Origin and Purpose
The Chow Chow is an ancient breed of Northern Oriental origin.
As a working breed in its area of origin, the Chow Chow was used to guard
and hunt. Today, the Chow is primarily a family companion dog
General Appearance
A cobby, powerful dog of medium size, active and alert, with strong, muscular
development and perfect balance. Body squares with height of leg at shoulder; head is
broad and flat, with short, broad, and deep muzzle, the whole supported by straight
strong legs. Tail carried well over the back. Clothed in a off-standing smooth or rough
double coat, in the rough variety the head is accentuated by a ruff; dogs to look masculine.
Bitches to look feminine. When comparing the different sexes, allowance be made for bitches
who may not have as much head and substance. The Chow is a masterpiece of beauty, dignity,
and untouched naturalness.
Temperament Dignified, with keen intelligence, independent spirit, aloof and reserved with strangers.
Aggressiveness or timidity is undesirable. Because of its deep-set eyes, the Chow has limited
peripheral vision and is best approached from the front.
SizeAverage size of bitches is 43 to 51 cm (17 to 20 inches) at the shoulder, of dogs, 46 to 53 cm
(18 to 21 inches) at the shoulder. In every case, consideration of overall balance and type should
take precedence over size.
Coat
There are two types of coat, rough and smooth. Both are double coated.
Rough - The coat is abundant, dense, straight, and off standing; rather coarse in
texture with a soft, thick, woolly undercoat. Coat and ruff generally longer in males,
than in bitches. Tail well feathered. Texture and condition should be given greater
emphasis than the length. There should be no obvious trimming or shaping except for the paws.
Smooth - Should have a harsh, dense, smooth outer coat with a woolly undercoat, but the
smooth’s outer coat is short and gives a sleek appearance. There should be no obvious ruff or
feathering on legs and tail. The Smooth Chow Chow is judged by the same standard as the rough
variety with the exception of coat length.
Colour
It may be any clear colour, solid throughout, with lighter shadings on ruff, tail, and breechings.
The Head is large in proportion to the size of the dog. It is proudly carried,
not over exaggerated as to make the dog seem top heavy, or to result in a low head
carriage. Skull broad and flat: well filled under the eyes; moderate stop. Expression
essentially dignified, lordly, scowling, discerning, sober, and snobbish-one of independence.
Excessive loose skin is not desirable.
Muzzle is short in comparison to length of skull but not less than 1/3 of head length.
Broad from eyes to end of nose, and of equal depth. The lips somewhat full and overhanging,
but not pendulous.
Teeth strong and level, with a scissors bite; should neither be overshot, nor undershot.
Nose large and broad. In blue or cream, black noses are
preferred, but blues may have a slate coloured nose and creams may have a brown or liver coloured nose. In
all other colours the nose must be black.
Eyes dark, deep set of moderate size, and almond shaped, pupils should be visible.
Ears small, thick, slightly rounded at tip, stiffly carried with a slight forward tilt, the inner
corner of the ear to be in line with the outer corner of the eye. They should be placed wide apart, on top of
the skull. This all contributes to the essential dignified lordly, discerning, scowling expression, one of
independence.
Tongue is blue-black; the tissues of the mouth should approximate black. A solid black mouth and gums are preferred.
Strong, full, set well on the shoulders nicely arched and of
sufficient length to carry the head proudly, well above the top line
when standing.
Shoulders muscular, slightly sloping, forelegs perfectly
straight, with heavy bone and upright pasterns, placed well apart
and parallel. Elbow joints set well back alongside the chest wall,
elbows turning neither in or out. Feet round, catlike with thick
pads, standing well up on the toes both front and rear. Dewclaws may
be removed.
Short, compact, close coupled, strongly muscled, broad and deep.
Back short, straight, and strong. Chest broad, deep, (never narrow)
and muscular, with well-sprung ribs, but not a barrel. A narrow
chest is a serious fault. Loins broad, deep, and powerful, and well
let down in the flank giving an overall appearance of squareness. The topline is
straight, strong and level from the withers to the base of the tail.
Hind legs straight-hocked, muscular, and heavy boned. Rear and front
bone approximately equal. Stifle shows little angulation, hock joints well let down, must be strong, well knit, never bowing or breaking forward or to
the side. Hock joint and metatarsals to be in a straight line below the hip joint. Feet same as forequarters.
Set well up and carried closely to the back, following the line of
spine at the start.
Completely individual to the breed. Short and stilted because of a
straight stifle and straight hocks. Sound, straight moving, agile,
quick and powerful, never lumbering. It is from the side that the
unique stilted action is most easily viewed and assessed. The rear
leg moves up and forward from the hip in a straight, stilted
pendulum like line, with a slight bounce in the rump, legs extend
neither far forward nor backward. There should be no roll through
the midsection. Viewed from the rear, the line of bone from the hip
joint to pad remains straight as the dog moves. As speed increases,
the hind legs incline slightly inward. Viewed from the front, the
line of bone from shoulder joint to pad, remain straight as the dog
moves. As speed increases, the forelegs may incline slightly inward
but the front legs must not swing out in semi circles nor mince or
show any evidence of hackney action. Somewhat lacking in speed, the
Chow has excellent endurance.
-Overshot or undershot bites
-A narrow chest
Nose spotted or distinctly any other colour than black except in blue Chows, which may have solid
blue or slate nose and in creams, which may have a brown or liver coloured nose. Tongue red, pink or obviously spotted
with red or pink. Drop ear or ears. A drop ear is one which is stiffly carried or stiffly erect, but which breaks over
at any point from its base to its tip or which lies parallel to the top of the skull.
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