Chow ChowsQuestion:Okay, I can't help myself. With the recent "what dog do you dislike the most" thread (I know that wasn't quite the subject, but it's kind of how it ended up) I just have to say something about one of the breeds I really love (this is like deja vu .. I think I did this before on this forum .. *L*). The chow gets a really bad rap, and some of it is deserved. Like many breeds, they went through a popularity phase and people started breeding like crazy just to provide puppies. The temperament went all to h*ll and it's been a long slow road back from that. The chow is a very ancient breed. It can be recognized in artifacts dating back to at least 1000 B.C. It is one of the most versatile of breeds, having been used for hunting (and retrieving/pointing), herding/tending, packing, pulling sleds, and were even used for meat and fur. While today's chow tends to be looked at as an overgrown "foo-foo" type dog, a well-bred chow is a hearty dog with a lot of stamina ... one that can be quite active with its owner and work in a variety of venues. The first big popularity surge was, I believe, in the 1920's. This started the road to the poorly tempered chow. Show breeding didn't always help this either. As the heaviness in the head and bone structure became popular, some show breeders bred to extremes and what resulted was a dog that couldn't see well, couldn't always breathe well and temperaments were not stellar either. But there are many good breeders out there really working towards dogs with good temperaments. Also to blame are the chow owners who shrug off their dog's bad attitudes as "normal chow behavior". I've seen a number of people who do this and it's appalling. A good chow is not unpredictable, aggressive or eager to bite. It should have a nice solid temperament - aloof, perhaps, but not aggressive. Chows are good as guard dogs because they are quick to alert, but should not be quick to bite unless there is truly a threat. I have three chows, all from different lines. My first one was from a backyard breeding between two chows that should have never been bred. Kylee has had various health problems through the years but has been an exceptional working dog. She has amazing herding instinct and was a natural on sheep. In obedience, she earned seven first and three seconds in Open A - retrieving and jumping - in classes of up to 25 dogs (including traditional obedience breeds like border collies and goldens). And at the age of nine, I spent two months teaching her agility basics and she earned her first agility title her first weekend of trials. She went on to earn four agility titles at the age of 9-10, and at 11 was pulled from retirement to earn yet another obedience title! Amazing dog. Maybe the only chow out there with a BH. My second chow was a 14 month old girl with very little training, who was from a show breeder kennel down south. She was cute and tiny and pretty, but came to me with an attitude. We worked through that and she eventually earned a couple of agility titles and has turned out to be a very loving girl who is calm and kind with the youngest of children and the most infirm of the elderly. She's not very athletic, though, and has poor stamina. But given the right guidance, her temperament has been solid. My third chow turns two today (November 3). She's out of Canada and is the most amazing little girl. Today we had to wait about an hour for some work to be done on my car, and I had Khana with me in the waiting area. She happily visited with all the guys, and one man came from the back because someone had told him "there's a chow out front". He had to come out and see her - and he knelt on the floor and she practically climbed into his lap. I'm actually hoping she gets a BIT more aloof .. *L* .. but I'm much happier with this temperament than the nasty one people tend to associate with chows. I have socialized her extensively from the time she was very young. She's currently in classes for competition obedience, rally and freestyle and is doing very nicely. I plan to test her in herding too. But for all her wonderful temperament, she is the first to alert to noises and first to run to the door barking and then back to me to be sure I know she's alerting .. *L* .. if you want a guard dog that tells you someone's around, you can't get much more alert than the chow. My shepherds learned to sleep until the chows alerted, then they'd jump up and join in. Yes, I've met some nasty chows .. and nasty labs and hounds and dalmatians and Aussies and border collies and terriers and shepherds and Belgians and Newfies and various other breeds. But I've also been to chow nationals twice and wandered through hundreds of chows, stopping to pet frequently and visit with owners. Not once was I growled at and not once did a dog refuse to be petted. They didn't always acknowledge me (that famous "aloofness") but none of them were aggressive towards me. And that's how the breed is suppose to be. Let's all encourage