goldchow

This Chow would need to go to an experienced Chow family, not just to anyone. Try contacting Hongchau Chows on the Dogzonline chow breeder list, Marg is secretary of the Chow Club of NSW.

Totally agree Celidah. meant to ask whether the breeder had been contacted at all. This person has obviously not had any guidance or support with the care of this chowboy because the issues she mentions could easily have been dealt with more positively if the family had had some experienced support. I wouldn't mind betting he's a pet shop puppy, it all sounds so familliar

This was answered in the other thread but there is more information here than there was there. Chows, despite being labelled by some as aggressive, are more likely to be attacked by other dogs than the other way around and which is why I recommend my puppy buyers to always have the chow on lead and strictly supervised while outside his yard, and to keep well away from off leash parks. No one really knows why, perhaps its the different smell, perhaps its the straight stifle which is seen as an aggressive stance by other dogs. In 35 years I have only ever found two dog trainers who knew and understood the chow temperament, the first was a Pom who had worked with Chows in England, the other is a local lady who is brilliant with all dogs and who has made the effort to learn and understand and accept that the Chow is a totally different breed requiring a totally different approach. I have had 30 or more foster children through my home over 25 years, together with at least eight Chows in residence and never once did we have any problem. When a Chow is resting, he has to be left alone, he is not a friendly cocker or lab and anyone who has chows and taken an interest in the breed would know that this is a very basic rule in the world of the Chow, LEAVE THEM ALONE when they have had enough and are sleeping. The Chow is a breed that must have respect. As I said in the other thread it is very difficult to find a behavourist who understands the chow nature enough to be able to help and a trainer at this stage in his life is pointless. Shaving a chow can also create problems emotionally and which is why chow breeders recommend the chow not be shaved. If one doesn't have time for the grooming, don't get a coated breed. There is probably nothing wrong with this chow, but I repeat, it would be near on impossible to rehome this boy on what you have written above unless you can find an experienced chow family who would know how to deal with what could be his enviromentally created problems otherwise you only have one other option which would be kinder for him. Again if you had taken the time to understand and know this breed you would already know that the Chow does not rehome well particularly at the age he is.

Lilli the only vet I'd recommend anywhere in Brisbane is Ian MacBride at Deagon which unfortunately for you is on the north side of Brisbane but just off the Gateway arterial. For 40 years he's been a brilliant breeders vet, the hands on type who can diagnose almost 100% correctly within 5 minutes of examination and asking questions. He's semi retired and is away for several months each year (heading off in February) but he may fill your need until you find someone you feel confident with closer. Ian may also be able to recommend someone, he's very well known in the vet circles. Really good breeder vets seem to be few and far between nowadays.

I agree SharPeiRescue, whoever did this surgery has gone way over the top and totally destroyed the look of the Pei. One of my chows had to have this facelift op done many years ago, a horrendous op I'd never wish on any dog but she still looked like a chow afterwards and certainly didn't have such a massive load of skin removed. She actually had a fold of skin which was pushing the eyelashes onto the eyes and did not have entropian as such. We have a local unregistered breeder breeding these Peis, all so blind they'd run into kennel walls and the trees in the excercise area, the "breeder' assured me that 'This was normal" Whats even more heartbreaking is that she refuses to take them to an excellent sharpei vet at Lowood to have their eyes seen to. She hasn't been back since.

