The Samoyed Hero of the Arctic

Fridtjof Nansen had a dog problem. In the early 1890s, the Norwegian explorer, academic and humanitarian was in the midst of planning an expedition to the North Pole and realized that, in the perilously cold Arctic environment, picking the right type of dog to carry supplies and men over hundreds of frozen miles could easily make the difference between life and death.

After researching sled dogs, Nansen picked the bjelkier for his task. Though little known outside its native Siberia, the Nordic-type dog had a mythical reputation, not only as a hardy sled and work dog but also for its devotion to its human masters. Nansen believed the bjelkiers amiable disposition would make it preferable to huskies and Greenland dogs during the long, brutal journey.

Through intermediaries Nansen procured a team of bjelkiers from the Samoyedes, an Asiatic group of nomads who had developed the dogs over hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years. Despite brutal conditions, Nansen´s 1895 expedition was a success — although he didn´t reach the North Pole he traveled further north than any other human had at that time — and the glowing reports he sent to other explorers about the bjelkier´s heroic performance made it the dog of choice for several of the Arctic and Antarctic expeditions that followed. Many of these dogs, renamed the Samoyed in honor of the tribe who developed the breed, eventually found their way to England and America upon their expeditions´ end. Historians of the breed believe nearly every Samoyed in the West today has ancestors who were members of an Arctic or Antarctic expedition.

Bred True

A man with an appreciation for fine engineering – the boat he built for the expedition, the Fram, was so well constructed it was successfully used in a total of five Arctic and Antarctic expeditions over a 35-year period – Nansen realized that Samoyed was perfect for the Arctic environment. Physically, the Samoyed boasts the most efficient design of the Nordic breeds, with a more pronounced double-layer coat than it´s canine cousins. The long outer coat, bleached white by the Arctic sun, is soil and water repellent, so the dog can easily shake off snow. The inner coat is woolly and, during the winter, so thick you can´t push your finger to the flesh. Deep brown eyes are set behind almond-shaped, black eyelids to reduce glare from 
snow. The breed´s toes spread wide to provide extra traction, like a built-in snowshoe. The curved tail covers the nose while sleeping during extreme temperatures, acting as a filter to warm and humidify the inhaled air. A V-shaped chest supports the dog´s strong musculature, and dense bones provide extra hauling capacity without sacrificing agility.

This perfect design results from the unique circumstances of the Samoyed´s development. The Samoyedes, who lived in the vast area of Russia between the Ural Mountains and the Yenesei River, bred the dog to work the herds of reindeer on which they subsisted. Historians believe the Samoyedes – described as a race in the transition stage between the “Mongol pure and the Finn” — migrated to this location shortly after the time of Christ in the first millennium. Sometime over the next several hundred years the Samoyedes began adapting the region´s wolves for their purposes.

Isolated from the rest of the world in this desolate region adjacent to the Arctic Circle, the Samoyed bred true, without influences from other breeds. Some believe these conditions make the Samoyed most nearly akin to the primitive dog of all modern breeds. Through selection, the Samoyedes developed their dogs to serve as a herder and hunter, guard and companion. The breed lived closely with its people, guarding their tents from polar bears and sleeping with children to keep them warm at night. The dog accompanied its human masters on hunts, but its primary responsibility was to keep the herds of reindeer, which provided food, clothing and transportation to the Samoyedes, in a tight group, safe from predators. Reindeer usually pulled the sleds these nomadic people constantly employed in search of the scarce lichen and moss that fed the animals, but Samoyeds were also used in this capacity on occasion.

From Siberia to the Royal Palace

Arctic and Antarctic expeditions may have earned the Samoyed acclaim within a small community of adventurers, but a British scientist named Ernest Kilburn-Scott is primarily responsible for establishing the breed in the Western world. A member of the Royal Zoological Society, Kilburn-Scott was on expedition to Siberia in the 1880s when a cute, plump white puppy caught his eye. He purchased the dog from its Samoyede owner and brought it back to England, where the puppy received considerable attention from friends and colleagues.

In the following years, Kilburn-Scott acquired several more Samoyede dogs and showed them in expositions throughout the country. At first the dog was considered only as an oddity from Siberia, but it´s beauty and miability fast made it popular among the wealthy and influential. The Prince of Wales, later to become King Edward VII, received a Samoyed as a gift and became so enamored with the breed he went on to show several between 1890 and 1900.

