Teddy 2

It is amazing that this sweet little face that is looking for a treat can change so fast.


Not quite so sweet anymore is it? How would you like to try to take that treat away from her? She doesn't get this look for just any treat. My husband is feeding her a clam and clams are one of her most favorite things. Chows were bred in northern China and fed a seafood diet. My last chow was not pure bred and even she loved seafood. When I would make crab legs she would sit by me and cry until I gave her some. Teddy prefers a lot of her seafood still in it's shell. She happily eats shrimp and lobster shells.


Back to sweet again! Many of you asked Teddy questions yesterday and many of you mentioned that you would like to squeeze and hug her. Well, as much as you might like Teddy, Teddy does not necessarily feel the same way about you! Don't take this personally. It is just the nature of chow chows. Even within a family, chows usually bond with one person and stay rather aloof with everyone else. In our family, I am the alpha dog. Teddy listens to me. However, when she has a boo boo, she will not let me near it. She goes to the park with my husband every day but she takes him to the park, not the other way around. If he does something she does not like, she nips him. She loves the Blog Tech and his sister, but all interaction is on her terms. Once again, kennel training would have made life a lot easier with Teddy. For many dogs, kennel training is not a bad thing. In Teddy's case, it would have been ideal. If she had perceived the kennel as her personal space, she might not have felt the need to protect the entire house and property. If you met Teddy walking on the street or in the park, she might let you approach her. Approaching a chow has to be done very carefully though. They do not have good peripheral vision and any quick movement around their faces can elicit a bite. They are also very cautious, so slow movements and a calm low tone to your voice is preferable.


Jane Fonda, taking a nap. This was after Teddy had all of the testing done when she kept having spiking temperatures. You can see her shaved bare belly. They shaved three of her legs and we were vacationing in snow country so I bought heavy socks and cut the bottoms off and made her leg warmers. She actually seemed to like them.


Here is a pic of her in all of her chow stubbornness. It was slushy on the sidewalks and she refused to leave the car. No amount of coaxing could get her out of the car. See that look on her face? When she puts her paw down about something, she sort of tucks her chin down and lets her face folds fall forward. This is a chows version of giving you the stink eye.


Unless she is sleeping, she always lays with one foot pointed out back to make for a quick get up and go. It's like her kick stand.


You can see her three shaved legs. Thank heaven we found out what was wrong with her. She had an IUT infection. How shall I put this.......to avoid this happening again, Teddy now gets a Brazilian in that area.


You can see that Julia Chow is always ready to assist me with cooking.


And hopefully will receive a treat or two.


There is nothing quite as cute as a chow looking down the steps. That is when the chow face is at it's best.


Please drop something mama.


An empty bowl is always a sad moment. That food disappears so fast.


You can see how much thinner Teddy looks before her winter coat grows in. Notice the helicopter ears. When she is outside, her ears are moving constantly, listening for possible intruders.


Teddy loves riding in the car.


Like a restless child, this sometimes lulls her to sleep.




Comments

Joane said…
Ahh, chows! 12 years ago when we were looking to adopt a dog they had a chow puppy at the pound. It was the cutest ball of fluff! We were considering getting it but, one of the people that worked there asked us, "Have you ever had a chow?" We said no. And she informed us of their tendancies to connect with one person. At the time my son was 10 and always had lots of friends over so, not an ideal chow environment. We ended up the Shylow - a mutt who is part chow, retriever, maybe some pitt. He has mostly retriever tendancies - loves people and kids but, he has a curly chow tail and black spots on his tongue! Don't get him mad though - he's been in a couple of tiffs at the dog park with a couple of pit bulls and got the better of them. That was scary so we never go to the dog park anymore. Shylow is now 12 and loves his walks around the block, afternoon snacks and naps. Thanks for sharing more Teddy pics.
I have a friend that has a chow chow and you are so right about their behavior. He is Kathy's dog and totally ignors her husband, not mean, just acted like he wasn't there. He would let me hug him after I have been in the house for a few minutes and was seated. They are truly beautiful dogs. Teddy is still my baby, I don't care what she does.
Teddy obviously rules you all with an iron paw. Makes me think of my cat, Her Royal Highness. She's the same way.
Anonymous said…
Teddy does have a great taste in food :-) Nothing beats sea food :-)

But it´s amazing what different the summer and winter fur has!! I can see some change in Hectors fur, but nothing close to Teddy´s.

Everyone does the same mistake with Bertil, he looks so adorable in photographs but he really is anything but a nice little cat most of the time :-) :-) :-)

Have a great day now!
Christer.
Tremendous Teddy! Loved the post!

xoxo to "Teddy Red Fluffs".
brokenteepee said…
Aaaah, that look in the back of the truck looks much like the goat stare of death!
Diane said…
Great post, glad you found out what the infection was. Diane
Diane said…
Great post, glad you found out what the infection was. Diane
Anonymous said…
Oh my gosh I laughed when I read your entry today,,the brazilian,, OMG,, i never knew that chows were so um complicated,, they are beautiful and they look regal so I guess the personality fits.I also never knew the seafood connection obviously its just in them from birth,,wow, thats amazing,,so now I understand why the fellow coming this weekend must tread carefully,, you should write a book,, this stuff is great and the way you tell it is hilarious.
Anonymous said…
Really Teddy, isn't it good to be Queen?
Texan said…
She sounds like a smart and good doggy friend.
OMG, we love our Teddy posts! Thanks for sharing her with all of us!
well...you KNOW i LOVED this one....i didn't know that chow chows bond with one person...

we are CELEBRATING here today on l'il teddy's one year adoption day...oh..the JOY he has brought to our home... DOGGY LOVE....
just can not be without a doggy in this home.....
SharleneT said…
I know just what you mean about being the Alpha Dog. That's me, in this house, and the rest are tolerated. I've never understood people who let their children put their faces right into a strange dog's face and then get surprised when the dog bites... I just want you to give Teddy extra hugs because she's just so adorable. But, I wouldn't own a chow. Too many bad experiences with them over the years -- like pit bulls. The pictures are wonderful, though.
Suzie said…
Each time that you've shared more about Teddy, I've meant to ask. .how does she like being groomed? I know that you take her regularly, and knowing how Chows become attached to one, and range acknowledging, to downright, shall we say, distaining everyone else. .where does her groomer fall into Teddy's acceptance? Especially with her needing the, ahem. .full spa treatment? Do you have to tip the groomer extra? :-)
She gets a Brazillian! -chuckle- Bet that is not done, easily. But bet she'd be happy about it, if she knew the "why" of it. -grin-

Gentle hugs...