT
breeder says that although Winston looks a lot like a TT they
never have blue tongues. I was interested to see that
Tibetan Mastiffs can have blue tongues. Some people think
that TT's are the ancestors for all the Tibetan breeds. Winston
is about the right size and coat for a TT, although his
proportions are a little off.
I'm curious if anyone
else has a thought on what he might be a mix of.
Thanks
Grace
geas@embarqmail.com
Troy VA
Troy VA
We got Foxie from a rescue
shelter about 7 years ago. She was about 6 mo. old and
appeared to be very abused but is now loveable and
intelligent, very well trained and practically lives
outdoors in the back and front yards watching everyone pass
by. But she is still afraid of anything or anyone new as
you can tell by the picture. She is totally black including
her entire tongue and has floppy tips to her ears. No one
knows what she is but probably has Belgian sheep dog and
terrier in her. Has very soft furry hair when groomed which
kids love to bury their face in - kinda like real fur. She
hasn't a mean bone in her body and loves all people and
other dogs.
Harry,
Teaneck, NJ
This is Chewy, a 1 yr old black terrier mix we got at our local shelter. When I saw the picture of the dog sent in by Jared, Halifax, NS Canada, I had to send in our picture too. They look a lot alike. Same wire haired coat, floppy ears, and terrier fur between the eyes, and on the muzzle. Wish I knew what he is, but in any case, he's a sweetie.
Dani Demyen Lancaster, CA
Here’s a pic of “Chongo”…appreciate the site about tongues. We too have been told he has Chow….but more astute folks say GSD/Lab mix. Smart dog with a lot of vitality…..in the neighborhood, he’s a dog’s dog.
Great pal…too.
Doug Konieczny Spring TX
Here is a pic of our adopted dog Karma. She is a lab mix, almost 2yrs old and has a very fast black spotted tongue!!
James, Fort Mill, SC
This is Independence, our 7 month
old AKC registered Golden Retriever. Just this
morning, yet another person stopped us as we were out walking
and stated authoritatively that "he must have some Chow in him",
because of course ONLY Chow have spotted tongues. Sigh.
Melissa, New Mexico
Hey, thanks for the great info. on dogs w/blue tongues. It was helpful trying to figure out the heritage of our newest pooch. Our dog Misty came from a rescue in Tenn. called friendsfurlife TN. As best we can tell she is a Rhodesian Ridgeback mixed w/ lab and perhaps German shepherd. One of the vets claimed that she had to be part chow b/c of the black spots on her tongue. I didn't buy this, as her coat is short and very wiry - not fluffy chow-like at all. Hope you like this pic. She's a love.
Katie Westford, MA
Hi Kellie...we just adopted this little guy who the rescue place thinks is a Tibetan Terrier / Glen of Imaal mix or Lhasa Apso/Schnauzer mix. We have no clue. Everyone we talk to thinks he has chow (of course because of the blue/black mouth and tongue) but who knows.
Chewy & Ellen, Columbus OH
Opinions on what breed this dog may be can be sent to EDS9949@aol.com
This Rico Suave. He is about 15 weeks old. That is a guess as he showed up at our house, obviously someone's discard, being covered with fleas. He received a good bath that day and moved in. Two of his vets believe he may be medium sized in adulthood. We have had fun trying to guess his heritage.
Robyn Baxley, GA
Gizmo came to us as a stray. The vet told us
that he must be a mix because of the spots on his tongue.
We are still unsure if he is a full pit or mixed with something else. We love him, though, no matter what he is! I was always one to believe that pit bulls were inherently bad dogs… Gizmo set me straight in short order. He is the best dog I have ever had!
Vancouver, Washington
Brownie
How's this for a pic!
He's My Brindle 120 lb Mastiff/pit mix?
Diana, Los Angeles CA
My pup can from a backyard litter that was so inbreed that every puppy looked different. Everyone who sees my pups tongue say, "Oh, he is a Chow!" but umm HELLO have you looked him he is not. He is Lab/Shepard as far as we can tell. I would guess to say his tongue is 95% black and out of the 7 in his litter I think he was the only one with any black on his tongue. People should just leave black tongued dogs alone.
I stumbled on your page about "black tongues" and thought it was great!
Noah is a 15mth old Pure Bred Golden who frolics in the lakes around North Bay, ON Canada - I have always known why Noah has them but it was so cute to see so many fuzzy kids with these marks! I did have one person asked me if he "ate a ballpoint pen"
Wendy North Bay, ON CANADA
Hi,
Sassy is a pedigree German Shepherd Dog and has always had a
spotted tongue, the farther back in, the more spots there are, we
heard that they were called "Best of Breed" spots!
Cheers, Kirt & Lisa
West Sussex, BN132QA
West Sussex, BN132QA
This is our dog Riley, we adopted him from the local shelter. We have no idea what type of dog he is. He has two coats, the outer coat is black wire haired.
Jared, Halifax, NS Canada
Ziggy's a 2yr old German Shepherd/Chow mix. We adopted her from the animal shelter in July 2006.