In Siberia, breed members often had cream or biscuit-colored coats, as well as coats with patches of black. The English preferred the pure white coat, however, and most breeders made that shade their goal. Today the majority of Sammies have this pure white coat. In 1909, Kilburn-Scot founded the Samoyede Club, changing the breeds´ name from bjelkier in order to honor the Samoyede people. The Kennel Club decided the dog could be shown in an accepted classification in 1912. In 1923, The Kennel Club of England dropped the “e” from the official name.

The breed´s arrival in America was no less sensational than its British debut. In 1902, Mercy d´Argenteau, the Princess de Montyglyon, a Belgian countess and hereditary princess of the Holy Roman Empire, journeyed to St. Petersburg, Russia. The princess was an ardent dog fancier and attended a dog show while in the city. There she saw and fell in love with a large white Russian champion Samoyed named Moustan. Moustan had been entered at the show by his owner the Grand Duke Michael, brother of Czar Nicholas II. Duke Michael gave Moustan to the princess as a gift.

In 1904 d´Argenteau immigrated to the United States with Moustan and three other Samoyeds she had obtained in the interim. Moustan was shown extensively and in 1906 became the first of his breed to be registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC). In 1923, the Samoyede Club of America was formed in New York. The English breed standard was adopted. In 1947, the AKC followed the British Kennel Club´s example in dropping the final “e” from the official name.

Problem Solved

Since arriving in the United States, Samoyeds have remained, for the most part, a well-guarded secret among a select group of America´s dog lovers. In 2000, the breed ranked 59th of 148 breeds in terms of new AKC registrations, well behind its Nordic cousins the Siberian husky (19th) and the Alaskan Malamute (48th). Potential owners may take one look at the breed´s thick coat and presume the dog is only suited for colder climates, but this is not the case — assuming proper care is taken to protect the dog from extreme heat, Samoyeds can live happy, healthy lives in practically any part of the country.

That´s not to say the coat doesn´t require care and attention. The Samoyed should be brushed several times a week. For a white dog, the Samoyed stays amazingly clean, but an occasional bath is necessary. The dog sheds heavily — the Samoyedes collected the fur and wove it into a wool — so be prepared for a lot of white fuzz around the house.

Those who do look beyond the breed´s imposing mass of fur will see a breed renowned for it´s affectionate nature. Generations spent in close contact with their nomadic owners have imbued the dog with a legendary sensitivity and devotion to their human companions. Most Sammies are anxious to please and interact with their owners, making them wonderful family pets.

Usually calm indoors, this clever, athletic breed requires daily physical and mental exercise. If allowed to become bored, it will dig and bark. Samoyeds thrive on human contact, so this is not a dog to be left ignored outside. Training is a good idea, the sooner the better. These are sensitive dogs that will tune you out if you come on too strong or too weak. Be a clear, kind, and consistent leader, and you will have a loyal companion for life.

The age of Arctic exploration, when a man´s life depended on the competence and endurance of his dogs, may be over, but the same qualities that made the Samoyed a perfect solution for the needs of Fridtjof Nansen and his fellow explorers still define this beautiful, sensitive breed. As one of the modern world´s most direct links to the age of wolves, the dog possesses a remarkable pedigree, but it is a loving, pure heart that makes the Samoyed a modern-day hero from the Arctic.

Health Matters

Although Samoyeds adapt well to most climates, their coat, size and energies make them susceptible to heat/humidity-related health problems. Always make certain your Samoyed has plenty of water and a cool, shaded place to get through the hottest part of the day. Avoid situations in which the dog may become overheated, particularly with younger Sammies that are prone to foolishly overexert themselves in the heat. Young dogs should be supervised or confined in hot weather.

Samoyeds are bred to be working dogs, and therefore live happier, healthier lives when kept in good physical condition and not allowed to become soft. Make sure your Sammy gets at least one good workout every day. Dogs of Nordic origin have a tendency to bark and dig, but the more exercise and activity, the less opportunity this behavior has to turn into a problem.

The breed´s health is typically good, but they can have hip dysplasia problems. In the United States there has been some incidence of progressive retinal atrophy (a family of diseases involving gradual deterioration of the retina). Bloat, or gastric torsion — twisting of the stomach that traps stomach contents and gases — can also be a problem. Adult dogs should weigh between 50 and 65 pounds. A healthy Samoyed has a lifespan of approximately 12 years.

