BED OR NO BED?!?! That is the question.

[Bucksey9]

Hi guys I just recently got my first dog and shes a kc registered chow chow girl. we bought her quite a cosy warm bed but she never sleeps on it! Instead she chooses to sleep on the cold wooden floor we have. is this okay do you think? as shes only 10 weeks old and I dont want her to sleep on the cold hard wooden floor because it can be cold for her belly as she has no fur under their. it sadens me to see her sleep on the cold hard wooden floor instead of the bed we bought her. is this normal for a chow? is the bed too hot for her to sleep in because of her thick chow coat? I thought she would like to sleep on the bed I bought for her as its the winter time now. did any of your chow do this? if they sleep on a bed what bed would you recommend? Thanks in advance


- Rob

[christina chow mum]

Hi Rob! So your'e in here now, e? Ha ha ha! (That is the question...whether it is nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune...as old Will said...) and you are just STARTING! LOL!
Don't worry, I know we all like our "babies" to be in bed at the proper time...LOL! but with most Chows,my Ming in particular, it ain't always gonna happen. Cranky little critters...
Ming has a lot of beds, mats outside on my little porch, cushions here and there, he has a "bed" for night time next to my couch which I made myself as the only "huge" one I found in the pet shop was way out of my price range and the stubborn little thing probably wouldn't go in it anyway... that consists of summer chair cushions and two thick blankets folded over those. Right now, he's asleep on the carpet under the t.v. his "prime" spot. Later he'll move to the left of the coffee table and sleep there then he'll do a turn on the "bed" I made him and then usually stays there all night.
(See pics below)...
They get very hot with all that fur, even the puppies and if you have CH like most UKstys, he he then he's on a "boiler" ha ha.
I don't believe personally in forcing them to sleep on "funky" stuff or even "unfunky" stuff you get in the pet shop and, as chows are so blind stubborn you probably won't win but that doesn't mean she can have all her own way, so as I always say, a little bit of give and take is key.
Chows LOVE the cold. But if you are worried about her little belly then best thing is to watch where she likes to sleep so that the next time she goes there, you'll have put either her new bed there or a new contraption like mine....LOL!!
Take care, nice to post with you again!

[Cocoa]

Don't worry if she prefers the floor to her bed. If you take a look around the forum I think you will find that the majority of the chows prefer the wood or tile floors for sleeping on, particularly when it is warm outside.

Cocoa was 8 weeks when I got her and it was December. I didn't crate train her but I did basically turn my kitchen into her crate with baby gates. I put a bed in there and found she never slept on it, preferring to sleep under the table. I thought that if I put the the bed under the table in her sleeping spot she would learn to sleep on it - my mistake, she took offense and showed me by peeing on the bed (and she was very good about not relieving herself in her "den"). The only use we have for her bed now is a storage place for her toys. During the winter months she will sometimes sleep on the sofa and on my bed but in the summer it is tile floors only.

[YMMV]

My chow has always liked to sleep on the wooden floors or the tiles in my kitchen. I have gotten her a few different types of beds/mats but they end up not being used. I can confirm that... well at least my chow LOVES the cold. Its been pretty nippy in NJ here and she just refuses to go on short walks. She also loves the feeling of wind blowing on her on those windy days. Unfortunately with these long walks in the cold, I can sometimes look the like son from The Christmas story all bundled up.

[ski]

Yup!!! It's a chow thing. Loki prefers cold tile to a warm, cozy bed. I have tried many different beds but it's always the bathroom floor he wants

[DrewBear]

If you take a look around the forum I think you will find that the majority of the chows prefer the wood or tile floors for sleeping on...

Yup.

[Bucksey9]

If you take a look around the forum I think you will find that the majority of the chows prefer the wood or tile floors for sleeping on...

Yup.