She also has a dense undercoat and the cutest tail that curls up over her back so I think she probably is part Chow.
Liz, Peoria IL
Dahlia's a lab/border collie cross and you can see a few of the spots on her tongue in this picture. Most of them appear further back on the tongue, so you can't see them too easily, but there are a few down toward the end!
Michelle, Syracuse NY
I
was told my dog, Rosco, was a
Lab-Weimariner Mix.
Now I am not so sure.
Either way he is a sweetheart.
Heather, Keller TX
I thought that I would send you
this picture of my boy, Biscuit, and his tongue spots. He didn't
have any until he was around 3 mo old and then they started out the
size of a freckle and grew to what you see in the picture. He is
Pure Bred Golden Retriever.
I call them "Treat Spots"---they show you where to place the treats! LOL
I call them "Treat Spots"---they show you where to place the treats! LOL
Sincerely,
Cathy, MA
Our Rottweiler Charlie was a rescue from Galveston Texas, we're now in
NH. He appears to be a full Rott but has very long straight hair and
the black spotted tongue. He’s very compact at 79lbs & 1 yr. He’s
extremely agile which makes me think he’s part cheetah with that tongue
of his.
Laura,
NH
I've been trying to figure out what
Cody is mixed with but I just
don't know!
Lab, Pit, shar pei? chow?
who knows!
Emily NY NY
Every "dog genius" told me my dogs had Chow in them. Since I didn't know, I searched the web and found a lot of sites that debunk that myth. Thank you for posting yours. Here is my shot of both brothers. Lefty is the one on the right and Ritey is the one on the left. Ritey has a black spot way on the back of his tongue (you can just barely see it in the photo) and some under his tongue. You can obviously see Lefty's spots. And the spots have been growing as fast as the pups have too. At first Ritey didn't have any spots and Lefty's were just small dots.
Brady, Melrose FL
Malamute Mix, Buddy
2.5yrs,
Northwest OH
I was delighted to happen
upon your site. This is a picture of our Stella.
We rescued her from a human society. They told us she is a chow
akita mix. She is currently 4 months old. She is a lovely dog with
a great temperament. I see a lot of Akita in her appearance, but
not much chow chow.
Thanks,
Laura Ann
Arbor, Michigan
Below is Maki, whom I thought might be a dwarf Chow. Her coat was just starting to grow back after I adopted her as a mostly naked dog from the pound. It turned out she had advanced thyroid cancer and only lived a couple months. She was about half the size of a normal Chow and quite old Linda Richmond CA
We found Princess, 3yrs, in a field as
a pup, I have no idea what she is so any guesses. I would love to know.
a pup, I have no idea what she is so any guesses. I would love to know.
Thank you
Rhonda Buckeye AZ
send guess to:
missgdrnch@yahoo.com
send guess to:
missgdrnch@yahoo.com
My dog Zoe is half GSD and Black Lab.
I always wondered why spots appeared on her tongue. When she was a pup she had one little spot on the back of her tongue, and now she is almost a year and she is spotted up quite a bit! Jen, Early TX
This is Hotchy a pound puppy that we sadly lost this past summer at age 12. They said he was a lab/chow mix but we think there had to be some spaniel in there based on his little bit of curl and long fur on his ears. He's growing out his summer cut in this photo so the true length and curl of his fur is not shown, but that black tongue is.
Liz, Gaithersburg, MD
Hello from sunny Puerto Rico,
Attached is our wild and
crazy 8 month Golden Retriever Shaggy Dupree. When I asked our vet
about the black spots on the tongue he mentioned the chow mix
theory.
Great website,
German and Judy, Puerto
Rico
Cubby is about 7 yrs old. I always assumed chow mix because of the tongue. But he has the tail with long hair and big poof that curls up over his back, large mane, smaller back
end & broader chest, and long hair on his legs and back haunches. His mane has thinned considerably in the last few years and
he has become gray and white in places.
Coldwater MI
The shelter said he was a
chow lab miix ..
I have found a dog called
a ca de bou..from Spain that looks exactly like him ..?
But none of the pics of
that dog show inside the mouth ..Not many have a black tongue and
black mouth too.
Toby lives with Michael in Carbondale, IL
Toby lives with Michael in Carbondale, IL
DNA Tested !
Originally thought to be a chow-lab
mix, recent DNA testing ruled out
chow-chow and lab (as well as some other breeds: husky, shepherd, akita) but not Jindo or Austrailan Cattle Dog, so that's my current guess, until I have more detailed testing done.Thanks for the webpage discussion on this topic - interesting and helpful!
Megan, Washington, DC
Vonda & Betsy
Rescued in November 2006, the shelter designated Grendel as a Rott/Akita mix. My vet determined he was barely a year old and might be a Mastiff, Pit Bull mix. I don’t think he has any Pit Bull in him and I’m just curious enough now to ask for the new blood test.
Lezlie in Monclair, VA
We rescued Sam from the streets when he was about 4 weeks old. He is 1 yr now. Animal control told us he is a lab/chow mix. Thanks for the information on your site.
