Only Two Dog Breeds Require Blue-Black Tongues

If you've ever seen a Chow Chow or Chinese Shar-Pei stick out their tongue, you've witnessed one of the most distinctive features in the canine world: a solid blue-black tongue that looks like it's been dipped in ink. These are the only two dog breeds where this striking characteristic is required by official breed standards.

While over 30 dog breeds can have black spots or patches on their tongues—including Labradors, Akitas, and even Golden Retrievers—the Chow Chow and Shar-Pei are unique in requiring a completely blue-black tongue. No pink allowed. A Chow Chow with a pink tongue wouldn't meet the breed standard.

Why the Blue-Black Tongue?

The color comes from an extra concentration of melanin—the same pigment that determines skin and hair color in humans and animals. It's the same reason some dogs have black spots on their paws or noses. In Chows and Shar-Peis, this pigmentation covers the entire tongue surface, creating that distinctive blue-black appearance.

Interestingly, puppies of both breeds are born with pink tongues. The blue-black pigmentation develops during their first six months of life, gradually darkening until the tongue reaches its full midnight color.

An Ancient Connection

Both breeds originated in China and are closely related genetically, which explains their shared trait. The Shar-Pei and Chow Chow are considered among the world's most ancient dog breeds, with the Chow potentially dating back 2,000 years.

Chinese legends offer colorful explanations for the black tongue. One myth claims that when the world was created, a Chow Chow licked up drops of the sky as it was being painted blue. Another suggests the breed's ancestor fought demons and was blessed with a black tongue to ward off evil spirits.

Not a Sign of Mixed Breeding

Here's a common misconception: many people assume that if their Labrador or German Shepherd has black spots on its tongue, it must have Chow or Shar-Pei ancestry. Not true. Black tongue spotting is simply a normal variation in pigmentation that can occur in many purebred dogs, completely independent of these two breeds.

The key difference is solid blue-black coverage versus spotted pigmentation. It's like the difference between a dalmatian's spots and a black Labrador's solid coat—both involve melanin, but the distribution is entirely different.

The Thai Ridgeback Exception

There's one breed that blurs the line: the Thai Ridgeback. Some individuals have completely blue-black tongues similar to Chows and Shar-Peis, while others have spotted tongues. However, it's not a required breed standard feature, making the Chow Chow and Shar-Pei still the only breeds where you can expect to see that distinctive midnight tongue every single time.