Hi all,
I wonder if anyone can help me,I am after some advise about Chow chows.I am an experienced dog owner looking way in to the future and doing some research.Are there any Chow owners who can answer a few questions?I would be most grateful.I have looked at the chow club website and a few breeders sites but what I am after is what are they REALY like?Do they generaly get on with other dogs?How hard is it to keep them groomed?Are they tolerant of children(not too young)?Any other things I should be aware of?
I realise they are not that common and I would  expect to have to get on a waiting list with a good breeder but before I am anywhere near  doing that I would realy apreciate your opinions.Also are the smooth coats harder to find ?Many,many thanks to anyone who can help,
Hazel

Hi Hazel,

All I can relate to you is my experience of growing up with them. This was back in the 1970's and our boy Yogi, lived until he was nine years old. They are stubborn/pig headed and nigh on impossible to train:-) i am not trying to put you off but they are definitely one for the experienced owner. I was 4 when we had our first one and he didnt suffer fools gladly, they are extremely independent and generally only want you when they want food/walk etc. They tend to lean towards one person in the family and i woudnt recommend them as a "family dog". My mother was nuts about them, hence we had them. I ended up in hospital for tetanus jabs on more than one occasion, I did tend to tease, as any child will ;-) But he was impatient with me to say the least!! They are not playful, and he was not sociable with other dogs. He would fight at the first chance. Even with the others. When ever we saw  another dog when we were out, he used to wrap us round lamposts to get to it.(cats used to get chased with a vengence)  he had a terrible tendency to run away at the first sign of an open door and we could never let him off the lead in a public place as he just wouldnt come back! Of course there are positive sides, a good guard dog, he was house trained within days and was not at all destructive, but for interaction (I now own a Briard and GSD) I would give him 1 our of 10. Grooming is not a problem, they are quite smelly as they have very thick coats, but it is just the undercoat that malts, they leave little tufts rather than sheets around the place. The only problem can be their bottoms, as their tail is on their back and when they get the squits it can take an age to wash and brush:-( Sorry to mention this but it is important) Generally they have good solid stomachs and not much upsets them, they are very solid dogs (temperament) nothing worries them and they dont show nerves. Think of a lion;-) Their mouths are very loose and you will be clearing up their slobber forever. Whenever we had our boy out,people would look in fascination at his black tongue. They are stronger than they look and could pull a car if you hitched it onto the back of them Lol. Our one went through about 10 good strong leather entwined leads!! He was predictable in all that he did, and i still hold a soft spot for the breed, but as for having one again............no thank you:-) Before all chow owners vilify me for my analogy of them, i am only relating my experience of the breed :-0 it all depends what you want out of a dog, and they dont suit my personality, my mother still had 2 up until 3 years ago.
Ps. I didnt know of the existance of smooth coats, when we had them there was only 2 colours to be had, red and black, no variation in texture of coats:-)

I own two chows at the moment,
I would not want any other breed.
They are very stuborn.
If they don't see a reason for doing something they won't do it.
As for slobbering all over the house I can assure you mine don't.
Smell they dont either.
They will put their life on the line for you.I would walk anywhere any time with Khan and know i would be O.K.
No onw would ever break in either.
As for being a one person dog I have not found that.
My two are great with kids.
Other dogs.Mine ar Ok with other dogs with the exeption to German shepards.Khan is up for it when he sees one.
He has been attacked by numerous german shepards. So you can't blame him for that.
Ling is another kettle of fish she just wants to play with everone and everything.
There are many differant colours of chows.There are Creams,Blacks,Blues,Fawns,Red & Shaded reds.
There is one kennel in Oldham who breeds mostly smoths.
You have to be careful with chows eyes.Entropia is a problem.
They are not distructive dogs.They are also very clean.
I don't think you can compare chows of 20 years ago to the chows of today.
I take my dogs into town and they dont wrap me round lamposts.
One problem it takes me longer to shop because everyone is all round them .
All I can say is be careful who you buy one from.,
If you wan't to take a look at my boy type in your search engine.Chowpers Bobby Dazzler.
That is my boy and I love him to bits.
No other dog for me only chows.
Chow

