Page 70 - Chow Life - Summer 2018
P. 70
AKC Gazette
Excerpt
by Love Banghart
The CHOW CHOW - Not a dog of Extremes
The Chow Chow of today has "Size, Proportions, Well renowned breeders of the
been referred to as a "man-made Substance past quickly learned that breeding
dog" by those who have watched an overdone ponderous chow chow
the breed change from a balanced, Size--The average height of to a refined, narrow bodied chow
upstanding dog of working origin adult specimens is 17 to 20 inches chow did not result in the creation
to a rectangular, exaggerated at the withers but in every case of a perfect chow, just as breeding a
animal of ponderous proportion consideration of overall proportions dog with an overbite to a bitch with
and excessive folds of skin, low and type should take precedence an underbite did not create a litter
endurance, labored breathing and over size. Proportions-- Square in with perfect scissor bites.
obstructed vision. Certainly man profile and close coupled. Distance An honest evaluation of your
must have promoted these changes from forechest to point of buttocks Chow Chow's qualities and
since dogs of this type would equals height at the highest points deficiencies is required to make
not likely survive in the wild and of the withers. Serious Fault Profile good selections of breeding
could never be expected to breed other than square. Distance from stock, but always compare your
naturally. tip of elbow to ground is half the candidates, and their progeny to
Our culture of "more is better" height at the withers. Floor of the Chow Chow standard before
has dealt the Chow Chow a sad chest level with tips of elbows. proceeding with the breeding.
Width viewed from the front
fate if this trend continues to be and rear is the same and must be Select the Chow Chows which best
promoted in future breeding . broad. It is these proportions that meet the breed standard and you
Equally objectionable are fine are essential to true Chow type. will follow in the steps of success.
boned, narrow bodied, specimens In judging puppies, no allowance Looking at successful Chow Chow
lacking in scowl, squareness of should be made for their failure breeding programs through the
muzzle and substance. These dogs to conform to these proportions. years continues to prove that those
are usually agile and quick but lack Substance--Medium in size with who avoid using extreme specimens
the broad front and rear and spring strong muscular development and in their programs have been the
of rib described in our standard. heavy bone. Equally objectionable most successful. As we strive to
I take this opportunity to refresh are snipy, fine boned specimens breed healthy chows exhibiting
your knowledge of our approved and overdone, ponderous, cloddy good breed type, let us not lose
AKC breed standard: specimens. In comparing specimens sight of our standard.
of different sex, due allowance must
be made in favor of the bitches
who may not have as much head or This article first appeared in the March 2009 AKC
substance as do the males. There Gazette and is reprinted with permission. To read
is an impression of femininity in the online Gazette, visit www.akc.org/pubs.
bitches compared to an impression
of masculinity in dogs."
This page is sponsored by
Mary Ellen Shook, Fu San Chows
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