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Quick Glance

  • size-icon.svg
    Size
    Medium (11kg - 27kg)
  • exercise-icon.svg
    Exercise
    40 min/day
  • hart-border-icon-b.svg
    Training
    Weekly
  • booking-icon-b1.svg
    Size of home
    House with garden
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    Time at home
    Alone with support
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    Grooming
    Frequent
  • hart-border-icon-b.svg
    Barking preference
    Low
  • time-icon.svg
    Personality
    Independent + affectionate

Breeder List

  • Breeder - Mr Paul Grebert
    Breeder - Mr Paul Grebert (MARSANCHOW)

    marsanchow@gmail.com

    See Details
  • Breeder - Ms Katy Campbell
    Breeder - Ms Katy Campbell (KATASIA)

    katasiachowchows@outlook.com

    See Details
6. Submitted by Lynette Taurima Walters Lee Walters. Carmel Pethiek Photography

History

It is believed that the Chow Chow’s ancestors originally came from the Arctic Circle, from where they migrated to Siberia, Mongolia, and China. One school of thought is that these early dogs resulted from a crossing of the early Samoyed with the Mastiff from Tibet. On the other hand there are those who believe that the Chow was himself one of the basic breeds. The ancestor, rather than the descendant of the northern type dogs, which include the Samoyed, along with the Norwegian Elkhound, Keeshond and the Pomeranian.

The Chinese ancestors of the Chow Chow were basically hunting dogs and the only ones native to China. In the days of the great imperial hunts they were used as both pointers and retrievers and we have heard it stated that one Chinese emperor, with ten thousand huntsmen in his forces, kept at a time, more than two thousand of these dogs to accompany his forces. Selective breeding of these dogs seemed unimportant to the majority, following the end of these great hunts, and it was only thanks to a small number of the wealthy and the nobility that secret breeding of them continued, which probably saved the breed from extinction.

Appearance

A massive, cobby, powerful dog, which is active and alert, with strong, muscular development and perfect balance (minimum height for Chows to be 46 cms). The body is square with a well-knit frame, and its tail is set high, carried well over the back. Head and skull is flat and broad with little stop, well filled out under the eyes. Muzzle is moderate in length, broad from the eyes to the point. 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 are dark and small, preferably almond shaped (in blue or fawn dog a light colour is permissible). Teeth are strong and level, giving scissor bite. The tongue is bluish black with flews and roof of mouth black. Neck is strong and full, set well on the shoulders and slightly arched. Shoulders muscular and sloping. Forelegs perfectly straight, of moderate length and with good bone. Chest is broad and deep. Back short, straight and strong. Loins powerful. Hindlegs muscular and hocks well let down and perfectly straight, which are essential in order to produce the characteristic stilted gait. Feet are small round and cat like, standing well on the toes. The coat is abundant, dense, straight and stand-off. The outer coat is rather course in texture, 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. Whole coloured black, red, blue, fawn, cream or white, frequently shaded but not patches or parti-coloured (the underpart of tail and back of thighs frequently of a light colour).

Characteristics

A lion-like appearance and proud bearing of an animal one respects. Stilted hindleg gait (not the up-and-down movement of other breeds), almost like the swinging of a clock pendulum. Unique in its stilted gait and bluish-black tongue. The tongue must be blue with no pink spots or streaks and in a Chow with good pigmentation, the under part of the tongue where it joins the mouth is a dense black. When the Chow is hot and pants, if well pigmented, the tongue still stays blue. Both action and pigment are important factors in a Chow’s make-up and unique to this breed.

chow_chow

Temperament

Over the years the Chow Chow has always carried the stigma of being very unsure of strangers and has been greatly misjudged as being untrustworthy. But over the last thirty years, to my knowledge, most breeders have taken great pains to rectify this situation and most Chows now are very friendly. They are still very aloof, but that is a characteristic of this breed. 

IMGP4007 Anthony Rogers
shutterstock_1060882751
shutterstock_1330952945
shutterstock_2200459099
IMGP4007 Anthony Rogers
shutterstock_1060882751
shutterstock_1330952945
shutterstock_2200459099

Suitability

This is a hardy breed and makes an excellent family pet. It is advisable to start with a puppy and raise the puppy in a family atmosphere. Fencing is a must, as it is quite common for puppies to be stolen. Also it is advisable to have a member of the family at home when the puppy is young, as they require extra feeding and care until they are of age. 

Article supplied by Margaret Turner

Reference: 1. DOGS AUSTRALIA Extended Standards Chow Chow

Image by Brian York Photography

In Conclusion

Now you know a little about the Chow Chow, you may think that this is the dog for you. Before you make a decision, please make contact with the breed club or your State controlling body for purebred dogs. They will be able to give you information about available puppies and also suggest dog shows where you can see the breed and speak to breeders. In this way you will gain a better perspective of the Chow Chow and its needs, and whether this breed would suit your lifestyle.

Official breed standard as recognized by Dogs NSW (Last Updated: 05 Aug 2009)

Download PDF
Breed Standard - Chow Chow

A breed standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament, and appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function with soundness essential. Breeders and judges should at all times be mindful of features which could be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of this breed.

General Appearance

An active, compact, short-coupled and well balanced dog, well knit in frame, with tail carried well over the back.

Characteristics

A well balanced dog, leonine in appearance, with proud dignified bearing; loyal yet aloof; unique in its stilted gait and bluish-black tongue. (See also under Ears and Hindquarters.)

Temperament

With proud dignified bearing; loyal yet aloof.

Physical Standards

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.
Forequarters Shoulders muscular and sloping. Forelegs perfectly straight, of moderate length, with good bone.
Body Chest broad and deep. Back short, straight and strong. Loins powerful.
Hindquarters Hindlegs muscular and hocks well let down and perfectly straight which are essential in order to produce the Chow's characteristic gait.
Feet Small, round and catlike, standing well on the toes.
Tail Set high and carried well over the back.
Gait/Movement Unique stilted gait.
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 patches or parti-coloured (the underpart of tail and back of thighs frequently of a light colour).
Size Minimum height for Chows to be 46 cms (18 ins) but in every case balance should be the outstanding feature and height left to the discretion of the judges.

Faults

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.Drop ears.Tongue splashed or patchy.Off black noses except in the colours specified, viz., creams, whites, blues or fawns.Tail not carried over the back.Any artificial shortening of the coat which alters the natural outline or expression of the dog should be penalised.Parti-coloured.

Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.The Standard of the smooth variety is identical with the above except that the coat is smooth.

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