68 DOGS AND ALL ABOUT THEM 



now living, his light coloured eyes being his only defect. 

 With many judges, however, this dog's black coat handicaps 

 him sadly in competition with his red brethren. Chow VIII. 

 is considered the best and most typical dog ever benched, not- 

 withstanding his somewhat round eyes. Almond eyes are of 

 course correct in Chinamen. Ch. Red Craze owns the head 

 which is perfect with the correct ear-carriage and broad muzzle, 

 and the scowl and characteristic expression of a good Chow. 



Dark red is the accepted colour of the Chow. Modern 

 judges will not look twice at a light or parti -coloured dog, and 

 it is to be feared that if even Ch. Chow VIII. could revisit the 

 scenes of his bygone triumphs, his beautiful light markings 

 would prove a fatal bar to his success. The judges would be 

 quite wrong, but if you want a dog for show you must be sure 

 to get a good whole-coloured dark red. If, on the other hand, 

 you have a Chow as a companion and friend, do not be at all 

 troubled if his ruff, yoke, culottes and tail are white or cream- 

 coloured. These are natural, correct and typical marks, though 

 present-day fanciers are trying to " improve " them away. 



A list of points as drawn up by the Chow Chow Club some 

 years ago is added. The points are fairly right, but the tongue 

 of a live Chow is never black. It should be blue, such a colour 

 as might result from a diet of bilberries. 



POINTS OF THE CHOW CHOW : Head Skull flat and broad, with 

 little stop, well filled out under the eyes. Muzzle Moderate in length, 

 and 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 characteristic ex- 

 pression 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 

 with great bone. Hind-legs Same as fore-legs, muscular and with hocks 

 well let down. Feet Small, round and catlike, standing well on the 

 toes. Coat Abundant, dense, straight, and rather coarse in texture, 

 with a soft woolly undercoat. Colour Whole-coloured black, red, 

 yellow, blue, white, etc., not hi patches (the under part of tail and back 



