The absorbing myth of the chow's blue tongue is one of many that grace the origin of this beautiful and distinctive breed. No less whimsical is the myth about chows descending from bears, not wolves. Inconceivable as this may sound, a few similarities between the two are sufficient to make some people wonder if nature might not have lent a wry twist to the chow's evolution. How else to explain the chow's independent nature? Or its blue tongue (blue-black, according to the breed standard)? Or the stilted manner in which it moves? To say nothing of the wooly-mammoth resemblance of bear cubs to adult chows?
Arctic Origins
China embraces the chow as its own, yet the oldest physical evidence that links the breed to China is a bas-relief thought to have been created around 150 B.C. This artifact appears to confirm the chow's existence as a hunting dog in China more than 2,100 years ago. The earliest Chinese historical records, however, consistently refer to the chow as the "foreign chow," a reference that shores up the generally accepted theory that chows did not originate in China.
Indeed, some observers believe the chow resulted from crosses between Tibetan mastiffs and Samoyeds; but, say other observers, the chow's blue-black tongue ties knots in that theory because neither the mastiff nor the Samoyed has such a tongue. Instead, that second camp argues, the chow is probably one of the primordial breeds and was, more likely, one of the ancestors of the Samoyed, Norwegian elkhound, keeshond and Pomerian, all of which bear an external, if not a tongue-in-cheek, resemblance to one another.
Many people who think the chow originated outside of China suggest that the breed was forged in Arctic lands from whence it emigrated with barbarian tribes that invaded China in the 11th century B.C. To be sure, historical records reveal that these invaders were accompanied by huge dogs with black tongues. The dogs were reputedly strong enough to dispatch a person with no assistance and fierce enough to be more than happy to do so. These warlike dogs, which were said to resemble lions so closely it was impossible to tell one from the other, were different from any other breed. They had large, broad heads, short muzzles and tiny, deep-set eyes. Their lips touched without overlapping, giving them a distinctive, aloof expression.
As centuries passed and the warrior dogs were no longer needed in battle, their savage temperaments were refined; and they were given new duties by their masters -- hunter, draft dog, herder, guardian of the home, and food group. In truth, the chow's utility as food, many people believe, gave the breed its name. Chow chow is Chinese slang for anything edible, and for more years that it is delicate to contemplate, chows were considered edible. Legends say that two of the breed's most distinguishing characteristics -- its blue-black tongue and its straight hind legs -- evolved as a consequence of the Chinese taste for this breed. The blue-black tongue, the bluer the better, bespeaks a sweeter meat; and a straight hind leg yields more meat. (Fortunately selling and eating dog meat was outlawed in China in 1915.)
Not a Victorian Secret
A pair of chows arrived in England in 1780 on a boat belonging to the East India Company. Gilbert White, rector of Selbourne, England, wrote a meticulous description of those dogs. It was published in Natural History and Antiques of Selbourne. The chow described by White does not differ much in appearance from the chow we know today.
Chows did not begin to appear in England in any number until sometime around 1880. Queen Victoria, the patron queen of many breeds, gave the chow a leg up in popularity when she took an interest in it. The queen's attention ultimately let to the formation of a chow club in England in 1895.
White House Chows
A chow named Takya, the first of its kind exhibited in this country, won third prize in the miscellaneous class at a Westminster Kennel Club show in New York in 1890; but the chow's ascendancy did not begin until people learned that President Calvin Coolidge, a plain-speaking, plain-living man, owned two of these wondrous dogs, Blackberry and Tiny Tim. The president's chows lived in the White House with Coolidge and his wife, Grace, during Coolidge's tenure, 1923-1929.
Rehabilitation and Regression
The presidential seal inspired unscrupulous sorts to attempt to capitalize on the resulting chow craze. As often happens when celebrityhood shines it unstinting spotlight on a breed, too many ill-bred, ill-tempered, nasty-spirited chows were foisted on unsuspecting, uneducated buyers. Their dismay earned the chow a reputation as not only untrustworthy but also, in some cases, dangerous.
Breeders whose love for the chow was genuine, not financial, were able to rehabilitate the breed and its reputation during the 1950s and 1960s. Their work was undone to a great extent by a second wave of popularity that overwhelmed the breed from 1979, when annual chow registrations stood at 11,739, until 1988, when new registrations totaled 50,781, an increase of 333 percent put the chow the sixth most popular breed. Once again, however, popularity went before a fall; and between 1986 and 1996, annual new registrations of chows had fallen to 13,587, just 16 percent higher than they had been in 1979. Currently, the chow stands 26th in annual registrations among the 140 breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club, which registered 13,587 new chows in 1996.
Patience Rewarded
The ideal chow owner is nothing if not patient, but patience is its own reward with a chow, that reward being a lifetime companion whose devotion is endless and whose sense of humor boundless. A chow "has many noble qualities," wrote Lady Dunbar of Mochrum, one of England's pioneer chow breeders. Yet the chow's heart "heart cannot be taken by storm, but, once given, it is yours forever"
Another chow fancier has written, "Like a cat, a chow is only willing to do what suits his mood at the time. He's an independent thinker and will make his own decisions if you don't stay a step ahead of him."
