Quick Answer
Clue: “When doubled, a breed of dog”
Answer: CHOW
Answer length: 4 letters
Clue number & direction: 1-Across in the NYT Mini Crossword for January 22, 2026.
The New York Times crossword clue “When doubled, a breed of dog” is answered with CHOW.
Why “CHOW” Is the Right NYT Answer
- The clue hints that the word itself is not the breed, but that doubling it produces the breed name: “chow chow,” a fluffy Chinese dog.
- In the Mini grid, 1-Across is four letters and ends with W, matching CHOW perfectly and aligning with the hint that it ends in “W.”
What “CHOW” Means in Plain English
- In everyday English, chow is informal slang for “food,” but in this clue it is used as part of the dog breed name “chow chow.”
- The chow chow is a sturdy, fluffy dog breed from China, often recognized for its lionlike mane and distinctive dark tongue.
Solving Tips for Similar NYT Clues
- Watch for “when doubled” or “repeated” in clues; they often indicate answers like CHOW that form a familiar phrase or name when written twice.
- For a 4-letter pattern like _ H O W or C H O _, crossings quickly confirm CHOW; in this Mini, the downs off 1-Across help lock in the C, H, O, and W.
Crossword-Specific Help and Patterns
- Letter-count fit: CHOW is exactly 4 letters, so it fills 1-Across without extras or blanks, giving a clean CHOW in the grid.
This answer (and the doubled “chow chow”) has appeared in multiple crosswords and is a fairly common entry in themed or wordplay clues involving dog breeds.