I have only just found this thread with Christmas and all and I have to agree with SharPeiRescue on this. I have had many chow rescues through here, most finish up staying because they come in at eight years or more with various behaviour issues, mainly because they have not been afforded the proper care and socialization this breed MUST have, and finding the 'right' home with someone who is familliar enough with this breed to take on a chow who already has issues is impossible. I would also consider rehoming a 'fear biter' as irresponsible. It would also be interesting to know who and what sort of training this chow has had. This breed should never be trained by anyone other than their owner on the end of the lead, under the supervision if necessary, of a trainer who is aware of and accepts that this is not a breed well accepting of normal obedience training and who is prepared to make allowances accordingly. Its extremely cruel to rehome a chow at this age without at least giving it a chance to adjust to the new addition. Possibly a rethink/look at the way this chow is being cared for because I find it amazing that it is a fear biter. Chows are normally naturally protective of their family, and despite what some say, they are usually excellent with well behaved, supervised children, and I do feel there has to be something amiss in his environment or perhaps he's possibly been allowed to assume an Alpha position in the family to have this behavioural issue. Chows will very quickly take over the household if allowed, and firm, fair and consistent discipline is an absolute must as one would a child. They need to know where their place is as a loved part of the family with one or more adults as recognised pack leaders. Relegating the Chow to outside is only going to make matters worse. Chows do not respond to the normal training methods and at this age it would be pointless, any changes have to come from within his family. Also agree with SharPeiRescue that if this family feel they cannot deal with the Chows behaviour and a new baby, and an experienced Chow home cannot be found, it would be kinder to give him his wings than to attempt to rehome him at this late stage with this problem. This breed does not relocate well. The bond the Chow develops with his family is very strong and often, once broken he never bonds with anyone again no matter how great his new home is, which is why it is so very important that those purchasing the lovely cuddly teddy bear chow puppy need to be prepared to devote the next 15 years of their lives providing the proper care for this breed.

Those passionate about their breed will never be legislated out of existance, they just go underground.

I have used Eagle Pack natural since it was first available and found it the only dry biscuit one of my girls could eat without breaking out in the itches. Supplies have dwindelled to non existant in this area (South Burnett, Qld). As mentioned earlier the Great Dane lady has withdrawn her support after the death of the fellow who spent 25 years perfecting the EP recipes and the new owners who have stated they will will be discontinuing the export of EP, which is what we have put down to the lack of supplies, whether that is the case I don't know. I understand they have also changed the recipes. Recent Correspondence with the Great Dane lady tells us that the founder of EP shared his recipes with a very good friend in Italy who plans to begin distributing EP, as Golden Eagle from Italy next year, and that it will be available in Australia.

I'd say youre' right Steve, he's the cheapest vet in town.

From what we've seen so far the incident seems to have been handled quite well as far as Bio Security and the RSPCA are concerned, perhaps the uproar from previous cases elswhere is being taken on board.

That is correct Jed, there's alot not being shown.

Roselene why don't you contact Dr Jean Dodds DVM in California, www.hemopet.org. On her recent visit she explained that any of us can download the appropriate forms from her website with instructions on specific labeling terms to use, get a vet to collect the blood and then for you to post, to reach her within 14 days. Her cost was something like between $20 and $30 for an in house test with results known within four hours emailled to you She does titre testing from all over the world. Just a thought.

I have purchased Technyflex from Green Vet and Vet Products Online without any problems. Currently have the 80 tablets on the way in the mail from Vet Products Online.

Kts Here, Has your friend been back in touch with the breeder of his chow? Skin problems tend to be heriditary and in some particular lines. Chows have different requirements in dietary and skin care than other breeds and this is where this boys breeder should be able to offer assistance. This chows diet needs to be re assessed, anything over 22% protein generally results in skin problems, especially in the heat. Chows tend to not do well on commercial foods and do not tolerate preservatives, wheat, corn or soy. All my chows are fed raw chicken/fish/ offal with some cooked brown rice and quite alot of vitamized vegetables. Your friends chow may benefit from some added chelated zinc to his diet and as has been suggested, the omega 3,6 s etc in the form of salmon oil, flaxseed oil etc. Try Advocate, it will work very well if its mange, and Chows can get a type of mange that other dogs don't, Advocate should work. There is an injection the Chow can have for it, can't remember what its called offhand having never had to use it. Meanwhile bathe the Chow in Malaseb once or twice a week to relieve the itching until the Advocate kicks in, usually about three to four weeks. Once the Advocate kicks in stop the Malaseb (it drys the skin out and aggravates any itchyness) and use only gentle, all natural shampoos, which must be rinsed out thoroughly. Obviously the chows grooming needs to be maintained at all times and kept completley free of fleas. I haven't met a chow yet who isn't highly allergic to them. This is very brief but hopefully it will give your friend something to think about. Feel free to contact me privately if you think I can help any further. I should also add that most vets are not familliar with the chow breed. Depending on where you are I may be able to put you in touch with chow breeders and which vets they use. Cheers

