CHOW CHOW OF ROMANIA

GENERAL APPEARANCE

Serious Fault

Profile other than square.

HEAD

Skull and Stop

The head is proudly carried, large in proportion to
the size of the dogbut never so exaggerated as to
make the dog seem top heavy or to result in a low
carriage.

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 top lines 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.

Muzzle

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

The nose is large, broad and black in color with
well opened nostrils.

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.

Teeth

Strong and even with a scissors bite.

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.

Ears
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. 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. 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.   NECK AND BODY   Neck Strong, full, well muscled, nicely arched and of sufficient length to carry the head proudly above the topline when standing at attention. 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. 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. 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.     FOREQUARTERS     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.           HINDQUARTERS   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. 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 off standing, rather coarse in texture; the undercoat soft, thick and woolly. Puppy coat soft, thick and woolly 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. 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 Chowexcept 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. 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 hindlegs 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. Front Gait       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 within the scope of that vision. .     Never approach a Chow from either of these directions The Chow Chow is a natural breed, best presented in natural coat, without excess trimming or shaping. The Chow Chow's gait is best evaluated when presented on a loose lead, allowing the dog to freely exhibit his natural stilted gait. During the individual examination the handler should kneel with his dog and should demonstrate firm control of the dog with one hand on the collar and the other hand free to show the bite and tongue pigmentation to the judge. Some handlers still persist and bring untrained and unsocialized Chow Chows in the ring. It is highly recommended that the judge not attempt to check the bite and tongue themselves. Since most judges already require the handler to show the bite and tongue even a well seasoned animal may show some unease with a judge who insists on opening his mouth. Disqualifications Nose spotted or distinctly other color than black except in blue Chows which may have solid blue or slate noses. The top surface or edges of the tongue red or pink or with one or more spots of red or pink. 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. Serious Faults Profile other than square. Entropion or ectropion, or pupils wholly or partially obscured by loose skin. Labored or abdominal breathing (not to include normal panting), narrow or slab-sided chest. Unsound Stifle or Hock Joints   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. Equally objectionable are snipey, 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. 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.   (© 1996-2007 The Chow Chow Club Inc. - All rights reserved.  - http://www.chowclub.org )			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.

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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.