Official Standard of the Chow Chow
General Appearance – Characteristics – An ancient breed of northern Chinese origin, this all-purpose
dog of China was used for hunting, herding, pulling and protection of the home. While primarily a
companion today, his working origin must always be remembered when assessing true Chow type. A
powerful, sturdy, squarely built, upstanding dog of Arctic type, medium in size with strong muscular
development and heavy bone. The body is compact, short coupled, broad and deep, the tail set high and
carried closely to the back, the whole supported by four straight, strong, sound legs. Viewed from the
side, the hind legs have little apparent angulation and the hock joint and metatarsals are directly beneath
the hip joint. It is this structure which produces the characteristic shorter, stilted gait unique to the breed.
The large head with broad, flat skull and short, broad and deep muzzle is proudly carried and accentuated
by a ruff. Elegance and substance must be combined into a well balanced whole, never so massive as to
outweigh his ability to be active, alert and agile. Clothed in a smooth or an offstanding rough double coat,
the Chow is a masterpiece of beauty, dignity and naturalness. Essential to true Chow type are his unique
blue-black tongue, scowling expression and stilted gait.
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 and cream Chows which may have a range of
nose colors. Reds, Blacks and Cinnamons must have a solid black nose. Blue chows may have a solid
blue or slate nose. Cream chows may have a range of nose color, from dark black/brown solid pigment,
fading to pinkish pigment, with or without darker nose rim pigment at the outer edge, as puppies or
adults; all of which are equally correct. 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 and cream Chows which may have a range of nose colors.
The top surface or edges of the tongue red or pink or with one or more spots of red or pink.
Approved May 11, 2020
Effective July 29, 2020