Chocolate Chow Chow Coat Probability
Krystal Chow Bears • Educational Guide
Chow Chow Colors: How Rare Are They?
These ranges are breed-wide estimates used by responsible breeders to explain
relative rarity. Registries record colors but do not publish exact global frequency reports.
Why some colors are rarer
Puppies inherit two color genes one from each parent. Dominant colors appear more often.
Recessive colors require very specific genetic combinations, which is why they occur less frequently.
What “b/b chocolate” means
A true chocolate Chow carries b/b, meaning both color genes are chocolate.
This allows a b/b sire to pass the chocolate gene to 100% of his puppies,
creating transparency and predictable outcomes.
Overall Coat Genetics
Krystal Chow Bears • Genetics Made Simple
How Chow Chow Coat Color Genetics Work
Chow Chow colors aren’t random. They are determined by a small number of genes that
combine in predictable ways. This guide explains those genes clearly, no science background required.
Step 1: Every puppy gets two color genes
Every Chow Chow puppy inherits:
- One gene from the mother
- One gene from the father
These two genes work together to determine the puppy’s coat color.
The Black vs. Chocolate Gene (B / b)
B = Black pigment (dominant)
If a puppy inherits at least one B, black pigment is present.
b = Chocolate pigment (recessive)
Chocolate only appears when a puppy inherits b from both parents.
| Gene Pair | What You See |
|---|---|
| B/B | Black (does not carry chocolate) |
| B/b | Black or red, carries chocolate |
| b/b | True chocolate |
The Dilution Gene (D / d)
Dilution affects how dark the coat appears. It does not create chocolate—it lightens existing pigment.
- D = full color (not diluted)
- d = dilution gene
| Gene Pair | Result |
|---|---|
| D/D | Standard color |
| D/d | Standard color, carries dilution |
| d/d | Dilute color (blue or lilac) |
Putting it all together
- Red & black appear most often because they require fewer recessive genes
- Chocolate requires b/b, making it rare
- Blue requires d/d, making it rare
- Lilac requires b/b + d/d, making it extremely rare
Blue/Lilac
Krystal Chow Bears • Genetics Explained
Can This Pairing Produce Lilac?
This page explains the genetic possibility of lilac puppies from the pairing of Loki (black female) and Sterling (chocolate male), using clear probability and simple genetics.
What “lilac” means genetically
Lilac is one of the rarest Chow Chow colors because it requires two separate recessive genetic traits to come together.
- b/b → chocolate pigment
- d/d → dilution of that pigment
When chocolate pigment (b/b) is diluted (d/d), the result is the soft gray-lavender tone known as lilac.
What we know about Loki & Sterling
- Sterling (chocolate male) is genetically b/b
- Sterling’s father is lilac, which means Sterling carries dilution (D/d)
- Sterling passes the chocolate gene (b) to 100% of puppies
- Loki (black female) carries chocolate (B/b)
The one gene that decides lilac
For lilac to occur, a puppy must receive:
- b from mom and b from dad (chocolate)
- d from mom and d from dad (dilution)
Sterling already provides b every time and d about half the time. Whether lilac is possible depends entirely on whether Loki also carries dilution.
If Loki does NOT carry dilution (D/D)
- 0% lilac
- 0% blue
- Puppies may be chocolate or black-based
- Some puppies may carry dilution
If Loki DOES carry dilution (D/d)
- ~12.5% expected lilac puppies
- ~12.5% expected blue puppies
- ~37.5% chocolate puppies
- ~37.5% black-based puppies
Important: Percentages describe expected probability across many litters. In a single litter, outcomes can vary due to small numbers. Lilac is always possible by genetics, never guaranteed.
Krystal Chow Bears is a small, responsible breeder specializing in Chocolate Chow Chow puppies. Availability is limited and varies by litter. This educational resource is provided by Krystal Chow Bears, a responsible Chow Chow breeder in Iowa Park, Texas, with a focus on coat color genetics, including chocolate Chow Chows.
