By Laura Price | Hoku Kennels

Not Everything Rare Is Valuable: Understanding Genetics, Health Testing, and Breed Preservation in the Modern Chow Chow

In recent years, social media and online marketplaces have seen a surge in Chow Chows advertised as "exotic" or "rare" colors—most notably merle, chocolate, and lilac. While these coats are frequently marketed as exclusive genetic treasures, canine genetics, historical breed documentation, and international orthopedic databases tell a very different story.

For prospective puppy owners and preservation breeders alike, understanding where these colors actually come from—and examining the exact clinical data behind Chow Chow health testing worldwide—is essential to protecting the structural soundness and genetic integrity of the breed.

1. The Five Standard Colors of the Purebred Chow Chow

Under the official breed standards established by the Chow Chow Club, Inc. (CCCI), the American Kennel Club (AKC), and the UK Chow Chow Breed Council, purebred Chow Chows occur in only five solid colors:

• Red (ranging from light golden to deep mahogany)
• Black
• Blue (a dilute of black)
• Cinnamon / Fawn (a dilute of red)
• Cream

These five colors are governed by a well-documented combination of canine coat-color loci:

• A-Locus (Agouti / ASIP): Purebred Chow Chows carry clear sable (Aʸ/Aʸ), creating their classic shaded coats.
• K-Locus (Dominant Black / CBD103): Dominant black (Kᴮ) produces solid black (or blue when diluted), while kʸ/kʸ allows the A-locus sable or E-locus red to express.
• E-Locus (Extension / MC1R): Two copies of recessive red (e/e) produce the cream phenotype.
• D-Locus (Dilution / MLPH): Two copies of recessive dilution (d/d) dilute black pigment into blue and red/sable pigment into cinnamon.
• B-Locus (Brown / TYRP1): Crucially, purebred Chow Chows are fixed for the dominant allele (B/B), ensuring full production of dark eumelanin pigment in their noses, eye rims, paw pads, and signature blue-black tongues.

2. Are Merle, Chocolate, and Lilac the Result of Outcrossing?

While no single peer-reviewed genomic study has sequenced every modern "lilac" Chow Chow line to map its exact family tree, established canine genetics provides clear evidence regarding how these non-standard colors enter the gene pool:Merle: 100% Proven OutcrossingThe merle coat pattern is caused by a retrotransposon insertion in the PMEL17 (SILV) gene (M-locus). Because merle acts as an incompletely dominant trait, it cannot remain hidden across generations without visibly expressing itself in a breeding program. Because merle never existed in historical Chow Chow populations, its modern appearance is indisputable genetic proof of recent crossbreeding with a merle-carrying breed, such as an Australian Shepherd or Pomeranian.

Chocolate and Lilac: Recessive Foreign Mutations

True chocolate (or liver) is produced by two copies of a recessive mutation on the TYRP1 gene (b/b), which alters black eumelanin into brown. Lilac (also called Isabella) occurs when a dog inherits two copies of recessive chocolate alongside two copies of recessive dilution (b/b d/d).Unlike merle, a single copy of the recessive b allele (B/b) is completely invisible in a black or red dog. When an outside breed carrying the b mutation (such as a Chinese Shar-Pei, Pomeranian, or French Bulldog) is crossed into a Chow Chow line and bred back over several generations, the foreign allele can travel unseen until two carriers are paired.

Loss of Breed-Defining Pigment: 

A genetically true chocolate (b/b) or lilac (b/b d/d) dog cannot synthesize black eumelanin anywhere in its body. Consequently, these dogs exhibit brown or liver noses, amber or green-gold eyes, and pinkish-lavender tongues—directly stripping away the solid blue-black tongue and dark pigment that define the Chow Chow breed. 

Historical "Brown" Chows vs. Modern Chocolates

While early 1920s breed literature occasionally referenced "brown" Chow Chows, breed historians and the Chow Chow Club, Inc. note that these descriptions referred either to deep, shaded cinnamon coats or sun-bleached ("rusted") black coats. Those historical dogs retained black noses and blue-black tongues, distinguishing them completely from modern b/b liver-pigmented dogs.

3. The "100% Purebred" DNA Test Loophole:

Buyers often assume that a commercial DNA test reading "100% Chow Chow" proves a dog has no crossbreeding in its background. However, commercial breed-ancestry algorithms (such as Embark and Wisdom Panel) reliably detect breed admixture only within roughly the last three to four generations(accounting for 6.25% to 12.5% inherited DNA). 

If a breeder introduces an outcross four or five generations back and breeds the offspring forward to Chow Chows, the resulting puppies will often register as "100% Chow Chow" on commercial panels while still carrying the introduced b color locus—alongside altered muzzle structure, ear set, temperament, and outside hereditary diseases.

