HOW NOW BROWN CHOW? THEY EXISTED IN 1922

Screen Shot 2014-03-06 at 2.10.20 PM

IMPORTANT NOTE  FOR PROSPECTIVE CHOW BUYERS: Since the very first CHOW STANDARDS were penned in 1906,  both the English and American versions have stated only solid colored chows are acceptable, with the most recent  Chow Standard stating only 5 distinct colors can be registered. Those being RED, BLACK, BLUE, CINNAMON (or fawn), AND CREAM.  Over the years the breed has seen short lived “fads” of non conforming  colors or “uniques” such as parti colored,  piebald, black and tan and  brindle striped,  and blue merle chows being marketed to the public. These colors most often indicate mixed breed heritage and have never been a part of the Official  Chow Chow Breed Standard in any country, at any time, and cannot be given a registration number as one of the unorthodox colors  in purebred registries.

Additionally, the blue merle gene can carry with it a host of health issues including deafness and blindness ……. buyersplease do your research and talk to multiple breeders, your veterinarian, and your local purebred breed clubs about your potential new addition before purchasing.  Also, be aware that NO COLOR IN THE CHOW BREED IS CONSIDERED ANY MORE VALUABLE  THAN THE OTHERS. 

————————————————————–

A few years ago while my husband and I were on holiday at the coast with our dogs, we ran into quite a surprise as we were checking out at this dog friendly motel.   2 stately BROWN chows were being exercised by their   owners who just happen to own WESTPORT WINERY in Washington State as well

This is one of the wine labels from Westport Winery..great taste for sure!!

We had such a nice conversation with this couple and they let me take some photos of the chows who were true to temperament and old style beauty.   They looked like a  living sepia photograph!!  I did find out who the breeder was who specializes in brown chows , not for show but for companions.  I have been searching for a long time to find more information on this SOLID color, wondering if it had ever been acceptable or shown in the USA.   Below I hit a gold mine (or a chocolate waterfall) in this one short article from 1922.  Chocolate dogs were bred to black bitches in China to produce deep red puppies

I found this in Dog Fancier nov 1922 p18

And to add to the proof there was more than one chocolate chow…here is an ad from 1921 that the Eberhart kennel ran advertising a chocolate female chow for sale.

 

Screen Shot 2014-03-06 at 2.30.17 PM
Eberhart Kennel apparently was dabbling in Chocolate chows in 1921 as well

AND VOILA….RED, CHOCOLATE AND GRAY ARE PREFERRED SHOW COLORS IN THE USA IN 1917 AND 1919…WHAT  FINDS

From THE NEW COUNTRY LIFE 1917
From THE NEW COUNTRY LIFE 1917

Screen Shot 2014-03-06 at 2.47.21 PM

Screen Shot 2014-03-06 at 4.48.28 PM
Another undated article referring to Chocolate chows

 

 

WHEN DID THE ” OTHER ” SOLID COLORS CHOWS DESIGNATION DISAPPEAR FROM THE AKC REGISTRATION FORM?  ….THE SAME YEAR THE SMOOTH GOT WRITTEN BACK IN……1986.    IN MY HISTORIC STUDIES AND FINDINGS, CHOWS WERE NEVER ACCEPTED WITH COATS  DISPLAYING ANY PATTERNS OR PATCHES. MERLE, PIEBALD, BRINDLE ETC. ARE EXTREMELY INCORRECT AND DISQUALIFYING COLORS IN THE CHOW BREED .

1906
COLOR – Whole-coloured, black, red, yellow, blue, white etc. not in patches. (The under part of tail and back of thighs frequently of a lighter colour)

1925
COLOR – Any clear color, solid throughout, or, with lighter shadings on ruff, tail and breeching.

1941

COAT – Abundant, dense, straight, and off-standing: rather coarse in texture with a soft , woolly undercoat.  It may be any clear color, solid throughout, with lighter shadings on ruff, tail and breechings.

1986
COLOR
Clear colored, solid or solid with lighter shadings in the ruff, tail and featherings. There are five colors in the Chow: red (light golden to deep mahogany), black, blue, cinnamon (light fawn to deep cinnamon) and cream. Acceptable colors to be judged on an equal basis.

Save