It has been enlightening to observe more and more people succumbing to the charisma of the smooth-coated Chow Chow.
Surprisingly, northern breeders find that the smooth enjoys the cold and snow as much as, if not more than, his rough-coasted relatives.
Extra skill and patience is required in breeding the smooths because there can be no illusions about the skeletal integrity.
The minimal grooming required to keep a smooth in good condition enables chow enthusiasts to own and experience a unique member of this ancient breed even if they lack the time or the inclination to brush often.
Their Teddy Bear looks, their buoyant personality, and their sturdy, hardy nature endears smooths to their owners and fanciers.
THE CHOW CHOW COAT
There are two types of coat; rough and smooth, both are double coated. Rough in the rough coat, the outer coat is abundant, dense, straight and offstanding, rather coarse in texture; the undercoat soft, thick and wooly. Puppy coat soft, thick and wooly overall. The coat forms a profuse ruff around the head and neck, framing the head. The coat and ruff generally longer in dogs than in bitches. The coat length varies marketly on different Chows and thickness, texture and condition should be given greater emphasis than length. Obvious trimming or shaping is undesirable. Trimming of the whiskers, feet and metatarsals optional. Smooth the smooth coated Chow is judged by the same standard as the rough coated Chow except that references to the quantity and distribution of the outer coat are not applicable to the smooth outer coat with a definite undercoat. There should be no obvious ruff or feathering on the legs or tail.
HISTORY
"There were in China, almost 2000 years ago, two kinds of chows, the smooth in the south and the rough-coated in the north." * In spite of his ancient and honorable lineage, the smooth chow in North America was quickly becoming extinct and a mere footnote in the history of the chow.
The official standard, adopted by The Chow Chow Club, Inc. in 1906, had a provision for the smooth coot which was also included in the 1926 revision. "In the smooth-coot variety, the top-coot should be of about one and one half inches in length." In 1941, the standard was revised and the reference to the smooth-coat was deleted. The provision for the smooth coat continued to exist throughout the world except for North America, and through the years they were bred on a limited basis.
In 1984 at the National Chow Specialty, a dedicated group of chow enthusiasts joined to form The Society for the Preservation of the Smooth Chow Chow. This Society is made up of breeders who have consistently shown their devotion to the chow breed by their skill as breeders and exhibitors over many years. The Society has representation in most areas of the U.S. and Canada. Associate members are also in England and Holland.
In 1986 the AKC standard was clarified and the smooth-coat references returned to the standard.
The first smooth champion was crowned in 1987. By 1990, there were more than 20 AKC Champions, 7 Canadian Champions, several American and Canadian Obedience Title Holders, multiple Regional Specialty Winners, two National Specialty Reserve Winners Dogs, a Register of Merit Bitch, and a smooth in the Top Ten Chow Chows.
* 1936, By J. Z. Ring of Popular Dogs
CODE OF ETHICS
This code has been developed by The Society for the Preservation of the Smooth Chow Chow to guide breeders toward preserving and improving the Smooth Coated Chow Chow; and to encourage sound breeding practices while adhering to the AKC standard for the Chow Chow.
1. The members of the Preservation Society are bound by all AKC rules and regulations; The Chow Chow Club, Inc. Code of Ethics and Guideline far the Breeder; as well as this code. Any Smooth Chow breeder who falsifies information on registrations or pedigrees will be expelled from the Society and the matter brought to the attention of the AKC.
2. It is strongly recommended that lesser quality chows be sold as companions with spay and neuter contracts or the limited AKC registration papers. Breeding agreements will be made only on Chows of such quality as to warrant inclusion in an acceptable breeding program. Breeders selling breeding stock will encourage the buyer to join the Society and other chow clubs and acquaint them with the codes of ethics of each.
