Edie MacKenzie

Edie MacKenzie is a published author, traveler, dog lover, and tortoise enthusiast. Passionate about what she does, her books provide peopel a firm grounding in the dog breed and their unique characteristics with a nice touch of humor.

The Chow Chow

by Leave a Comment

Chow Chow History and origin:

The Chow Chow is a member of the Spitz family that is known for over 2000 years.  This Chinese breed was once used for guarding and hunting.  His thick coat protected him in harsh weather and, unfortunately, provided clothing for the infamous Mongols, who also reportedly used the dog for food.

Description:
The Chow Chow stands 16 to 20 inches at the shoulder and weighs between 50 and 65 pounds.  He is a powerful dog with a short, broad muzzle.  The coat may be rough or smooth.  Through coat is dense, straight, and coarse with a thick undercoat; he sheds profusely, particularly in early summer and needs daily brushing.  The smooth coat is shorter and less dense, but sheds just as much.  The color may be red, blue, black, fawn, or cream.

About the Chow Chow:

The Chow Chow is a beautiful dog who tends to be very loyal to only one or two people.  Intelligent and intensely stubborn, the Chow is highly resistant to training, particularly when learning the “Down” command.  Proud and moody, this dog likes to take the lead and have his own way.  He does not like to be touched on the head, legs, or feet, even by his owner, and can be very difficult to groom.  The Chow is extremely aloof with strangers and can be vicious, even to family members.  He will not tolerate lots of people coming and going and prefers a consistent, predictable environment.  He can be very dog-aggressive and has a high prey drive toward small animals.  The Chow may bite a stranger who reaches out to pet him.  Training must begin early and must be firm and persistent.  This breed despises the very idea of submitting to anyone and may attempt to bite even his owner if so inclined. Socialization is crucial and will be the cornerstone of successful ownership of a Chow.  Spoiling this breed will create a bossy, dangerous animal.  As a Chow owner you will very likely have to deal with challenges to your authority, and you will probably face some aggression problems with this breed, no matter how effective a leader you are.  The Chow needs regular exercise each day to stay fit.  He is susceptible to hip dysplasia, entropion (a curling in of the eyelids), and skin disorders, and he does not do well in warm climates.

Feeding:
Recommended feeding for this breed is 1-1 ½ cans (13.3oz) of high-quality meaty product with biscuit added in equal part or 5 cupfuls of a complete dry food.

Ideal home:
This breed is not suitable to live in an apartment.  A house with a well built-in fence and secluded yard is essential.  If you lead a predictable, quiet life, an owner with strong leadership skills, and prefers an aloof, protective, serious dog, then this might be your breed.  Chows are not advisable for those who have children.  The elderly and the disabled may not be able to establish dominance with a Chow and should consider another breed.  There should be no other small animals in the home with a Chow.  Spoilers may create a dominant, dangerous animal that bites.  Time to train and socialize the Chow Chow must be made available.

Description Of A Labrador Retriever: Part 3

by Leave a Comment

A Labrador Retriever is either a solid black, a solid yellow, or a solid chocolate. A white spot on the chest is permissible. All the colors should have the correct double coat. The thick undercoat lies under the topcoat. The topcoat should be a bit rough to the touch and does not have to lie flat. In fact, if the coat is too slick, the dog  probably does not have a good undercoat and would not be useful as a retriever in cold waters.

The Labrador Retriever undercoat acts as insulation and, working in conjunction with the coat’s natural oil, helps to repel water. The Labrador Retriever does not feel the cold the way a single-coated dog does. Another aspect of this coat is the special look that it gives the breed.

All four legs should have good, thick bone, the front legs coming straight down from the shoulders.  The rear legs should be well bent at the knee or stifle. The hind quarters should be thick with well-muscled thighs.  The hocks should not be too long and should also be well bent and well let down (not one continuous line from buttocks to the foot). Picture about a six-inch section from the foot to the hock joint and then a little jog, toward the front, and on up to the stifle. The view from behind the dog should not be narrow but rather hefty.

The tail should be set right off the back. In other words, you should see one straight line from the withers to the tip of the tail. If the tail is set too low or if the tail is set too high, the picture will be spoiled.  As a Labrador Retriever moves, the tail usually wags happily from side to side. It should never be carried curled up over the back like a hound’s tail. A tail that is carried too low or between the legs will give the appearance of timidity.

Timidity is a word that is not in the Labrador dictionary.  This very important tail, which should not be too long (not below the hock), acts like a rudder when the dog is swimming. It is sometimes called an otter tail because it is thick at the base and tapers down to a tip, like the tail of an otter. The tail should be well covered with a very distinctive short, dense coat. The underside of the Labrador Retriever tail should never have any long feathery hair on it.

Recent Blog Posts