A chow's vision?

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Shane
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A chow's vision?

Post by Shane »

To all:

Ok due to the shape of the head and the scowling expression a chow has limited perhipheral vision. So it is best to approach the chow from front on. Ok my youngest chow he had much more of that expression than my eldest chow and when some he knows its ok. But when the pesron has an odd change of clothing he goes berserk. For example my brother cae from a wedding wearing a top hat and a overly large black coat siut. This morning my father came for me when he was going to work his unifrom is all navy blue he went berserk then. My mother had a shower cap on her head came in the room and when he saw her he started puffing (but not barking). When she called his name he stopped sniffed her and left the room.

Did any of you ever had this situatuation before if so please give me some advise that would help any way possible so that he would not go berserk onn people he is use to.

Shane
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Post by OH Guest »

As long as his vision is not failing (if you think it might be see the vet, esp. if he hasn't spooked like this before in similar situations) - Its a socialization issue. I don't know how old your chow is, but exposing him to different types of clothing and what-not on various people and making them all positive experiences will go a long way towards helping this issue. Ex. see guy in funky hate = give treat/whatever makes your chow happy, etc. Positive reinforcement works great. I was taught that to have a balanced chow requires extensive socialization, so I continue with my chow's socialization schedule to this day and he is 5 yrs. old now. People warned me that I'd be risking his protectiveness by "over-socializing" him, but he's a lot more reliable than he I think he'd be otherwise. He doesn't startle at non-threat things or get grumbly for no apparent reason and if he does get all grumbly I know there is an actual threat somewhere close.
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Post by Jeff&Peks »

Pekoe will do that on occasion even if she knows who the people are, we always have to tell people no matter how well she knows them becarefull on how you approach her, never from the rear or sides unless she sees them first.
My wife and I can approach her no matter what, sleeping ,eating or what ever, there has never been a problem but even the people she has contact with every day will get a spin and growl if approached unexpected.

The only problem I have with this is if Pekoe in laying in someone's walkway they won't pass her unless they call me or my wife to tell her its OK. In Pekoe mind once a person is in the house she keeps them in the room they are supposed to be in, at night no one except my wife and I can leave their room so visitors better do what they have to do before they go to bed, once in bed that's where they stay until we get up.
Pekoe would be a great prison guard.
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Post by Judy Fox »

Milly and Mabel are very well socialised and are very seldom phazed with new things but they do not like being surprised.
If someone visits and they are in the back garden, we will call them in to introduce them rather than have them come in and be surprised.
I was amused Jeff, with your guests having to stay in their rooms! The other Sunday our son came up from Surrey to stay the night - Milly and Mabel were fascinated and saw him to bed, having escorted him to the bathroom.
Next morning, they both got up and barged into his room, stood and discussed him between themselves then strutted out to the back door to be let out!
Obviously they were happy and he was still where they thought he was!! :)
I think just socialising the young Chow and leaving things around for him to see might be an idea - i.e. get your mother to leave her shower cap on the floor for him to have a good look at - introduce all sorts of different things to him and let him examine them - but at the end of the day, no dog, not just Chows should be surprised and approached without warning
Just be aware that their vision is limited and keep vigilent.
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Jeff&Peks
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Re: Socialization

Post by Jeff&Peks »

I only have Pekoe to go by but I think socialization of Chows is ok to a point but a Chow is a Chow no matter what you try to turn it into.

For the past 6,7 yrs that we have had her, Pekoe has been going to different dog parks every mourning from N. Ca to San Diego and Nevada, I have only had 2 problems that were with German shepherds,( Pekoe and the police type of GS do not mix). in the evening she is walked on beaches and harbors and passes hundreds of people and dogs. We never leave her alone except for a quick run to the store, she goes with us to work, shopping, weekend trips, vacations, no matter where we go she goes. Pekoe has been on river raft trips, skiing trips (even on the ski lefts),sailing trips and has sat for hours on Casino and restaurant floors while we gamble (bad Parents) with waitress's bringing her water and treats, hundreds of people passing her and she just sits and watches the world pass, As long as no one bothers her she has no problem.

No Chow could possibly be in more social situations then Pekoe has been in the past years yet she still has an attitude, she will attack another dog if it gets within a foot of her, spin and growl at any stranger that gets to close. She doesn't want people or dogs to bother her even though she is in contact with different people and dogs everyday. What I always say is she is a Chow so don't bother her and she won't bother you.
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Post by Rogansmommy »

Rogan's vision has always been miserable. He's great with strangers approaching him, but part of that is because I take command of the situation pretty quickly. :D If kids are moving in quickly, I will step in between them and tell them how to pet him - under the chin, always. He is only touched on "blind" spots during "stand for exam" and then he knows the drill and does well.

