CCC

Chow Chow Club in Austria:
"ChowChowActuell"
Magazine May1999

Mr. Steve Miller addresses about the beginnings of general Chow breeding in the States after the first start in Great Britain, where the first Chow was recorded in the English Kennel Club Stud book in 1894. R.H.Moore painted the basics of Chow type for the very first Chow standard, where the most important Chow of this time English Ch. Chow VIII. was shown and described.

The Chow Chow Club, Inc , AKC member since 1906, penned the first standard in1925, which still requires a straight rear with the unique stilted gait, the blue-black tongue and solid black nose, a prick ear with slight forward tilt, and that famous Chow scowl. The famous British Chow Int. Ch. Choonam Brilliantine was imported by Mrs.H.Earl Hoover for the pricely sum of 1800 English pound (more than $ 1 million today!), which was the highest price ever paid for a dog at that time.

Some modifications, with an emphasis on a more substancial animal than the first imported Asian dogs were, developed over time. However, a lot of the most famous Chow breeders or judges aren't impressed any longer with exaggerated bone. In 1986 the word "massive" was deleted when the most important revision of the AKC standard insisted on a new emphasis on balance and proportions - best shown in the "Illustrated Standard of the Chow Chow" of 1996. ( http://www.chowclub.org. )

It's ridiculous that the smooth coated Chow was revised from the standard in 1941, until 1986 and the Society for the Preservation of the Smooth Chow Chow was formed in 1988. The first smooth Chow which completed the AKC championship was Ch.Bearkat's Little Big Man. Nowadays the AKC registered about 10,000 Chow Chows.

DOGS in REVIEW interviewed some of the most experienced Chow Chow specialist judges, breeders, fanciers, handlers and owners. They asked questions like:

When and where did You first come across a Chow Chow?
What attracted You to the breed?
Please, outline briefly Your involvement in the breed, as an owner,...
What do You think are the most important problems in the breed right now?
What are the most important breed chracteristics to keep in mind for anyone wanting to become a good Chow Chow judge?
Do You feel that the current AKC Breed Standard is adequate?
Has it been changed frequently?
In what respects do American Chows differ from those in other countries?
Wich is the best Chow Chow You have ever owned or bred?
Which one of those You have been involved with was the best?
Please, mention at least one Chow Chow, not owned, bred or shown by Yourself, which you particulary admired.

This following little summary will give You a short view into the international Chow Chow forum. I believe these DOGS in REVIEW interviews are some of the most worthwhile articles published in international press during the past few years. It seems to be a must for every intereseted Chow fancier, and it was a pleasure and honour for me to have the chance to read and hear more about all these important opinions of some of the most experienced specialists:

Dr. Sam Draper & Desmond Murphy
"Liontamer Chow Chows" , Monroe,NY

Dr. Drapers interest developed in Modesto, California in the early 1930s, but his first puppy was presented to him as a reward for rescuing seveal lost champion Cairns - a little Cairn Terrier. In the late 1940s and early 1950s his interests were rekindled when he met Joel Marston of the magnificent Starcrest Chows. Ah Sid the Avant-Garde , his first own Chow bred by Sidney Joan Wellborn, won 18 Group first and the National Speciality in 1966. Together with Mr.and Mrs. R. Hetherington,Jr., he bought, bred and showed several champions - like "Louie", Ch. Eastward Liontamer of Elster from M. Morgan.

From 1967 to 1971 he co-bred his Chows together with Desmond("Desi") Murphy in Mahwah,NJ before they moved to Monroe,NY. Some of the most important Chows in the history of the breed, totalling more than 60 all-bred Best in Shows, including Liontamer's ten Best were owned by this famous kennel: Ch. Liontamer Redcloud Marilyn , Ch. Don-Lee Chowtime, Ch.Ah Sid Liontamer Jamboree, Ch. Foon Ying Morning Star Magic, Ch. Koby Cassanova of Sweetkins, Ch.Jen-Sen's China Bear of Palm, and finally Ch. Lov-Chow's Risen Star (32 Best in shows,..). "Star" was universally admired, as well as "Desi's" flawless presentations of all the Chows in shows. Two of the most well-known and superb Chow related books are published by Dr. Samuel Draper and Joan McDonald Bearly: "The Book of the Chow Chow" and the "World of the Chow Chow".

