Page 39 - Chow Life - Summer 2018

standing at attention. Topline straight,
strong and level from the withers to the
root of the tail. Body short, compact,
close coupled, strongly muscled, broad,
deep and well let down in the flank. The
body, back, coupling and croup mus t
all be short to give the required square
build. 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
muzzle is broad and well filled out under narrowed at their lower ends to permit
the eyes, its width and depth are equal and the shoulder and upper arm to fit
both dimensions should appear to be the smoothly against the chest wall. The floor
same from its base to its tip. This square of the chest is broad and deep extending
appearance is achieved by correct bone down to the tips of the elbows. The
structure plus padding of the muzzle and point of sternum slightly in front of the
full cushioned lips. The muzzle should shoulder points. Serious Faults - Labored
never be so padded or cushioned as to or abdominal breathing (not to include
make it appear other than square in shape. normal panting), narrow or slab - sided with rear and front bone approximately
The upper lips completely cover the lower chest. Loin well muscled, strong, short, equal. Viewed from the rear, the legs
lips when the mouth is closed but should broad and deep. Croup short and broad are straight, parallel and widely spaced
not be pendulous. Nose large, broad and with powerful rump and thigh muscles commensurate with the broad pelvis.
black in color with well opened nostrils. giving a level croup. Tail set high and Stifle Joint shows little angulation, is well
Disqualifying Fault - Nose spotted or carried closely to the back at all times, knit and stable, points straight forward
distinctly other color than black, except in following the line of the spine at the start. and the bones of the joint should be clean
blue Chows which may have solid blue or an d sharp. Hock Joint well let down and
s late noses. Mouth and Tongue - Edges Forequarters appears almost straight. The hock joint
of the lips black, tissues of the mouth must be strong, well knit and firm, never
mostly black, gums preferably black. A Shoulders strong, well muscled, the bowing or breaking forward or to either
solid black mouth is ideal. The top surface tips of the shoulder blades moderately side. The hock joint and metatarsals lie in
and edges of the tongue a solid blue - close together; the spine of the shoulder a straight line below the hip joint. Serious
black, the darker the better. Disqualifying forms an angle approximately 55 degrees Faults Unsound stifle or hock joints.
Fault - The top surface or edges of the with the horizontal and forms an angle Metatarsals short and perpendicular
tongue red or pink or with one or more with the upper arm approximately 110 to the ground. The dewclaws may be
spots of red or pink. Teeth strong and degrees. Length of upper arm never less removed. Feet same as front.
even with a scissors bite . than length of shoulder blade. Elbow
joints set well back alongside the chest
wall, elbows turning neither in nor out. Coat
Neck, Topline, Body Forelegs perfectly straight from elbow to There are two types of coat; rough and
Neck strong, full, well muscled, nicely foot with heavy bone which must be in smooth. Both are double coated. Rough
arched and of sufficient length to carry proportion to the rest of the dog. Viewed - In the rough coat, the outer coat is
the head proudly above the topline when from the front, the forelegs are parallel abundant, dense, straight and offstanding,
and widely spaced commensurate with rather coarse in texture; the undercoat
the broad chest. Pasterns soft, thick and wooly. Puppy coat soft,
short and upright. thick and wooly overall. The coat forms
Wrists shall not knuckle a profuse ruff around the head and
over. The dewclaws neck, framing the head. The coat and
may be removed. Feet ruff generally longer i n dogs than in
round, compact, catlike, bitches. Tail well feathered. The coat
standing well upon the length varies markedly on different Chows
thick toe pads. and thickness, texture and condition
should be given greater emphasis than
length. Obvious trimming or shaping is
Hindquarters
undesirable. Trimming of the whiskers,
The rear assembly broad, feet an d metatarsals optional.
powerful, and well Smooth - The smooth coated
muscled in the hips and Chow is judged by the same
thighs, heavy in bone
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