Chow Chow's as a Breed
Temperament
I want to address the Elephant in the room!!!! Chow Chows seem to have a very bad reputation and sadly this seems to stem mainly from the USA where they are on many of the Dangerous Dog breed lists.
As I haven't come into contact with the breed in the USA I think its unkind to comment on the Dogs over there. However I do believe that the internet has had a lot to do with this negative publicity much as the Staffy and Rotties get over here. Undoubtedly there will be those dogs that do have bad temperaments and are aggressive but the same can be said of any dog in any breed.
In my experience of owning a number of Chow Chows, they are very loving, affectionate and family orientated. They do have the instinct to protect and they can be wary of strangers, though to me this is more beneficial than your dog bounding up to any old person whilst out at the park.
please watch this episode of Animal Watch featuring myself and my Chow Chows to get a feeling of how my dogs interact with new people.
As I haven't come into contact with the breed in the USA I think its unkind to comment on the Dogs over there. However I do believe that the internet has had a lot to do with this negative publicity much as the Staffy and Rotties get over here. Undoubtedly there will be those dogs that do have bad temperaments and are aggressive but the same can be said of any dog in any breed.
In my experience of owning a number of Chow Chows, they are very loving, affectionate and family orientated. They do have the instinct to protect and they can be wary of strangers, though to me this is more beneficial than your dog bounding up to any old person whilst out at the park.
please watch this episode of Animal Watch featuring myself and my Chow Chows to get a feeling of how my dogs interact with new people.
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When buying a Puppy look at the breeders other dogs, if they are very unsettled, aggressive or frightened then the chances are that the puppies will be the same.
If the puppies are cowering in the corner of their room/ pen then these haven't been well socialised and could become problematic in the future.
Please be sensible when buying a puppy, ask lots of questions, go with your gut feeling. not every breeder, breeds for the love of dogs.
Chow Chows as with all breeds do need regular socialisation with other dogs and people especially as puppies to help them mature into well rounded adults. Be aware that they will be their most protective in their own homes, so this is not a great place to introduce them to lots of strangers.
Other dog breeds can find the Chow Chow a difficult breed to read, they hold their tails up upon their backs which in other breeds is a sign of aggression.
As they are a Brachiocephalic breed (squished noses to lay people) so other dogs also dont seem to read them as easily.
Lastly Chow Chows, due to their shorten soft pallets (again from having squished noses) can make a strange noise, I refer to it as a purr but other dogs and humans regularly misinterpert this as growling.
Ok so on to the fun stuff!!!!
Kids and Chow Chows..........
In my experience kids and Chow Chows get on brilliantly together. The Chow Chow has a DNA deep instinct to protect its family and that will include your children.
If the puppies are cowering in the corner of their room/ pen then these haven't been well socialised and could become problematic in the future.
Please be sensible when buying a puppy, ask lots of questions, go with your gut feeling. not every breeder, breeds for the love of dogs.
Chow Chows as with all breeds do need regular socialisation with other dogs and people especially as puppies to help them mature into well rounded adults. Be aware that they will be their most protective in their own homes, so this is not a great place to introduce them to lots of strangers.
Other dog breeds can find the Chow Chow a difficult breed to read, they hold their tails up upon their backs which in other breeds is a sign of aggression.
As they are a Brachiocephalic breed (squished noses to lay people) so other dogs also dont seem to read them as easily.
Lastly Chow Chows, due to their shorten soft pallets (again from having squished noses) can make a strange noise, I refer to it as a purr but other dogs and humans regularly misinterpert this as growling.
Ok so on to the fun stuff!!!!
Kids and Chow Chows..........
In my experience kids and Chow Chows get on brilliantly together. The Chow Chow has a DNA deep instinct to protect its family and that will include your children.
Grooming
Chow Chows do need regular grooming, there is no escaping that. If you can give them !0- !5 minutes every day and up to and an hour every other weekend you should be able to keep on top of there coat without too much hardship. Be aware though that the areas that need your most attention are the friction areas (armpits, chests, behind their ears and around their back legs.) Always start with these areas and finish on the less uncomfortable areas such as their backs and legs. There are a myriad of detangling and deodorising products on the market that can make this job seem effortless.
