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Victory wrote: "Any obsessive compulsive behavior is bad, like licking I had a friend whose dog litterly licked himself to death, he gave himself such bad skin condition that eventually he had to be put to sleep, he'd licked and bit all the hair off himself and was a mass of oozing sores. It wo...

This is distressing not only because of the chronic physical illness and pain, but also the emotional toll this stress is taking on you as well.

Tell Tug that his extended Chow family from around the world are sending him their love and prayers, and tender purple kisses.

Lily Griffin wrote: "I've never heard of clicker training (here in South Africa), but that's me. It sounds to me a bit like 'Pavlov's dog'... I'm sure they know what a treat is without a sound to associate it with...I'm very laid-back about training, I do it as I go along, as things happen, and...

willowchow wrote:
"She did growl but it didn't escalate to the barking and tail snapping. So, I think we are on the right track."

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That's so good to hear. The food lights up another part of the brain, and acts to calm the adrenaline panic button.

Best wishes!

Prognosis is good when it's caught early. So let's all hold that thought for right now. I'm very sorry for what you're going through. I lost one recently too. Excerpts: "DNA-Based Vaccine Triples Survival for Dogs with Melanoma" "According to Dr. MacEwen, oral melanoma is common in do...

Solid Gold Wolf King (bison and salmon) or Innova

With small amounts of fresh cooked meats: boiled chicken, lean beef, lamb or bison, tripe, turkey necks, liver.

Or other foods, such as: sardines, salmon, tuna, mackeral, cottage cheese, yogurt, eggs, goat's milk, frozen apples, carrots...

I'm very sorry to hear that your Tug continues to suffer. I keep him in my thoughts and watch for your updates. Sending all best wishes your way.

Do you allow her to have plush toys? Are the neighbors' movements at predictable times every day, like going to work? You could have plushies available at those times, or maybe even schedule her meals then. She needs to do something rewarding with her mouth to release the excitatory stress. Excerpt:...

Focus: The problem behavior is tail biting to the point of bleeding. This is a stress hormone issue, and not just a regular training issue, because of all the excitatory hormones. There is a tiny part of the brain responsible for pushing the PANIC button setting off stress hormones. Talking loudly a...

willowchow wrote: "Kiwani, do you have more information on the stress hormone??? Any links I can go to or anything? Seems like that makes the most sense regardless of whether or not it's unique to a chow." --- Whenever the amygdala is triggered, the part of the brain where fear memories ar...

Taz wrote: "Kiwani: Are you writing all this yourself or copying it from a book? Don't take any offence from this question." --- Those were my writings based on several years of brain research, animal behavior research, and from the experiences of owning several Chows. --- Taz wrote: "...

You might try one of the "waterless, no rinse, spray on shampoos". You could pour some of it on a damp washcloth and spot clean the dirt before it gets embedded in the coat or skin. The one I've tried lathers well, deodorizes, conditions, and is tearless too. I've used it on invalid dogs a...

kiwani wrote: "Chows as a breed have stress hormone issues. That is why they need to be socialized, desensitized to stressors, and not over-stimulated or frightened when young. If mishandled as pups, it often doesn't take much to set off their fright or flight response later on." Taz wrote...

kiwani wrote: "There is research showing that chewing or biting behavior, self-mutilation, or excessive licking behavior is a way for the dog to release endogenous opioids in the brain's pleasure center. The opioids calm the anxiety and help diffuse frustration." Taz wrote: "In other ...

willowchow wrote: "What I'm concerned with is that she is spinning around and snarling and "attacking" her OWN tail. She's gotten it a couple of times and it causes pain and she's made it bleed at least once." --- There is research showing that chewing or biting behavior, self-mu...

Rogansmommy wrote: "Rogan had those. The vet tried treating them with prednisone and antibiotics. After several months, he recommended removing them surgically..." --- If your Rogan had papilloma virus warts, I don't think antibiotics can kill viruses. The research on papilloma connects th...

Jeff wrote: "This was the first time I actually saw the lump I just felt it, it was way worse looking then what I felt, it was like a big wart" --- Maybe it's a canine papilloma viral wart. Here are some excerpts, and there's also a photo of the oral warts on the site below. Best wishes fo...

Chows tend to make blanket judgments, so any negative association surrounding one person can be transferred to anyone triggering that associative memory. It could be as simple as the Chow associating the appearance of the girlfriend with his banishment to being tied outdoors. Or it could be somethin...

Tug wrote: "his back between his shoulders and back legs is now sinking down, he doesn't lift his tail to wag at us anymore and he no longer gets up to see us when we come home. He lays in the same spot for hours and barely moves around. I have read up on so many conditions and treatments but h...