Does anyone have a chow chow?

[KaPowOwl]

We are considering this breed. My husband has owned three in the past, his last one died the year before we got together, so he's an experienced owner who knows the breed very well.

I love the look of them and am aware they're aloof as a breed and also they're a guard dog - I've never owned one before though

So my question is to those who have one .. just wanted to know your experiences

We don't have one but someone on our estate does and we often bump into them on dog walks and the biggest thing I'd say about them is they are definitely one person dogs!

Hers is very stubborn and has terrible separation anxiety. When she walks her she's fine but her husband has real difficulty because the dog doesn't have the same attachment to him plus she unfortunately doesn't like going to doggy daycare as she's not into other dogs. I'd describe her as both simultaneously antisocial and fixated which is an odd mix.

I've never had one but used to know someone who had one when I was a kid. We used to bump into the man who owned it on the school run, and I'd stroke the dog while the adults chatted. Lovely, placid thing. But it used to refuse to get up again once it had sat down. When we all went our separate ways I used to look back at that man trying desperately to make the dog start walking again!

@YourNameGoesHere yes think some of that's true.

My DH said he never had an issue with his previous chows and they were all 'pleasant' to people when out and about if approached and equally loving to all members of the family but they wouldn't approach people

@SunshineIndoors123 yeah my husbands last one literally refused to properly walk .. shuffled and sniffed and just stopped when he'd had enough

Someone has two locally. She makes a big effort to not walk them near other dogs or people (difficult around here but she'll literally turn around and walk back the way she came). Always on leads. From what I've read about them they strike me as not having many pros if I'm honest, beyond having a distinctive look (if that's your thing).

We used to have a neighbour with one , he’d had quite a few but hasn’t replaced this one after it died a few years back . It was stubborn and very anti social to dogs and people , and he said that all the previous ones had been the same to some degree . I suppose you must be buying them for the look .

@Unluckycat1 it's more that other dogs don't like them tbh!

@Floralnomad why would you suppose that?!!

Hopefully an actual owner will come along soon 😊

So, to be clear, we are considering the breed and we are doing so because my husband has owned the breed all his life bar the past 8 years so he is experienced with them. The look of them doesn't particularly factor in as a main consideration

Im not experienced with them. Hence just wanting to chat to owners

I’ve never met a well socialised one that mixes well with other dogs.

I think owners will tell you exactly what those already posting on the thread are telling you. Your husband is telling you the same thing too so this shouldn't come as a surprise?

All I know about them is that they're not suitable with young children as they have a tendency to be aggressive and very strong.
I think they're one of those dogs that you need to be experienced (your husband is) and obviously don't have children or visiting children.

We had one, he shuffled off the mortal coil a few years ago but he was a lovely dog.

Laziest creature I've ever met, had to be dragged on a walk every day. If he had enough that was it, he'd just lie down.

Smart but stubborn. He was not easy to train because he'd only do things when he felt like it. He'd often look at me like I just dribbled on my shirt when I asked him to sit or lie down.

We socialised him LOADS as a puppy so he was ok with other dogs, but he said hello to them like they were another species. Not playful at all just a sort of aloof patience. He'd just sort of politely watch them bouncing around until they went away.

He tolerated the attentions of people outside his family but was very sweet natured with his "pack", quite cuddly and affectionate.

He was wonderful with my DD when she was little, absolutely angelic with her even when she was crawling all over him. Very protective of her too.

Required professional grooming regularly!

Overall I wouldn't get one again, I'm much more a fan of big, lanky, lumbering dogs, but he was a Very Good Boy and I loved him dearly.

I suppose it boils down to - do you want a chow or do you want a pet? Chows are notoriously stubborn and aloof (and the few I’ve met have lived up to that stereotype).

if you want a chow - well, your DH has experience which is good.
If you want a pet - probably not the best choice.

@VeridicalVagabond ha ha. I just read that description out to DH and asked him if it described his experience.

He said 'yep. That's a chow to a tee.'

We don't have young children - youngest is 16.

Well, it's either a chow or a rough coated sausage dog! 😀

It needs a lot more thought.

Those are very different dogs. Start with what you can provide. Exercise? Grooming? Training? Go from there

@Wolfiefan yes totally different! Can provide whatever required really. I work for myself from home.

I know we don't want something that requires huge amounts of exercise but two up to an hour each walks a day isn't an issue.

I'm also quite drawn to a less needy dog I suppose too - although I know that's not the character of the sausage.

A Wolfie would be too big sadly!

Haha. Don’t worry. I won’t try and sell you on a wolfhound!!
Think about what you do want and what you don’t. Some breeds need more grooming. Some are prone to separation anxiety. Always worth considering what they were bred for too.

Have you looked at the Eurasier? Similar look to a Chow Chow, but an (apparently) more active and sensible dog without some of the drawbacks.

If you're experienced dog owners with time and older teens are you not in a good position to look for a rescue?

The size of a chow chow would put me off, they are huge, basically small bears 🐻

@Girliefriendlikespuppies ah they're not really big! Classed more as a medium sized dog. They are however very very fluffy and that, along with their stout stance can make them look bigger than they are - males especially

I don't want to go down the rescue route for various reasons

We had 3 chows when I was a child, and I'll echo everything PPs have said. All of our three were completely stubborn and did everything on their own terms. You could throw a ball for them, but unless they were in the mood to play (which was pretty rare), they would just look at it as if to say 'you threw it, you fetch it!'.

They were definitely all my dad's dogs, they were affectionate enough with the rest of us, but would really only listen to my dad. The two older ones were not good with strangers but the third loved everyone.

The older two could be walked a good distance, but the third had to be dragged out and would generally sit down and refuse to move past the end of the street. She was also terrified of electricity boxes and would point blank not walk past one.

The fur... the moulting is insane. People actually spin and knit jumpers with the fur! My dad used to fill bin bags when he brushed them. They looked gorgeous when brushed but it took a lot of effort and made a lot of mess.

The oldest two were fantastic guard dogs, and would bark at strangers approaching the house. The third took no notice and would happily sleep through people arriving.

Picture below of one of our dogs (the crazy third one!). All three are long gone now, but they were amazing dogs to grow up with.

The suggestion by @Sarvanga38 of a Eurasier is a good one. Lovely looking dogs, have something of a chow vibe, but active, engaged and social - at least, our local one was until she ended up being kept on the lead all the time. She has got some prey drive, but not (from what I've seen of her) that intense commitment that eg spaniels have.

@KaPowOwl if you are in the market for a slightly stubborn single minded with grooming requirements dog, but want the dog & human friendly version on a slightly smaller scale, then I think you want a Tibetan Terrier!
Bonkers at times, class clown with a mind of their own but absolutely lovely!

(I've finally convinced mine that Agility is the sport for him... after 6 months of demonsyrating how to jump over a hurdle while DDogwatched, sniggering to himself!🤣)

@Ylvamoon ooh yes. How funny you should say that - I was pondering on them last night! Do you have a pic of yours?!