people to get their dogs, whatever the breed, from good honest respectable breeders who put temperament high on their list of priorities - or from rescues who assess the dogs carefully and then help people understand the peculiarities of the breed. And lets also encourage people to be responsible for their dogs and the attitudes they have - encourage training and socialization and proper handling and exercise. Then maybe we wouldn't all have these stories of "bad dogs" to share. Especially not about breeds that I love .. *L* Melanie and the gang in Alaska Kylee herding: http://www.iliamnasquest.com/kyleeherd2x.jpg Khana in therapy dog class: http://www.iliamnasquest.com/khanapt1web.jpg Dora in agility: http://www.iliamnasquest.com/dora83102teeter.jpg Answer: Good, informative post! I have a question. In a well-bred Chow Chow, do they broadcast their intent? That's always been one of my main problems with the Chows I've met: They don't give you a lot of notice when they're ready to bite you. It could also be all the hair and the more deep-set eyes, but I just find them hard to read, and I'm wondering if its any different with Chows that have been bred with temperament as a concern. Answer: I'm not putting down the breed . I've only really known 2 chows .... both snapped with no warning or provocation . Answer: I have met a few chows I have liked and I do like the breed for there history but almost every one I have met has been down right scary. I have never worried walking up to a pit but walking by a chow I move to the other side of the road or aisle or whatever. I know there are many great owners and dogs who do great things but all I seem to meet are the bad ones. Answer: I used to be very insulted when we'd be out on a walk and see people cross the street to avoid us. Even when she was a puppy people would do that. Here my task as a chow owner is to make sure my chow is socalized and stays thats way. It's hard when people will go out of their way to avoid us. I love it when we meet up with someone who will stand and talk to me or her, not try to force a pet or hug, just give her a chance to sniff them. This is a very misunderstood breed. The sad thing is you can do searches on Chows on the internet to learn more and find alot of negitive things. We live downtown, a bar next store. I will take her out back, let her walk around the yard, or she'll just lay and enjoy the breeze. She loves to lay there and watch people come and go from the bar. Store owners and customers she never barks at them, just watches them as they pass by her. On our walks if someone is brave enough to walk past us she tries to get a sniff of them. If we stop to talk to them, she walks around sniffing their feet and legs. Never growls or barks at them. If we meet up with someone with a puppy or baby she becomes their best friend so she can see the puppy or baby. Not a aggressive bone in her body. Does request a chance to get to know the person a little most of the time before accepting hugs. Inside she's always on alert. Even when she's sleeping, she's still alert to sounds. We went a couple of weeks of her barking late at night, the bar closed, no reason for it. Then one night we were heading up the stairs to see a raccoon coming out of our porch! She's very alert. I hate all the negitive thoughts about Chows. I personaly would never judge a dog by its breed. If a dog shows me I have reason to be leery of it, it will never be because its a certain breed, it'll be because that dog has issues. Last week we had a dog come at us barring teeth, I thought we were had. The owner yelled and the dog let us go. A few days later we saw the owner kick this dog! Explained alot about that dog. The breed is wonderful. Just very misunderstood. Answer: Very informative and good post! I was also one of the people who said that they feel uncomfortable around chows. I had a couple of bad experiences with chows- and their owners as well who, like you said, just shrugged things off. I would not avoid an entire breed...and I do not avoid chows. I will probably be more alert when T-Bone and I meet a chow...but every dog, whatever breed, should be "judged" upon their behavior and not their status. Answer: We are overrun with chows here. There are a few "breeders" in town and every animal they crank out has a horrendous temperment. Almost every time I pick up at Animal Control I see at least one chow in the "bite" cages being held for its period. Very sad becaus ethey are such a lovely breed. Not for me with those heavy coats, but lovely. I do have an intestesing Chow story. The man across the road from us has a black Chow that he uses to gaurd his cows. The dog has lived with them since it was a puppy and would die for any of them. A few years ago, a shepard jumped the fence and started mauling the Chow. The owner ran for his gun (To scare the shepard, not shoot it, except as a last resort). By the time he made it back outside, the herd of cows had surrounded the Chow to protect