Oh thanks for your replies guys yeah I thought chows do that because my aunty's chow did that by sleeping on the floor, she bought her a bed but her chow boni, just prefered to sleep on the floor I guess its because they prefer it as they can get hot with beds and blankets etc etc.

hey christina chow mum thanks for the photos I bought her a blanket like yours for her but all she does is chew on it instead of sleeping on it! she likes to sleep under our glass dining table alot and ofcourse on the wooden floor but in all different places (like puppies do) so its hard to choose a spot for her to put her bed in it because 1. she doesnt sleep on it and 2. she always moves in different places when she sleeps, LOL

But thanks guys hopefully when shes older she can choose the right "spot" to sleep in so will probably get her a bigger doggy blanket like you did christina

haha Im everywhere christina, better to ask alot of questions better safe than sorry!! I get worried too much about my little girl

[christina chow mum]

Tsk tsk Rob....ha ha! So you see, it's true what I said, your chow will teach YOU and not the other way around. Half the time we spend so much energy, time, money we 'ain't got and worry trying to make their lives more "comfortable" when all they really want is to flop on that little bit of icy tile they have claimed for their own. I'm sure she will "teach" you where she wants to sleep permanently as she starts to mature. Also, I am a firm believer in the fact that if she's cold, she'll start shivering..................LOL! I am personally very proud of my "contraptions", cheap and cheerful I say.

By the way, I see the word "crate" popping up again. This was a real hoot. I did what you did and asked a 60,000 dollar question about what a "crate" is (My topic "CRATE??) in General Discussions. I was amazed at the responses I got to this question and if you have the time you might like to pass your eyes over it coz in the end it turned out we had photos of different kinds of "crates" "beds" cages, you name it. It was really great!

YMMV said "....well at least my chow LOVES the cold. Its been pretty nippy in NJ here and she just refuses to go on short walks. ....."

Oh this made me laugh...All summer (40oC) Ming just "refused" to move or just got dragged about by chow mum. NOW in 12oC, north wind, me looking like a Michelin Man in all this woolly stuff, Ming is just GALLOPING about and I've just come in from a freezing, red faced, blue lips 2 hour walk!! Strange little critters...
See ya next time Rob - big Ming hug for Keekee!

[Crumpet]

In my experience, my current chow and previous chow mix both like to lie on hard surfaces most of the time. I suspect they've got adequate padding with all that fur!

[Constantina]

You know when my Chestnut decided to sleep in her crate and not the floor? When my sis in law bought her a cooling mat with a cool gel filling which is activated by weight. She loves the cold and only the cooling mat is colder than the tile. When the air condition was on she decided to sleep on the wooden floor over the tile, mat and cushion. All that fur just makes them feel hot!

[christina chow mum]

A cooling mat e? Ha ha...Hhmmm... wish I'd heard of this last Summer...ho ho!. Just to prove that my home made contraptions, of which I am very proud, actually WORK, here is the proof!

[christina chow mum]

Constantina, I hereby send you a great big high 5!! Your comment re “cooling mat” has given me a brilliant idea for another invention to add to my Deluxe Pret A Porter line of home-made contraptions I have made for Ming.
It is always sweltering in Greece in the summer. This year we had up to 45oC (113oF) oooooffff! Phew! All I could do for Ming was to keep hosing him down with sprays from the garden hose which didn’t help much and had the AirCon on 24/7 just for him, which cost me a packet in electricity. Sob!

My Vet’s groomer is quite young and Gay, not that I have any problem with that but every time he sees Ming, he throws a livid fit! So, this Summer in desperation I took Ming to my local Men’s Salon and watched as Petros the barber “shaved” Ming all over with his electric razor....

Big mistake!! Naughty naughty... First of all he looked a total mess (kind of half poodle/half some kind of Shar Pei...).
Worse than that, he had absolutely NO protection from mosquitos or anything else with wings and still spent the summer panting, drooling and in distress. I swore I would never do it again!

