bondichowchow Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 We need help... We have a 9 year old male desexed Chow Chow who has been a bit of a problem through the years. We are expecting our first child on April and need some advise if you think his case can be successfully rehabilitated or if you think re-homing him is a better option. He has been dog aggressive since he was 11 months after he was bitten on the face by another dog. He hasn’t been the same around other dogs since (even with dog training and socialisation classes). He has a gentle female Chow companion at home who he gets along with perfectly. My husband and I have to muzzle him when we take him for walks for safety since he has a tendency to snap at other dogs. He is a bit of a handful to walk but calm when we sit in a park or café (he normally stays under the table or under a park bench when we stop for a rest). At home, he is the perfect dog though—very well behaved, clean and he keeps to himself on his bed and just happily chews on his bone. He is not destructive and has no issues at home and follows our commands. There have been 2 incidents last year that got us concerned. My husband’s 9-year old daughter came for a visit from London for two weeks. He was fine with her for the first week although didn’t socialise with her much. The female dog however was always with her (we think instinctively since my stepdaughter has epilepsy). The dog snapped at her while we were away—apparently, she wanted to pet him while he was resting and he just snapped. Nobody saw what happened but we think he might have gotten jealous with the other dog’s attention towards my stepdaughter. The second incident happened when we were walking the dogs outside our house and my neighbour was walking with his children at the same time. My neighbour’s daughter has a trauma with dogs and started screaming hysterically when she saw my dogs. My female dogs was near them and my husband as a reaction tried to get my female dog out of the way. Our dog wasn’t on a tight leash, tried to snap at the little girl’s leg. Luckily, these two incidents have not resulted to any horrible injury to others but this has alarmed us about his tendency to be harmful to children. I thought you also should know that he cannot jump since he had surgery on a slip disc last year. We always have adult guests at home and he has always been good with guests. We live in a two bedroom apartment with a front and back courtyard and think that if we kept him, we would have to be diligent with making sure the he will never has access to our baby. My concern is more towards when the baby starts crawling and walking. I am really worried about this and been very very depressed about this. I love the dog so much and this is the one thing that is really affecting my state of mind during my pregnancy. I need some help to make a rational and fair decision. We are looking into two options. 1 is to re-home him-- that is if we find someone with no children and the second is if there is any possibility to rehabilitate him. We are seeking the advise of a dog behaviorist to assess him and possibly give us a programme to work with. I think in terms of quality of life, he might be better if a new loving owner takes him in because if we kept him, he will always have to be isolated from us. I wonder how do dogs deal with being re-homed? I am thinking as if my dog was a person and think it will be so depressing for him to be separated from us and our female chow—the only pack he has known for the past 9 years. If we find a suitable new home I wanted to do a slow let go and lend him a week at a time for 2 months until he gets used to his new family. I wanted to keep on visiting him once a month. Is this good for the dog or worse? I hope you can give us an insight on dog psychology. It would be much appreciated. If anyone would take him in, please let me know. We are looking for a loving home for him in Sydney Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirislin Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 Is there a Chow Chow breed club, if so I wonder if they could help you with re homing him, if it comes to that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WreckitWhippet Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 Why pass your problems onto someone else ? He's dog aggressive and has snapped at two children, that hardly makes for a good rehoming candidate. Deal with it yourself with the help of a behaviourist or PTS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casowner Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 In your last thread about the same topic I believe that you were given some good advice from experienced Oriental dog breeders/owners, maybe go through that again or I am sure they may post again. Good luck with your decision Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clyde Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 Why pass your problems onto someone else ? He's dog aggressive and has snapped at two children, that hardly makes for a good rehoming candidate.Deal with it yourself with the help of a behaviourist or PTS I agree. It would be irresponsible to rehome and near impossible to find the right home for this dog anyway. Good luck. Personally, if you feel your baby will be in any danger there is no way I would keep the dog. Your baby's safety should be paramount (and obviously already is due to your concerns ). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ravensmyst00 Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 I've owned 2 wonderful chows over the years and if I had time to look after their coats I would have another one in a flash. Completely OT but Just out of curiosity can I ask why he has been shaved? Unless you can find a home that is familiar with the breed, has no contact with children of any age and restricts contact with dogs the best option would be to have him PTS. I am not a fan of this option but knowing the breed as I do this is the best, safest and most humane option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Her Majesty Dogmad Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 You have been given very sound advice previously - can you please tell us what you have done since your last post asking for advice? Have you done anything at all? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldchow Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 (edited) 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. Edited January 16, 2010 by goldchow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Flying Furball Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 Where is this other thread that a few are aware of? Would be interested to read... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casowner Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 Where is this other thread that a few are aware of? Would be interested to read... Just look under the OP's profile and look up OP's Topics, I think it was in December. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 There is a lot more information in here- December thread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ceilidh Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 Yes and OP also posted in rescue on 29 Nov to adopt out her chow and it seems it may be a purebreed with papers. TALK TO THE BREEDER! They are your best first base. Anyone taking bets the OP won't be back in this thread but will post again in a month or so? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldchow Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t-time Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 Wasn't there a poster recently who was looking for a Chow?? Maybe this could be "the one" ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Flying Furball Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 Bondi Chow Chow, on looking at your previous thread and the depth of responses given to you there I have to ask why are you posting again? Is the message too hard to hear? People with chow experience have offered ideas and contact which I hope you will take up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Flying Furball Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 Wasn't there a poster recently who was looking for a Chow?? Yes someone was looking recently and started a thread, but... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldchow Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bondichowchow Posted January 18, 2010 Author Share Posted January 18, 2010 Thank you everyone for the messages and advice. Sorry I haven't been able to reply straight away as I have had a few issues with my pregnancy. There was a post from last year that has been referred to me who was from a lady looking for a chow and who was familiar with the breed. Unfortunately, the lady was unable to accommodate having a dog in the end due to health issues. I also tried posting this issue previously and have been advised to post this to the General Discussions board. It's not that we want to pass on our problems to someone else but we were hoping that maybe by luck there would be someone who is familiar with the breed who has no children and wants a companion dog would want him. This chow has no issues with adults and very good at home. Taking everyone's helpful advise and pending one more consult with an animal behaviour specialist on early Feb, we are preparing to send him to a family property overseas where a relative and a caretaker are staying. They have a big yard and can take him in. The chow just now has to deal with half a day of travel and he will be in his new home. Thank you again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bondichowchow Posted January 18, 2010 Author Share Posted January 18, 2010 By the way, we have also previously contacted the Chow Chow Rescue Org who have been very helpful but no successful match. Also tried finding his breeder... no replies...The chow imported from a breeder here in Australia when we were living in Singapore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ncarter Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 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. OT but are you saying chows can get depressed when they have been shaved? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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