it and were using their heads to push the Shepard away. Guess they were saying thanks for taking such good care of them for many years. Answer: Very good post!! :) I had the oppurtunity to meet one VERY lovely chow chow!! It was such a gorgeous dog and so well trained! :) Answer: When I worked as a Groomer bather back in the day Chows were the most feared thus I was asked to do them. I understood what set them off and never got bit- . So I like them.:) Answer: I've always been a fan of Chows. It might have something to do with a background in Nordic breeds, but I tend to really enjoy that "aloof" nature. I've gone to a couple of shows where Chow specialties were being held, and each time, the temperaments on these dogs were rock solid. Pretty impressive when you're talking about intensely crowded conditions- it was literally impossible NOT to touch them. A dog with a weak temperament would've snapped. A lot of it really DOES come down to the person that owns the dog. And when you're talking about socialization, it is ESPECIALLY imperative in the Nordic/Spitz-type breeds that you do an EXCELLENT job. These dogs just tend to be naturally wary of people, and improper socialization can turn that wariness into fear and/or aggression. Of course there are poor examples of the breed out there, but I'd venture to say I've met just as many ill-tempered Goldens and Labs as of late, as I have Chows. Great posts by the two Chow owners! As always Iliamnas, your posts are incredibly informative! Answer: Good, informative post! I have a question. In a well-bred Chow Chow, do they broadcast their intent? That's always been one of my main problems with the Chows I've met: They don't give you a lot of notice when they're ready to bite you. It could also be all the hair and the more deep-set eyes, but I just find them hard to read, and I'm wondering if its any different with Chows that have been bred with temperament as a concern. Chows ARE hard to read, and I think that both humans and other dogs often have problems reading the body language. Because they're built so "upright" in some ways - they're supposed to be up on their toes, have that thick mane that almost looks like they're hackling up, and the deeper set eyes with the heavy pads of flesh above them to give them that "scowl" - many dogs take offense to them, I think, because they read it as the chow challenging them. Add to it the tail tightly curled over the back and it can look like the chow is showing aggressive signs even though it isn't. And chows, being naturally aloof, tend to just look at people with no visible expression at times. Khana, my youngest, is one of the most expressive chows I've seen. When she sees someone she wants to greet, her ears dip back and she gets this wiggle going that is SO obviously a happy thing and no one has ever been afraid of her. People pet her all the time. But when you look at my black chow - who has a bit heavier face, although still very "open" - she tends to not change expression much. Her tail will wag though. The really heavy-headed chows tend not to show expression at all. I don't like the heavy look. I think it's counter-productive to the dog as a whole and most of those really heavy dogs are not physically capable of endurance or activity. People breeding for the heavy look are not helping the breed in any way. Melanie and the gang Answer: StillandSilent - that's a great chow story! How interesting that the cows helped guard the dog! *L* tempura tantrum .. it makes sense that you would like the breed! I have friends with shibas here who have trained with me and there are a lot of similarities about the two breeds. And my best friend has an akita, so we have a lot of nordic/spitz types around. They're different from other dogs in so many ways, and a challenge to work with. I never recommend one of these breeds to someone who wants an "easy" dog .. *L* Melanie and the gang Answer: I never recommend one of these breeds to someone who wants an "easy" dog .. *L* AMEN!!! It baffles me the number of people who go into Nordic breeds without ANY sort of research, and then are surprised and offended when the dogs are difficult to train. If there was EVER a case against buying dogs based purely on looks- Shibas and Chows are some of the best. People get so hung up on the "cuteness" quotient, they never stop to think that these dogs also have brains...crafty ones. It's not even that they're all that difficult to train- because I think almost anyone in the Nordic breeds can agree that they're whip-smart- it's that traditional training methods don't cut it with them. You can't be repetitive. You can't bore them. You certainly can't be heavy handed (or you'll be no-handed very shortly), And they want reasons as to WHY they should sit, WHY they should come, WHY "down" is a good idea. (Which is what I love most about them." All I can say is kudos on the agility titles on your girls- that is a feat WELL worth applauding. (And one I hope to do myself- although