Chow Chow Africa guides

Chow Chow Colours and Coat Types

Major difference between the rough and smooth:

Abscence on a smooth Chow of an apparent ruff (mane) and abscence of apparent feathering on tail & legs. Please note - no apparent ruff/feathering. When physically measured, the hair in these areas must be longer due to the purpose they have to fulfill - protecting vital body parts in cold weather.

Information for both coat types:

Being a double coated breed, both coat types must have a coarse outer coat and an abundantly dense undercoat. It is not permitted in the South African show ring to

artificially enhance any of the colours, nor sculpt (scissor/cut) the coat to a desired shape, nor to show a shaved dog.

Enjoy our acclaimed series on judging the Chow Chow - used in judges education world wide
Study the highly recommended article by respected breed mentors internationally on correct Chow Chow Pigmentation.
solid colour - Black

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. 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.

solid colour - cream

The solid colour cream has biscuit coloured ears and black nose pigment with some pinkish hue to it. From it's earliest history in the west, allowance is made for the nose being pinkish, (dudley). Tongue & palate are dark blue & flews (lips) black. Eyes are be dark brown. Gums on creams are pink. Coat can vary from near white to light red. A red with a dudley/pinkish nose is a dark cream. The cream puppy should preferably have a solid black nose, since it only goes pinker with age. By 18mths or older, the nose on all creams will be dudley/pinkish.

solid colour - red

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. 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.

solid /Dilute colours

For purposes of this page, solid colours refer to colours which have not been subjected to the effects of a dilution gene. Black is a dominant and can carry every other colour as a recessive. Cream can produce black and red, but is a recessive in that both parents need to carry the gene. Red is recessive to Black and Cream. Current genetic research indicates that the vast majority of Chows are carriers of the Red gene. Dilute colours refer to colours which have been subjected to the effects of a dilution gene. The dilution gene is a recessive and needs to be present in both parents to produce a dilute colour.

dilute colour - Blue

The result of the dilute gene's effect on 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 in colour & nose will be slate (dark grey). Tongue and roof of the mouth are medium to dark blue. The flews (lips) and gums are a blue-grey colour. Puppy coat is soft to the touch compared to adult coat due to differing hair properties.

dilute colour - cream

The dilute gene's influence on cream results in a slate (dark grey) nose pigment with some pinkish hue to it and fawn coloured ears. From it's earliest history in the west, allowance is made for the nose being pinkish (dudley). Tongue & palate are a blueish grey and the tongue a medium blue. Eyes are medium brown on dilute creams. Gums on creams are pink. Coat can vary from near white to a very pale red. 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.

dilute colour - fawn (Also called cinnamon)

The fawn/cinnamon is a result of the influence of the dilute gene on the red coat. The 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. Eyes are medium brown and nose will be slate (dark grey). Flews (lips) and gums are blue-grey and tongue medium blue. The fawn puppy coat can vary from near silver to sandy with a distinct grey hue and sometimes also a grey muzzle.

coat types - rough/smooth

Smooth is a dominant gene (termed the "wild" gene). For the breeder this interprets that one of the parents has to be smooth in order to produce smooth puppies. (very rare exceptions exist). A smooth Chow can produce both rough and smooth offspring if it carries the rough gene and/or is bred to a rough partner. Rough is a recessive gene and needs to be present in the genetics of both parents. Both coat types can vary in coat length, whilst still staying true to their variety. This is both acceptable and natural.

Chow Chow AFrica Guides

Colour examples - Black

Black Rough

Natural & Acceptable Silver Shading in Breeches & Tail

Black Rough

Acceptable Natural Cyclical Rusting of Hairtips

Black Rough Puppy

9 wks with correct tongue pigmentation.

Black Smooth Pup

10 wks with correct pigmentation

Chow Chow AFrica Guides

Colour examples - Blue

Blue Rough

Natural & Acceptable Silver Shading in Breeches & Tail

Blue RoughPup

Acceptable Natural Cyclical Rusting of Hairtips

Blue Smooth Puppy

9 wks with correct tongue pigmentation.

Blue Rough Puppy

11 wks with typical pigmentation

Chow Chow AFrica Guides

Colour examples - Cream

Solid Cream Rough

Excellent pigmentation, biscuit ears and black lips

Dilute Cream Rough

Typical tongue colour, grey lips and fawn ears.

Solid Cream Smooth

12wks correct, complete tongue pigmentation.

Dilute Cream Rough

16wks fawn ears, typical pigmentation.

Chow Chow Africa Guides

Colour examples - Fawn (also Called Cinnamon)

Dark Fawn Rough

Sun discolouration on mane natural cyclic occurence.

Light Fawn Smooth

Tongue pigment on dilutes fade on the edges with age.

Fawn Smooth Puppy

Grey in coat disappears in adulthood. Tongue should be fully coloured at 8wks.

Cinnamon Rough Pup

16 wks. Grey in muzzle disappears in adulthood.

Chow Chow AFrica Guides

Colour examples - Red

Self-red Rough

Mahogany red entire body. Sun discolouration - acceptable orange tinge on mane & tail.

Shaded Red Smooth

Various shades of red on body with very light tail and mane.

Shaded Red Rough Pup

Excellent pigmentation. Puppy coat light compared to adult colouring.

Red Smooth Pup

12 weeks. Puppy coat is softer to the touch than adult coat.

The information on this page has been compiled from articles by geneticists in this field as well as input kindly supplied by respected chow chow breeders internationally. Further reading on colour & colour genetics in Chow Chows:

Chow Chow Coat Colour - based on DNA

Dog Genetics Colour/Coat Length and more

Pictures of rough & smooth adults in 5 colours

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