The ancient breed from Northern China is best known for its fluffy double coat that comes in various shades, from white Chow Chows to a dark brown or reddish coat.
Which coat colour is accepted by which different kennel clubs and what is the best colour to go for is something that most dog owners have wondered about, so we put together an extensive Chow Chow colour guide that will give you all the information you require.
Their most common coat colours include red, black, and cream, with red being particularly iconic. Chow Chows can also come in shades like cinnamon and blue, often exhibiting solid colours.
According to the AKC, this dog breed can have a range of coat types, from a rough coat to a very smooth coat. Below is a list of officially recognised colours Chow Chows can come in, according to the American Kennel Club:
Black Chow Chows can come in a solid colour or with some slight black shadings on their tail, for instance. Some black coat Chow Chow owners have reported that their black Chow started bleaching after too much sun exposure and became a more “rusted” colour as a result.
Blue Chow Chows are more steel-grey and can come with slight silver shadings. Their colour can range from light silver-bluish to a darker shade, and some of these dogs have blue eyes, making them very rare and special.
Do not make the mistake of expecting a cinnamon Chow Chow to have the colour of cinnamon spice – this is another way to describe a fawn-coloured Chow. As with blue Chow Chows, this type of dog will have more of a “frosted” appearance due to the light beige coat on their coarse outer coat.
Red Chow Chows range from pale red, almost light golden tones, all the way to mahogany red. You will know whether your Chow is a true red colour if it is a shaded red and thus has light white markings on its tail, ruff, and breechings.
A cream Chow Chow looks as if it has an almost pure white coat, if not even ivory, with biscuit-coloured ears. Ensure your cream Chow Chows does not come with dark masks, as this will not be a purebred Chow.
This double-coated breed is accepted in the following colours, and these colours are thus considered purebred dogs in Australia:
These colours can come in shades but are not recognised by the ANKC if they are particoloured or patched.
Your personal preference should be your guide with these questions. According to many sources, blue dogs are all the rage when it comes to Chow Chows; however, ensure you get your blue Chow from a reputable breeder and check if its colouring is according to breed standards.
Many breeders will try to sell you a blue Chow that is not the real deal, and if they have been overbred, these dogs can come with severe genetic health issues.
The same goes for Merle Chow Chows, as many breeders will breed a dog with a Merle gene with a dog of the same colour, devastatingly affecting the dog’s health.
In black Chow Chows, the puppy coat will not be as shiny as an adult coat because the hair types still differ before maturing fully. Cinnamon Chow puppies are born with a more silver tint, which turns into the typical light beige fawn colour as they mature.
Cream Chow Chows are born with a more creamy colour, which eventually fades as they mature. Red Chow Chow puppies are born with a more mousy-brown coat and a black mask, and as they mature, the tones turn more to red, and the black mask will fade too.
Originally bred as guard dogs or hunting dogs, the dog hair of the Chow Chow has surely evolved and become popular in fancy names such as deep cinnamon, champagne or deep mahogany. Ensure you are still being sold a purebred dog if you are going for one of these sought-after colours.
At the end of the day, the coat colour of these dogs should be secondary, and their health and personality should always be of more concern to owners whom these dogs bond closely with.
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