I worry a TON about Kimi's recall...) As to your example about why other dogs misread Chows- I honestly thing you're right on target. The quintessential "Chow image" in my mind DOES tend to mimic an aggressive/challenging sort of posture- even when it's purely their conformation, and not their intent. I think a lot of people tend to look at that "scowl" and assume "mean" as well- without really giving the dog a chance. I know that my dogs growl when they're happy and excited (bizarre but true), and this just BAFFLES other people. They greet guests with toys they've "killed," pin back they're ears, squint they're eyes, and growl, all while prancing towards the visitors. It often terrifies first timers- and I always have to be quick to explain that it's a "happy" sound, not an aggressive one. Answer: Often times Chows *are* difficult for non-Chow people to read. That's why it's important for the owner to keep a close eye on their dog and remove them from a situation when they are getting uncomfortable. Even my mix was difficult for other people to read, but I knew her inside and out and could predict what she was thinking of doing. She was a sneaky girl, but I had her number and she trusted me. If I left her in a situation, she assumed it was okay. Often times she did take situations into her own hands, she wasn't being rebellious or disobedient - she simply thought she knew a better way to address a problem. It made her a marvelous ranch hand, though not a fantastic obedience dog. :p I will always love the breed. They are so unique, and completely devoted while remaining a bit aloof and very independent. Their intelligence is astounding . . . I know they've gotten a rap, but a special piece of my heart will always belong to the Chow Chow. Answer: All the chows I have ever met were good dogs. Not super happy "LETS PLAY LETS PLAY I LOVE YOU ALREADY!!!!" kind of dogs. But good well bred and well socialized dogs. I personally have never experienced a bad one but I have friends with scars and scary stories. I still have nothing against the breed. Answer: It baffles me the number of people who go into Nordic breeds without ANY sort of research, and then are surprised and offended when the dogs are difficult to train. If there was EVER a case against buying dogs based purely on looks- Shibas and Chows are some of the best. People get so hung up on the "cuteness" quotient, they never stop to think that these dogs also have brains...crafty ones.. I agree... people.... :rolleyes: But I have to admit when I see a Chow I feel like its a big teddy bear that just *has* to be squeezed in a big ole bear hug. [lol] ... Which I never do btw I think they're hard for people to judge their behavior / reactions because of the image they have in their heads based on bad rep and unfair judgement :p All the chows I have ever met were good dogs. Not super happy "LETS PLAY LETS PLAY I LOVE YOU ALREADY!!!!" kind of dogs. But good well bred and well socialized dogs. I personally have never experienced a bad one but I have friends with scars and scary stories. I still have nothing against the breed. Must be our area :) Answer: Great Post Melanie, :D . A Chow is a dog like any other. A lab has teeth just like a Chow. I have had both negative and positive experiences with Chows, just like everyother breed out there. One time I was outside at my grandmother's house, and I see a dog walking down the street, and sure enough it was a Chow. He came running towards my mother and I, like he was going to attack us. I didnt move (I learned that the hard way) just stood still. The dog finally reached me, jumped up on me and just stared at me in the eyes, and when I looked into his eyes I realized he was not going to hurt me. I guess he wanted some human attention. So I petted him for a while once he got off of me. He stayed with me for a couple of hours and just followed me around while I raked the leaves in the front yard. I would have kept him, but the owners who lived a few blocks down drove by and saw him. So they took him home and gave me $20 for taking good care of him (I was only like 9 years old so that was a big deal, lol). He was the sweetest dog, and that experience cancels out the negative experiences I had with Chows. Answer: I am glad you love your chows. I bent down to pet my bro thers chow chow, and ended up with 15 stitches under my eye. Answer: I am glad you love your chows. I bent down to pet my bro thers chow chow, and ended up with 15 stitches under my eye. Let me guess, you bent OVER the dog, didnt you? Answer: It's not even that they're all that difficult to train- because I think almost anyone in the Nordic breeds can agree that they're whip-smart- it's that traditional training methods don't cut it with them. You can't be repetitive. You can't bore them. You certainly can't be heavy handed (or you'll be no-handed very shortly), And they want reasons as to WHY they should sit, WHY they should come, WHY "down" is a good idea. (Which is