Calling all Chow Chow owners!!?

I owned a Buff colored chow growing up, he lived to be about 11 then had to be put to sleep because of his hips. i'm also a groomer, and he was the first dog i learned to groom, so you can imagine the special connected me and Max shared.

now my question. me and Max used toplay a game, he'd come up to me and go "oof" and then run away, i'd do it to him and he'd get ultra excited. As a groomer i had a chow come in named Kobe, a little puppy when he started comming in. i'd do the same to him, almost touching my nose to his and go "oof" and Kobe woud get so excited his little tail would be wagging his entire butt.

the "oof" is low in sound and is more air than bark. my question to you chow owners is, is this normal behavor for chows and is it a good thing? considering the reaction from both dogs i have to think its a form of play for them and affection.

another thing with Max, when he'd get really excited he'd race up and down the hall way back and forth, he'd run up to you, do the "oof" then run away only to repeat. if we let him continue and get really excited, his eyes woudl kinda do a shark thing and roll back and sometimes he would nip or jump. again, is this normal chow behavor?

the last question is running off. Max, when he was younger would love to escape and run free. in fact, he'd love to play chase as well when he got out. is this typical behavor for chows? or is this behavor from when he was a stray?