Chow Chow Colours and Coat Types

Black Chow Chows

The black Chow Chow coat can be solid black, have grey shading in the breeches & on the tail, it can also show a naturally occuring reddish tinge from exposure to the sun and coat cycles. In line with colour genetics, there are always individual grey hairs present, even in the solid black coat, varying in quantity - most often found in certain coat areas. Nose and flews (lips) are black & eyes dark brown. Roof of the mouth & gums blue-black and the tongue dark blue. The puppy coat does not shine like the adult coat - due to different hair properties.

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Blue Chow Chows

A dilute (gene) of the black colour, the blue (grey colour) can be a solid blue colour, or can have grey shading on the tail and breeches, and can have a naturally occuring reddish tinge from exposure to the sun and coat cycles. The eyes are be medium to dark brown in colour & nose can be slate (dark grey) to black. Tongue and roof of the mouth are medium to dark blue. The flews (lips) and gums are a blue-grey colour. In line with colour genetics, there are always individual grey hairs present, even in the solid blue coat, varying in quantity - most often found in certain coat areas. Puppy coat is soft to the touch compared to adult coat due to differing hair properties.

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Fawn (also known as cinnamon) Chow Chows

The fawn adult coat can vary from a very deep cinnamon (as in the spice) to a very pale sandy colour with a grey hue. It can be solid or have light shading on the tail and breeches. It is a dilute colour (gene). Eyes are medium to dark brown and nose will be slate (dark grey). Flews (lips) and gums are blue-grey and tongue medium to dark blue. In line with colour genetics, there are always individual dark blue hairs present, even in the very light fawn coat, varying in quantity - most often found in certain coat areas. The fawn puppy coat can vary from near silver to sandy with a distinct grey hue and sometimes also a grey muzzle.

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Cream Chow Chows

The cream appears either as a solid colour with biscuit coloured ears and black nose pigment with some pinkish hue to it, or a dilute colour (gene) cream with slate (dark grey) nose pigment with some pinkish hue to it and fawn coloured ears. Allowance is made for the nose being pinkish, (dudley). Tongue & palate are dark blue & flews (lips) black on a solid cream, whereas the palate and lips are a blueish grey and the tongue a medium blue on the dilute cream. Eyes are be dark brown on solid creams and medium to dark brown on dilute creams. Gums on creams are pink. Coat can vary from near white to a very pale red. In line with colour genetics, there are always individual black hairs present on solid creams, varying in quantity - most often found in certain coat areas. The cream puppy should preferably have a solid black/grey nose, since it only goes pinker with age. By 18mths or older, the nose on all creams will be dudley/pinkish.

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Red Chow Chows

The red coat can vary from a deep mahogany colour, also referred to as self-red, to a light golden colour, with lighter shading on tail, mane and breeches, also referred to as shaded red. In line with colour genetics, there are always individual black hairs present, even in the self-red coat, varying in quantity - most often found in certain coat areas. The gums in most will be completely black. In all cases the tongue is dark blue, nose is black & eyes dark brown, flews (lips) are black and palate is dark. Red puppy coat is usually a faded colour. The puppy can have a dark muzzle and black tailtip.

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White Chow Chows?

Although white is mentioned in various breed standards, for the most part it appears to be understood to fall under the designation of cream, as those who originally drew up breed standards can no longer be asked to clarify the definition. It is interesting to note that internationally many breeders currently name a dilute cream, a white.

Chocolate/Liver Chow Chows?

There is no allowance in the breed standard for chow chows with a liver (brown) genetic expression, although this very occasionally occurs. This is to protect the all important characteristics contributed by the black gene. The liver genetic expression does not allow for black genes in any form to be present anywhere in the chow chow.

In the chows with a really dark brown/liver genetic expression, this could be confused with the mahogany coloured selfreds. When uncertain of a selfred or red being a liver gened chow, look for black flews (lips), black nose (not dark brown) and black (not dark brown) hair in the coat.

Although fawns have slate (dark grey) noses and lighter brown eyes, there will always be black (not dark brown) hair present in the coat and the nose will be slate (dark grey) not dark brown. Lips should be blue-grey. (Grey - not brown - being the dilute of black)