what I love most about them." Yep, these breeds are very smart - and when they want to do something, they do is beautifully! Khana is my freestyle dog. She knows more freestyle moves than any other dog in class. She can back completely around me while I turn circles the other way inside of her circle. She can heel on both left and right, do 180° pivots on either side by backing behind me (when on the right, she has to back her rump around to the left - and on the left, she backs around to the right, so it's opposite movements .. none of the other dogs can do that yet), and she's learned to turn her body around in front of me so her rump is to my knees, and then back up with me - her nose still pointing out away from me. By the time she was 18 months old, she could perform all the exercises in excellent rally with no problem - including backing three steps, standing on a hand signal with no physical contact, and folding into a down from a stand without moving forward at all. All of these behaviors can/are done without food lures or visible treats too. She's amazing in what she can learn. Our problem is that there are times when she finds other things more interesting and then it's hard to re-gain her focus. I've learned that I have to let her explore for awhile first (especially if we go to a new place) before I can expect that she'll focus on me. All I can say is kudos on the agility titles on your girls- that is a feat WELL worth applauding. (And one I hope to do myself- although I worry a TON about Kimi's recall...) You'll do it, and you'll have a great time doing it even with the various odd things these independent breeds do .. *L* .. Kylee was the epitome of steadiness most of the time, but her default behavior was to take a jump. Even in obedience, showing in utility, she'd start jumping if she wasn't sure what to do. I remember her doing a figure 8 jump once .. over the jump, around the end, over the jump, around the other end, over the jump .. *LOL* .. I was laughing so hard I could barely call her off! By the way, my friends with the shibas now have novice titles on both their bitch and their dog. I think I shared the photos of Khana meeting the pups .. if you didn't see them, remind me and I'll post them. As to your example about why other dogs misread Chows- I honestly thing you're right on target. The quintessential "Chow image" in my mind DOES tend to mimic an aggressive/challenging sort of posture- even when it's purely their conformation, and not their intent. I think a lot of people tend to look at that "scowl" and assume "mean" as well- without really giving the dog a chance. The scowl is part of the chow and in the breed standard, but I can see why some people might find it imposing. It's made from extra padding ("buttons") above each eye and a thicker muzzle than most breeds. The scowl varies, though, from minimal (Khana and her open face) to overdone heavy-headed dogs. I don't like the heavy heads myself. I know that my dogs growl when they're happy and excited (bizarre but true), and this just BAFFLES other people. They greet guests with toys they've "killed," pin back they're ears, squint they're eyes, and growl, all while prancing towards the visitors. It often terrifies first timers- and I always have to be quick to explain that it's a "happy" sound, not an aggressive one. The shibas I know are the same way! So is the akita at times .. they can be very vocal. My chows tend not to be that way except with people they already know and like. Then they make all sorts of sounds that don't even seem "dog-like" .. *L* .. and some do sound like growls, even though I recognize them as happy sounds. The ears tipped back is typical in the chow greeting too - very much a happy thing, but many people probably see it as an aggressive action. I wish more people bred for the good temperaments and more people took the time to make sure those temperaments remained good. None of my chows are in the least bit aggressive, but when I got Dora (she was 14 months old) she was quick to bite me when I tried to trim her nails and she also got into a couple of fierce fights with my other chow (Dora started them). It took some effort and I had to pull ALL of her privileges for a long time, but she turned into the sweetest little thing. All she needed was someone who set reasonable, safe boundaries and gave her lots of love when she remained within those boundaries. Without boundaries, an dog with an independent mind can easily take over a household. Melanie and the gang in Alaska Answer: Great to see other owners of my breeds defending them. To those who have had problems with them, I greatly apologize on behalf of their stupid owners. I have met my share of unsocialized, miserable, unhappy, poorly kept Chows, and understand people's concerns with them as a breed. However, I've met more Labs, Goldens, Poodles, Cockers, and mixes, with the same or more problems. Luckily, Chows are, as said, on a long slow road to recovery. I don't see