Paul Odenkirchen
"Mi Pao's Chows", Ontario, Canada

For Mr.Odenkirchen, who first came across the Chow in Indonesia, the understanding of the truly oriental breed is most important. He believes that Chows sense their houses as their castles, their master as their god, and family members, homestead and livestock are sacred. They behave aloof to strangers, are naturally housebroken, territorial, and they seldom stray or bark to sound an alarm. Since 1957 he and his wife Minnie have operated a kennel of about 40 Chows.

His wife's grandmother was a co-founder of the Dutch CCC in 1941, while Mr. and Mrs. Odenkirchen are charter members of the Chow Chow Fanciers of Canada and the Maple Leaf CCC, where he was president for 22 years and vice president for three. He has been a member of the parent club in the US, The ChowChowClub, Inc.,since1959, director on their board, president, chairman of it's club's Breed Standard Council ( standard review 1986). He initiated the 1980 International Chow Chow Congress in Gieszen, West Germany, which was attended by delegations of 16 countries. At the moment he is a member of the CC Fanciers South Central Ontario Section, the Maple Leaf CCC, The CCC,inc.,the CCC in England,the Dutch CCC and the Finnish CC. He is a life member of the Canadian Kennel Club as well as a licensed all-breed judge in Canada, the US, England, Norway, Germany, Italy, Russia, Australia, Chile, Argentina and Columbia for the past 20 years.

He believes that every judge has to remember the history of this breed - that a Chow belongs to the Spitz family (no Mastiff) and should be an alert, upstanding and functional dog, and that the most essential breed characteristics, the blue mouth and the stilted gait should not be compromised. He complaints about the becoming rare of both these characteristics, because the average weight of a Chow increases twice as much as it has been at the turn of the century - so to offset the increase of cruciate problems resulting from the exponential increase in trauma of the knee joints, breeders had to settle for more bend of stifle, losing the typical stilt-like gait in the process.

His favorite type is shown in the picture of the moderate, functional and well balanced English bitch Ch. Choonam Moonbeam (1933), a most beautiful upstanding bitch, with good lenght of leg, high tail set, great reach of neck, moderate bone, good coat, pleasing head without any wrinkles or exaggerations.

Mr. Odenkirchen believes that the US standard should return to a short description of essentials, augmented with a separate official interpretation and illustrated standard and that with the disappearance of the large kennels and the increased traffic in dogs worldwide, differences between local types have become somethat blurred. After being involved with literally thousands of Chows worldwide he favors the following Chows: Ch.King van Mongolie, Ch. Wamchow Che-Foo, Ch. Baytor Blue Gunsmoke, especially Ch. Ukwong King Solomon, Can.&Am.Ch.Teabear's Cheese Whizz, Ch.Pendleton's King Arthur.

Rodney Oldham
"Towmena", UK

Mr.Oldham described himself to be hooked on Chows since the days of his youth. But it was not until 1974 that the breakthrough came, when he showed the homebred Towmena Cherilea. Ch. Towmena Impudent Miss, broke a 50-year old bitch CC record and both she and the Norway Chow, Here's the Tiger, bred by Anne-Catrine Ekengren of the Fort Knox kennels, won even at Crufts, a rare occurrence for one owner and not seen for 20 years in the Chow ring.

Mr.Oldham became a championship show judge of Chows in the UK in 1976, and in several overseas locations, including New Zealand, Australia and the US. He insists on a whole mouth pigmentation and that stilted gait, which is sadly seen less in these days. He complains of the much too fast-moving Chows, especially in the States, which makes it impossible to assess a true stilted gait. He fights against any exaggerated bone or heavy, wrinkly and generally overdone heads.