As for friends/family approaching him and Rogue not recognizing them - it used to happen frequently when Erik travelled alot. He would come in poor light and Rogan could not identify him. Solution - talk to the dog. Rogan is smart enough to know that if a person knows his name, then they must know him. So if a friend/family member is walking around the house during the night, they just talk to Rogan. Its' really weird :? but it works and hey - he's a Chow.
Michele

^Rogan^ at the Bridge on 5/16/09 -- always in my heart
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Post by kingalls »

Jeff&Peks wrote: In Pekoe mind once a person is in the house she keeps them in the room they are supposed to be in, at night no one except my wife and I can leave their room so visitors better do what they have to do before they go to bed, once in bed that's where they stay until we get up.
Pekoe would be a great prison guard.
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Pekoe and Mr. Nahkohe on duty! These two definitely share the same mindset about visitors....We still need to give the coast is clear signal.

Karen
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Post by OH Guest »

socialization of Chows is ok to a point but a Chow is a Chow no matter what you try to turn it into.
I'm sorry, I know I'm new, (heck, I haven't even registered yet). I know thats your opionion and you are certainly entitled to it, but statements like that irk the heck out of me.
Socialization isn't trying turn to turn the dog into something else. Its giving the dog the necc. tools to be able to survive in our respective cultures. Chows are great dogs and I'll always be owned by one, but I won't let any dog display "bad" behavior or potentially dangerous behavior just because the breed can be "like that". It really doesn't do anything for the breed. While soc. doesn't cure all behavioral ills, it lays a nice foundation.
Dogs that are growling snapping insurance liablilities waiting to happen are not going to do well. Biting dogs are increasingly being put down after the first offense. Chows are already on most dangerous dog lists and breed bans for insurance companies. I feel part of the responsibility in owning this breed (or any other similiarly labeled) is making sure your specific dog is a good ambassador for the breed.

OK, crawling off soap box to go hide behind the couch now.
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Post by Judy Fox »

I read what you are saying. However, what Jeff says is correct - a Chow is a Chow whatever.

My Milly and Mabel are, as all the ones on the site know, the sweetest, most sociable Chow girls one could wish to meet. Partly I think to their blood line and partly due to our upbringing of them. Perfect nurture/nature.

However, they are Chow Chows and they let me know they are Chow Chows. I will tolerate very little in the way of bad behaviour but I will defend my Chow Chows' Chow Chow behaviour.

The point is, it is generally other peoples perception of Chow Chow that is the problem. Mabel was a very, very friendly little Chow girl but now she is a Chow lady she is much more aloof and basically, if people leave both her and Milly alone, they are fine.

We regularly take M & M into town to mix with people - then the bad mannered, ill-disciplined and disobedient children lunge at them and we have to ask their parents to reign them in! :roll:

Then there are the polite children who will walk up and ask what they are, what are their names and can they stroke them.

There lies the difference.

Left on their own M & M will get on with their lives, with us, and basically ignore everyone else.

That is Chow Chow. That is not dog!
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Post by Jeff&Peks »

I guess it would depend on how one feels about Chows in how they would interrupt the meaning of what I meant when I said a Chow is a Chow no matter what you try to turn it into, When I think Chow words like , loving, loyal, companion, protective, comical, spoiled, independent and arrogant come to my mind so I'm talking to the chow owners in here that understand what I'm talking about not to the general public that only think bad breed when they hear Chow.

My point was Pekoe has had plenty of socialization and has been exposed to all social situations but she is still pretty much in guard mode all the time so no matter how much you socialize a chow they will never lose what they were bread for in the beginning and that's a guard dog. The two most important things in a Chows life is its family and home so no matter how much you try to turn it in to a social butterfly or lap dog that home and family will come first, to a Chow anything other then the home and family, who cares leave me alone.

