I am getting a chow chow puppy today!

DeadIrishD · Post by **DeadIrishD** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 11:32 am

I am getting a chow chow puppy today, she's a 9 week old female.

although I do know what I am getting myself into, as far as what the breed is like, I would like to know what your life is like with a chow.

ie: me and my last dog chow mix used to sleep together at night, and she was very human like, and would sleep next to me with her head on a pillow, she used to go for car rides with me, and used to go WHEREVER i did.

Post by **Auddymay** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 12:10 pm

I would be surprised if this one slept with you, for the most part, Chows like to sleep on cold, hard floors. My girls go everywhere with me in the car. Picking up the keys, or even putting shoes on is their cue to be ready to leave. When you get her, be sure to post photos!

Sojourner11 · Post by **Sojourner11** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 12:45 pm

Congrats on the new pup! Be sure to post a pic when you get him/her home. I'd say he/she will be similar in nature but still will be a different dog. I had a half-Chow, and have since adopted a pure Chow and they are polar opposites, so you never know.

Marshall,(half Chow pictured below) slept with me every night for his whole life. He may have moved around some during the night but he always started off sleeping right next to each me, or even between my shins curled up. But then again I dont have a whole lot of tile or hard floor anyway and I keep it like a meat locker in my house so every place is cold. I used to keep a large sleeping bag, the old nylon shell 0-deg type, butterfly'd open on my bed and used it as a comforter. This way if he drooled, dripped, slobbered, yakked, shedded or whatever it was easy to clean and I wasnt concerned if it ever got ruined. Better to mess up $40 sleeping bag than a $300 comforter. Plus the nylon exterior got really cold, so it was like a cool floor, just on a nice soft waterbed.

(I still have that sleeping bag and have washed it numerous times over the years and is still going strong)

Judy Fox · Post by **Judy Fox** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 12:46 pm

Welcome to the site. and congratulations on your new chowling.
Regarding what the chow chow is like, look back on the old threads and you will find all sorts of information.
Let us know when she arrives.

Yvonne · Post by **Yvonne** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 5:12 pm

Welcome to the site and congtratulations on your chowling.

My Cookie slept with me every night - we shared a pillow for over 13 years.

Brandon sleeps with me, but doesn't choose to share my pillow.

chowfrnd88 · Post by **chowfrnd88** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 5:15 pm

Welcome and congrats! Special Dark does not sleep with us, he either sleeps on the kitchen or bathroom tile of pressed against a window or in the middle of the floor in the living room!

DeadIrishD · Post by **DeadIrishD** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 5:20 am

she slept with us above the pillow between the wall and also right above my head.

she cries to be let out.

and she seems to like everyone.

she's a cinnamon color.

Judy Fox · Post by **Judy Fox** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 5:50 am

Aaaw! Bless her - she sounds gorgeous - have you chosen her name yet?

DeadIrishD · Post by **DeadIrishD** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 6:29 am

Bindy

Judy Fox · Post by **Judy Fox** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 9:56 am

That is lovely and different.

bama · Post by **bama** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 7:10 am

[quote="DeadIrishD"]Bindy[/quote]

Welcome to the site and congrats on your new girl!
If you have never had a chow, I think you are in for a treat!
I suggest that you read as many threads on this site as possible, you'll learn a lot. I don't recall seeing this posted anywhere, but you'll want to touch her, hold her, and rub her belly often. I know this is certainly mentioned on this site, but it can't be stressed enough...Keep her in a cool place. I don't know where you live, but she will most likely need to stay inside in the summer. It is very stressful on a chow to have them in the heat.
Should you have questions, you can always tune into this site.

DeadIrishD · Post by **DeadIrishD** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 9:17 am

I live in New Hampshire.
and she will only go outside when someone is out there with her, which is for exercise, and to go to the bathroom.

she was an outside dog, for the day and inside a crate at night, she's never going to be an outside dog again.

