Size, Proportions, Substance
Size--The average height of adult specimens is 17 to 20 inches
at the withers but in every case consideration of overall proportions
and type should take precedence over size. Proportions-- Square
in profile and close coupled. Distance from forechest to point of
buttocks equals height at the highest points of the withers. Serious
Fault Profile other than square. Distance from tip of elbow to
ground is half the height at the withers. Floor of chest level with tips
of elbows. Width viewed from the front and rear is the same and must be
broad. It is these proportions that are essential to true Chow type. In
judging puppies, no allowance should be made for their failure to
conform to these proportions.
Substance--Medium in size with
strong muscular development and heavy bone. Equally objectionable are
snipy, fine boned specimens and overdone, ponderous, cloddy specimens.
In comparing specimens of different sex, due allowance must be made in
favor of the bitches who may not have as much head or substance as do
the males. There is an impression of femininity in bitches as compared
to an impression of masculinity in dogs.
Head
Proudly carried, large in proportion to the size of the dog but never so
exaggerated as to make the dog seem top-heavy or to result in a low
carriage.
Expression essentially scowling, dignified, lordly,
discerning, sober and snobbish, one of independence. The scowl is
achieved by a marked brow with a padded button of skin just above the
inner, upper corner of each eye; by sufficient play of skin to form
frowning brows and a distinct furrow between the eyes beginning at the
base of the muzzle and extending up the forehead; by the correct eye
shape and placement and by the correct ear shape, carriage and
placement. Excessive loose skin is not desirable. Wrinkles on the muzzle
do not contribute to expression and are not required.
Eyes dark brown, deep set and placed wide apart and
obliquely, of moderate size, almond in shape. The correct placement and
shape should create an Oriental appearance. The eye rims black with lids
which neither turn in nor droop and the pupils of the eyes clearly
visible. Serious Faults Entropion or ectropion, or pupils
wholly or partially obscured by loose skin.
Ears small, moderately thick, triangular in shape with a
slight rounding at the tip, carried stiffly erect but with a slight
forward tilt. Placed wide apart with the inner corner on top of the
skull. An ear which flops as the dog moves is very undesirable.
Disqualifying Fault – Drop ear or ears. A drop ear is one which
breaks at any point from its base to its tip or which is not carried
stiffly erect but lies parallel to the top of the skull.
Skull The top skull is broad and flat from side to side and
front to back. Coat and loose skin cannot substitute for the correct
bone structure. Viewed in profile, the toplines of the muzzle and skull
are approximately parallel, joined by a moderate stop. The padding of
the brows may make the stop appear steeper than it is. The muzzle is
short in comparison to the length of the top skull but never less than
one-third of the head length. The muzzle is broad and well filled out
under the eyes, its width and depth are equal and both dimensions should
appear to be the same from its base to its tip. This square appearance
is achieved by correct bone structure plus padding of the muzzle and
full cushioned lips. The muzzle should never be so padded or cushioned
as to make it appear other than square in shape. The upper lips
completely cover the lower lips when the mouth is closed but should not
be pendulous.
Nose large, broad and black in color with well opened
nostrils. Disqualifying Fault – Nose
spotted or distinctly other color than black, except in blue Chows which
may have solid blue or slate noses.
Mouth and Tongue – Edges of the lips black, tissues of the
mouth mostly black, gums preferably black. A solid black mouth is
ideal. The top surface and edges of the tongue a solid blue-black,
the darker the better. Disqualifying Fault – The top
surface or edges of the tongue red or pink or with one or more spots of
red or pink. Teeth strong and even with a scissors bite.
Neck, Topline, Body
Neck strong, full, well muscled, nicely arched and of
sufficient length to carry the head proudly above the topline when
standing at attention. Topline straight, strong and level from
the withers to the root of the tail.
Body short, compact, close coupled, strongly muscled, broad,
deep and well let down in the flank. The body, back, coupling and croup
must all be short to give the required square build. Chest
broad, deep and muscular, never narrow or slab-sided. The ribs close
together and well sprung, not barrel. The spring of the front ribs is
somewhat narrowed at their lower ends to permit the shoulder and upper
arm to fit smoothly against the chest wall. The floor of the chest is
broad and deep extending down to the tips of the elbows. The point of
sternum slightly in front of the shoulder points. Serious Faults
Labored or abdominal breathing (not to include normal panting), narrow
or slab-sided chest. Loin well muscled, strong, short, broad
and deep. Croup short and broad with powerful rump and thigh
muscles giving a level croup. Tail set high and carried closely
to the back at all times, following the line of the spine at the start.
Forequarters
Shoulders strong, well muscled, the tips of the shoulder blades
moderately close together; the spine of the shoulder forms an angle
approximately 55 degrees with the horizontal and forms an angle with the
upper arm approximately 110 degrees. Length of upper arm never
less than length of shoulder blade. Elbow joints set well back
alongside the chest wall, elbows turning neither in nor out.
