General Appearance

A massive, cobby, powerful dog, 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, accentuated by a ruff; the whole supported by straight, strong legs. Clothed in a shinning, offstanding coat, the Chow is a masterpiece of beauty, dignity, and untouched naturalness.

Coat and Colour

Coat abundant, dense, straight, and off standing; rather coarse in texture with a soft wooly undercoat. It may be any clear colour, solid throughout, with lighter shading on ruff, tail, and breechings. The Smooth Chow Chow is judged by the same standard as the rough variety with the exception of coat length. The Smooth should have the same wooly undercoat, harsh texture and dense outer coat as the rough variety, 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.

Head

Large and massive in proportion to size of dog, with broad, flat skull; well filled under the eyes; moderate stop; and proudly carried. Muzzle short in comparison to length of skull; broad from eyes to end of nose, and of equal depth. Nose large, broad, and black in colour. The lips somewhat full and over-hanging. Teeth strong and level, with a scissors bite; should neither be overshot,nor undershot. Tongue a blue-black. The tissues of the mouth should approximate black. Eyes dark, deep set, of moderate size, and almond shaped. Ears small, slightly rounded at tip, stiffly carried. They should be placed wide apart, on top of the skull, and set with a slight, forward tilt. Expression essentially dignified, lordly, scowling, discerning, sober, and snobbish-one of independence.

Neck

Strong, full, set well on the shoulders.

Forequarters

Shoulder muscular, slightly sloping. Forelegs perfectly straight, with heavy bone and upright pasterns.

Body

Short, compact. Back short, straight, and strong. Chest broad, deep, and muscular, with well-sprung ribs. A narrow chest is a serious fault. Loins broad, deep, and powerful, and let down in the flank.

Hindquarters

Hind legs straight-hocked, muscular, and heavy boned. Feet compact, round, cat-like, with thick pads.

Tail

Set well up and carried closely to the back, following line of spine at start.

Gait

Completely individual. Short and stilted because of straight hocks.

Disqualifications

Nose spotted or distinctly any other colour than black, except in blue Chows, which may have solid blue or slate noses. 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.