Judy Fox · Post by **Judy Fox** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 12:07 pm

The best thing I can advise is to socialise her as soon as possible and as often as possible in as many different places as possible.
When she has had her jabs, take her into town and encourage people to talk to her and pet her and make a fuss of her. Make sure nobody lunges at her but if you do socialise her and let her know that people are generally nice, she will be a happy and well balanced adult.
Make sure people do not approach her from behind as she could be startled 'cos she cannot see to the side. She will not have peripheral vision like other dogs.
Start now with teaching her to sit, to sit nicely for her food, perhaps give a paw for her food. That mouthing and pulling hands is not allowed - cute when a baby but not so cute when she is a full grown adult.
Snapping and growling is also not allowed - again when adult it is totally unacceptable.
In other words, if you want a well mannered Chow Chow you must teach the baby chowling your standards and that you are the Mummy Person and You Say and She Does!

DeadIrishD · Post by **DeadIrishD** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 12:59 pm

She is very well socialized.

She lives with me and six cats, and a next door dog named Scooby, of which is bigger, but when playing rough she can take him down, as I have been able to see, not to hurt but to play.

We have tons of people coming in and out, of our house so she gets alot of socialization, and as soon as she gets a little bit bigger, I will walk her everywhere I go.

I bought some training treats for her, by Nutro which is also what I am feeding her.

I am trying to teach her how to sit, not going to well.

She does not mouth or paw, she lays and sleeps though... quite a lazy dog, unless playing with Scooby.

she barks, and growls but does not bite humans, just scooby and they are only playing... what do I do to discourage this behavior?

I am also confused as to why she shows love more to other people than to me, but you can tell that she loves me more, or atleast knows that I am the one to go to for food, water, to take a walk, and just to be around when she feels unsafe as I will protect her. (or atleast thats what she makes it seem like, but since I am not her I cannot say for sure.)

Post by **jerryo** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 1:11 pm

Don't get too discouraged that the "sit" is not going well. Benny finally did two in a row last night (because he wanted the stew meat cubes, and because Lady was doing it right next to him) for the first time in the six months he has been here.

enchantedonyx · Post by **enchantedonyx** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 5:00 am

Jerry, that's exciting! Yay for Benny!

DeadIrish (interesting name, btw), yes, they are lazy little things. Which is why they suit apartment living and, exercise-wise, are quite low maintenance.

On the love thing. She doesn't love on you, mostly, because you want her to. Years of living with Tess has taught my family that if you want her to come to you, you have to get someone else to call her. I'm talking about the family sitting around watching tv and you want the dog to come to you to visit. She knows the "come" command and follows it well if you are in a setting in which her behavior is important. But, if you call her, she will walk through the room, avert her eyes from you, and go to the person sitting beside you on the couch, giving them purple kisses. And it doesn't matter who calls her. She will go to someone else, every time. It's so frustrating, but it's also kind of funny, the way she won't even look at you.

It's Chows. They love us and we love them, but as Jerryo said last week, they don't need to sit around talking about their love. Bindy knows her mom loves her and will be there to take care of her, but for the time being, if there are others around, she needs to visit them. Much more important. Mom is always there, she can see her any old time.

She may also draw a stronger attachment to you as she gets older. She's such a baby still, still needs to explore her world and learn about people. Honestly, I wish Tess liked others more-she's so timid that most of our friends and neighbors have never petted her because she runs from them.

Post by **Auddymay** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 8:53 am

It took Lily a couple months before she cared if I drew breath. She also wrestled with her big sister Pip since the day we brought her home. She knows the difference between peeps and fellow dogs. The fact that she likes other people is a good thing. As time goes by, you'll see there are some that your pup loves more than others. There will even be a few she doesn't like at all.

Post by **chris** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 2:39 pm

HI there.. and welcome to the site. Im a little confused, and maybe I read it wrong.. but you said your new pup is 9 weeks old and was an outside dog? Do you mean 9 months old? Or were all the puppies just outside all the time?

Yvonne · Post by **Yvonne** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 7:39 pm

Welcome, Bindy! Another chow chow for us to admire.

I'm confused about the same thing Chris is. Is this a rescue dog, or a pup?

And they're lazy unless they get the zoomies! If you've never had a chowchow, beware of zoomies!

DeadIrishD · Post by **DeadIrishD** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 8:19 pm

chris wrote:HI there.. and welcome to the site. Im a little confused, and maybe I read it wrong.. but you said your new pup is 9 weeks old and was an outside dog? Do you mean 9 months old? Or were all the puppies just outside all the time?

I was told that she spent the majority of the day outside, and was in a kennel at night, but after talking to the owner im confused.