Debra, Port St Lucie FL
This is our beloved Max rescued from the street (showing off his splotchy tongue :) We are guessing him to German Shepard Dog mix.
Jacksonville FL
My greyhound has 2 blue spots (one is visible picture) many other greyhounds also have blue spots. I don’t think most dog savvy people even know this about greyhounds
Oscar Chicago IL
Jack, busted mid-yawn. He’s a German Shepherd
Mix that we got from the SPCA.
Rena,
Jake
After googling to try and find out what kind of dog mine is I came upon your site, and thought I'd submit a great picture of my son, Jake! He looks like a lab, but who knows. Many people enjoy guessing, because his tongue tends to throw them off! Wendy, Monterey CA
Most people think my dog, Yasha, has Chow in her because she has black on her tongue. But, we had her (DNA) tested (38 different breeds including Chow), and the only breed she tested positive for was Golden Retriever. We have noticed that her tongue is getting more black on it as she has gotten older.
Shelley, Mesa AZ
Rex, our 7 yr old Bouvier Des Flandres with the black spot on his tongue. There is no chow in his lineage. The spot did not appear until he was 3 yrs old.
Geri, Jordan, MN
This is my 6 month papered AKC
Newfoundland Mungo
who has a spotted tongue. At 8 wks, he had 3
small spots,
now he has multiple spots that keep growing. I was pissed that people
kept insisting he was a Chow-Newf mix because of
his tongue. Silly people just cant understand that is just a
discoloration
Rachel & Mungo, Salt Lake City, Utah
Kelly
I can now say with certainty that my 8 yr old Border Collie/Australian Shepard mix does not have Chow in her. She has long silky hair and no undercoat, as a Chow would have. Kelly was a 5 month old rescue puppy when I adopted her. Her tongue is about 80% black and the whole inside of her mouth is black.
Ladera Ranch, CA
Lila
Black/Tan Coonhound
rescued from the local pound
Copake Falls, NY
English mastiff Tank
He was not born with the spot but it later appeared.
Corpus Christi, TX
Finally an answer to my
question. I have owned 2 pure
bred German Shepard's and my first
one had a couple of
spots but my second Shepard has tons of them!
She was
born with a plain pink tongue and then they started
appearing
at 6 months old and I notice the old ones, way back on the
tongue appear to be slowly getting bigger. I think it is cool and
just adds
to her character. I get sick of people saying "is she a
pure bred?"
or "she must have chow in her"!!
Now
I'll tell people she has freckles!
Kelly and Jenna, Monkton VT
Kelly and Jenna, Monkton VT
Wilbrod
Washington DC
Sarah in New Mexico is
looking for input on what kind
of dog her pooch is.
Sarah at twizlerz77@hotmail.com
Dino is a Black lab with Black tongue and gums lips.He is 16 yrs old and as he has aged we have noticed more pink starting to show in his mouth and it is really strange to see a Lab withpink tongue and gums after having Dino in our lives for this long.
Las Vegas NV
Max,
6months, pure breed golden
Beulaville NC
Kosey, Eskimo Mix
New Haven CT
Coco, 1.5 yrs, Sheltie/Shep Mix,
the black or we call it purple on the back of her tongue....and the next one on the top of her tongue...that zigzags to the back of her tongue
Burnsville MN
I've been doing animal rescue for many years and have seen members of a variety of breeds with all black or spotted tongues that are not Chows or mixes. This is Kozmo, a dog I re-homed. Kozmo is a purebred Red Siberian Husky with a completely black tongue
Green Valley AZ
Julie
Lab/Flat Coat Mix, shelter pooch & the sweetest dog ever !
Oak Forest IL
a Belgian Malinois/Golden Retriever mix -
both breeds, known to have black tongues. The black on her tongue is growing and is now almost solid black. Adopted from the shelter at 11 months, she had solid black on the back 1/3 of her tongue, a small black spot in the middle and another small black spot on the front 1/3 of her tongue - now, almost a year later, she has some small pink spots
Rocky
in California
Baxter
10wks,
adopted from ASPCA
Largo FL
This is our Pure Bred Black Lab "Dingleberry Fungus" and his spotted tongue. His second name is a result of when he was a pup my husband said "it looks like he's got a fungus growing on his tongue.. and so our boy "Dingle" came to be!
Warm regards from
Alaska, Marni
Koa, Flat Coated Retriever
Slider Adopted from
Florida Shelter
Adopted From shelter in Tampa FL
Chinchilla Cardigan Welsh Corgi
An AKC show quality Golden Ret
courtesy Chow Club Welfare Committee
You can watch Sabor
on TV He plays a police
K-9 and SAR K-9 when needed for the show Forensic Files.
Sabor is a German Shepherd with European bloodlines that can be traced back to Slovakia. I was told by my Slovakian born grandmother that all of her German Shepherds in the old country had black
spots on their tongues. Tami
Max Allentown PA
Max
This pooch was found as a stray in
Tampa Bay Florida
Butzi in N Carolina
Mix
Shar Pei
Mix
Golden Retriever
Golden Mix
Mix
Mix
Chow Mix