jasmine
Well-Known Member
Am getting one of thest beautys. Just wondered if anyone has had any experience with them. Thanks
Smooth coated Chow
- Thread starter jasmine
- Start date
ShadowFlame
Well-Known Member
Ahh lucky you. IMO, there is NOTHING better than a Chow Chow
I have a rough Chow (though from what I understand rough and smooth are the same apart from coat length) who will be 5 months old on Saturday, I've had her since she was 7wks old. Have you done much research on the breed? They are quite different to most other dogs.
Chows are aloof - they don't like strangers. If brought up correctly and socialised well from a puppy, you shouldn't have a problem, but don't expect them to ever be affectionate to anyone outside the family - it won't happen. My girl will tolerate strangers and will investigate them, but won't allow them to touch her. She is never nasty, but will stay out of reach at all times. They smell different to other dogs, so a lot of dogs won't accept them. This can be a problem if you have another dog at home. They are very clean dogs and it is typical that you will have a battle when it comes to getting a Chow outside in bad weather (though my Chow is the exception - she loves puddles
).
You can't let a Chow off lead, no matter how much they love you - they won't come back. They are independant (not pack dogs) and so just run and believe me, for such chunky dogs, they sure can run! They are very intelligent, but will only perform if they can see a point to the training. With the right food, my Chow can learn a new command within about 5 mins, and she doesn't forget it. However, if she can't see a point to doing it, then she won't.
They are very quiet (rarely bark) and are generally well behaved, even as puppies. My girl loves her walks and you will end up with "Chow Chow zoomies" no matter how old they are. 10 mins of manic racing round the house, just because they can! They are loyal and affectionate with their own families, but are a dominant breed. Very much a case of give them and inch and they will take a mile - you do have to be very firm with them when it comes to bad behaviour.
Do be warned though, that Chows are prone to entropion (a condition where the eyelashes grow towards the eye. It can cause a lot of damage to the eye, and the only treatment is surgery), so buying from a reputable breeder is a must, though entropion does still crop up on occasion even in the best bloodlines. Also, many Chows have an intolerance to anaesthetic, which can kill them.
Off the top of my head, that's all I can think of. They are a wonderful breed (my favourite by far), but aren't the easiest to look after. Have you picked out a pup yet? Would love to see piccies!!
Chows are aloof - they don't like strangers. If brought up correctly and socialised well from a puppy, you shouldn't have a problem, but don't expect them to ever be affectionate to anyone outside the family - it won't happen. My girl will tolerate strangers and will investigate them, but won't allow them to touch her. She is never nasty, but will stay out of reach at all times. They smell different to other dogs, so a lot of dogs won't accept them. This can be a problem if you have another dog at home. They are very clean dogs and it is typical that you will have a battle when it comes to getting a Chow outside in bad weather (though my Chow is the exception - she loves puddles
You can't let a Chow off lead, no matter how much they love you - they won't come back. They are independant (not pack dogs) and so just run and believe me, for such chunky dogs, they sure can run! They are very intelligent, but will only perform if they can see a point to the training. With the right food, my Chow can learn a new command within about 5 mins, and she doesn't forget it. However, if she can't see a point to doing it, then she won't.
They are very quiet (rarely bark) and are generally well behaved, even as puppies. My girl loves her walks and you will end up with "Chow Chow zoomies" no matter how old they are. 10 mins of manic racing round the house, just because they can! They are loyal and affectionate with their own families, but are a dominant breed. Very much a case of give them and inch and they will take a mile - you do have to be very firm with them when it comes to bad behaviour.
Do be warned though, that Chows are prone to entropion (a condition where the eyelashes grow towards the eye. It can cause a lot of damage to the eye, and the only treatment is surgery), so buying from a reputable breeder is a must, though entropion does still crop up on occasion even in the best bloodlines. Also, many Chows have an intolerance to anaesthetic, which can kill them.
Off the top of my head, that's all I can think of. They are a wonderful breed (my favourite by far), but aren't the easiest to look after. Have you picked out a pup yet? Would love to see piccies!!
jasmine
Well-Known Member
Thank you so much for replying. I spoke to a lovely lady at manchester dog show about the smooths. She had a bitch and she got her friends dog out, so i could see the differece between sexes. She gave me loads of info and ive brought 2 books.
Didnt realise about the smelling different.....i have 2 shiba inus.
Was hoping to go to crufts tom and meet some other breeders, but i have to work.
Didnt realise about the smelling different.....i have 2 shiba inus.
Was hoping to go to crufts tom and meet some other breeders, but i have to work.
