OT: I brushed Gus today; just showing off his fluffiness and monster tail

Love,love,love, wish I had the patients & time  for this type of dog he is beautiful!!!

Clearly, he's rotten. Lol too cute!!!!

He's so stinking cute.

He is absolutely stunning!  Thanks for sharing!

He's so FLUFFY!

Cuteness!

Lora.....he is ADORABLE!!!  Is it true that Chows are or can get mean?  I've always heard that rumor, but they seem to darn cute to be mean.  What a little lion!!!

Chows are one of the hardest dogs to rescue because they are very much one person dogs, so if they "lose" their person, it is difficult for them to attach to another (per my Colorado Rescue group).   A lot of shelters will euthanize them, rather than adopt them out for this reason 

I don't think they are considered "family" dogs - one of the reasons we must all make sure we "know" our breeds before deciding on a pet.

I think this is why Lora is the perfect owner for a Chow!

They are actually just fine with any family member (or extended family members) that they are raised with from puppyhood.  You cannot, however, bring an adult (or almost adult) Chow from a home without children into a home with them.  Even within a family, a Chow will bond more closely with one family member, though.

Lora

Yes.  Chows are extremely protective of their family members (but get along just fine with children and adults that they are raised with or who are extended family members) and their property, and they are naturally very wary of strangers, so if they are not properly socialized, they CAN become aggressive or overly protective.  They only get truly mean is if they are mistreated (Chows particularly object to physical punishment when training) or are threatened (or their family is threatened).

As Kim said, rescuing a Chow is particularly difficult because of their bond with their owners.  It can really only be done by someone who is VERY familiar with the breed (and even then it is sometimes not successful).

Lora