4. By the Numbers: Why Clinical Health Testing Matters in Chow Chows

The Chow Chow is a heavy-boned, deep-chested breed prone to specific orthopedic, ocular, and endocrine conditions that require clinical veterinary diagnostics—not simple cheek swabs—to evaluate. According to historical screening data compiled by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) and large-scale veterinary primary-care studies:

• Elbow Dysplasia (~48.6% to 49.8% abnormal): Among 1,393+ Chow Chows evaluated by OFA, nearly half (49.8%) exhibited elbow dysplasia—ranking the Chow Chow #1 highest for elbow dysplasiaamong all OFA-tracked breeds. Specifically, 26.9% were graded as Grade I dysplasia and 17.1% as Grade II dysplasia.
• Hip Dysplasia (~19.2% to 21.6% abnormal): Out of more than 6,462 hip radiographs submitted to OFA, roughly 1 in 5 Chow Chows (21.6%) graded as dysplastic. Furthermore, in PennHIP laxity databases, Chow Chows show an average Distraction Index (DI) of 0.69 (well above the 0.30 low-risk threshold), underscoring why radiographic hip screening is vital.
• Entropion (~9.28% annual prevalence): Primary-care veterinary studies (VetCompass) show an annual clinical prevalence of 9.28% for conformational entropion (inward-rolling eyelids that cause corneal ulcers), making Chow Chows the second most affected breed after the Chinese Shar-Pei.
• Autoimmune Thyroiditis (~1.7% abnormal panels): In OFA thyroid screenings, 1.7% of tested Chow Chows show abnormal thyroid panels (primarily compensated autoimmune thyroiditis with positive thyroglobulin autoantibodies that often progress to clinical hypothyroidism, and 0.4% overt hypothyroidism at the time of testing).

Because hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, patellar luxation, autoimmune thyroiditis, and cataracts are polygenic or developmental conditions, 0% of them can be cleared with a DNA cheek swab. 

To earn a Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) certification through the OFA and the Chow Chow Club, Inc., breeding dogs must complete and publicly release five distinct clinical evaluations:

1. OFA Hip Evaluation (at 24+ months of age) or PennHIP distraction index radiographs (at 16+ weeks)
2. OFA Elbow Evaluation (at 24+ months of age)
3. OFA Patellar Luxation Exam (at 12+ months of age)
4. OFA Autoimmune Thyroiditis Panel (bloodwork via an approved laboratory at 12+ months, repeated regularly)
5. CAER Eye Examination (an annual in-person exam performed by a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist, ACVO)

Many top preservation programs go further by adding OFA Cardiac evaluations (echocardiograms performed by a board-certified veterinary cardiologist) alongside comprehensive DNA health and genetic diversity (COI) panels.

5. The Global Health Testing Landscape: Standard vs. Non-Standard Programs

When examining public health registries worldwide, two clear realities emerge: full health testing is virtually nonexistent among non-standard color producers, and even among standard-color breeders, only a dedicated minority complete comprehensive multi-system clearances.

Non-Standard Color Programs (Worldwide)

• 0% CHIC-certified exotic programs: A search of public registries—including the OFA CHIC databaseand UK/European orthopedic schemes—turns up virtually zero breeders producing merle, lilac, or chocolate Chow Chows who hold full CHIC numbers or publish passing hip, elbow, patella, thyroid, and specialist eye certificates.
• "DNA tested" vs. clinical screening: In exotic-color marketing, claims of "fully DNA tested" parents almost exclusively refer to coat-color loci panels (B, D, and M loci) used to verify color-producing potential rather than clinical disease screening. Furthermore, introducing the merle gene introduces severe risks of double-merle congenital deafness and blindness (affecting roughly 25% of puppies from merle-to-merle pairings) that standard Chow Chow breed panels were never designed to manage.

Standard-Color Preservation Breeders (Worldwide)Because registries operate independently by country and track individual dogs rather than counting active kennels, there is no single global headcount. However, data from major kennel clubs illustrates how selective full testing truly is:

• North America: The official Chow Chow Club, Inc. US Breeders Directory lists only 23 member breeders nationwide who adhere to the club's code of ethics and health-testing standards. While a small number of additional preservation breeders operate outside the directory, the core group consistently completing full 5-point CHIC panels remains very small.
• Continental Europe (FCI): In countries such as Germany, Scandinavia, and the Netherlands, national clubs—such as Germany's Allgemeiner Chow-Chow-Club e.V. (ACC)—require official hip dysplasia (HD) and elbow dysplasia (ED) radiographs (and often patella checks) before a litter can receive FCI pedigree papers. Dozens of active European preservation kennels consistently meet these mandatory orthopedic standards.
• United Kingdom: The UK Chow Chow Breed Council recommends BVA/Kennel Club hip and elbow scoring, eye testing, and patella evaluations, practiced primarily by dedicated show and preservation kennels.
• Global Summary: Across North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia combined, the number of active standard-color Chow Chow breeders who consistently complete comprehensive, verifiable multi-system health testing likely numbers in the low hundreds worldwide—a tiny fraction (well under 5%) compared to the thousands of commercial, backyard, and exotic-color producers globally.