Hi Chow,
Thank you so much for your reply.He's so lovely!He just makes you want to hug him.I found a great website whilst searching for him too so thank you.I will be going to discover dogs at the weekend and hope to have a chat with the people on the Chow  stand and we all want to meet a Chow!They do seem to be quite a rareity and I have only spoken to a couple of people who actualy own them(one lady has 14!)
One other thing-do they have small litters?I only ask as where I have seen  litters advertised there only seems to be 2 or 3 puppies(may be all that's left that's why I ask).If we were to consider getting one I would go through the breed club don't worry(I have been on here long enough to know the ins and outs)
Thank you again for your advice,it realy is apreciated.I have so many many questions as this is such a big decision to have 2 dogs I realy want to get it right,thanks again,
Hazel

Hazel
I'm in Lancashire.If you are close you can come and meet mine anytime.
Where are you?
This Sunday it is The Northern Counties Champ show.Its near St Helens.
Chows are not an easy breed to mate.
My black boy who died 2 years ago was in a litter of seven.Khan was in a litter of Five and Ling was in a litter of five.
I know lots who have only had ones tws and threes in litters.
If you wan't to email me private feel free.My email is anderchow@btinternet.Com
Chow

Hi Hazel my parents have owned chows for the last 20 odd years in answers to you questions
they are stuborn and have a mind of there own .
to keep there coat in good condition is not to bad a good groom once a week is enough to take out dead hair and check for any knotts in the coat but training them to stand still to be groomed is a different story this must be started when they are young so they get the idea  of being groomed.
years ago they were not very good with children but the temperment has changed over the years my parents dogs love to see the grandchildren but only in small doses they dont like being pulled around much but if children are around from day one of you geting a pup then they will get used to it my parents have sold pups to people with children and they have all been ok .
smooths are harder to get.
hope this helps 

Thank you so much for your replys.That is just what I was after,real experience.You can read books ,websites etc but they never realy prepare you for the reality.Chows realy facinate me and the only thing that realy concerns me is the difficulty in training.I have only ever owned dogs that were very easy to train so it would be a challenge!
Is there a way of finding out about dog shows in my area where I might meet some owners?They had a few on the Chow club site but they were all miles away.I am in north Herts but don't mind travelling too far.Is there a dog show site that lists the shows and what breeds would be there?(please forgive my ignorance).I would love to meet a few and their owners.I am in no rush and want to find out as much as possible-good and bad- before I get my heart set on one!Thanks again for your help,
Hazel

Hi Hazel,

If you want a dog that poses a challenge but is totally loveable and to die for ;-) try a Briard :-)

Hi Charliefarley

Have you had a look at the Eurasier, They have Chow in them but are easy to train and great with children.

Chili

Hi Chili,
Thank you so much for your suggestion.After reading your post I did a google on them,what lovely dogs.I couldn't find much practical info  though.Do you own one?They look ideal for a family.Do you know where I might find out more?Are they very rare and would I realisticly be able to get one?lots of questions I know,sorry about that but I realy want to get it right and all advice and opinions are welcome.Many thanks again,
Hazel

HI

The first ever dog I owned was a Black Chow. She was very stubborn, totally untrainable (but so was I then!!  LOL). Inever had any trouble grooming her and when my children came along she adored them and never growled or showed any anger towards them. Later on my husband I i took on a fawn Chow dog from Chow rescue and the 2 of them got on like a house on fire.

I now own GSD's ( only because my husbands family bred gsd's), but Chow Chows will always be my first love. I do hope to have one again in the future, I love the stubborness and all the odd little traits they have. They are so loving (but yes, generally pick one person in the family!)

good luck in your quest!

Nikki

Hi Nikki,
Thanks for your reply.Ever since I was  little they have facinated me,I have only ever seen one or two in real life.We are going to Crufts at the weekend especialy to go to discover dogs and get lots of info on a couple of breeds.Funny you should have a black one,I always wanted a Black one called Leo!
I had read that they had a bad reputation in the 70's and were over bred by the wrong kind of breeders but much has improved since then.I can't imagine anyone wanting one to look "hard"-they look like giant teddy bears!
Many thanks again,
Hazel

That is quite interesting, as older people often ask me if my Elkhounds are chow GSD crosses!!

There is a Chow Lab cross that walks near my Dad.  He is a Handsome and Prick eared lad, and looks like an old fashioned chow with more muzzle and less deep set eyes, and he has a coat like a smooth chow but heavier, and of course is Black.

He sounds wonderful.I wonder why when doing my research I have come accross SO many Chow crosses?I have read about them being crossed with just about anything of a similer size,anyone with any experiance of them seems to have a cross!I have absolutely nothing against crosses I just wondered why?