Page 88 - Chow Life - 2016 Fall Issue_Neat
P. 88
ExcerptAKC Gazette
by Love Banghart
Transition Coat of the feathered. The coat length varies Puppies (6 – 18 months) will fre-
markedly on different Chows and quently be exhibited while changing
Chow Chow thickness, texture and condition from the soft wooly puppy coat to
should be given greater emphasis their adult coat. Color variation is
The Chow Chow standard, like than length. Obvious trimming or most noticeable in the darker red
many of the AKC standards, de- shaping is undesirable. Trimming puppies (which may have dark red
scribes the characteristics of the of the whiskers, feet and metatar- hairs interspersed or in patches
ideal adult specimen of the breed. sals optional. Smooth The smooth throughout the much lighter col-
During a recent discussion of the coated Chow is judged by the ored red puppy coat) and in shaded
breed, the question was presented same standard as the rough coated red (light reddish blonde with
regarding our Chow Chows pup- Chow except that references to the cream or white shadings) puppies
pies’ lack of conformance to the quantity and distribution of the (which may have a notable amount
standard’s definition of color. outer coat are not applicable to the of gray undercoat). Both of these
smooth coated Chow, which has a are examples of what the breeder
The standard defines coat and color hard, dense, smooth outer coat with refers to as “transition coat”. In most
as: a definite undercoat. There should cases, the color deviation will be
be no obvious ruff or feathering on totally corrected by 2 years of age
Coat the legs or tail. when the transition to adult coat
is complete. As adults, all chow
There are two types of coat; rough Color chows should be in conformance
and smooth. Both are double with the standard requirement for
coated. Rough In the rough coat, Clear colored, solid or solid with a clear colored solid or solid with
the outer coat is abundant, dense, lighter shadings in the ruff, tail and lighter shadings in the ruff, tail and
straight and offstanding, rather featherings. There are five colors in featherings.
coarse in texture; the undercoat the Chow: red (light golden to deep
soft, thick and wooly. Puppy coat mahogany), black, blue, cinnamon This article first appeared in the June 2003 AKC
soft, thick and wooly overall. The (light fawn to deep cinnamon) and Gazette and is reprinted with permission. To read
coat forms a profuse ruff around the cream. Acceptable colors to be the online Gazette, visit www.akc.org/pubs.
head and neck, framing the head. judged on an equal basis.
The coat and ruff generally longer
in dogs than in bitches. Tail well
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