So, next year, I am going to fill my plastic cushions with water, put them in the freezer and alternate them under Ming wherever and whenever he plops down somewhere in a steaming heap!!
Thanks again! Brilliant!!

[Bucksey9]

Oh right Okay, thats sorted then. im less worried now. yeah haha I guess with all that fur they choose to sleep just on the floor with no padding, bed etc. I have heard of cooling pads for dogs for the summer, ebay sells them. But will look into purchasing a cooling pad for my chow girl near to the summer on 2014 haha, I hope it wont be too hot for her!

Your right Christina chow mum, Keekee will most probably choose a "proper spot" to sleep in when she matures abit ..
My aunty said her chow liked to sleep where the most going on was, because chows like to be nosey little buggers. hahaha lets see if keekee is the same actually saying that when I even go to the kitchen quickly for 2 minutes to get a glass of water to drink she would get up and follow me. maybe because the kitchen is where I feed her and she may think I will feed her something, or shes being nosy hahaha, but I try and keep a schedule for her feeding times, I think it is important to have a schedule so she will think I am the pack leader

but anyway, thankyou for all your lovely comments guys and Happy Thanks giving!


- Rob xxxxxxxx

[christina chow mum]

Oooopps our msgs got crossed Rob. Have a look at my above re cooling mat idea. He he! I spose a hot water bottle would do just as well filled up and in the freezer...hum
Yes, they are nosy little buggers, lol! Every time my mobile rings Ming is right there to see who it is? Ha ha ha! You should see the performance when the doorbell rings........whoever it is can't get in or out without being greeted by a frenzied wagging tail and then escorted in and out by my personal "face control" Chow!
Take care!

[Bucksey9]

ooops I see! My apologies!! awwwh poor ming having to survive in the harsh greek summer. I feel very sorry for him! haha as I have been to greece myself in 2007 a greek island called rhodes!! im sure you know it it was in august I think, soooo hott!!! the hottest climate I have been in!! up their with the austrailia summer when I went down under.

Oh no I read that you can never cut chow chows! especially when people like to cut their chows into the "lion cut" which I think isn't very good. as you said because it leaves them vulnerable to insects and ticks etc etc

and my Keekee is the same! shes fast asleep 1 minute then the phone rings or the door bell goes "THATS IT IM AWAKE WHATS HAPPENING?! IM ON GUARD DONT WORRY!!" hahahaha its so cute and funny to watch.

We went to another vet today with keekee for the first time and keekee loves her. she wagged her tail to her not like she did with the other vet. she hated the other vet in the other vet place.. LOL! we went today to another vet because we were recommended by loads of people that is the best vet in my area, the first vet I went to people say its the worst vet in my area LOL I wish I done by research before so we didnt have to switch vets. but oh well least we know shes in better hands now.

[Bucksey9]

Christina chow mum If you dont mind me asking, would like ask you why did you choose the chow chow breed espcially in the greek climate? and where did you get your gorgeous ming from also?

[christina chow mum]

Allo allo allo...! People will start talking if we carry on meeting like this LOL!!

Psssstt... A last quickie on your walking lead topic... when I first got Ming he was a tiny little frightened teddy bear and I carried him around in a baby pouch in front of me for about 4 months, the locals loved it! I took him everywhere with me, he even sat next to me on a chair in my office or was fast asleep. THEN I got the red harness so he could behave like a proper Chow.

Question 1: Ming hates and venomously despises any human crossing his path wearing a white coat, who is referred to by other "oomanbeans" by the title "Vet"... Ouch!

Question 2: Yes I know Rhodes. I've been to all the other islands as well, not much else to do around here..ha ha! A very English presence, loads of Brits owning houses, shops, hotels, just like in Crete. A very Turkish influence as well, in fact you can see across to Turkey from Rhodes if you stand on a ladder in your hotel room.......commonly known as a "do it yourself room with a view" LOL!