ShadowFlame
Well-Known Member
Ahh, I looked at Shibas before I settled on a Chow - lovely little dogs. I guess it depends on the dogs as to whether they will accept a Chow. Some dogs seem facinated my mine and can't quite work out whether or not she's a dog, some treat her like any other dog, but some take an instant disliking to her. Unfortunately one of those that took an instant disliking was our current dog, and 3 months later he is still vile to her. It is a shame because she adores other dogs and all she ever wants to do is play with our other dog, but he won't tolerate having her within 2ft of him. I'm now debating whether to get another dog because I feel sorry for her, though I didn't really want more than 2!
Here's my girl only 2wks after she came home (9wks old here). How could I say no to that face??
Feel free to PM me if you want any help.
ETA: Just noticed you're in the West Midlands. I am too, so can point you in the direction of some of the breeders in the area if that would help? I got my girl from a place in Warwickshire, but she's not show quality and they don't have litters very often.
Here's my girl only 2wks after she came home (9wks old here). How could I say no to that face??
Feel free to PM me if you want any help.
ETA: Just noticed you're in the West Midlands. I am too, so can point you in the direction of some of the breeders in the area if that would help? I got my girl from a place in Warwickshire, but she's not show quality and they don't have litters very often.
prose
Well-Known Member
What a cute wee fluffster
We had a chow in our agility class recently. She was a champion and mother of the top-ranked chow in the US at the moment. More importantly, she was ever so sweet and much goofier than most Chows I've met. I know they aren't the easiest breed, but I enjoy their cat-like personalities--quite unique.
We had a chow in our agility class recently. She was a champion and mother of the top-ranked chow in the US at the moment. More importantly, she was ever so sweet and much goofier than most Chows I've met. I know they aren't the easiest breed, but I enjoy their cat-like personalities--quite unique.
CAYLA
Well-Known Member
What a cutie...I see why u like Akita's now...same kinds fluff ball
ShadowFlame
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
What a cutie...I see why u like Akita's now...same kinds fluff ball
[/ QUOTE ]
Yep - I'm a sucker for anything fluffy LOL. Akitas were the first breed I looked at, and I almost came home with a 6month old red and white girl, though she was a short coated. It was at that point that I found an advert for two Chow Chow pups that were about 20miles away - I went to see them and I couldn't leave without one, despite it being more than I wanted to spend on a dog.
Not all Chows are the mean, serious dogs they are made out to be. My little girl is quite the clown. Here's a more recent pic of her, taken earlier this week. She will be 5months on Saturday, and boy has that time flown!
What a cutie...I see why u like Akita's now...same kinds fluff ball
[/ QUOTE ]
Yep - I'm a sucker for anything fluffy LOL. Akitas were the first breed I looked at, and I almost came home with a 6month old red and white girl, though she was a short coated. It was at that point that I found an advert for two Chow Chow pups that were about 20miles away - I went to see them and I couldn't leave without one, despite it being more than I wanted to spend on a dog.
Not all Chows are the mean, serious dogs they are made out to be. My little girl is quite the clown. Here's a more recent pic of her, taken earlier this week. She will be 5months on Saturday, and boy has that time flown!
CAYLA
Well-Known Member
Since we are doing piccies.....lol
Your girl is gorgeous....they are of similar trait to Akita's in your description
jasmine
Well-Known Member
Oh she is gorgeous, i do like the roughs but that coat is not for me.
I looked at having an akita first, but my old shiba is 15 and i was worried about the akita turning on him.
Thank you for your offer of help, that is really kind. Not many people breed the smooths. So i may have a wait for a puppy.
I looked at having an akita first, but my old shiba is 15 and i was worried about the akita turning on him.
Thank you for your offer of help, that is really kind. Not many people breed the smooths. So i may have a wait for a puppy.
ShadowFlame
Well-Known Member
Gorgeous!
I do love long coated akitas, couldn't find any for sale when I was looking though.
I'm quite partial to the roughs myself, but all down to personal opinion. People are amazed when I tell them that I only brush her once a week, sometimes once a fortnight and she still looks perfect
Best thing you can do is email some of the local breeders and see if they know of anything, that's what I did and I did hear of a few smooths that were for sale. I know of a few breeders around Redditch, Kidderminster and Solihull, and they suggested some more that were local too. If It's helpful I can PM you their websites?
I'm determined to get myself another Chow at some point, though I can't afford it ATM. I'd love a cinnamon - maybe someday soon...
I'm quite partial to the roughs myself, but all down to personal opinion. People are amazed when I tell them that I only brush her once a week, sometimes once a fortnight and she still looks perfect
Best thing you can do is email some of the local breeders and see if they know of anything, that's what I did and I did hear of a few smooths that were for sale. I know of a few breeders around Redditch, Kidderminster and Solihull, and they suggested some more that were local too. If It's helpful I can PM you their websites?
I'm determined to get myself another Chow at some point, though I can't afford it ATM. I'd love a cinnamon - maybe someday soon...
jasmine
Well-Known Member
Thank you Shadow flame, that would be really kind of you. I would actually like a cream but they are really rare. Will prob go for black though, because both my shibas are red.