With regards to utilising a groomer to help you, this is normally a very good practise. If you can give your dog the recommended time I would only advise using the groomer every 3-4 months for a full bath and blow dry, however if you are not going to stick wit the in-home grooming, I would go to the groomer on a monthly basis.
if you want recommendations of tools etc please see my recommendations page where you will find all the bits I use on my dogs.
With regards to utilising a groomer to help you, this is normally a very good practise. If you can give your dog the recommended time I would only advise using the groomer every 3-4 months for a full bath and blow dry, however if you are not going to stick wit the in-home grooming, I would go to the groomer on a monthly basis.
if you want recommendations of tools etc please see my recommendations page where you will find all the bits I use on my dogs.
Feeding
I'm a firm believer that what you put in, you get out or you reap what you sow!
If you feed your Puppy/Dog on cheap nasty food, you will pay for it in the long run with hyperactivity, poor digestion and skin allergies.
Chow Chows are not by nature a greedy breed and once full grown do not require lots of food as there actively level is reasonably low. My advise to all my puppy owners is to buy the best you can afford. A good well respected brand, not made by Mars (should be obvious!) that's specially formulated for a dog by Vets and Canine Nutritionists. We have fed Royal Canin but now use James Wellbeloved (a Chicken free diet such as Salmon, Lamb or Duck)
With regards to Raw feeding , its not something I do and I wouldn't recommend it until your dog is fully grown. If you want to go down this route, please get help from an expert as feeding the incorrect amounts of food can lead to problems. There are lots of companies that sell complete Raw meals etc and this would be the most sensible route for a novice to raw feeding. You may also want to discuss with your vet what diet they recommend.
Chow Chows can suffer from skin allergies which result often in either dry itchy/flaky skin or in Hot Spots. The most common cause of these allergies seems to be Chicken however I know Chows with different sensitivity's so if your Chow is experiencing issues I would recommend a vet runs a sensitivity test so you know what to steer clear of.
A lot of our Chow Chows do well on a grain and Chicken free food (please see my recommended page for food brands)
If you feed your Puppy/Dog on cheap nasty food, you will pay for it in the long run with hyperactivity, poor digestion and skin allergies.
Chow Chows are not by nature a greedy breed and once full grown do not require lots of food as there actively level is reasonably low. My advise to all my puppy owners is to buy the best you can afford. A good well respected brand, not made by Mars (should be obvious!) that's specially formulated for a dog by Vets and Canine Nutritionists. We have fed Royal Canin but now use James Wellbeloved (a Chicken free diet such as Salmon, Lamb or Duck)
With regards to Raw feeding , its not something I do and I wouldn't recommend it until your dog is fully grown. If you want to go down this route, please get help from an expert as feeding the incorrect amounts of food can lead to problems. There are lots of companies that sell complete Raw meals etc and this would be the most sensible route for a novice to raw feeding. You may also want to discuss with your vet what diet they recommend.
Chow Chows can suffer from skin allergies which result often in either dry itchy/flaky skin or in Hot Spots. The most common cause of these allergies seems to be Chicken however I know Chows with different sensitivity's so if your Chow is experiencing issues I would recommend a vet runs a sensitivity test so you know what to steer clear of.
A lot of our Chow Chows do well on a grain and Chicken free food (please see my recommended page for food brands)
Prices of Puppies
This is a very sensitive subject but one I feel I must touch on. We have all seen the prices of puppies rise substantially over the last year due to Covid.
There are a few legitimate reasons why the price of a Puppy has risen.
These are:
🟪 Vets: every time the country goes into lockdown, the BVA (British Veterinary Association) stops all non essential treatments. This means that Breeders can ovulation test to check the right time to breed. This means that many bitches aren’t being tested so even if mated don’t fall pregnant.
Many breeders aren’t happy to breed their dogs if no veterinarian assistance can be given so they have chosen to not breed certain dogs.
The breed is known for needing C sections, with the BVA’s ruling this can’t be pre booked as previously done but you need to wait for the bitch to be in an Emergency situation and needing a C section. This could mean the middle of the night etc which drastically adds to the costs involved, verses a planned c section in a controlled environment. It can also lead to increased risk for both mum and pups. Again this has meant many responsible breeders not breeding from girls who has a history of small litters (which have an increased risk of needing a c section)
Even booking routine appointments like Health tests and Puppy checks have been more difficult during the new rules and much more expensive than prior to Covid 19.