Last time I was in Rhodes was 3 years ago at Christmas with my daughter Joanna. God knows why, it was supposed to have been a Christmas treat but was more like an Easter crucifixion if you ask me!! Our hotel never got the booking, it poured with rain the whole 3 days, everything was shut so we ate Chinese takeaway the whole time, our Turkish tour guide couldn't speak English nor Greek so we got herded through Turkish Mosques and Moslem cemeteries being bellowed at in "Turklish speak".
I have never forgiven my travel agent for that, no not never! Mr. Bean could have organised it better than that! Sulk!
Unfortunately Rhodes was hit by the Cyclone Cleopatra from Sardinia a few days ago. Several dead, drowned, missing, total destruction. Nature's revenge, god help us all! Poor Rhodies.

Now, about Ming's story, I had written it in another topic but can't find it right now. Good God! Seems as though i've written more stories on here than Barbara Cartland ever did! So, Rob, i'll find it and send it to you if you and your Mum promise not to cry when you read it like a couple of the guys on the Forum did....tra la la.
Bye for now!

[Bucksey9]

Allo allo allo...! People will start talking if we carry on meeting like this LOL!!

Psssstt... A last quickie on your walking lead topic... when I first got Ming he was a tiny little frightened teddy bear and I carried him around in a baby pouch in front of me for about 4 months, the locals loved it! I took him everywhere with me, he even sat next to me on a chair in my office or was fast asleep. THEN I got the red harness so he could behave like a proper Chow.

Question 1: Ming hates and venomously despises any human crossing his path wearing a white coat, who is referred to by other "oomanbeans" by the title "Vet"... Ouch!

Question 2: Yes I know Rhodes. I've been to all the other islands as well, not much else to do around here..ha ha! A very English presence, loads of Brits owning houses, shops, hotels, just like in Crete. A very Turkish influence as well, in fact you can see across to Turkey from Rhodes if you stand on a ladder in your hotel room.......commonly known as a "do it yourself room with a view" LOL!

Last time I was in Rhodes was 3 years ago at Christmas with my daughter Joanna. God knows why, it was supposed to have been a Christmas treat but was more like an Easter crucifixion if you ask me!! Our hotel never got the booking, it poured with rain the whole 3 days, everything was shut so we ate Chinese takeaway the whole time, our Turkish tour guide couldn't speak English nor Greek so we got herded through Turkish Mosques and Moslem cemeteries being bellowed at in "Turklish speak".
I have never forgiven my travel agent for that, no not never! Mr. Bean could have organised it better than that! Sulk!
Unfortunately Rhodes was hit by the Cyclone Cleopatra from Sardinia a few days ago. Several dead, drowned, missing, total destruction. Nature's revenge, god help us all! Poor Rhodies.

Now, about Ming's story, I had written it in another topic but can't find it right now. Good God! Seems as though i've written more stories on here than Barbara Cartland ever did! So, Rob, i'll find it and send it to you if you and your Mum promise not to cry when you read it like a couple of the guys on the Forum did....tra la la.
Bye for now!

Hahaha awwwwwh thats soo cute that you carried ming in a baby pouch for 4 months hahahaha awwwwh bless him we want to do the same with keekee but we dont want her getting too used to it in the point she will be getting too lazy getting used to be carried everywhere LOL but thats so cute so many people seen me carry keekee while at the vet and they said awwwwwh what a gorgeous lovely teddybear... what breed is it? Iv never seen one before LOL I said shes a chow chow and the only dog who has a blue tongue hahahaha she says awwwwh their such a cute breed I dont know why their so rare, I would like to own a chow their so so cute the receptionist at the vets said haha

Yes indeed! when we went to rhodes we crossed the border to visit turkey for the day so that was good. again VERY HOT! but very good scenery! I do love the food in greece too, alot of nice meat down their hahahaha

yes I have heard about the horrific sardinia disaster. and I have also visited sardinia I think it was in 2004 or 2005 im not quite sure its a very nice place, very nice beach their too. terrible whats happend their though.

