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Chow Chows in St. John's, right now
We aren't tracking any adoptable Chow Chows in or near St. John's at the moment. Listings update regularly as Newfoundland rescues take in new dogs, and a Chow Chow in St. John's typically gets adopted within days of being posted. Browse the full Newfoundland dogs list to see Chow Chows in other Newfoundland cities, or save this page and check back soon.
See every adoptable Chow Chow across Newfoundland and Labrador →
Adopting a Chow Chow in Newfoundland and Labrador
The Chow Chow is an ancient northern Chinese breed with a lion-like ruff, a blue-black tongue, a famously stiff-legged gait, and a temperament closer to a cat than to a retriever. They bond deeply with their own household and are reserved, sometimes flatly uninterested, with everyone else. Loyalty in a Chow looks like proximity rather than enthusiasm.
Chows are uncommon in Newfoundland rescue and usually reach adopters through owner rehoming, often when the aloofness or the coat proved more than a family expected. This page pulls every adoptable Chow and Chow cross from the Newfoundland shelters we cover into one place, refreshed regularly.
Coat work, temperament, and cold-climate fit
The dense double coat, rough or smooth, is a serious commitment: brushing several times a week, more during the twice-yearly shed, and real attention to the skin folds and the thick ruff. It also makes the Chow well suited to a cold, damp Newfoundland winter and poorly suited to heat, so summer outings belong to the cooler hours. Their deep-set eyes and heavy head mean they have limited peripheral vision, which is worth remembering when strangers approach quickly.
Temperament needs an experienced hand. Chows require early socialization, respond badly to harsh handling, and are frequently dog-selective and wary of strangers, so a household that expects a sociable park dog will be disappointed. Exercise needs are moderate: daily walks rather than athletic work. Health-wise watch for hip and elbow dysplasia, entropion, and skin problems in the folds. Newfoundland rescues provide a veterinary assessment before adoption.
Looking more broadly? Browse every adoptable dog across the province on Dog Adoption Newfoundland and Labrador.
Chow Chow Adoption FAQ — St. John's
How many Chow Chows are available for adoption in St. John's?
As of September 2026, there are no Chow Chows listed in St. John's rescue on LocalPetFinder right now — Chow Chows are among the rarer dogs in local rescue. Inventory turns over quickly, so setting an alert is the most reliable way to catch one, or consider an adoptable Chow Chow mix.
Where can I adopt a Chow Chow near me in Newfoundland?
Chows are uncommon here and usually reach rescue through owner rehoming. This page aggregates every adoptable Chow and Chow cross from the Newfoundland shelters we cover; set an alert, and read the foster notes closely on how the dog handles strangers, handling, and other dogs.
Are Chow Chows good family dogs?
For experienced owners who want a dignified, independent companion, yes. They are devoted to their own people and calm in the house. They are not naturally tolerant of rough handling or of strangers, so households with young children or constant visitors are a poor fit unless the individual dog has a proven history there.
How much grooming does a Chow Chow need?
Several brushing sessions a week, and daily during the heavy twice-yearly shed, plus attention to the ruff and skin folds where moisture and debris collect. In a rainy, foggy climate the folds need checking and drying. Outside the St. John's metro, professional grooming is harder to book, so most of the work happens at home.
Should I buy or adopt a Chow Chow in Newfoundland?
Adopt if you have experience with reserved breeds. An adult Chow in foster care has already shown how it handles strangers, handling, and other dogs, which matters far more here than in a sociable breed. Rescue fees include spay or neuter, vaccinations, and a microchip, and the veterinary assessment will flag any eye or skin issues.
How much does it cost to adopt a Chow Chow in St. John's?
Adopting a Chow Chow in St. John's typically costs $300 to $700, and puppies usually carry a premium at $500 to $900. The exact fee varies by rescue, and older dogs are often reduced. That fee is not a purchase price. It covers work already done on the dog: spay or neuter, vaccinations, deworming, microchip, and a basic vet workup, which would cost several hundred dollars more if you arranged it yourself after buying. Buying the same breed from a registered breeder generally runs well over $1,000, usually with a waitlist. Ask the rescue what is included before you apply, since a few include extras like a starter bag of food or a first-month insurance trial.
Are these Chow Chows for sale in St. John's?
Not for sale, for adoption, which is usually the better deal. Every Chow Chow here comes from a St. John's rescue or shelter, not a breeder, pet store, or classified seller. Adoption fees are typically $300 to $700, with puppies at $500 to $900 and already include vaccinations, deworming, microchip and spay or neuter when age-appropriate, versus roughly $2,000 to $5,000 or more to buy a Chow Chow from a breeder. If you searched "chow chow for sale st. john's" or "chow chow puppies for sale," adopting gets you a healthy, vetted dog for a fraction of the price.
Where can I buy a Chow Chow in St. John's, and should I?
You can buy from a registered breeder, but it is worth weighing against adoption first. A reputable Chow Chow breeder typically charges $2,000 to $5,000 or more and often has a waitlist, while a rescue Chow Chow costs $300 to $700, with puppies at $500 to $900 fully vetted and may be available now. Be cautious of cheap chow chow-for-sale ads on classified sites and marketplaces, which are frequently backyard breeders or puppy-mill resellers with unvetted, sometimes sick animals and no health guarantee. If you do buy, insist on seeing where the puppies were raised and getting vet records. For most families in St. John's, adopting a rescue Chow Chow is cheaper, faster, and gives a dog in need a home.
Are there free Chow Chows in St. John's, or chow chows under $500?
Adoption is the closest honest answer, and it is not free. A rescue Chow Chow in St. John's typically costs $300 to $700, with puppies at $500 to $900, so the lower end lands under the "$500" people search for and the rest does not. What the fee buys is work already done, the vaccinations, deworming, microchip and spay or neuter, which would cost more than the fee itself if you arranged it yourself, and it is still far below breeder prices. Be wary of genuinely free chow chow listings. An animal advertised free to a good home has usually not been vetted, and free rehoming ads are the route flippers and unregistered breeders use to move animals with no health guarantee and no recourse. Paying a rescue fee buys you a dog someone has already examined, treated, and been honest with you about.
Are there Chow Chow puppies in St. John's, or only adults?
Both, but adults far outnumber puppies, and it is worth knowing that before you start looking. Most Chow Chows arriving in St. John's rescue are adolescents and adults, because that is the age at which first homes tend to give up. Puppies do come through, usually as accidental litters or with a surrendered mother, and they are typically spoken for quickly. Setting an alert beats refreshing the page. It is also worth asking whether you actually want one: an adult arrives with a temperament a foster has already observed and described, where a Chow Chow puppy is a prediction, and for this breed in particular knowing what you are getting is the more useful thing.
Where can I find a Chow Chow near me in St. John's?
Start with the listings on this page, which pull from St. John's rescues and shelters and are refreshed regularly, so what you see is what is genuinely available rather than a stale directory. If nothing suits today, that is normal for this breed: rescue intake is intermittent rather than steady, and a breed with none listed this week often has several next month. Setting an alert beats checking back, and it is worth widening to nearby towns, since most rescues serving St. John's will adopt out across a reasonable driving distance rather than only inside one municipality.