Chow Chow

The Chow Chow (sometimes simply Chow) is a dog breed originally from northern China,] where it is referred to as Songshi Quan (Pinyin: sōngshī quǎn 鬆獅犬), which means "puffy-lion dog".

Source: Wikipedia

AKC Video Link

View more videos on AKC's YouTube Channel

AKC Illustrated Standard

Judging the Chow Chow

(Internal for archiving purposes judging_the_chow_chow_2011updated.pdf )

Country of origin: China

There are numerous breed standards.

The basis of breed/conformation shows is the judging of pedigree dogs against the 'Breed Standard', which is a picture in words that describes the range of features that are deemed appropriate for the breed.

Three of the major international standards are:

The American Kennel Club

The Kennel Club, UK

FCI (Federation Cynologique Internationale)

1. Swedish Insurance Data

• Breed-specific information on rates of disease and death from Agria Pet Insurance (Agria Djurförsäkring) is available for many breeds.

2. Finnish Kennel Club Database: Chow Chow: https://jalostus.kennelliitto.fi/frmEtusivu.aspx?R=205

Health/Breeding Strategy Documents and Links:

1. Sweden: Breed-specific Breeding Strategies: (in Swedish) and/ or English summary
2. Finland: JTO: Jalostuksen tavoiteohjelma CHOW CHOW 2019 - 2023:  https://jalostus.kennelliitto.fi/RotuPDF.ashx?R=205&T=2
3. The Chow Chow Club of Victoria: Judith-Ann Robertson, Editor: 2010_08_BREEDING_GUIDELINES-CHOW+CHOW
4. UK: Breed Watch (Category 2)
   1. Breed Health Conservation Plan: http://www.chowchowbreedcouncil.com/_images/conservationplan.pdf

Canine Chronicle: Judging the Chow Chow by Love Banghart

• https://caninechronicle.com/featured/judging-the-chow-chow/

Educational Webinars: AKC Parent Club

• https://chowclub.org/ccci/breed-information/judges-education/webinars-and-videos#lobby_chowchow

Chow Chow Breed Council (UK)

Seminars, health schemes, test results and more...

• http://www.chowchowbreedcouncil.com/

Chow Chow Fertility Survey

Document source: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal science
Thesis 2005: 60
ISSN 1652-8697
Uppsala 2005

wikstrom_c_171013.pdf

Below is an excerpt from the English translation of the Swedish RAS. The Fertility Survey is referenced.

"Fertility
There are many opinions about the fertility of the chow. It is not possible to prove that it is a season-related problem, that the chow chow on account of its relationship with the primeval dog would produce more puppies in the spring as opposed to in the fall. Further, it is not possible to establish why some bitches failed to conceive and some males do not want to mate. The demand for chow chows is quite high in relation to the amount of puppies available. Most puppies are sold as companion dogs. Around 50% of the mated bitches result in puppies.

A fertility survey has been conducted by associate professor Katarina Linde-Forsberg and Camilla Wikström   

The survey shows that the problems manifest themselves as many and there is no isolated factor, which may be easily identified and acted upon. Some bitches show disturbances in their heat periods and surely a lack of ovulation. To avoid problems with large deviations from the normal heat periods to spread within the breed, bitches with problems should be excluded from breeding. It may be suspected that there is a genetic disposition for this type of deviations. If the bitches are noted to be so valuable that breeding can be motivated, it is extremely important to choose males from functioning lines. Preferences (the bitch wants to choose the partner herself) seem to be common in chow chow, which is a normal and primitive behavior, but affects the possibilities of making the bitch in whelp.

We are listing sites for breed clubs with health or other information that might be helpful. Follow links below.

Canada: Chow Chow Club of Canada
Sweden: Chow Chow Ringen
UK: Chow Chow Club
USA: Chow Chow Club
Finland: CHOW CHOW YHDISTYS RY