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.

Neck

Strong, full, well muscled, nicely arched and of sufficient length to carry the head proudly above the topline when standing at attention.

Body

Short, compact, close coupled, strongly muscled, broad, deep and well let down in the flank.

Topline

Straight, strong and level from the withers to the root of the tail.

The correct chest and topline. Note again the equal, balanced proportions.

Rear Assembly

The rear assembly is 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

The 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

The hock joint is 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.

Shoulders

Shoulders are strong, well muscled the tips of the shoulder blades moderately close together; the spine of the shoulder forms an angle of approximately 55 degrees with the horizontal and forms an angle with the upper arm of approximately 110 degrees resulting in less reach of the forelegs. 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

Forelegs are 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

Pasterns are short and upright. Wrists shall not knuckle over.

Feet

Feet are round, compact, cat-like, standing well up on the thick toe pads. The dewclaws may be removed.

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.
 

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.

Rear Gait. The rear gait short 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.

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.

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 fore chest 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 the 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 favour 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.

THE CHOW CHOW

BREED STANDARD

Pre 1987 Kennel Club, London

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.

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 - Hind legs 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 45.7cm (18 ins) but in every

case balance should be the outstanding feature and height left to the

 discretion of the judges.

FAULTS -  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.

NOTE - 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.

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

Laboured 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. The body, back, coupling and croup must all be short to give the required square build.

Tail

Well feathered, set high and carried closely to the back at all times, following the line of the spine at the start.