He prefers the US standard, which he calls much more comprehensive than the British one and believes that America has a greater depht in quality and overall a higher standard than anywhere else, because he found that most dogs were of a decent size with mostly quite attractive heads and the bonus of pretty clear eyes, which were able to move soundly. But he also mentioned faults like, short upper arms, looking magnificent stacked and toeing in badly on the move. His favorite is Ch.Ukwong Saul of Weircroft and his bitch Impudent Miss.

Bob & Love Banghart
"Rebelrun", Santa Ana Heights,CA

Breeding since 1975 they admire the Chow's beauty, aloof attitude, clean habits,intelligence, loyality, handsomness and favorite balance, pigmentation, stilted gait and distinguishing scowl when judging Chows all over the States, Canada and Japan. They bred 58-plus AKC champions and best in Show winners in Holland, Canada, Chile, Brazil, Argentina and the USA. They are extremly proud of the temperament and healt of the Rebelrun Chows, which are mainly bred to be truly Man's best Friend.

They named as their favorites: Ch.Tsang-Po's Storm Trooper, Ch. Melody's Saint Noel, Ch. Starcrest Mr Christopher, Ch. Wah-Hu Redcloud Sugar Daddy and Ch. Cheries Prince Kim Hi O'Jody.

Jo Anne Schullier
"Claymont Chow Chows", Fenton,MO

Mrs. Schullier purchased her first Chow in 1975 and answered that her personal priority in the breed is overall balance (square, compact and short-coupled), strong breed type, substance and sound movement with the proper stilted gait. She described the Americam-bred Chows as slightly smaller but tending to carry more substance and bone than Chows from abroad. Ch. Claymont's New Edition of Noel, her favorite one was sired by Ch. Melody's Saint Noel out of her Claymont Linn-Chu of Checkmate.

Ann E. Crisp
Cathlamet,WA

Mrs. Crisp claims for the socialization of Chows and the responisibility for resued Chows. She believes that Chows are much more content with their owners than with professional handlers. She insits on educated judges , who passed special seminars. She reminds on the Chow's working origin. Her favorites are: Ch. Bob-Bet's Chan, Ch. Crystal Lakes Timekeeper and Ch. Bailey's Gold Quest.

Zola Coogan
"Redcloud", Washington,ME

Starting in 1974 the Redcloud kennel is the home of e.g. Ch. Wah-Hu Redcloud Sugar Daddy and is a founding member and first President of the Smooth Preservation Society. They favour health and longevity of their Chows and the judge's knowledge about the Chow's working history background.

Sandra Miller
"Chinarose Chows", Portland,OR

Mrs. Miller's most important Chow was named "Ching2. They bred 20 champions out of 24 puppies, like SBIS Am&Can Ch. Chinarose A Ladies'Man, smooth, SBIS Am&Can Ch. Chinarose to Captain w/Love and Chinarose the Impressionist. She feels very offended about the different types of Chows shown in the same ring and complains about the difficulties to breed a constistent line of dogs. Regarding this she mentioned a part of the standard with the following sentence from General Description:" Elegance and substance must be combined into a well balanced whole, never so massive as to outweigh his ability to be active, alert and agile."

Mr. Miller favourites her homebreed bitch SBIS Am&Can Ch. The Cinarose Sonlit Eclipse, and also the English Ch. U-Kwong King Solomon, bred and owned by Joan and Eric Egerton, as well as multible BIS, multiple SBIS Ch. Westwind's Peach Fuzz and BIS&SBIS Ch. Imagine the Best of Jazz.

Frank & Sandra Holloway
"My-Sam's Chows", Stormville, New York

and last but not least and special interview Mrs. Martha Stewart, the Goddess of Domestical & Good Taste answered several quetions specifically for DOGS in REVIEW: Her fisrt Chow was "Harry", a red male in1972. She now lives together with Paw Paw and Zu Zu. She believes that Chows are extremly suitable for the average family and that she had choosen this breed because of their unobsequious, gentle nature, their independance, loyalty, and their one- owner attitude.