Editing Chow Chow (section)

== Appearance ==
[[File:03 Bokeh the Chow.jpg|thumb|A close-up of the Chow Chow's characteristic blue-black tongue in a female Chow Chow]]
The Chow Chow is a sturdily built dog, square in profile, with a broad skull and small, triangular, erect ears with rounded tips. The breed is known for a very dense [[double coat]] that is either smooth or rough.<ref name="Wilcox1999" />{{rp|4–5}} The fur is particularly thick in the neck area, giving it a distinctive [[Ruff (clothing)|ruff]] or [[:wikt:mane|mane]] appearance. The coat may be shaded/self-red, black, blue, cinnamon/fawn, or cream.<ref name="Wilcox1999" />{{rp|4–5}}<ref name="Colours and coat types"/>
Not all these color varieties are recognized as valid in all countries. Individuals with patchy or multicolored coats are considered to be outside the breed standard.
Chow Chow eyes are typically deep set and almond shaped. The breed is unique by their purple/blue-black tongue which no other breed has except [[Shar Pei]], and has very straight hind legs, resulting in a rather stilted gait.<ref name="Wilcox1999" />{{rp|4–5}} The bluish color extends to the Chow Chow's lips; this is the only dog breed with this distinctive bluish color in its lips and oral cavity (other dogs have black or a piebald pattern skin in their mouths).<ref name="Wilcox1999" />{{rp|4–5}} Another distinctive feature is the curly tail.<ref name="Wilcox1999" />{{rp|4–5}} It has thick hair and lies curled on its back. The nose should be black, but blue-coated Chow Chow can have a solid blue or slate-colored nose. According to the American Kennel Club breed standards, any other tone is not acceptable for contests.<ref name="AKC">{{cite web|title=AKC MEET THE BREEDS: Chow Chow|url=http://www.akc.org/breeds/chow_chow/|work=American Kennel Club|publisher=American Kennel Club (AKC)|access-date=July 10, 2012|author=American Kennel Club|date=January 1, 2006}}</ref> FCI countries, however, do allow a self-colored nose in the cream.<ref>{{cite web|title=The FCI Breed Standard|url=http://www.chowchow.at/en/breed/the-FCI-chow-chow-breed-standard.shtml|work=CHOWCHOW.at|publisher=CHOWCHOW.at Alle Rechte vorbehalten|access-date=July 10, 2012|author=CHOWCHOW.at|date=June 9, 1999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811125528/http://www.chowchow.at/en/breed/the-FCI-chow-chow-breed-standard.shtml|archive-date=August 11, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The blue-black/purple tongue gene appears to be dominant, as most mixed breed dogs that come from a Chow Chow retain that tongue color. However, the blue-black/purple tongue can also be found on the [[Shar Pei]]. This is not to say that every mixed breed dog with spots of purple on the tongue is descended from Chow Chow, as purple spots on the tongue can be found on other [[purebred dog]]s.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Truth About Those Black Tongues|url=http://www.chowwelfare.com/cciw/blacktongue.htm|work=Chow Chow Information and Adoption Center|publisher=WisconsinChow Chow Rescue|access-date=July 10, 2012|author=Kathy Welsh|author2=Anna Wallace|author3=Vicki DeGruy|year=2001–2010|archive-date=September 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190907224532/http://www.chowwelfare.com/cciw/blacktongue.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>