C.L.E.A.R Dog Trainining is holding a seminar on Wednesday July 2nd at 6.45pm at the Carina Leagues Club, Corner Creek Rd & Zahel St, Carina, Brisbane. Bookings before the 11th June, $30.00 entry or $25.00 for members of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. Bookings after 11th June will be $35.00 per person. Registrations & further details can be seen at www.cleardogtraining.com>seminars. Registrations with a cheque/money order to C.L.E.A.R Dog Training + a stamped self addressed envelope to PO Box 9342, Wynnam Plaza Qld 4178 Enquiries: 3390-4272 BH or email [email protected]. Dr Debbie Calnon BSc,BVMS,MACVS (Animal Behaviour) will be the guest speaker concerning Practical Assessment and Management of Difficult Dogs"

Hi Doog, Ian MacBride at Deagon Vet Clinic, Board St is excellent and is also opening a new clinic at North Lakes. Stephen Lindores at Albany Creek also offers best practice and I have found him very good in times when Ian Mac is away. Phil Thomas, the repo specialist at Brisbane Vetereinary Specialist Centre Chermside is also very good. He has his own general practice at Mitchellton which is perhaps abit of a hike for you.

I think you will find Gary at Canine Country has taken over the Bucket of Beef when they closed, don't know if he has continued with it or just sold all the remaining products but like others have said, you'd go a long way to get anything better than Canine Countrys composite mix.

Hi Muckypup I have Chows and no, the chow is not meant to be shaved, which does ruin the coat, and which eventually grows back thicker than ever and quite unmanageable. I have had a few rescue chows here who had been neglected and the coat is just a huge matt in which case I have no option but to clip them off. Others have been shaved annually hence their coat is totally unmanageable and have to be clipped regularly with a TDQ (Take Down Quick) blade which is indispensible and leaves abit of length. The chows double coat serves as an insulation against the heat as well as the cold but regular grooming is essential, particularly while they are blowing coat.

Used to use Bonnie regularly for both adults and pups and was very happy with it. Yes it was roo in it Jed, believe it is now chicken due to some minority group jumping up and down about the national emblem being used. You could see and feel the oil in each biscuit and the dogs all had lovely shiny coats and did well on it. That all changed sometime after Purina bought the company. Many complaints went in from this area, everyone in the Working Dog Club used to use it, they were assured no changes had been made, however the difference in the dogs was marked, plus it cost considerably more. Haven't used it for ages now, its totally different to what it used to be.

Like Jed I would also go for (a) but reluctantly, and only because my breed requires a lower protein level.

Hi Mickatie, I have weaned my last puppy onto EP large breed puppy biscuits, plus the raw necks, vegies etc and have been very happy with the results. This last month he has been transferred to the EP Natural, lower protein as advised and again is doing very well. The Eagle Pack people are very helpful and great to deal with and would be more than happy to help and advise.

Used to use Ivermectin for heartworm, the dosage on the bottle from the vet is 1 ml per 15kg.

I too have used Advocate for a girl with severe demodex and as Nardia says, its not an instant fix but worked very well. I found it took 3 months, along with diet, stress free, the washes etc but she was almost bald to begin with. The Ivomec and Demodex washes tend to flatten the immune system even further and in this case the girl was rapidly becoming so bad I was considering euthanasia.

Hi Falgall, Caught up on my emails, well some of them, last night and found a previous one from you re Mia and Demodex. Firstly she's a Chow and this breed is notorious for low immune system problems and are also VERY sensitive to stress. You may even find the anaesthetic will increase the mites activity. You will need to watch or amend her diet, a good quality biscuit without wheat, soy or corn, and many chows react badly to beef and roo. I have had tremendous success by adding kelp, powdered sulphur and dolomite to their dinner and lots of omega oils. The addition of a buffered Vit C, or Ester C also helps because it encourages the system to produce its own cortisone and therefore helps fight off the mites. Chows do best with all natural shampoos and particular care must be taken that every trace of shampoo is rinsed off I used Phyohex once and wasn't at all happy with it, neither was the Chow. AllersebT or Sensodyne are both good soothing shampoos. A wash I have used with great success and is recommended by Pat Colby in her Natural Pet Care book is also very good and sooths the sore spots very well; a tablespoon of copper sulphate and a tablespoon of cider vinegar dissolved in half a litre of water and the sore spots bathed about three times a week.

Thoughts are with you dear friend, hug your memories and remember the love he gave you.