6. The Pedigree Loophole: Why Paper Colors Can't Be Trusted (and How to Verify Lineage)

One of the biggest traps puppy buyers face is assuming that an AKC or FCI pedigree listing "Blue," "Red," or "Cream" guarantees purebred color lineage. Because kennel club registries rely largely on breeder self-reporting for litter applications—and only offer official color codes for the five standard Chow Chow colors—exotic-color breeders routinely mislabel non-standard puppies on registration paperwork to bypass club restrictions:

• Lilac (b/b d/d) is registered under Blue or Cinnamon.
• Chocolate (b/b) is registered under Red (dark mahogany) or Black.
• Merle (M/m) is registered under its underlying solid base coat—such as Blue, Red, or Black—completely hiding the dominant merle gene on paper.
• "Platinum" (b/b e/e or b/b d/d e/e) is registered under Cream.

Because registration papers alone cannot catch mislabeled colors, buyers must verify true lineage using four concrete checks:

1. Inspect Pigment Accurately (Including True Cream Exceptions): Ask for clear, unedited photos of the sire, dam, and grandparents—paying close attention to noses, eye rims, and tongues. A true standard Chow Chow (B/B) will have a solid blue-black tongue and dark brown eyes.
   • Note on Cream Chows: Because true creams are recessive red (e/e), they naturally experience seasonal or age-related eumelanin fading on the nose and may legitimately have a solid black nose, a pinkish/flesh-colored nose, or a black-and-flesh mottled nose while still keeping their solid blue-black tongue. In contrast, a non-standard "chocolate platinum" (b/b e/e) has a brown/liver nose, and a "lilac platinum" (b/b d/d e/e) has a lavender or blue-slate nose paired with light amber/green eyes and a pale/lavender tongue.
2. Require Raw DNA Locus Results (Not Just Breed Percentage): Ask to see the full coat-color locus report (from Embark or UC Davis VGL) for both parents. A genetically purebred Chow Chow must test B/B (zero b chocolate alleles) and m/m (zero M merle alleles).
3. Research Kennel Names in the 5-Generation Pedigree: Look up the kennel names behind the parents online. If a kennel appearing in the pedigree advertises merle, lilac, or chocolate litters, their "blue" or "cream" registered offspring likely carry those foreign alleles.
4. Verify Public OFA / CHIC Health Clearances: Enter both parents' AKC/FCI registration numbers at ofa.org to confirm authentic orthopedic, thyroid, and specialist eye clearances.

Conclusion: 

Coat color in the Chow Chow is not merely cosmetic; it is tied directly to breed type, genetic integrity, and responsible stewardship. With nearly 50% of evaluated Chow Chows showing elbow abnormalities and over 21% showing hip dysplasia in voluntary screening data, clinical veterinary testing is essential. While exotic-color breeding prioritizes novel pigment mutations through undocumented outcrosses, disguises colors on registration papers, and relies on color-loci swabs in place of clinical diagnostics, the small global community of preservation breeders invests years of effort into radiographs, blood panels, specialist exams, and transparent registries to ensure the Chow Chow remains healthy and true to its heritage for generations to come.

References

1. Allgemeiner Chow-Chow-Club e.V. (ACC) & VDH. Zuchtordnung und Gesundheitsuntersuchungen (HD/ED Breeding Regulations). German Kennel Club (VDH/FCI) Breed Standards. chow-chow-club.de
2. Chow Chow Club, Inc. (CCCI). Chow Chow Colors & Breed Standard Education. Official Breed Information Portal. chowclub.org
3. Chow Chow Club, Inc. (CCCI). US Breeders Directory & Code of Ethics. chowclub.org
4. Clark, L. A., Wahl, J. M., Rees, C. A., & Murphy, K. E. (2006). Retrotransposon insertion in SILV is responsible for merle patterning of the domestic dog. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), 103(5), 1376–1381. pnas.org
5. Coats and Colors. Chow Chow Coat Color Genetics (A, K, E, B, and D Loci). Canine Coat Color Genetics Database. coatsandcolors.com
6. Embark Veterinary. How Far Back Does Embark's Breed Ancestry Analysis Go? & Understanding Unresolved Results. Embark Help Center & Research Resources. embarkvet.com
7. O'Neill, D. G., et al. (VetCompass Conformational Eyelid Disorders Study). Epidemiology of Entropion in Dogs Under Primary Veterinary Care in the UK. Royal Veterinary College (RVC).
8. Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA). Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) Breed Requirements: Chow Chow. OFA Health Screening Database. ofa.org
9. Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA). Breed Statistics: Chow Chow Hip, Elbow, Patella, and Thyroid Disease Prevalence. OFA Disease Statistics Portal. ofa.org
10. Schmutz, S. M., Berryere, T. G., & Goldfinch, A. D. (2002). TYRP1 and MC1R genotypes and their effects on coat color in dogs. Mammalian Genome, 13(7), 380–387. nih.gov
11. The Chow Chow Breed Council (UK). Breed Standard Colours & Health Screening Guidelines. UK Chow Chow Breed Council Official Publications. chowchowbreedcouncil.com
12. UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory (VGL). Brown (B Locus / TYRP1) and Merle (PMEL17 / SILV) Canine Coat Color Tests. University of California, Davis. ucdavis.edu & ucdavis.edu