Forelegs
perfectly straight from elbow to foot with heavy bone which must be in
proportion to the rest of the dog. Viewed from the front, the
forelegs are parallel and widely spaced commensurate with the broad
chest.
Pasterns short and upright. Wrists shall not knuckle over.
The dewclaws may be removed. Feet round, compact,
catlike, standing well upon the thick toe pads.
Hindquarters
The rear assembly broad, powerful, and well muscled in the hips and
thighs, heavy in bone with rear and front bone approximately equal.
Viewed from the rear, the legs are straight, parallel and widely spaced
commensurate with the broad pelvis. Stifle Joint shows little
angulation, is well knit and stable, points straight forward and the
bones of the joint should be clean and sharp. Hock Joint well
let down and appears almost straight. The hock joint must be strong,
well knit and firm, never bowing or breaking forward or to either side.
The hock joint and metatarsals lie in a straight line below the hip
joint. Serious Faults Unsound stifle or hock joints.
Metatarsals short and perpendicular to the ground. The dewclaws may
be removed. Feet same as front.
Coat
There are two types of coat; rough and smooth. Both are double coated.
Rough In the rough coat, the outer coat is abundant, dense,
straight and offstanding, rather coarse in texture; the undercoat soft,
thick and wooly. Puppy coat soft, thick and wooly overall. The coat
forms a profuse ruff around the head and neck, framing the head. The
coat and ruff generally longer in dogs than in bitches. Tail well
feathered. The coat length varies markedly on different Chows and
thickness, texture and condition should be given greater emphasis than
length. Obvious trimming or shaping is undesirable. Trimming of the
whiskers, feet and metatarsals optional. Smooth The smooth
coated Chow is judged by the same standard as the rough coated Chow
except that references to the quantity and distribution of the outer
coat are not applicable to the smooth coated Chow, which has a hard,
dense, smooth outer coat with a definite undercoat. There should be no
obvious ruff or feathering on the legs or tail.
Color
Clear colored, solid or solid with lighter shadings in the ruff, tail
and featherings. There are five colors in the Chow: red (light golden to
deep mahogany), black, blue, cinnamon (light fawn to deep cinnamon) and
cream. Acceptable colors to be judged on an equal basis.
Gait
Proper movement is the crucial test of proper conformation and
soundness. It must be sound, straight moving, agile, brief, quick,
and powerful, never lumbering. The rear gait shorter and stilted
because of the straighter rear assembly. It is from the side that the
unique stilted action is most easily 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, the legs extend neither far forward nor far
backward. The hind foot has a strong thrust which transfers power to the
body in an almost straight line due to the minimal rear leg angulation.
To transmit this power efficiently to the front assembly, the coupling
must be short and there should be no roll through the midsection. Viewed
from the rear, the line of bone from hip joint to pad remains straight
as the dog moves. As the speed increases the hind legs incline slightly
inward. The stifle joints must point in the line of travel, not outward
resulting in a bowlegged appearance nor hitching in under the dog.
Viewed from the front, the line of bone from shoulder joint to pad
remains straight as the dog moves. As the speed increases, the forelegs
do not move in exact parallel planes, rather, incline slightly inward.
The front legs must not swing out in semicircles nor mince or show any
evidence of hackney action. The front and rear assemblies must be in
dynamic equilibrium. Somewhat lacking in speed, the Chow has excellent
endurance because the sound, straight rear leg provides direct, usable
power efficiently.
Temperament
Keen intelligence, an independent spirit and innate dignity give the
Chow an aura of aloofness. It is a Chow’s nature to be reserved
and discerning with strangers. Displays of aggression or timidity
are unacceptable. Because of its deep set eyes the Chow has
limited peripheral vision and is best approached from
the front.
Summary
Faults shall be penalized in proportion to their deviation from the
standard. In judging the Chow, the overall picture is of primary
consideration. Exaggeration of any characteristic at the expense of
balance or soundness shall be severely penalized.
Type should include general appearance, temperament, the harmony of all
parts, and soundness especially as seen when the dog is in motion. There
should be proper emphasis on movement which is the final test of the
Chow's conformation, balance and soundness.
Disqualifications
Drop ear or ears. A drop ear is one which breaks at any point from
its base to its tip or which is not carried stiffly erect but lies
parallel to the top of the skull.
Nose spotted or distinctly other color than black, except in blue Chows
which may have solid blue or slate noses.
The top surface or edges of the tongue red or pink or with one or more
spots of red or pink.
If you are interested in a
Chow Chow
Puppy:
See our
PUPPIES FOR SALE
or use our
FREE PUPPY FINDER program.
