​Chow Chow Colours Explained

This paged is aimed to show you the different recognised colours within the Chow Chow Breed under the UK Kennel Club breed standard. Other kennel clubs may class these differently. In the UK we only have 5 recognised colours. However there is variation within each colour. 
I will use pictures of our own dogs (or previously owned dogs) to demonstrate these as much as possible. 

Dominant Colours in Chow Chows include Red, Cream and Black. Due to this, these colours are the most prevalent within the breed. 

Red

Reds is probably the hardest colour to get your head around as this colour more than any other has lots of variations. Many people will mistake a pale Shaded Red for a Fawn. This is often done with inexperienced breeders and results in Dogs being incorrectly registered and labelled.
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Self Red

Self Red is the darkest of the Reds. Its an orangutan orange. The coat is a solid colour all over with very little deviation in the colour.
Although this is a very popular colour it is almost impossible to gauge as a puppy as the full colour isn't apparent until the adult coat has come through. 

Shaded Red

This is the most common Red colouring. However there can be lots of variation in this colouring. The Shaded Reds have a mixture of colours in their coats, especially cream/white. The lighter colour is more prevent around the back legs and the chest. They can also have dark almost black hair scattered through. 
They can be so pale as puppies that they can be mistaken as either a rich cream or a fawn. 

Cream

Cream is a lovely colour. The colour can range from a lovely rich Clotted Cream colour to an almost white. Creams have darker points on their ears and down the spine. These darker points can be a red or orange tone. 
Creams are born with black noses but these can become brown as they age. As with all Chow Chows they must have Blue tongues. 

Black

Black Chow Chows can have very different under coats colours depending on their genetic background. 
These tend to be Black with a Red under tone. This can lead to the dog having Copperish highlights in their coat. This appears mainly in dogs with lots of Red dogs in their pedigree.  
The other undercoat colour is a light blue/ grey colour. this tends to be when the dog has a lot of cream in its genetics.

Recessive Colours- For your dog to achieve these colours in their coat, Both parents must be carriers of the Dilute colours of either Blue or Fawn.

Blues

Blue is the Dilute of Black. In some other Breeds this colour can be called grey.
As with the Blacks there are two distinct under coat colours within this colour. 
Blue dogs with a Red under coat colour can have this muddy appearance. Rocky regularly looks this way. They can also have a lovely white/pale grey undercoat which can make the coat look very pale. 
in both cases exposure to sunlight seems to add to these other colours coming through. 

Fawn

Fawn is the Dilute of Red. 
this colour seems to be the hardest to understand. 
Fawn dogs can have a pale undercoat or a silvery blue undercoat. This has lead some people to try Charging more for a 'rare' colour claiming their dog is a Blue fawn. This colour is still just classed as a fawn. Fawn Puppies are born a silvery colour which is very different to both the creams and Reds and they are instantly recognisable with their metallic sheen.