Thinking about getting a chow chow pup....

[rdm2012]

Hello everyone,

I have been browsing this forum a while now and it is great to get a first hand point of view on owning a Chow.

I am considering getting a chow puppy when i move into my new flat soon (I own it so no problems with getting permission from landlord etc).

I will be living alone, and working 8 hours a day. i will be available to walk my chow in the morning, at lunch time (when i return home for an hour or so) and also in the evening. At weekends i'll have more time to go on longer walks. I realise this will be a huge commitment for myself being a single owner, but if i am willing to devote the time and effort I feel it can be done.

My main concern lies with the temperament of a chow - whilst I love the independent and loyal characteristics they exhibit, i don't want an aggressive or hard to handle dog when it grows up (this is just extra stress when going for walks to the park, seeing the vet, leaving with friends). I would aim to socialise the dog as much as possible during its puppyhood, lots of walking to meet new dogs and people, and taking it round to see friends etc. From my understanding, it seems that training and the strict/confident owner are paramount for ensuring the pup does not grow up exhibiting all these undesirable traits. I would be willing to put in the time and effort in regards to regular training. I know chows have been given a bad name mainly due to owners not looking after them properly - what I am trying to find out here is even if a chow has been trained 'perfectly' - could it still grow up to be a handful? I would be looking to spend time and research, and money, to purchase my chow from a top class breeder to minimise the chance of this. Although I am absolutely in love with this breed of dog and it is definitely my first choice, I really want to be able to relax when my dog is around other people (i mean friends, not total strangers).

Since I will be living in a flat, I suspect the neighbours will not be tolerant of barking, given that it is an old tenement style building and noises throughout can be heard fairly easily. Does anyone have experience of a particularly noisy chow? Can this be trained out of them?

I also live on the second floor - which means there will be two flights of stairs to come down every time I want to take the chow to the garden - does anyone have experience of chows and stairs? I would be fine carrying the chow when it was small but I am not particularly strong so I don't know how long this would last......

Since I will be at work for 8 hours each day, the dog will be left alone for around 3.5 hours at a time in the morning and in the afternoon. Is this considered cruel to leave a chow for this long? I've read they are independent and not 'pack' animals, but also that they adore spending all their time with their owner. I am also considering hiring a dog walker possibly twice or so a week, to come and take the chow in the afternoon just to break up the time a bit and not leave it on its own for so long. I would take time off work initially to ensure I would be at home with the pup for the first while.

If anyone could provide me with any tips or advice i would greatly appreciate it

ps. I have referred to the chow as 'it' a couple of times throughout my paragraph because i am not sure which gender i will get yet! I have heard that they tend to bond easier to owners of the opposite *Censored Word*?

[Fozzbear]

Have you considered a doggy daycare /creche service? That would deal with socialisation, potential loneliness, upset neighbours and probably exercise all in one!

Chows dont tolerate being left alone a great deal and you wont always feel like or be able to walk him/her when you are working. There will be times when you are tired, ill, away or going out for the evening.

I am on my own and have two chows - I have help from my parents, a doggy walker and a doggy daycare place! (Ondifferent days depending on what I am doing of course). If you can afford it, your dog would really really thank you for a great daycare place a few days a week. It is sooooo nice to relax and know that they are safe and having fun with their mates.

Re stairs; a healthy chow should be absolutely fine with stairs (but if you are unlucky and get one that develops elbow dysplasia it might not be ideal).

I have a boy and a girl and can control them both just fine (mostly). A female is obviously a bit easier as they are smaller.

Hope that helps x

[tabate45]

I personally don't think being alone for the amount of time you speak of is a big deal. When we first got Coal, 10 weeks, my husband had a terrible accident the following week. Coal was alone most of the time for several weeks. He sure was happy to see people when they came to let him out and when I got home but he was fine. Now we are retired and home all the time and to tell you the truth, my dogs sleep more than they are awake. They play first thing in the morning, sleep for hours, play again in the afternoon, sleep..etc.

Fozz is right about the social aspect. When I was going through the accident issue, I had friends spend time with Coal and when I came home I took him out to the bar that I own, so he got his people fix regularly.

Tracey

[beckysmyth92]

Hello there

I brought Dakota home when she was 11 weeks old and she will be one year old on 26 March I live in a 2nd floor flat too, and Im working 18.5 hours a week over 4 days, and my partner works 5 days a week full time, so she is alone for some time by herself and I must say she is great! However when she was a puppy when we left her at home she did destroy our wallpaper while we were out and we've had to redecorate the hall! But other than that she has been fantastic, and when I come home she greets me with kisses and jumps up to give me hugs! Its incredible

When Dakota was just a pup I always carried her up the stairs but when she got to around 5 months old she walked up and down them, at the start when I was teaching her to come up and down stairs she would go up them but not down lol but she eventually got the hang of it!

Another thing I would advise you is to ensure you have time every day/other day to groom him/her! These dogs are heavy shedders and require a lot of grooming! I find my self vacuuming sometimes twice a day when she sheds its insane! but shes so worth it

All these stories we read of aggressive chows, I personally think its to do with the way they are raised. I treat Dakota like a baby and she is just so loveable towards everyone! However if she smells someone come up the stairs she doesn't recognise like delivery guys etc she would bark a few times at the door but other than that we never hear a peep from her she's just a pleasure to have! Any other dog I had growing up would bark every time we had visitors etc but Dakota never ever barks unless she's trying to protect me from something!

Hope this helps you make your decision

[Ingrid]

Buy from a reputable breeder who has been breeding for years for temperament. Someone who has a male and a female chow who breeds them out of their backyard doesn't qualify as a reputable breeder. Try to find someone who has been in the breed for at least 5 years, someone who shows their chows at confirmation events, obedience events and who does all the required health screen testing for genetic issues in their breeding stock. For chows this would be hip displaysia and possibly eye problems. You also want someone who isn't just breeding for looks but also for great temperament. Crasigslist should not be where you start your search. Reach out to your local chow chow breed club, you can find it on the web and ask for a list of breeders from then. Then you can visit their kennels and meet their dogs before committing to a puppy.

Enroll your pup in puppy kindergarten, basic and advanced obedience as she grows. Socialize, socialize socialize. Chows have a protective instinct that can be problematic if the pup was not properly socialized, exposed to strange people, dogs and kids as a puppy. A well bred chow that is well socialized will make a great pet. Do your homework on breeders and get references from clients.