🟪 Supplies: getting the right foods, milks, bedding, puppy pads, whelping supplies etc have been tricky with both lockdown, and Brexit. Prices have in many cases risen. Or where people have panic bought, getting supplies has been difficult again adding to huge price rises.
🟪 No visiting: Currently with all the lockdowns and Covid rules, people are not allowed into our homes. When you want to do meet and greets etc this is very difficult. This has meant that the way we sell puppies has had to change . We now do a lot more videos and photos. We plan video calls the perspective owners regularly. This obviously adds substantially to the time involved. Puppies need bathing and drying before each photo shoot, video call or video session. No Breeder wants to show you pictures of dirty puppies!
🟪 Stud Dogs: Covid rules and lockdowns have meant that many people haven’t been able to travel to use Stud Dogs or allow people to come into their properties to use Stud dogs. This has meant that either breeders haven’t been able to use a Stud dog, or have used inferior Dogs that may not be the best example of the breed.
🟪 Costs: All Breeders should be Council licenced if they breed more than 2 litters a year. This cost in our area has more than quadrupled in the last few years. Obviously breeders that are licenced have to abide by many rules including, staffing levels, number of litters allowed, regular inspections, waste collection and many many other things you May not have considered.
🟪 Supply & Demand: As mentioned above many responsible breeders have chosen to not to mate their dogs.
But at the same time many people who possibly couldn’t have had a puppy previously due to working commitments now find they will be working from home more. This has meant that not only has the demand increased but the supply has decreased making it difficult to get hold of a puppy. Sadly this has meant that some have charged astronomical prices (I’ve seen puppies advertised at £6000)
Sadly some very unethical people have pounced on this lack of supply. They are either charging huge amounts for their puppies. Due to the lack of visiting allowed and the large numbers of people wanting puppies they have gotten away with breeding puppies that aren’t well socialised, or kept in a favourable way. And the usual checks people wanting a puppy would do are put aside.
So what should you pay for a Puppy??
This question is one that only a purchaser can answer. It will depend on your circumstances.
However I urge you to think of a few things before buying a puppy first. These are......
🟣 Are the parents healthy (good confirmation & eyes)
🟣 Have you seen the parents (were they clean, well groomed and Happy)
🟣 Have you had lots of updates on your puppy.
🟣 Has your puppy seen the vet? It should ALWAYS leave microchipped and with its first vaccination
🟣 Do you have the Kennel Club registration paperwork? (At least confirmation that this is happening. If you don’t have the papers, you need proof that the parents are registered and that the breeder has submitted the litter for registration)
🟣 Expect a Breeder to ask you lots of questions about your home, set up, past experience with dogs and Chow Chows, how many people live with you etc.....
This is not to be noisy but to ensure you are the right fit for their puppy. Please also be aware that although you may live the look of the breed, a Chow Chow may not be suited to your home or lifestyle. A good breeder will high light this for you.
At the beginning of 2020 a survey was done by the Chow Chow Breed council. There findings were that people should expect to pay around £2000-£2500 for a puppy.
Sadly I think this is now slightly unrealistic and I would expect a more realistic price of £3000- £3500.
I would not expect to pay any more than £4000 for a Puppy and would really question a breeder as to how they can ask those prices.
Also lots of ‘Rare’ colours are appearing..... THESE ARE NOT RECOGNISED COLOURS AND THE OWNERS ARE PURLY INTERESTED IN PROFIT. I must state that I think this type of breeder is repulsive and see dogs only as a money making machine. Sadly they care nothing for the temperament, health or correctness of the breed, just colour. Which is heartbreaking for those that work so hard to preserve and improve the breed.
Many people buy these puppies as they are “rare” and buy into the breeders patter.
If you wish to go on our waiting list for a Puppy, please proceed to our waiting list form on our Puppies Page.
There are a few legitimate reasons why the price of a Puppy has risen.
These are:
🟪 Vets: every time the country goes into lockdown, the BVA (British Veterinary Association) stops all non essential treatments. This means that Breeders can ovulation test to check the right time to breed. This means that many bitches aren’t being tested so even if mated don’t fall pregnant.
Many breeders aren’t happy to breed their dogs if no veterinarian assistance can be given so they have chosen to not breed certain dogs.
