The concept for this ChowTales Timeline has been my “baby” (and nemesis) since the archive first opened years ago. I work all the time from outlines myself and thought, maybe if I find them useful, other chowists and researchers may also find this style of history outline easy to navigate and study.
- When you see a dog, breeder or kennel names below in BOLD BLUE text, that indicates the text is linked to an article within the archives. BOLD GREEN is a photo until I get an article written.
- At the moment not all the links are active so look for the ones underlined when you hover over them….or just start clicking!!! I have a long way to go as I need to write the articles first before I can link to them. There will inevitably be mistakes, corrections and of course many additions along the way. As you can see I got to about 1908 and am working my way forward in history from there.
- This outline helps me get a good overview of what articles to concentrate on to fill the gaps, and where to direct my research next. My library is FULL with statistics I have yet to insert, so this page is a long term commitment and a work in progress. Once I get most of what I want filled in to 1930 I will start adding in more years…baby steps…little bites ….this is just a beginning of an exciting journey in our ChowTales Time Machine!!! LAST UPDATE JULY 13, 2023
PLEASE NOTE: All research,restored images, artwork,graphics and original content in this website is copyright ©2016-2023 ChowTales.com except where noted. Permission for reprint and use of materials from this site for educational and research purposes , may be obtained by contacting me at [email protected] . Thank you for respecting ~Sandra
EARLIEST ENGLAND HISTORY AS IT RELATES TO AMERICAN CHOWS
- 1865 QUEEN VICTORIA added a chow to her kennel of dogs at the Palace. In the 1840s the Queen owned three ‘Chinese Dogs’, Betty, Hong Shoo and Akoe, and if these were Chows they could represent the first known and named dogs of the breed in Britain-source
- Several Chows were housed in the LONDON ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS and were identified as “the wild dog of China”
- 1881 The PRINCE OF WALES exhibited a chow registered as an imported “Chinese Dog” called CHANG
- 1880 First chow to be exhibited at Crystal Palace in England was a black bitch called CHINESE PUZZLE owned by W.K. TAUNTON. Her weight was thirty-two pounds and her height was sixteen inches at the shoulder
- 1887 The Earl of Lonsdale took an interest in the breed, bringing the first good Chows to England from China. Given to his relative, the Marchioness of Huntley, her daughter Lady Granville Gordon kept the strain alive
- 1893 Oct. 12 CH. BLUE BLOOD was born bred by LADY FAUDEL-PHILLIPS, owned by her daughter LADY GRANVILLE GORDON
- 1893 Chows for the first time received their own classification at a British dog show at the London Aquarium. Previously they were allowed only in the Foreign dog class
- 1894 The first chow was registered in the studbook in England by The Kennel Club
- 1895 PERIDOT II (born 1888) owned by LADY GRANVILLE GORDON was awarded Best in Show at the LKA Championship show
- 1895 The Chow Chow Club of England was formed
- 1896 The Chow Chow Club in England puts on it’s first Specialty show
IMPORTANT ENGLISH KENNELS & BREEDERS OF THE EARLIEST CHOWS
- LADY GRANVILLE GORDON produced the first English bred chow CH BLUE BLOOD. A blue dog from red parentage
- AMWELL KENNELS- LADY FAUDELL PHILLIPS founded in 1919 (daughter of LADY GRANVILLE GORDON formerly Armyne Gordon)
- KWHY KENNELS-MRS. SCARAMANGA. 1898 began with her India import HOK KWHY. RED CRAZE being one of her best dogs.
