Excellent post, Mgee, thank you.


Kristina

Unfortunately in the States the CHOW has a bad rap. (it's fortunate that the Canadians don't see them that way). Lots get sent to shelters in the US when the owner realises how much brushing a chow needs, or when they realise a chow is not a soft teddy bear that wants to play incessantly and they realise they actually wanted a dog that wants to fetch a ball and they take more training than a regular breed as the chow has to actually want to do what your asking it to do.

Henry is protective of us, he will bark if someone approaches the door - as most dog do, but as soon as anyone of us has allowed that person in, he just wants to sniff, get petted and then he'll go away, he'll not bark at that person again. He'll also only bark when he thinks we need to know soemthing isn't normal. If someone is walking along the back lane he'll just watch until they go, if they stop and don't move along, he'll let us know. That's how he protects us! I would have a chow over any breed, he is my first dog and I can't beleive how great he is - considering they are supposed to be viscious and impossible to train.

Yes as with all dogs that are not socialised well you are going to get bad behaviour, I don't understand why people think their designer hand bag dogs don't need socialising or their labs - we have been attacked by 3 different labs now. And another thing, just look at Ceasar Milan's pits that he uses for training, it's to do with how a person brings the dog along, not the dog itself.

Here's a link to one of my favourite pics of chows - the tea party one, I think it's lovely

http://forum.chowchow.org/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=3377

When I take Hnery to the of leash dog park (very occasionally), I always use a long piece of rope as an emergency leash for two reasons - one, chows are known to run and disobey the 'come' command if there is a hint of squirrel/rabbit/soemthing tasty and two because if he's about to be attacked, I want to be able to pull him away from danger.

The one phrase I hate when not at a dog park and we are being targeted by an excited dog running towards us is 'don't worry he's friendly'. How does the owner know my friendly dog is actually friendly and how friendly is her dog that's showing his teeth and growling at my dog????

Anyway each to thier own, I love my chow and wouldn't hesitate to have another one, if one of the right age/sex comes up for adoption, she is ours. Their amazing dogs FOR THE RIGHT PERSON!

I have a boxer dog .She is the most gentle ,fun loving and wonderful dog that I have ever owned .However peoples impression of her often amaze me .People seem either genuinely scared of her or absolutely adore her .She never jumps at people and is scared of her own shadow ,she even got attacked by a westie at the beach and has the scars to prove it !!Think people in Nz have more of a fear of dogs than in the uk ,but that could be due to the fact of the numerous irresponsible dog owners who buy puppies and raise them to fight and then dump them on the streets when they are fed up of them .Incidentally my parent used to own a staffie who was a real pal to my little boy ,they would spend hours together playing ball and having cuddles ,though I would never leave them unsupervised .I wouldnt hesitate to own a staffie if I was back in the uk ,but I think it would be hard to do so here in Nz unless you lived in a rural area as too many people would be only too keen to give you there opinions on what they percieve as a dangerous dog .

[QUOTE=CindyGirl;8325290
I have a boxer dog .She is the most gentle ,fun loving and wonderful dog that I have ever owned .However peoples impression of her often amaze me .People seem either genuinely scared of her or absolutely adore her .She never jumps at people and is scared of her own shadow ,she even got attacked by a westie at the beach and has the scars to prove it !!Think people in Nz have more of a fear of dogs than in the uk ,but that could be due to the fact of the numerous irresponsible dog owners who buy puppies and raise them to fight and then dump them on the streets when they are fed up of them .Incidentally my parent used to own a staffie who was a real pal to my little boy ,they would spend hours together playing ball and having cuddles ,though I would never leave them unsupervised .I wouldnt hesitate to own a staffie if I was back in the uk ,but I think it would be hard to do so here in Nz unless you lived in a rural area as too many people would be only too keen to give you there opinions on what they percieve as a dangerous dog .[/QUOTE]


If I were ever to own a dog again, I would choose a boxer.
Or a Labrador. Both lovely natured dogs - easy to train but they certainly need their exercise.
I am a dog lover and owned numerous different breeds, from Alsatian, Labrador, Retriever, Red Setter, Fox Terrier and Norfolk/Norwich Terrier.
Of all the above, much loved dogs, the Norfolk/Norwich was the most difficult to train. In fact I have to admit we didn't train them- They trained us!

As for the growing number of vicious attacks by DANGEROUS DOGS owned by mentally challenged owners, my answer is SHOOT THEM! (the owners I mean)
I'm beginning to think of that as a solution to much of Society's problems- must be my age- I couldn't give a flying pig about political correctness- been constrained by it for too long.
Now I can say just what I think and not worry about the PC Brigade!
Back to the dangerous dogs- the canine kind!
-take them away and try to retrain them- impossible in many cases, so they have to be, as a kindness to them, put down, all due to the mindless, insignificant yobs, who desperately need to prove their presence on earth through owning a fearsome dog! Amazing how many of them are the habitual truants from school, the third/fourth generation of 'unemployed benefits system workers' The wealthy, dysfunctional underclass.!
Gawd give me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference!

