Would it be fair if we got a Chow pup?

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natashalindley
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Would it be fair if we got a Chow pup?

Post by natashalindley »

Hi I was just hoping we could get some advice from some experienced chow owners here.


I have loved the chow breed for about 4/5 years now and have been reading the forum threads on here for about the last 3. Only recently my boyfriend and I decided that we would love to add an addition to our lives and so I am now trying to find a good UK breeder so that I can go on a waiting list. I don't mind waiting for even a year if it was the right breeder, with the right parent chows.

What I was hoping for your opinion on is about our current living situation. I want to give the puppy the best life, socialisation and training possible and so I value everyone's opinion and will take it all into consideration.

I am 22, 23 years old in July and my boyfriend 23. Even though we seem quite young, I am mature for my age. I don't go out on weekends to early hours of the morning and usually prefer snuggling on the sofa with a book..or reading threads on this Chow forum! This means that the puppy will not be left alone in the evenings and if we do decide to go out on an evening, my mum lives five minutes down the road from me with her own dog and so she would be able to puppy sit for a few hours. I work two days a week at an office for 9 hours a day (this includes travel) and the rest of the week at home and so I would be with the puppy pretty much all the time for socialisation, training and cuddles! My boyfriend works evenings so he will be at home the two days I am at work and during the evenings he has off he is usually wide awake until 3am anyway so the puppy will have someone to cuddle with if they aren't tired yet.

The problem (or maybe it isn't a problem depending on your views) is that we live in a flat. It has two levels and a small balcony and a communal garden on the ground floor (We are on the third) but would this space be okay for a Chow? As I mentioned that I would be at home a lot I can take it out on walks and play time throughout the day, I visit my mum every couple days and so the dog would have more space there too for visits. I plan to take the puppy everywhere with me for socialisation, and carry it in a puppy sling while the jabs are being done so it is used to noises etc. I also plan to put a lot of effort into the training, and I lean towards the positive training method, where negative habits are ignored and positive habits are praised. I am just wondered that the puppy may not have enough space in the flat and I would hate to have an unhappy puppy. We have neighbours so I was wondering if your chows bark a lot? We are only allowed a dog if it doesn't cause to be a nuisance to neighbours (which I understand is what can happen if they are left alone for a long time). Also the absolute maximum the puppy would be left alone is 2 hours.

Sorry for such a long post, I just wanted to explain my situation to see if you thought that we would be good parents to a chow pup.
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Laura
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Re: Would it be fair if we got a Chow pup?

Post by Laura »

I think you sound like great Chow parents. I lived in an apartment with a previous Chow for like 7 years. I had a balcony which he loved to lay out on and we would go for walks to potty and for exercise. He wasn't a pup when we lived there but I don't think that matters at all. As far as barking he got used to the normal sounds of apartment life and didn't bark at every little noise. Potty training a pup from the 3rd floor is going to wear you out because they have to be taken out so often in the first few months but it's worth it! Love, socialization, attention, and commitment are what is important, not the size of the home.
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ski
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Re: Would it be fair if we got a Chow pup?

Post by ski »

Our chow, Loki, lived quite happily in a third floor walk up in New York City with our son. There was a dog park nearby that Loki and our son often visited. Our son worked long hours and Loki was always well behaved when left alone. They both enjoyed walks in the neighborhood and made many friends including a St Bernard that lived in an apartment nearby. Loki now lives with us in the suburbs due to surgery he required some years ago. He visits our son in the city from time to time. It is amazing how he adjusts to both situations. Since Loki was rescued when he was about two I don't know what his early years were like.
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Sirchow
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Re: Would it be fair if we got a Chow pup?

Post by Sirchow »

Whilst in every other respect I think you sound like ideal chow owners I worry about the whole third floor issue for the following reason which I will explain. I am expecting some people not to agree with me.

If you have a lift then this does not apply but as you didn't mention one I am assuming you don't. Stairs are not good for puppies. I would not sell a puppy to a prospective owner in your situation who did not have a lift. Puppies have very soft ligaments and the use of the stairs possibly a dozen or more times a day which if you want to house train your baby it would mean is going to damage those back legs and could cause cruciate damage. In particular this is a problem for chows legs as the lack of angulation on their back legs mean they do not have a built in shock absorber. I think the lighter "rescue" type of US chow would possibly manage but UK chows are not bred in this style. Some are heavier than others but none are as long legged and slim as the US style. I simply do not think personally it is a good idea in the present flat. However were your living arrangements to change in that year of waiting I would think you were perfect owners.

Carrying a puppy up and down three flights of stairs at the rate they grow would be hard and I don't think chows should do stairs till they are a year old personally.

Having said that there are other breeders in the UK who wouldn't even ask you where you live and would happily take your money. :( I am sorry if this seems overly negative I am just giving my opinion as a breeder.
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natashalindley
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Re: Would it be fair if we got a Chow pup?

Post by natashalindley »

Just to update you, I took your advice seriously and my incredible boyfriend found us a new place that has a patio and outdoor space for a pup, also no stairs so it wouldn't hurt its knees! Now its waiting for the right puppy to come along! Eeeeeeeee :) Thank you for the advice everyone, I really appreciated it!
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lrfishwick
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Re: Would it be fair if we got a Chow pup?

Post by lrfishwick »

Wonderful news!! Looking forward to seeing photos of your baby once he/she arrives :D
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Sirchow
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Re: Would it be fair if we got a Chow pup?

Post by Sirchow »

I am so impressed that you have made these huge changes to accommodate a puppy :D Like I said I thought you would make fantastic chow owners and I think think that even more so now =D= =D= =D= If I can help with puppy finding PM me I know of one or two available at the moment.
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Siriol, Bramble, Izzie and Isla.
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