 

The Pomeranian

Surprise! That Pomeranian next door is really a sled dog masquerading in fleecy, toy clothing. You may see Poms as lap ornaments, but if you look more closely, you will find they have the courage of the tiger; and could they discuss the matter with you, they would tell you their ancestors came from a long line of hard-working, northern-exposure kinds of dogs. Those ancestors, in turn, came by their attitude from their forefather, Canis lupus - the wolf.

Dressing for Success

The Pomeranian's impressive tale begins many centuries ago in northern Europe when the wolf from which all dogs are thought to have descended was undergoing great anatomical change. One branch of the northern wolf's heirs - the Arctic or spitz dogs - retained many of the characteristics needed to survive in a frigid climate: heavy, weather-resistant coats, tiny ears less exposed to frostbite, long muzzles to warm the air before it reached the lungs, a bushy tail to cover the face while sleeping in the snow, and short bodies on long legs to keep vital organs snugly above the snow line.

These early northern dogs included hunters and herders like the Samoyed and the Norwegian elkhound, and smaller companion dogs that served as guardians of home and hearth, sounding the alarm when danger approached. That alert, quick-response nature typifies all spitz dogs today, including the Pomeranian, who, size notwithstanding, reflects most of the characteristics of the spitz.

A Slight Misnomer

Spitz dogs were extremely popular in Germany as early as the 1500s. They came in many sizes and colors, and each variety was identified by its own name. As time progressed, five distinct categories of spitz dogs emerged. One of them, the zwergspitz or dwarf spitz, stood 8 ½ to 11 inches at the shoulder and might be found in a white, black, brown, wolf gray or orange coat.

One of the first agents of the zwergspitz's renown was Queen Charlotte, wife of George III, king of England from 1760 to 1820. The two dogs Charlotte imported in 1767 - and their portraits rendered by Thomas Gainsborough - brought national attention to the breed in England.

Queen Charlotte obtained her dogs from the area around Pomerania, a former duchy in a region now shared by eastern Germany and western Poland. Thus, the dogs were called Pomeranians in Britain, even though no German breed has ever been known by that name. To this day the Pomeranian's counterpart in Germany is still called the zwergspitz.

Unlike zwergspitz, which existed in many colors, British "Pomeranians" were white. They were also large by today's standard, weighing 20 to 30 pounds.

Whiteout

Charlotte's granddaughter Queen Victoria was an even greater influence on the development of Pomeranians. Indeed, Victoria altered the breed's size and color forever. A passionate dog fancier, Victoria was enchanted by a 12-pound, red-sable Pom she saw on a trip to Italy in 1888. She purchased the dog, whom she called Marco, and he became not only her constant companion but also a frequent winner at dog shows. Victoria bought three other Poms on that trip to Florence. One of them, a female named Gina, also earned her championship at London shows.

The chic good looks of the Poms favored by the queen - and their endearing charms - made them all the rage in British society. Toward the end of the 19th century, the smaller red Pomeranians replaced the larger, white models in public favor. By that time, too, the Pomeranian had emigrated to the United States. In fact, the first American Pom was entered into the American Kennel Club's (AKC) stud book in 1888. Four years later the first Pom was exhibited in this country, at a dog show in New York, and in 1900 the breed was recognized by the AKC.

Nearly a century later the Pomeranian continues to enjoy worldwide popularity as a household companion and show dog. Last year in the United States the Pom, with 39,712 new registrations, ranked 10th among the 143 breeds registered by the American Kennel Club.

The Pomeranian Today

Through the efforts of breed enthusiasts the Pomeranian's diminutive size (three to seven pounds) and profuse coat have been standardized, yet even the smallest Poms should retain the weather-protective qualities that typified the early Nordic dogs: short body, good length of leg and tiny ears among them.

The variety of colors in which Poms are arrayed has also been maintained. Indeed, there are few colors in which this tiny charmer is not available. The most frequently seen are shades of darkest red to lightest cream, some with sable accents; but many Poms occur in solid black, black and tan, and parti-colors.

Although the Pom is minuscule in size, its temperament, when brought to full potential, displays the same courage as the largest sled dog racing across the frozen tundra. A Pom will also let the world know when it feels its home or loved ones are threatened. Moreover, Poms may well attempt to fight off the largest adversary to protect what and whom they love. Newspaper stories about Poms getting into fights, often fatal ones, with larger dogs attest to the Pom's limitless, if sometimes self-limiting, courage.