When i read stories about Mr. N attacking the vet and being kicked out of the vets office, M&M getting up set because the house is being torn apart or Pumpkin pulling the table out of the floor in a restaurant, Pekoe attacking the No 1 award winning snow patrol dog in the US, to most that's bad Chow behavior, to me you have to laugh, that's just Chow being a Chow

A Chow can do no wrong, if it does then what did you do to cause it, never is it the Chows fault
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Post by Guest »

The other day while I was at work, my chow Zena, bit a neighbour through the fence, she had come into our yard to pick some avacoda pears, and she knew that Zena had a litter of puppies, but she still walked to close to the fence and Zena grabbed her, she did not get bitten hard, as she had on a heavy track suit and jacket, but still she did get a bite, Zena was repremanded for what she had done, dropped her tail and slung inside the house, soon forgetting that she had been a very bad girl. But a few days later my neighbour came again and this time I was home, she had brought her two bull terriers (see no capital letters here) and this is what I think prompted Zena to attack in the first instance, As I found out that she the neighbour had also brought the dogs on her first visit. I don’t think Zena ment to bite her, but was not happy with 2 strange dogs in her part of the yard, Thank heavens the garden where she was is well fenced, or we might have had a real problem on our hands, and this time Zena would have come off worse as she has lost all her coat after having the puppies and at the moment looks like a smooth chow. Or maybe she was just trying to protect the Avacoda pear trees, as she loves the pears, and gobbles them all up as fast as they fall off the trees. My Vet say’s that they will not harm her and they definately helped her milk bar with feeding he puppies, at 8 weeks they weighed 7 ½ kilograms. Both big heafty boys.

Carolyn Dewrance
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Post by Judy Fox »

Well, there you go Carolyn.
I am sorry your neighbour was bitten, however, she deserved it.
I do not think taking dogs into another person's garden when that person is not there is a good idea.
The point is, people take dogs and Chows too much for granted. What did she expect when Zena had puppies with her. For goodness sake, a bitch will defend her young whatever.
And as for taking Zena's avacados, well.....................
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Post by Guest »

I wish I could post some photos on this site but every time I try they dont come out, Help me someone please I have one of Zena with one of her avo's in her mouth, it's so cute. even though she has lost all her fur after having puppies.
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Post by Judy Fox »

Lou knows how do it Carolyn! Sorry, I havn't had the time to sit down and study it. It is possible! :)
I havn't even had time to follow the instructions your son so kindly sent me, but I will" Then I can run off all your Chows in my bed story. :?

Mabel loves banana and pears but Milly doesn't. She sometimes will take a little banana. :)
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Post by carolyn dewrance »

I had a chow once that loved apples, and one evening when I was taking him for a walk in Johannesburg where we stayed at the time, there was a Black couple walking in front of us, The woman had an apple in her hand and was swinging it back and forth as she walked, the temptation was to much for Apollo and as her had came back for the second time he grabbed the apple out of her hand and thorughly enjoyed eating the stolen fruit, of course she got a shock and sreamed as she had not seen what had taken her fruit, but we all had a good laugh afterwards. I also had a chow that ate carrots, not one or two a day, but if he could get them a whole bunch, he would even steal them from the street venders, untill they got used to him and had one waiting for him as we walked past, Well more later, By the way I wrote to Devil dog ranch and told them I would love to have Opel, but of course the air fare is out of my reach, anyone interestered in sponcering her air to south Africa?
Carolyn Dewrance
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Post by Judy Fox »

WE had a beautiful Great Dane called Lizzie and one year we were on holiday in South Wales with Liz.

Our daughters and I were waiting outside, near the men's toilets for Fred and our son Anthony to come out.

A couple passed us with their little girl who had a beautiful ice-cream cornet. Lizzie was taller than the child - she was a particularly large Dane bitch and she very gently took the whole cornet out of the child's hand and munched it.

It was done so quickly I could do nothing about it.

Unfortunately, the parents did not see the funny side! I apologised and offered to buy the child another ice-cream but they were so rude. I had to keep a straight face - it was gently done!

Thing was, when the ice cream van came down our avenue, Liz used to walk up to it and they would give her an ice cream cone - then I would have to follow her up and pay for it. They only charged 5p. as opposed to the usual 40p or 50p.

Our Meggy the boxer, who lived here before M & M loved all the fruit and veg. in the garden. She would go round eating the strawberries, blackberries, blackcurrants, apples off the tree, tomatoes out of the greenhouse and our granddaughters would shell peas for her.

Our granddaughter No2. Jess, loves strawberries and one summer she was watching one particularly beautiful ripening, until it was ready to eat. She would visit it every day for several days to check on it. On the day it was ready, I picked her up from school for her Mum and she went out to check on it - Meg with her - then Meg reached over and picked it from right under Jessica's nose - oh she cried - she was only about 5.

Even now, ten years later, she goes up and down checking for strawberries, but sadly with no Meg to beat her to them!!

M & M like strawberries but they don't pick them themselves - they like their Daddy to do it for them!
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