- HILDEWELL KENNELS MRS. B.F. MOORE (started prior to WWI)
- LADY DUNBAR OF MOCHRUM well known breeder and author of the book THE CHOW CHOW ca 1914
IMPORTANT ENGLISH CHOWS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE EARLY AMERICAN LINES
- CH. CHOW VIII born in China, Oct 1890 and imported in 1895 by Miss Bagshaw, was the first of the breed to gain a championship title in England. Chinese import and considered so perfect that the standard of the breed was written using his conformation points. Died 1905 (15 years of age)
- CH. RED CRAZE born 1901 to breeder MR. SAWTELL (owner Mrs. Scaramanga) was of most importance. . From 1901 up to the first World War he gained 30 Challenge Certificates
- CH. BLUE BLOOD born Oct 12, 1893 to breeder Lady Faudell Phillips (owner Lady Granville Gordon) was the first English bred champion
- CH FOO SHAN – red, owner Miss M. Lawton. As he had no pedigree (Chinese import) he did not have a Kennel Club Stud Book number, though he did win his championship in 1909
- CH. PICKLES red bitch born 1913 owned by MR ALWRIGHT
- CH. PUSA OF AMWELL born 1913 black dog owned by LADY FAUDELL PHILLIPS . First Challenge Certificate in 1916
- CH. FOO KWAY exhibited for the first time in 1914
- CH. AKBAR bred by Miss Peck was the sire of many important dogs including the $10,000.00 Ch. Choonam Brilliantine who became an important sire in America
- CH. SHYLOCK born 1899 red male (sire of Proctors Chinese Chum)
- CH. HILDEWELL BA TANG dark red dog imported to America
- CH. LENMING light red dog (famous brother to Hildewell Ba Tang)
- CH. PEI WOONG OF AMWELL light red bitch
- In 1919 PICKLES was bred to PUSA OF AMWELL and produced the 3 top producers of 3 distinct lines in England
EARLIEST AMERICAN CHOW HISTORY BEGINS BELOW
5 KEY SIRES ARE CONSIDERED AMERICAS FOUNDATION FOR THE CHOW BREED
- CH. CHINESE CHUM (Owner:Mrs Proctor Blue Dragon Kennels) 48 lbs
- CH. LORD CHOLMONDELEY (Owner: Mrs John Z. Adams) 54 lbs.
- CH. WIN SUM MIN T’SING (Owner:Frank Hutton Win Sum Kennels)
- CH. YUEY (Owner: Mrs Adnah Neyhart Cossack Kennels) 62 lbs
- CH. CHOONAM BRILLIANTINE OF MANCHOOVER (Owner Mrs. Hoover)
1883-1899
- 1883 First year a chow was entered at the Westminster KC (westminster history…who was this?)
- 1890 TAKYA was the first Chow Chow exhibited in America, by a Miss A. C. Derby. Takya took third place at the Westminster Kennel Club show that year
- 1890 LAGER BEER was the first chow shown at the 4th annual Westminster KC in 1880
- 1896 Westminster KC (from NYT clipping) Mrs. J. L. Kernochan’s Chinese dog “Chow Chow” 3rd place
- 1897 2 Chows shown in San Francisco KC show. One named COLUMBUS 1st place. Shown again in 18981899 4 Chinese imported chows shown. Names SULTAN, CHOW, CARIT and GYP.
1901
- DR. AND MRS HENRY JARRETT obtain their first chow puppy YEN HOW from a San Francisco exotic animal show and import 6 or 7 more chows from China. The Jarretts establish the CHESTNUT HILLS KENNEL, the first Chow kennel on east coast
- 3 Chows were exhibited in New York . Names SINGAPORE and HONG KONG Shown by W.P. Burden, and WANK, was owned by Mr. Fred Senn
1902
- The Jarretts’ puppy YEN HOW wins in Philadelphia . Credited by many sources as the first American Chow Champion of Record. Parents unknown
- The Jarretts’ import a bitch named ILLSWUNGA , from the English kennel of MRS FABER, sired by the great CHOW VIII
- MISS MARGUERUTE LEWIS exhibited 2 chows named CHAH and YARTA. Yarta was a daughter of the English sire SHYLOCK who is a very influential dog in U.S. pedigrees.
1903
- The American Kennel Club officially recognizes the Chow Chow breed
1904
- BLUE DRAGON KENNELS of Mr and Mrs Charles E. Proctor imported another son of “Shylock” named CHINESE CHUM. Many write that Chinese Chum, not Yen How was officially the first Chow Champion in America (in 1905) AKN
1905
- CHINESE CHUM becomes the first American Champion to sire a Champion -“NIGHT OF ASIA”
1906
- CHINESE CHUM wins Best of Breed at Westminster Kennel club in keen competition
- The FIRST USA STANDARDS FOR THE CHOW were penned and published- based on Englands first standard
- The CHOW CHOW CLUB OF AMERICA was formed. Belgian PRINCESS MONTGLYON was president
- Dr Jarrett served as Secretary of the Chow Chow Club for its first 35 years
1906-1907 NEW CHOW KENNELS/BREEDERS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE COMING ONTO THE SCENE
- LEDGELAND KENNELS of Mr. and Mrs. David Wagstaff of Tuxedo Park NY
- WINDHOLME KENNELS owned by Mr. and Mrs. Harry Peters
- MRS. H. EARL HOOVER -owner of CH. LU CHENG and the most expensive chow purchased CH. CHOONAM BRILLIANTINE OF MANCHOOVER
- MR. AND MRS CLARKSON– blue chows of great interest to this couple
- PRINCESS MONTGLYON President of Chow Club of America – accused of dying her winning chow Chin Chino
- GREENACRE KENNELS of Mr. E.K. Lincoln (famous actor and Charles Proctor’s brother) His wife who started this oldest exhibiting chow kennel in the USA was formerly Miss A.O. Van Heusen
- CHINA KENNELS Mrs J.W. Decker who imported Chelsea Pensioner from England
- WINSUM KENNELS of Franklyn Hutton- imports Ackum, sire of the legendary CH. WIN SUM MIN T’SING
1908
- CH. CARISSA was born/purchased by COASSOCK KENNELS Mrs. Adnah Neyhart, from MRS B.F. MOORE in England. Carissa was the first chow bitch to make a significant mark both in the ring and whelping box. A top foundation bitch of great quality.