As the Owner Is Bent

Properly socialized, well-bred Pomeranians are enthusiastic and loving companions. They are affectionate and adaptive, and they can easily take on the characteristics of their owners. The nervous, flighty owner will find his or her Pom reacting to life in the same manner. Persons who hibernate at home and avoid most social contacts may well find their Poms lacking the graces well-socialized dogs should have.

Small but Sturdy

The mature Pom is a fairly sturdy individual for its size, but the very young puppy is too delicate to withstand rough handling by small children. Most breeders will not sell a puppy to a home where children are not old enough to understand the kind of treatment a young Pom needs.

A healthy, well cared for Pom can live to an exceptionally old age for a dog. Many live well into their teen years, an age comparable to a very senior, senior citizen in human terms. Pomeranians are also inclined to maintain that legendary puppyhood effervescence until the day they travel on to whatever comes next for a well-loved dog.

The Pomeranian's abundant double coat must be groomed regularly. A double coat consists of an undercoat, soft and dense on the Pom, and an outercoat composed of long, straight, glistening, harsh-textured guard hairs. A thick undercoat allows the guard hairs to stand off to dramatic effect from the Pom's body.

A Pomeranian's coat goes through many changes before the adult coat grows in. At about three months a Pom puppy loses that cloud-soft puppy fluff, and for several months what was a little puff ball can look ragged and disrobed. The adult coat begins to appear when the Pom is a year old, but that coat requires months of growth before it is fully mature.

The regular care that must be given to a Pomeranian's coat is especially needed during coat-change and shedding periods. Bathing and grooming are vital to keeping the little dogs clean and healthy. Neglected coats, in addition to matting easily, can harbor undetected vermin, skin conditions and fungus. Left uncared for, the coat will mat to the skin, necessitating a crew cut that is not only embarrassing to the dog but also extremely unattractive. Shaving a Pom eliminates the very benefits of the breed's coat - protection from both cold and heat.

Riders on the Storm

Toy breeds are prone to a hereditary condition of the hindquarter known as patellar luxation. The Pom is no exception. This condition is one in which the cartilage that binds the upper thigh to the lower thigh at the kneecap (patella) slips loose, causing the afflicted dog to limp or to hold its leg entirely off the ground when moving. In dogs born with a tendency to this condition, stress to the hindquarter through rough handling, accident or excess weight can cause the kneecap to slip from its mooring.

In some instances the kneecap can be put back in place and will remain there for varying periods of time. In extreme cases surgery is recommended. This is always a concern because toy dogs can easily succumb to anesthesia.

Close attention must be paid to a Pom puppy's teeth. Baby teeth are normally replaced by an adult set at about six months. In many cases, however, the Pom will retain its baby teeth and have two sets of teeth growing side by side. When this occurs, dental work by a veterinarian may be necessary.

Pomeranians can also lose their teeth at an early age unless constant care is employed. Regular cleansing and brushing is essential.

Many other problems are common to toy breeds. Unfortunately these problems affect the Pomeranian as well, specifically, dwarfism, hydrocephalus and lung conditions. This is why it is important to make sure your puppy comes from a breeder dedicated to producing and to standing behind healthy stock. Be sure to discuss health conditions and the responsibilities they might incur with the breeder selling the puppy in which you are interested.

Historical Pomeranians

Several historical figures are said to have owned "Pomeranians," although the breed did not come to be known by this name until Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III of England, had imported two zwergspitz, as the breed is known in her native Germany, in 1767. Martin Luther (1483-1546) had a Pomeranian named Belferlein whom he mentioned frequently in his writing. Michelangelo's (1475-1564) Pom watched him as he painted the Sistine Chapel ceiling. Isaac Newton's (1642-1727) Pom, Diamond, had a taste for Newton's manuscripts. Mozart (1756-1791) had a female Pom named Pimperl to whom he dedicated an aria. Chopin (1810-1849) was so amused by a female friend's Pom that he composed the "Valse des Petits Chiens" for the dog.

The Chow Chow An Ancient Blue Blood

When god created the world, one dog was allowed to lick up the pieces of sky that fell to earth as the stars were set in place. That dog was the chow, and ever since chows have had blue tongues.

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.