as many as I used to, and the ones I do see are extremely good dogs, and are even family pets and working dogs. So much myth has ocerridden fact concerning this breed, that I'm surprised to see the owners of other particular breeds being fearful of them. My dogs hunt, have herded but rarely do still, have their CGC's, and various titles in obedience, and are therapy dogs as well. I brag and boast about them all the time to people who believe they are aggressive, or attack without reason or warning. Since all dogs can attack without 'warning' (or really, what WE see as a warning), I'm wary of any strange dog I see. And, there is always a reason, it's just that we kid ourselves into thinking that we do no wrong sometimes. Answer: (this is like deja vu .. I think I did this before on this forum .. *L*). You did and it was for me as I was working on overcoming my fear of chows. :) Thank you again for the insight about the breed you love. They have a great advocate in you. Answer: And, there is always a reason, it's just that we kid ourselves into thinking that we do no wrong sometimes. I really think this bears emphasis. (Which is why I chose to highlight it, LOL). Even the most astute of us has those moments where we forget that our dogs are first and foremost ANIMALS. It really comes as no surprise to me that bite rates for Goldens and Labs are a lot higher than most people would assume. And part of this is because people allow all SORTS of things to happen to their dogs that they would NEVER tolerate if it happened to themselves. I bet most of us have seen GR or Lab owners who watch a child practically mauling the dog: fingers in eyes, pulling ears, jumping on top of the dog's back, etc. etc. and then when you question the safety of it, they smile serenely and say "oh Daisy's a Golden Retriever- she won't bite." As if Daisy being a Golden Retriever ALSO means that she is a saint, with social mores and patience that trump that of Mother Theresa. I mean really, would they honestly let a toddler pull an earring out of their ear until it snapped? Rip hair out? Poke Aunt Judy in the eye continuously? Would they NOT put a stop to the behavior- and show the child that it was unacceptable? The tolerance level some people ask of these dogs (especially in traditionally gentle, family dogs), is obscene. And a lot of the time dogs eventually snap and "correct" someone for their inappropriate behavior. The correction would be virtually harmless if given to a puppy, but it's pretty devestating to the thin, unprotected skin of a human being. With a lot of the Spitz-type and Nordic breeds this "tolerance for inappropriate social behavior" is decidedly lower. They just don't take crap. My dogs have never bitten, or threatened to bite anyone, but I never put them in a position where they would feel this was their only option. I don't allow children to run, scream, or chase dogs in my house. Kids who come running up to pet my dogs are given an impromptu lesson on how to appropriately approach, and pet a dog. I have made sure that to the best of my ability, every experience my dogs have had with strange people has been positive. If I feel it's a threat to my animals, we're OUTTA there. The result is polite, well-behaved dogs that enjoy (or are indifferent to) meeting new people. As Chinchow said, those of you who have met ill-mannered Chows have ALSO met owners that didn't understand DOGS- LEAST of all, Nordic breeds. You have met people who may not even KNOW that they really ARE anthropomorphizing their animals- or even worse, expect them to behave BETTER than most human beings, in social situations that would offend even Ghandi. Answer: Hey chinchow! Good to see another chow person on board! I'd love to hear more about what you've done with your chows. You mentioned hunting, herding, obedience and therapy dogs - mine do much the same. I'm looking for people who DO things with their chows other than just the conformation shows. I'm working on a website to showcase the chow as a versatile dog, so anything you can pass my way on your dogs would be greatly appreciated! You can post here, PM me or email (melanie@kippsdogs.com). Thanks! Melanie and the gang in Alaska Answer: i don't have a problem with chows. i think their history is amazing. but they just don't have a personality i could deal with. but they suit some people so go for it Answer: IliamnasQuest, it's good to meet you, and Tempura Tantrum as well! And all of the other Chow owners, or Shiba owners, here! :D My Chows do some hunting, though usually the Shibas excel much better in that. But both are so good, that I am actually trying to get them to stop, as they have been taking animals out of my backyard and killing them, then putting them on my porch. They only kill small mammals in the backyard, nowhere else, and nothing larger than a squirrel has ever been brough to me. They're very good with commands, however, and really get excited when they see their packs come out. With the herding, we