History of occurrence
Arguments prevail as to whether the Chow Chow is one of the truly original dog breeds or whether it is a descendent of the Tibetan Mastiff. What is known, is that this breed with the unique blue-black tongue has existed in China since 150 BC. Many of the Chows were used as, hunting, herding and sled dogs, although the few that were born with the smoky blue colour were often elevated to the role of Buddhist temple dog. At one time, this breed was also raised as a food supply for Chinese tables, hence the name "chow" which is Cantonese for "food." Chows found their way to Britain in the 1800's and gained popularity once Queen Victoria herself took a liking to the breed.
General form
An active, compact, short-coupled and well-balanced dog, well knit in frame, with tail carried well over back.
Отличительная особенность породы Chow Chow
Head and skull: skull flat and broad, with little stop, well filled out under the eyes. Muzzle moderate in length, broad from the eyes to the point (not pointed at the end like a fox). Nose black, large and wide in all cases (with the exception of cream and white in which case a light-coloured nose is permissible and in blues and fawns a self-coloured nose); but in all colours a black nose is preferable.
Eyes: dark and small, preferably almond-shaped (in blue or fawn dog a light colour is permissible).
Ears: small, thick, slightly rounded at the tip, carried stiffly erect but placed well forward over the eyes and wide apart, which gives the dog the peculiar characteristic expression of the breed, viz., a scowl.
Mouth: teeth strong and level, giving scissor bite. Tongue bluish-black. Flews and roof of mouth black. Gums preferably black.
Neck: strong, full, set well on the shoulders and slightly arched.
Body: chest broad and deep. Back short, straight and strong. Loins powerful.
Forequarters: shoulders muscular and sloping. Forelegs perfectly straight of moderate length and with good bone.
Hindquarters: hindlegs muscular and hocks well let down and perfectly straight which are essential in order to produce the Chow's characteristic stilted gait.
Feet: small, round and catlike, standing well on the toes.
Set high and carried well over the back.
Coat: abundant, dense, straight and stand-off. Outer coat rather coarse in texture and with a soft woolly undercoat. The Chow Chow is a profusely coated dog and balance should therefore be assessed when the coat is at its natural length.
Colour: whole coloured black, red, blue, fawn, cream or white, frequently shaded but not in patches or parti-coloured (the underpart of tail and back of thighs frequently of a light colour).
Relatively short striding, hind feet not lifted high, appearing to skim the ground, resulting in pendulum like action when seen in profile. Its distinctive short-striding gait allows it to move freely, never lumbering and with excellent endurance. Forelegs and hindlegs moving parallel to each other and straight forward. Dogs should always be able to move freely and soundly without any sign of distress.
Height:
Males — 48-56 cm.
Females — 46-51 cm
Character
The Chow Chow is an intelligent, independent and protective dog breed who tends to be loyal only to a few people. The Chow Chow is an aloof breed, they can be unfriendly to people not knowing. Socializing is recommended as to its aloof nature. The owner of a Chow Chow should be confident and patient in training as they can be resistant.
Maintenance care
This is an alert breed that needs regular, but not strenuous, outdoor activity. It does not do well in hot humid weather. Its needs are best met with casual morning or evening walks in warm weather or several short play sessions throughout the day. It can live outdoors in temperate or cool weather, but it is best allowed to stay inside during warm weather. The smooth type needs brushing once weekly; the rough type needs brushing every other day, and daily when shedding.
Lifespan — 10-14 years.
Dignity
Makes a formidable watchdog.
Naturally clean and easy to housebreak.
Quiet and mannerly in the home.
Needs only moderate exercise.
Difficulty keeping
Excessive suspiciousness or outright aggression in some lines, or when not socialized properly.
Aggression toward other animals.
Strong-willed mind of his own and a tendency to retaliate if pushed too far, requiring an experienced, confident owner who can take charge without using force.
Regular brushing and combing (Rough variety).
Heavy shedding.
Serious health problems.
Legal liabilities (public perception, future breed bans, insurance problems, increased chance of lawsuits).
Diseases
The Chow Chow dog breed may be prone to minor health concerns like elbow dysplasia, gastric torsion, elongated palate, stenotic flares, glaucoma, distichiasis, persistent pupilary membrane (PPM), and cataracts, or serious conditions like entropion, canine hip dysplasia (CHD), and patellar luxation. The breed may also be susceptible to renal cortical hypoplasia. To identify some of these issues, a veterinarian may run hip, elbow, and eye exams.
