The Chow 673 



very scarce where the chow is at all likely to be kept. It is not at all improb- 

 able that in a few more generations of breeding this dog we may find quite a 

 change in his disposition, one of the common traits being an aversion to 

 strangers to a marked degree. Why this should be so in a dog from a 

 country teeming with population is somewhat difficult to understand, but 

 it is always a possibility for one of any litter of dogs to be entirely different 

 in disposition from the others, even to the extent of timidity or fear of his 

 owner or caretaker. 



Descriptive Particulars 



Head. — Skull flat and broad, with little stop, well filled out under the 

 eye. 



Muzzle. — Moderate in length, broad from the eyes to the point (not 

 pointed at the end like a fox). 



Nose. — Black, large and wide. In cream or light coloured specimens 

 a pink nose is allowable. 



Tongue. — Black. 



Eyes. — Dark and small. (In a blue dog light colour is permissible.) 



Ears. — Small, pointed and carried stiffly erect. They should be 

 placed well forward over the eyes, which gives the dog the peculiar char- 

 acteristic expression of the breed — viz. a sort of scowl. 



Teeth. — Strong and level. 



Neck. — Strong, full, set well on the shoulders, and slightly arched. 



Shoulders. — Muscular and sloping. 



Chest. — Broad and deep. 



Back. — Short, straight and strong. 



Loins. — Powerful. 



Tail. — Curled tightly over the back. 



Fore legs. — Perfectly straight, of moderate length and great bone. 



Hind legs. — Same as fore legs, muscular, and with hocks well 

 let down. (The standard is silent as to the straightness of hind legs and 

 lack of bend at the stifle and hock joints, but this is nevertheless considered 

 the proper formation of leg for the chow.) 



Feet. — Small, round and cat-like, standing well on the toes. 



Coat. — Abundant, dense, straight and rather coarse in texture, with a 

 soft, woolly undercoat. 