Experienced chow owners know how quickly a chow understands what you are trying to teach him -- and how long it can be before the understanding chow decides to comply. You can guide a chow in the direction you want him to go, but you can't push him there. Nor can you be heavy handed. As rough and tumble as the breed may be, as sturdy a constitution as a chow may have and as high as his tolerance for discomfort might run, a chow is incapable of withstanding a blow struck in anger. Corporal punishment devastates the chow, and if subjected to it on a continuing basis, even the most amiable youngster will turn into a neurotic and unpredictable adult.
In addition, the chow must have constant human companionship and social interaction, not only with its owner but also with all kinds of people and other dogs. The chow raised without this socialization can easily become introverted and sullen.
Although most chows look at strangers with indifference, woe betide a would-be intruder. The most lethargic chow can suddenly become a tornado of protectiveness when his territory is threatened.
Prospective chow owners should also understand that chows seem to make blanket judgments. If a chow sees the little girl next door as a kind and gentle playmate, all children are apt to be high on his list of favorite things. Conversely, if the uniformed utilities man threatens a chow or attempts to intimidate him, pity any uniformed man who enters that dog's territory. For this reason, chow owners are wise to make their chows' initial introduction to people a positive one.
If I have made chow ownership sound like a challenge, you have taken my message. There is no doubt that a chow will be able to test you in every way possible. I am inclined to believe it is all done to determine whether or not you are worthy of being a chow owner. If you are, you will have a companion the likes of which you will never forget.
A Handful of Colors
Chows come in five colors: red, cinnamon, cream, black and blue. Colors such as "champagne," "silver," "lilac," "chocolate" or "white" are simply fanciful terms for standard (or substandard) chow colors. All chows but blues should have black noses. Blues' noses may be gray or slate-colored, but not brown.
A chow's eyes should be dark, the darker the better; and its tongue, of course, should be blue-black. A chow's tongue is pink at birth, but it should be entirely blue-black by the time a puppy is eight weeks old. Otherwise, that puppy cannot be shown and should not be used for breeding.
Different Strokes for Different Coats
The chow's coat requires more than a lick and a promise from the chow's owner. A puppy's dense coat is easily tangled and wants several hours' grooming a week. As a puppy shrugs off its coat and slips into an adult model, the youngster will need to be groomed almost daily for a period that can last several months.
The fully realized adult coat is not so demanding, but it still needs attention for at least an hour or two a week if it is to resist its natural inclination to turn into dreadlocks. Chows shed seasonally, not daily. In addition, chows molt once or twice a year, and when they do, they yield a harvest measured in trash bags.
A smooth-coated chow is not the continuing work in progress that a rough-coat is. Nevertheless, smooth-coats, too, shed seasonally and need regular, thorough grooming. No matter how long your chow's coat is, the time you spend grooming it will not seem as long if he is cooperative; and he will be more cooperative if you introduce him to the grooming routine while he is young.
Look Before You Buy
Hip dysplasia, entropion, and luxating patella are among the most common health problems encountered in the chow chow.
Hip dysplasia is a malformation of the hip joint resulting in a poor fit between the head of the femur bone and the hip socket, in which the femoral head normally lies. This condition, which is inherited, can be alleviated by surgery. Because dysplastic dogs often produce dysplastic puppies -- and some estimates place the incidence of dysplasia as high as 50 percent in chows -- buyers should ask if both the sire and the dam of the puppy in which they are interested have been rated clear of hip dysplasia by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals or by Penn HIP. Do not take yes for an answer without seeing the certificate, and ask for a copy to take to your veterinarian. Also ask the breeder if he or she would be willing to warrant a puppy against crippling hip dysplasia for at least two years.
Entropion is a condition in which a dog's eyelids turn inward toward the eyeball instead of outward as they should. Entropion causes irritation to the eye, and, if left untreated, it could eventually cause blindness. Although entropion is usually inherited, it is not always apparent in young puppies. Moreover, it can be acquired later in life as a result of injury or infection.
Luxating patella, a dislocation of the small, flat, moveable bone at the front of the knee, is an inherited tendency that can be aggravated by excess weight. This condition can be corrected by surgery.
Skin and hormone problems also occur in chows. These, too, are frequently inherited and are seldom obvious in a young puppy. For this reason -- and because not all breeders are as conscientious as they should be -- persons acquiring a chow should ask the seller who will be responsible for a puppy should be victimized by an obviously inherited condition later in life.
Vital Statistics
A chow should be blocky and square, never long-bodied or low-slung. Its legs should be sturdy and straight. In fact, everything about the chow, from its large short-muzzled head to its Sherman-tanklike body should give the impression of strength and substance. When mature, the chow will stand 17 to 20 inches at the shoulder and weigh between 45 and 70 pounds.
No comments:
Post a Comment