Does anyone own a chow chow here?

[Elisha 1]

Quote

Chows were raised as guard dogs for the ruler of china way back when. They were raised to be loyal to and protect one person (the ruler), thus, their tendency even today is to be a one person dog.

Weren't Lhasa Apso's too (or was that Shih Tzu's - the menagerie my friend had growing included one of the former and two of the latter besides several cats who were mostly inside).

[cloudseeker2001 0]

Quote

I raised my Chow... she was very sweet tempered. We also had four cats that were around her constantly and when she got to be about 5 years old, we got another dog (a Papillion, which is a small breed dog)... She withstood tons of ear biting from that dog...

We would leave her out on the front porch and people would walk up and down the street out front and she never bothered them.

It all depends on how they are raised... just like people...

I raised my chow of 9 years to be very social and friendly, but, as he got older the less tolerant of other people and animals he became. In fact, he turned on everyone including me and caused 13 stiches in a friends face. I think he knew he was getting older and fear got the best of him. I do not think I would get another chow, mine had too many personality changes as he got older.

"Some call it heavenly in it's brilliance,
others mean and rueful of the western dream"

[Deuce 1]

I think me and eeneR both have Shiba Inus. Beautiful dogs that are near impossible to train. Like cats. Very loving and loyal, but when they get out, they run until they are tired and then they come home.

I'll take care of mine for the rest of their lives, but never again. I want a loyal "dog" dog. Next one, if I get another dog, will be a lab. A dog who hears "Come here" as a command from god, not a joke. Shiba's hear "Come!" and look you dead in the eye and run the other way.

Most of those Asian Akita-dogs of different sizes are great guard dogs, but not in the German shepard mold.

Don't buy a dog on how cute it is. If you want to be challenged every day by your dog, buy an -inu. The Chows are from China, I think, but the Hokkaido, Akita, Shiba, and there is another size in there -inu (dog) are very independent.

[ACMESkydiver 0]

Quote

I want a loyal "dog" dog. Next one, if I get another dog, will be a lab. A dog who hears "Come here" as a command from god, not a joke.

A stuck up dog...that rocks!

~Jaye
Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action.

[skycat 0]

Quote

Most of those Asian Akita-dogs of different sizes are great guard dogs, but not in the German shepard mold.

Yeah it sucks in todays day and age people forget that dogs like the german shepherd and belgian malinois were originally herding dogs and when times changed and farming wasn't the main way of life they learned a new job in the form of protection work.

If you look at Sherpa he would make an excellent herding dog and yet a poor protection dog. He just doesn't have the ball/toy drives that are required plus he is to happy go lucky to bite hard. Now he does have huge prey and food drives and can jump over logs from a sit that are 3 feet off the ground so leaping over fences between fields would be no big deal to him. He also loves to herd our cat and other dogs when we are at the dog park, so while I can't give him a job herding I'm going to try agility instead. He is pretty much happy doing anything where he gets to run around (kind of like hooknswoop).

So while my Mals like GSDs get bad raps cause they are used as police dogs we have had this boy 2 months he has been in obediance school a little over a month and is already 100% reliable off leash. Don't get me wrong these guys are a lot of work and have crazy amounts of energy but with training they can be very productive members of the family.
FYI... my trainer owns 3 mals that he competes in protection work with, one lab that he does detection work, and is a CGC evaluator so he really know what it takes to train dogs to perform.

Fly it like you stole it!

[RastaRicanAir 0]

Quote

Even to owners? Are they the sort of dogs that might growl if you put a hand near the food bowl at feeding time etc?

To everyone BUT owners. My ex-GF had a Chow/Rott mix that she inherited from a homeless guy. I lived with her for over a year, and to the day I left, if I climbed into bed while he was lying next to her, or ran toward her too fast I would get snapped on the leg. He was also sheer HELL in the dog park. Of course, his previous owner was beaten to death -probably while he watched- so my results may be uncommon. But I'd never get one for my family, and NEVER rescue one.

OrFunV/LocoBoca Rodriguez/Sonic Grieco/Muff Brother #4411
-"and ladies....messin with Robbie is venturing into territory you cant even imagine!-cuz Robbie is