The breed is known for needing C sections, with the BVA’s ruling this can’t be pre booked as previously done but you need to wait for the bitch to be in an Emergency situation and needing a C section. This could mean the middle of the night etc which drastically adds to the costs involved, verses a planned c section in a controlled environment. It can also lead to increased risk for both mum and pups. Again this has meant many responsible breeders not breeding from girls who has a history of small litters (which have an increased risk of needing a c section)
Even booking routine appointments like Health tests and Puppy checks have been more difficult during the new rules and much more expensive than prior to Covid 19.
🟪 Supplies: getting the right foods, milks, bedding, puppy pads, whelping supplies etc have been tricky with both lockdown, and Brexit. Prices have in many cases risen. Or where people have panic bought, getting supplies has been difficult again adding to huge price rises.
🟪 No visiting: Currently with all the lockdowns and Covid rules, people are not allowed into our homes. When you want to do meet and greets etc this is very difficult. This has meant that the way we sell puppies has had to change . We now do a lot more videos and photos. We plan video calls the perspective owners regularly. This obviously adds substantially to the time involved. Puppies need bathing and drying before each photo shoot, video call or video session. No Breeder wants to show you pictures of dirty puppies!
🟪 Stud Dogs: Covid rules and lockdowns have meant that many people haven’t been able to travel to use Stud Dogs or allow people to come into their properties to use Stud dogs. This has meant that either breeders haven’t been able to use a Stud dog, or have used inferior Dogs that may not be the best example of the breed.
🟪 Costs: All Breeders should be Council licenced if they breed more than 2 litters a year. This cost in our area has more than quadrupled in the last few years. Obviously breeders that are licenced have to abide by many rules including, staffing levels, number of litters allowed, regular inspections, waste collection and many many other things you May not have considered.
🟪 Supply & Demand: As mentioned above many responsible breeders have chosen to not to mate their dogs.
But at the same time many people who possibly couldn’t have had a puppy previously due to working commitments now find they will be working from home more. This has meant that not only has the demand increased but the supply has decreased making it difficult to get hold of a puppy. Sadly this has meant that some have charged astronomical prices (I’ve seen puppies advertised at £6000)
Sadly some very unethical people have pounced on this lack of supply. They are either charging huge amounts for their puppies. Due to the lack of visiting allowed and the large numbers of people wanting puppies they have gotten away with breeding puppies that aren’t well socialised, or kept in a favourable way. And the usual checks people wanting a puppy would do are put aside.
So what should you pay for a Puppy??
This question is one that only a purchaser can answer. It will depend on your circumstances.
However I urge you to think of a few things before buying a puppy first. These are......
🟣 Are the parents healthy (good confirmation & eyes)
🟣 Have you seen the parents (were they clean, well groomed and Happy)
🟣 Have you had lots of updates on your puppy.
🟣 Has your puppy seen the vet? It should ALWAYS leave microchipped and with its first vaccination
🟣 Do you have the Kennel Club registration paperwork? (At least confirmation that this is happening. If you don’t have the papers, you need proof that the parents are registered and that the breeder has submitted the litter for registration)
🟣 Expect a Breeder to ask you lots of questions about your home, set up, past experience with dogs and Chow Chows, how many people live with you etc.....
This is not to be noisy but to ensure you are the right fit for their puppy. Please also be aware that although you may live the look of the breed, a Chow Chow may not be suited to your home or lifestyle. A good breeder will high light this for you.
At the beginning of 2020 a survey was done by the Chow Chow Breed council. There findings were that people should expect to pay around £2000-£2500 for a puppy.
Sadly I think this is now slightly unrealistic and I would expect a more realistic price of £3000- £3500.
I would not expect to pay any more than £4000 for a Puppy and would really question a breeder as to how they can ask those prices.
Also lots of ‘Rare’ colours are appearing..... THESE ARE NOT RECOGNISED COLOURS AND THE OWNERS ARE PURLY INTERESTED IN PROFIT. I must state that I think this type of breeder is repulsive and see dogs only as a money making machine. Sadly they care nothing for the temperament, health or correctness of the breed, just colour. Which is heartbreaking for those that work so hard to preserve and improve the breed.
Many people buy these puppies as they are “rare” and buy into the breeders patter.
If you wish to go on our waiting list for a Puppy, please proceed to our waiting list form on our Puppies Page.