23/08/2026
Did you know that the cinnamon (fawn) coat color was only officially recognized by the FCI in 1987?
Before that, these dogs with their stunning beige-cinnamon shade lived in the shadows. Old-school judges and breeders would sigh, frown, and dismiss the color as "dirty red," "washed-out ginger," or an outright genetic flaw. Dogs were disqualified in the ring simply because canine genetics had not yet explained the obvious: cinnamon is a completely natural, purebred combination.
What is the secret behind the cinnamon (fawn) coat?
It is a base red coat acted upon by the dilution gene (dd)—the very same gene that turns black coat into blue.
When the (dd) gene works on red pigment, it produces a soft cocoa-and-milk tone, dusted with a subtle silver sheen.
The key marker: The nose leather, eye rims, and paw pads on a cinnamon dog are not black, but slate gray.
It was only in 1987 that the FCI finally aligned with science, updating Standard No. 205 to allow cinnamon Chow Chows to officially feature a slate gray nose.
The Chocolate Chow Chow: History Repeating Itself
Today, the exact same debate surrounds chocolate Chow Chows. Out of misunderstanding, some people mistake them for crossbreeds or "designer hybrids" (confusing them with the merle pattern, which historically never existed in spitz-type breeds). From a genetic standpoint, however, chocolate is purebred classicism.
How does the chocolate coat happen?
It is driven by the (B) locus (Brown). This is an ancient recessive mutation (bb) that converts all black pigment in the dog's body into a rich, liver-brown tone.
When both parents carry the (b)gene, chocolate puppies are born.
A chocolate Chow Chow undergoes a total pigment shift: the coat turns dark chocolate, the eyes take on a striking amber hue, and the nose, lips, and paw pads become brown.
Why hasn't the FCI recognized chocolate yet?
The reason comes down to a historical formality in the written standard. Current rules strictly demand a solid black nose leather (with an exception for slate-gray noses only in blues and cinnamons). However, the (bb) gene is physically incapable of producing black pigment.
A chocolate Chow Chow is a 100% purebred dog with a fascinating genetic lineage. Looking back at the path cinnamon took up until 1987, it becomes clear that the recognition of rare purebred colors is simply a matter of time and the willingness of standards to evolve.
