Page 15 - Chow LIfe - Summer 2021

Nose Color in the Cream Chow

by Love Banghart & Mary Wuest

The previous Chow Standard on nose
color stated "Disqualifying Fault - Nose
spotted or distinctly other color than
black, except in blue Chows which may
have a solid blue or slate nose."
The disqualification prevented cream
Chows from being shown. It is
common for the cream Chow Chow’s
nose pigmentation to change as they
mature, resulting with a pinkish nose
or pink spots on the nose. Both of
these conditions were considered a
disqualification until our official AKC
CHOW CHOW breed standard was
amended, effective on July 29, 2020.
Over the years there have been some
nice cream Chows that could have been
shown except for the nose color.
It took several years of research &
discussion for the Chow Chow Club,
Inc. membership to vote a change to
the standard regarding nose color on
cream Chows. The official AKC Standard
now states: “Disqualifying Fault - Nose
spotted or distinctly other color than
black, except in blue Chows which may
have a solid blue or slate nose, and cream
Chows which may have a nose with a
range of color.” The pictures on this page
are examples of the range of color on
cream Chow noses - from pink spots, to
a full flesh colored nose, to solid black
pigment. As a result of the change to the
Standard, pink spots or a flesh-colored
nose on a cream Chow are no longer
considered a disqualification in our
breed.
Hopefully, we will see cream Chows being
exhibited in the future.

This page sponsored by Mary L. Wuest, Plainacre Kennels, Reg.

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