Yes thanks Christina chow mum I have just replied back to you!! thanks so much for sharing you amazing touching book telling story about your goregous boy ming, awh bless his little furry heart!!<333

[christina chow mum]

Bucksey9 said: "...iv never seen one before LOL I said shes a chow chow and the only dog who has a blue tongue...."

Ha ha, thanks for the post but a slight correction...there are TWO dogs in the world with a blue tongue. The Chow chow and the Tsar Pei... both Chinese, very similar breeds, except Tsar Pei is short haired with lots and lots of creases all over it and a creased up squishy, sad face. When Ming was "shaved" this Summer his back looked like a Tsar Pei's with several creases up towards his neck. Naturally, if any rocket scientist reading this can verify that there are OTHER dogs with blue tongues, then wer'e open for business...right Ron??? LOL! LOL!

[Doppler]

I remember there are more other breeds with either blue or spotted blue tongue, Shar pie and chows are well known. I tried on google and this site has list of those breeds http://homewardbound2u.rescuegroups.org ... ageID=6944

With regards to bed, Doppler loved this very cool tiled floor near the kitchen, its his favorite spot to nap since summer but since its getting cold, the floor seemed too cold for him. There are times he is limping right after those sleeps and we are worried there might some bite or stiffness so we asked about it last month on his scheduled shot and the vet said it might affect his joints so we got this orthopedic bed we got at http://www.petstreetmall.com and we are glad he likes it.

[Bucksey9]

Yes I know the shar pei has a blue tongue also christina chow mum I actually really like the shar prei bread! some poeple think their ugly but I think their gorgeous looking dogs! .. believe it or not, I wanted to get a pug before we got a chow but my mum wanted a chow so we decieded to get a chow LOL! but I dont regret it! I love my keekee so much and wouldnt change her any dog! even though she can be naughty at times! but hey shes only 11 weeks hahaha
haha awwwh bless ming! I have now leant NEVER to shave a chow!

Anyway about the bed I have actually noticed keekee sometimes limps when she walks!! maybe its because of the cold tiled kitchen floor she sleeps on sometimes and her joints are stiff? its pretty cold right here right now in the uk. she normally sleeps on the wooden floor we have in our living room but at times like to sleep on the cold tiled kitchen floor! next time she lays on their I will stop her straight away! I might have to mention her limping she does sometimes to the vet when we visit tommorow. I have looked up on the orthopedic beds on the website. I see its an american site, I typed in "dog orthopedic bed" on ebay and some are heated, is this what your got for your Doppler? a heated orthopedic dog bed? I dont know which one to buy her.

[Constantina]

Constantina, I hereby send you a great big high 5!! Your comment re “cooling mat” has given me a brilliant idea for another invention to add to my Deluxe Pret A Porter line of home-made contraptions I have made for Ming.
It is always sweltering in Greece in the summer. This year we had up to 45oC (113oF) oooooffff! Phew! All I could do for Ming was to keep hosing him down with sprays from the garden hose which didn’t help much and had the AirCon on 24/7 just for him, which cost me a packet in electricity. Sob!

My Vet’s groomer is quite young and Gay, not that I have any problem with that but every time he sees Ming, he throws a livid fit! So, this Summer in desperation I took Ming to my local Men’s Salon and watched as Petros the barber “shaved” Ming all over with his electric razor....

Big mistake!! Naughty naughty... First of all he looked a total mess (kind of half poodle/half some kind of Shar Pei...).
Worse than that, he had absolutely NO protection from mosquitos or anything else with wings and still spent the summer panting, drooling and in distress. I swore I would never do it again!

So, next year, I am going to fill my plastic cushions with water, put them in the freezer and alternate them under Ming wherever and whenever he plops down somewhere in a steaming heap!!
Thanks again! Brilliant!!

Oh Cristina! Ming is so lucky to have a mum like you who loves her to bits and will do anything to make her comfy!