Structure, Movement, and Temperament Explained
The Chow Chow is one of the oldest and most distinctive dog breeds in the world. While today the breed is most often kept as a companion, the official breed standard reflects its origins as an all purpose working dog in ancient China. Understanding this standard helps explain the Chow Chow’s unique appearance, movement, and temperament, and why balance and soundness are so important in the breed.
General Appearance and Breed Type
The Chow Chow originated in northern China and was historically used for hunting, herding, pulling, and guarding. Even as a modern companion, the breed’s working roots remain central to its identity.
A correct Chow Chow is:
- Powerful, sturdy, and squarely built
- Medium in size with strong muscular development and heavy bone
- Compact and short coupled with a broad, deep body
- Elegant and substantial without being exaggerated or cumbersome
The Chow Chow should appear balanced and athletic, never so massive that agility or alertness is compromised. Essential characteristics of true Chow type include the blue black tongue, scowling expression, and distinctive stilted gait.
Size, Proportion, and Substance
Adult Chow Chows typically stand 17 to 20 inches at the withers, though overall balance and proportion are more important than exact height.
Key proportions include:
- A square profile, with body length equal to height
- Distance from elbow to ground equal to half the dog’s height
- Broad width viewed from both front and rear
Substance should reflect strength and durability. Both overly fine boned dogs and excessively heavy, cloddy dogs are undesirable. Males typically display greater substance and head, while females retain a more refined, feminine appearance without losing strength.
Head, Expression, and Facial Features
The Chow Chow’s head is large and proudly carried, contributing greatly to the breed’s distinctive expression.
Correct expression is:
- Scowling, dignified, and discerning
- Calm and aloof, never fearful or aggressive
This expression is created by a combination of head structure, brow padding, eye shape, and ear placement, not excessive wrinkles or loose skin.
Eyes and Ears
- Eyes are dark brown, almond shaped, deep set, and placed wide apart
- Eye rims are black, with no turning in or drooping
- Ears are small, triangular, stiffly erect, and slightly tilted forward
Drop ears are a disqualification.
Skull and Muzzle
- Skull is broad and flat
- Muzzle is short, broad, deep, and square in appearance
- Upper lips cover the lower lips without being pendulous
Nose, Mouth, and Tongue
The Chow Chow’s pigmentation is a defining feature of the breed.
- Nose should be large, broad, and black
- Blue Chows may have blue or slate noses
- Cream Chows may range from dark pigment to lighter pink tones
The mouth should be predominantly black, with a solid blue black tongue preferred. Any red or pink coloration on the tongue is a disqualification.
Teeth should be strong and even, meeting in a scissors bite.
Neck, Body, and Topline
The neck is strong, arched, and well muscled, allowing the head to be carried proudly. The topline is straight and level from withers to tail.
The body is:
- Short, compact, and close coupled
- Broad and deep in the chest
- Well muscled through the loin and croup
The tail is set high and carried closely over the back at all times.
Forequarters and Hindquarters
Forequarters
- Shoulders are strong and well muscled
- Forelegs are perfectly straight with heavy bone
- Pasterns are short and upright
- Feet are round, compact, and catlike
Hindquarters
- Broad, powerful, and heavily muscled
- Minimal angulation at the stifle
- Hocks well let down and appearing almost straight
This unique rear structure is essential to the Chow Chow’s characteristic gait.
Coat Types and Texture
Chow Chows have a dense double coat and come in two coat varieties:
Rough Coat
- Abundant, dense, and offstanding
- Soft, thick undercoat
- Distinctive ruff around the head and neck
Smooth Coat
- Hard, dense outer coat with undercoat
- No ruff or feathering
Both coat types should be natural and untrimmed, with texture and condition valued over length.
Color
The Chow Chow comes in five accepted colors:
- Red
- Black
- Blue
- Cinnamon
- Cream
All colors are judged equally and should be clear and solid, with possible lighter shading in the ruff, tail, or feathering.
Gait and Movement
Proper movement is the ultimate test of correct structure and soundness.
The Chow Chow’s gait is:
- Short, stiff, and stilted
- Powerful and efficient
- Straight moving from both front and rear
This movement results from the breed’s straight rear assembly and short coupling, allowing for endurance rather than speed.
Temperament
Temperament is a defining feature of the breed.
A correct Chow Chow displays:
- Keen intelligence
- Independence and dignity
- Reserved behavior with strangers
- Deep loyalty to family
Aggression or timidity is unacceptable. Because of their deep set eyes, Chows have limited peripheral vision and should be approached from the front.
Balance Above All
The breed standard emphasizes that overall balance and soundness are more important than any single trait. Exaggeration of any feature at the expense of health, movement, or temperament should be penalized.
The complete picture — structure, movement, temperament, and harmony — defines true Chow Chow type.
Why the Breed Standard Matters
Whether evaluating show dogs or choosing a family companion, the Chow Chow breed standard provides a blueprint for:
- Long term soundness
- Predictable temperament
- Preservation of breed identity
Understanding the standard helps ensure the Chow Chow remains the dignified, balanced, and unmistakable breed it has been for centuries.
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