J

As for the growing number of vicious attacks by DANGEROUS DOGS owned by mentally challenged owners, my answer is SHOOT THEM! (the owners I mean)
J[/QUOTE]


I totally agree!

Great post Mgee!Spot on

Obviously this is a subject that is close to my heart since I deal with the consequences every day.
I see many people come in with pups of various breeds who have little idea of even basic dogcare never mind how to deal with the specific issues that can arise due to each breed's inherent traits. Most of the time it can be dealt with through education but there are some who do not want to listen or who are incapable of following your advice eg those that are too scared of their pets to try anything. What often happens then is that we see them at around a year of age to be euthanased as they've bitten someone; on further questioning you find that the dog has been a problem right from the start, has always been overly dominant, the owner doesn't know what to do so the dog always wins. Rehoming is rarely an option and this type of owner does not have the commitment to go through full behavioural modification techniques so what else can you do? The dog has a short poorly disciplined life and the family learns the hard way. The nurses and receptionists at my last job were exceptionally good at picking up potential problem cases when they came in as 8-10 week old pups and pushing puppy parties, training classes and socialisation but there is a limit to what can be done. Anyone can buy a dog of whatever breed they wish.
As Mgee mentioned, the Border Collie is a classic breed that needs someone who is able to care for it but too often ends up with an owner who cannot give it the exercise and stimulation that it needs. They then become a problem and become 'nippy' The collies that are actual working farm dogs are very rarely a problem to deal with; in fact all they usually want is someone to pet them!
There are animal welfare issues as well, the dog that will not allow its owner to apply ear drops, clip its nails, groom it etc etc. They can be impossible to examine fully [some dogs need full ga/heavy sedation just to do a basic exam] and then never get a full course of treatment as owners cannot give it to the dog. Ear infections especially are very common and very painful, a dog which does not allow treatment does not get better and becomes more difficult...
If only all dogs were like Mgees! Letting the vet do anything! My last dog was the same- I could not have tolerated a dog that would not let me examine his ears, teeth and so on.
So really it all comes down to owner attitudes and education on how to train a dog including breed specific training.
Problem is that I don't know what the answer is. I can only do so much but I cannot stop someone getting a dog which is totally unsuitable for them. The only way would be compulsory training classes and licensing, again maybe breed based? Cost would be an issue there and generally this is not a problem for the vast majority of owners. It is only those that either want an aggressive dog to show off and look tough to their mates or those that are well intentioned but are ignorant as to what owning a dog entails.


Luckily over the years I have had very few bites; you learn to react fast
Worst bite was from a German Shepherd, spent the night in the plastic surgery unit, 23 stitches round my face. The dog was scarily fast, I had no time to even put my hands up to my face for protection; dog came in the room, took one look at me and leapt, no growl, no warning , nothing. The owner refused to have it put to sleep as it wasn't aggressive[that dog was incredibly dangerous-most dogs will warn you before they attack], only did it when it bit the owner [face again] a week later. Some people have no idea what they are living with. Surgeons did a great job and the scars are barely noticeable now, most people don't know they are there
The most dangerous dog is one that hasn't bitten ever before as you are not expecting it.

Jennifer45 There are days I feel that way...

Luckily these types of owner and dogs are in the minority. The vast majority of dog owners are responsible with lovely non aggressive dogs

Well I have to say, much as I love my 2 dobermanns, it has been bliss the last 2 nights as they are in kennels. Prior to that I'd been woken up by the boy at 4AM, 5AM and 6AM 3 mornings in a row as the bitch is in season. Even the neighbours heard the cacophony of stereo howling as they were kept apart this time as the old boy's legs aren't up to it.

Now, if only I could find a kennels that would take the husband ...

A little snip at the vet's cured that problem in our household, but don't know if it would help with your hubby!

Great Post
I own 2 St Bernards and a Newfoundland and training classes are essential to any new owner. I also take them all into schools to educate children and adults on Dog Owning Responsibilities. I am showing at Crufts again this year and I really wish people would look at the original use of the dog is before buying a cute puppy. Too many people buy a cute puppy and then realise that it is too boisterous because they have chosen a sheep dog(example), a dog which needs to be worked and stimulated. I wish people would realise that buying a dog is like having children, when they are naughty you don't get rid of them, a dog is for life! Problems need working through. i was at dog grooming class last week and had to take the trainer and another student to hospital with puncture wounds to hands and arms, due to a mastiff with no warning biting, drawing blood without any recognition that it had done any harm!! The shocking thing was is that this dog lives with small children. Dogs need responsible owners.