don't do much anymore as I've gotten rid of most of what I've had in the past 6 months. I still have some goats, and a few sheep, and horses though. They work extremely well together (though they obviously aren't border collies) in getting the job done. They always listen, though it took a while to get them to that level, because, well, they are Chows, and they like things done their way too. ;) The obedience is pretty self-explanatory. They can do all the cutesy party tricks, and don't ask for anything except a belly rub. But, if you don't give them a belly rub, they will not leave you alone until you do, LOL. And they are all just starting out in their therapy careers. So far so good. They have ignored any distractions that might happen. They are so much different out with people than they are at home, so they know their surroundings really are important, and that's good, especially with a breed that everyone wants to hug and babytalk to. If I can contribute any information that could help other Chow owners, I'd be more than happy to. I trained my Chows myself, and my Shibas as well. I had also attempted at a website once, but just never had the time to do it. I wanted people to realize that the Chow is not a dog aggressive dog, and shouldn't be, and is not human aggressive either. As Tempura Tantrum said, it's not even really the breed, so much as the type of dog this breed is. My Chows are so similar to my Shibas, that people often ask if my Shibas are Chows with good haircuts! And having the Shibas nearby with me when people who are afraid of Chows normally come up is a good thing, because they see the Shiba, not knowing what it is, and they become very inerested in them, and how well-behaved they can be, and notice the Chows are not any different from my Shibas. Every little thing that can help the breed's self-image is good, no matter how small. (Goes for every breed really, do what you can without losing your pride in the breed!). Answer: Wow! Nice post! It's extremely informative! I don't believe that the action of 1 or more dogs should be held against a whole breed. I've been CHASED by a psyco Chow Chow before, but my friend owns one who is THE sweetest dog. He's extremely mellow, and is so easygoing. I believe it's all in how you raise them, although the breeding has alot to do with it as well. Answer: :yikes: Quest, I just noticed your signature! All of your dogs are AMAZING! What beautiful chows! The GSDs, and what looks like a BC are all gorgeous as well! Answer: chinchow - thanks for the information on your dogs! It's fantastic to hear of chows that are working up to their potential (and shibas too!). The website I started (and it needs serious work yet) is currently at http://www.geocities.com/thetotalchow . I hit a road block because I wanted more photos and info from people whose chows were actually DOING things, and I had a hard time getting it. Since the site was mostly my dogs I didn't really promote it and now it needs to be updated. So if you have any photos, stories, etc. that would fit into the site, I would love to include your dogs. Tempura Tantrum, I would be interested in including a page on other spitz-type breeds, so if you have action photos of your dogs that would be great too (chinchow, your shibas would be welcome too!). I have my friends here with their shibas, as well as another friend with akitas so I should be able to get some of their photos up there too. Dixie's Mom - thanks for your comments. I'm blessed to have dogs that are not only gorgeous, but smart and sweet too. The horse was pretty darn tolerant .. *L* .. he used to let the Aussie (not BC, but it's hard to tell in the photo) ride him all the time. Melanie and the gang in Alaska Answer: I'll see what I can dig up in terms of photos- my computer JUST crashed and I'm working with the tech. people at school to see if there's any way of saving the countless photos I had on it. Really depressing as I had a number of photos from when Kimi had her litter, and from when Jessee "visited." Chinchow- didn't even realize you had Shibas!! How fabulous! As always I'm looking forward to seeing any photos you have. :D Answer: Melanie I just want you to know that I love your website and I love your dogs. I think your chows are a great example of the breed. (even though i started crying when I saw the black one) I think this thread is very helpful.. specially to the people who doesnt know much about the breed. For those people who are sharing all this information.. Thank you :) Answer: Melanie I just want you to know that I love your website and I love your dogs. I think your chows are a great example of the breed. (even though i started crying when I saw the black one) I think this thread is very helpful.. specially to the people who doesnt know much about the breed. For those people who are sharing all this information.. Thank you :) I'm glad you enjoyed the website! But I have to ask - why did seeing the black chow upset you? Melanie and the gang Answer: My chow died last year. It makes me upset still after all this time. I felt like I didnt do enough because she didnt live the full life. She died when she was 7. She got sick and she deteriorated within a week. I wasnt with her either when she died because I got stationed in California.. while my dog was in Maryland.. I couldnt get home to see her and say goodbye to her because work didnt allow that to happen........ Answer: Why is this thread so much more civil than the APBT thread that is basically the same premise- trying to bring understanding of a breed to people who don't know much about it? Answer: Perhaps it's because Chows are making a real comeback, as far as their faults in the past. APBT's seem to be too numerous to have enough people breeding them to get a better dog. There's so many breeders (good and bad) that it's harder to keep them out of the hands of people with bad intentions, or people who dont know what they are doing. Popularity has a lot to do with a dog's stance in society...the more dogs, the more people who breed the dogs, the more problems you have with the dogs. Just a theory, but it seems about right. Answer: My chow died last year. It makes me upset still after all this time. I felt like I didnt do enough because she didnt live the full life. She died when she was 7. She got sick and she deteriorated within a week. I wasnt with her either when she died because I got stationed in California.. while my dog was in Maryland.. I couldnt get home to see her and say goodbye to her because work didnt allow that to happen........ I'm so sorry to hear that. It must have been tremendously difficult to be so far away and not be able to do anything about it - and to not say goodbye either. Seven is such a young age to die, too! Melanie and the gang Answer: We had this lovely chow board over the weekend, he's a very sweet guy, but there is one quirk that I just had to share. He apparently will only eat bagels, so that's all his owners give him. This time they were cinnamon raisin :eek: I tried to say something and they were adamant about how he wouldn't touch dog food and somehow that had something to do with the fact that he was a Chow. :rolleyes: I kind of quit listening at that point, because I had to walk away before saying something stupid. Answer: Oh my .. *L* Unfortunately chows, like all breeds, are not exempt from having idiots for owners! There's nothing inherent in being a chow that means they can't eat like any other dog. In fact, they're going to end up with a dog that's nutritionally deficient if all he eats are bagels! And not only that - raisins have been shown to be toxic to dogs (in certain quantities). So it's a double whammy. I will say that chows can be very smart and very stubborn and that's a tough combination when the humans owning them aren't too bright. I've run into many chow owners who were totally trained by their dogs. Sometimes I feel like I need to revert to basic English in order to talk to people like that .... "You, HUMAN .. him, DOG" .. *LOL* I'm very glad the dog was sweet! Melanie and the gang in Alaska Answer: All of your dogs are AMAZING! What beautiful chows! The GSDs, and what looks like a BC are all gorgeous as well! So's your cat! Answer: Oh my gosh. Mine would think she was in heaven if she were able to control her meals....but she'd pick steak. That's like a kid who says but I dont like cereal for breakfast, fix me a pizza and mamma gets right to making a pizza for the kid. Some people... Answer: Hey, Melanie! Pictures of Chows that do things, huh? Well, Leo doesn't do agility or obedience professionally, but he does DO things. He pretends to be a horse when my 3 yr old rides him (I wasn't around to stop that at the time!). He loves to wrestle around with my husband and do that adorable little chow pounce. He used to do sommersaults, but I guess he decided that was beneath him and won't do it anymore. He is in a professional sport. Cat chasing. He is quite good at it, even though they don't allow him to catch him often (darn furniture is too low for him to get under). When he does catch them on those rare occasions, he never hurts them (although you would think he ripped them apart from THEIR response!). Leo is a wonderful guard dog and no, you can't come over and expect to pet him. He want's to be respectfully introduced and want's to sniff you and see if you might fit in. He will NOT charge you to eat you, but he will probably bark at you. There will be no growling. He will allow you to pet him after a bit, but only under the chin, don't even think about petting his head. He will probably even give you kisses, but he will also remain watchful. After a year, he has finally stopped barking at my mother when she comes over! You can use any pictures of Leo you like. I have a million of them!! :D :lol-sign: Answer: Well my friend's chowchow Lou does love people and would never bite/harm ANYONE!!! |
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