my pup has a mostly black tongue, worry?

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if i understand the question, you're worried your pup might be part chow?  is that correct?
 
 

I thought he was something different the first time I saw him but you say his tongue is black.  The only dogs I have even known to have black tongues are chows.  Looking at him now, I'd say Shepherd/chow mix.  I had a dog like that but he was colored totally different.  He was NOT good with my child and we had to have him put down because he tried to hurt her.  How is his personality?  Our dog was GREAT with adults but not children.  Chows are more "one-person" dogs and they can be over protective. As can Shepherds. When I was younger, I had 2 Malimute/Chows.  Very Lovable but very possesive.  Just work with him as much as you can!  Keep us updated.  This was our dog.

Even if he does have Chow in him, and he might, that doesn't necessarily mean he's going to be bad with kids/standoffish/whatever else Chows are "known for".  It's true that many chows *do* have somewhat different personalities, but that doesn't make them bad at all.  I know one of our members has a Chow who she's done a *lot* of work with and I'm sure she'll come along soon enough to give some advice.  But remember, just because he's part Chow doesn't mean he's an automatic "dud" (for lack of better word).  My Grandma's got a dog I think is part Chow and he is amazingly calm, friendly, loving, wouldn't hurt a fly.  Just do your research, read up on how to raise a puppy right (this forum will help you tons), and I'm sure he'll be fine []

ETA:  Another thing to keep in mind is that black tongue doesn't ALWAYS mean Chow.  Other breeds can carry the trait as well and in fact any dog can have black pigment on the tongue.  Though the fact the tongue is mostly black I think would indicate breed origin, but I'm not sure.

not worried really, i just need to be aware.  i had a bad experience with an older dog i had adopted from a shelter. not the dogs fault.  my lack of understanding that the dog needed a much higher level of training.   since then i've learned a whole lot about behavior, training etc.  i need to know what he needs to bring out the best in him.  so far we're having lots of fun with him. 

you saying you need to be aware is the absolute best thing you could've said, IMO.
 
i was planning to ask if you were "worried" when someone said they saw some pit....  but "aware" and "worried" are very different words to me[]. 
 
here's my modest opinion when it comes to breeds with "personality".  aware is what we all need to be.  i'm aware of the damage my dogs *could* do.  that doesn't mean i'm worried they'll do it, because i'm absolutely not.  but because i may be more *aware* then your average owner, i think that i might have avoided a lot of bad situations by knowing when to say when, which is usually long before anyone else has a clue that "when" has arrived. 
 
does that make sense?  congrats on your new puppy!

Both Chow Chows and Sharpaes have black tongues.
My parents raised chows for 15 years when me and my sister were little, they were like big cuddley teddy bears. They never snapped or bit at us ever, they were all very very sweet natured dogs.   I know it is all in how they are raised and some dogs are raised poorly and have aggresion issues or if the dog is in pain they can be aggressive.
Just because the dog is part chow doesn't mean they are going to be aggressive at all, its all how they are raised.
Mabe raising this dog can help change your perseption on chows and bring you many more pleasant experiances.  []

found this Q &A on another board.  interesting
 
some say pigment deposits others say chow chow mixed in the dog's
> breed, which one is it?
>


I'd say its not true. While chows are a breed known to have a black
tongue, many breeds of dogs possess or can possess black pigmentation
on their tongues:
Airedale, Akita, Australian Cattle Dog, Australian Shepherd, Belgian
Sheepdog, Belgian Tervuren, Belgian Malinois, Bichon Frise
Bouvier de Flandres, Bull Mastiff, Cairn Terrier, Chinese Shar-Pei,
Collie, Cocker Spaniel, Dalmatian, Doberman Pinscher,
English Setter, Eurasier, Fila Brasileiro, Flat-coated Retriever,
German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Gordon Setter,Great Pyrenees,
Irish Setter, Kai Ken, Keeshond, Korean Jindo, Labrador Retriever,
Mastiff, Mountain Cur, Newfoundland, Pomeranian,
Pug, Rhodesian Ridgeback Rottweiler, Shiba Inu, Siberian Husky,
Tibetan Mastiff, Thai Ridgeback

jovial is right on...chows are not the only breed to show black spots on the tongue.  I'e seen pure bred golden retrievers with such coloration on their tongues. 

Also with a mix dog it's hard to say what traits from what breeds he's going to pull.  I wouldn't worry, but just assess your dogs personality as he displays it...and you wanting to do best by him is really the greatest mindset to have

I wouldn't worry about whether your very cute puppy is part Chow or not. Only time will tell. If he's part Chow, the spots will probably spread and turn purplish. As with any puppy, start immediately on socialization and enroll in a puppy kindergarten. Jean Donaldson's The Culture Clash gives great information about many aspects of puppyhood and in particular, socialization. I apologize if I'm repeating what you already know, but it's stuff I didn't know when I adopted my first dog who happens to be half Chow.
 
She's a delightful dog who has never shown any indication of temperment problems and I'd adopt a Chow mix again.

vet said "only chows have black tongues", followed by "were there lots of other puppies to choose from? vet  then proceeded to examine him, squeezing his abdomen really hard!  i've never seen that done before.  he started to squirm, the tech held him really tight and he began to growl, she grabbed him by scruff and shook him, meanwhile vet was inserting thermometer in and out in and out because she couldn't get a reading!  i'd growl too.  she recommend i get training for my puppy.  i don't like anything about the way this visit went at all!  vet said he was shep mix, followed by a "who knows" vet didn't seem happy with my choice of puppies.  he's well behaved at home, friendly, sleeps in his crate, playful, sits for treats, getting along with cats and my other dog.  his first vet visit was at another place, he was being treated for kennel cough, i held him for the exam, it went fine.  think i'll look into another vet

It's a bunch of hogwash.  An old myth that any dog with black on its tongue is part chow.
 
You see the GSD in my signature?  He's got black spots on his tongue, way in the back....he's definitely not part Chow Chow xD  My Old Man (also a GSD) has black spots on his tongue.  My brother's Labrador Retriever?  Same thing.  All are purebred, and I've seen the parents of 2 out of the 3.

think i'll look into another vet

You should! That sounds awful. Poor pupper.

I'd look for a new vet.