- CH. CHINESE CHUM sired a litter which produced the legendary CHI CHI THE CHOW owned by MR. AND MRS BERRY WALL of Rhode Island. A book about Chi Chi’s travel memoires was written by Mrs Wall and is highly collectible today
1909
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CH. FOO SHAN – Chinese import to England then to America and back (returned in 1914)
1910
- HILDEWELL POOH BAH – DOB July 29, 1903. was sold for 17 pounds March 1910 . to Mr. Vickers in the USA. Bred by Miss Wilkins. Died in America in 1912
1911
- CH. WINSUM MIN T’SING was born to Frank Hutton’s kennel. He was one of the top foundation sires of the breed, known for his exquisite headpiece which he was strong in producing in his get. After Franks retirement was in the hands of Mrs Waller (Sum Chows)
- SUM KENNELS came on the scene in 1911-1912 and lasted nearly 20 years. Mrs E.C. Waller remarried to become Virginia Waller Messmore
- GRASMERE FARMS KENNELS owned by Eugene Byfield of Chicago . In 1929 an ad for his kennel referred to his dogs as Chino Chows
- COASSOCK KENNELS Mrs. Adnah Neyhart –established 1911 with her purchase of the outstanding bitch CARISSA . CH. YUEY one of her foundation dogs and one of the top 5 foundation sires. Carissa is full sister, one year younger
1912
1913
1914
1915
- CH. WIN SUM MIN T’SING was sold by breeder Frank Hutton to Mr. and Mrs. E.C. Waller
1916
- BERGSUSA was imported to the USA by Greenacre Kennels. Many low and cloddy chows can be traced back to Bergsusa and he was used extensively at stud
1917
1918
- LEDGELAND KENNELS Mrs. David Wagstaff of Tuxedo Park, N.Y founded around 1918 *akn
- MOOSILAUKE KENNELS DR AND MRS WILLIAM S. BAER- Johns Hopkins’ Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Maryland started sometime after 1914
1919
- CH. HILDEWELL BA TANG was born imported to America. Litter brother was also famous Ch. “Lenming”
1920
- CLAIREDALE KENNELS was founded by Claire Knapp Penney (later Claire Knapp Dixon) One of the most influential and famous chow kennels of all time.
1921
1922
1923
1924
- TALLY HO KENNELS Flora Bonney purchases her foundation chows from Clairedale Kennels
1925
- The 1925 CHOW STANDARD was written (revised) with the most noticeable alteration, leaving out the individual coat colors from original standard. Changed to “Any clear color, solid throughout”
- CH. CHOONAM BRILLIANTINE of MANCHOOVER purchased from Mrs. Manooch in England for a sum of 10,000.00 DOB March 14, 1924 England 03-15-1924, RED, KCR 502290, KCSB 89FF (BIS), imp AKC 502290 v43
- FAR LAND KENNELS established (need date-) Mr and Mrs William McFarland
- FAR EAST KENNELS established in the 1920’s (need date) Mr. Zifferer owner and designer of this elaborate pagoda structure kennel complex
1926
- CH. WIN SUM MIN T’SING died around this year (source: Will Judy)
1927
- MR. WILLIAM SCRIVEN of MULFRA CHOWS (England) is invited to judge the Chow Club of America Specialty with the largest entry ever of 233
1928
- MRS ROBERT APPLETON listed in American Kennel Gazette as her kennel name being OO TEEP KENNELS
1929
- CH. YANG FU TANG was born – record holder for 22 Best in Shows until 1964
1930
Keep up the great knowledge this is fascinating and very insightful!
Thank you very much David!!!! Its getting fun as I start adding in more articles !!! ~Sandra
What a wonderful site to have discovered!
I have had many lovely chows over the years and now at the age of 75 still have two.
A painter also!
This is wonderful. So very interesting. Keep up the great work!
Your research is fantastic. I wonder if you have any tips for researching Chow Chow breeders in Switzerland 1900s?