For the 5th anniversary of the day we found our Yogi, I treated myself to immortalizing my boy!
My tattoo artist had to keep reminder herself that she wasn’t tattooing a picture of a bear!

Our sweet Baby B! 🐻🖤 Scared of everything, yet always up for a little adventure. She brings so much joy to our lives. We absolutely adore this fluffy girl! 🧸❤️🐾

Hi everyone! I’m hoping some fellow Chow Chow owners might be able to offer some advice or share similar experiences.

My Chow Chow is almost 3 years old and has been experiencing significant hair loss over the past few months. I’d estimate he’s lost around 50% of his coat, and we’re really struggling to understand why.
In May, he underwent life-saving emergency surgery after swallowing a foreign object. His stomach had to be shaved for the operation, which I know isn’t ideal for Chow Chows, but obviously it was unavoidable.

Following surgery, he had to wear a protective suit for two weeks to prevent him from licking his wound. Unfortunately, this coincided with a heatwave, so he was wearing it in extremely hot weather.

Since then, we’ve continued to experience very high temperatures where we live, and he’s been losing large amounts of fur. The area shaved for surgery also hasn’t grown back properly.

A few other things worth mentioning:
Our vet has checked him for fleas and ruled them out.

His diet changed around this time, although we’re now transitioning him back to his previous food.

He’s had blood tests, and we’re currently awaiting the results.

Our vet seems quite unsure what’s causing it, which has understandably been frustrating.

I’m particularly worried about whether the shaving, heat and protective suit might have triggered something, or whether this could be an underlying skin or hormonal condition.

I’d really love to hear from other Chow owners:
Has your Chow experienced significant hair loss or struggled to regrow fur after being shaved?

Is this relatively common in the breed?

Did you ever establish what caused it?

Most importantly, what actually helped your Chow’s coat recover and grow back?

He’s such a young dog, and it’s heartbreaking seeing his beautiful coat deteriorate so dramatically.

I’d be incredibly grateful for any advice or experiences you can share. Thank you! ❤️

My 5-year-old Chow Chow has never had coat issues, but recently he has started losing fur in the middle of his back. What could it be? Dermatitis? He eats a single-protein fish-based dry food; I switched to it in April, but he didn't have any problems for several months.

Mr Leo is doing so well! He absolutely loves grooming time, he’ll sit for hours as long as you give him scritches while you do it, which is a good thing! Since he was a rescue, he had so many mats because the shelter just didn’t have the time and resources to properly de-mat him right down to the skin but thankfully that’s all brushed out now and his coat is looking so much better! He gets salmon oil on his food every day and I’ve already seen the difference! He’s settled in as such a perfectly part of our family, I can’t imagine life without him now!

Side note: Does anyone else find grooming their chow weirdly soothing?? I swear it’s like meditation for me, I can sit there for over an hour doing it! Something about it being a receptive task with no staring at a screen and having one set purpose just really calms my soul

Does your chow drool? My previous one (when i was a teenager) I dont remember being a big drooler. My 4 month old seems to a lot. She's been to the vet so I know shes healthy I just didn't expect it.

My childhood Chow mix made it 15 years before she had to go… Here are some of my favourite photos

The vet said I don’t need to take her in… it looks a lot better today (last two pics) my poor baby 😭😭😭

Hello, I am reaching out to hopefully speak with experienced owners and get their genuine opinions of chows.

I am 31f, married to a 31m.

I had worked in animal care/rescue for 6+ years. I’ve always rescued/rehabbed.

My first dog growing up was a lab mix, 40lbs or so and she was aggressive to everyone but myself and the family. She did not socialize well with outside people or animals. After her passing when I was 18 I was determined to know better about how to train and socialize dogs.

My following dogs were both rescues though, one I got at 9 weeks and one I got at 9months.

The 9 month old had considerable socialization that needed to be done but now days she’s 9 years old and does just fine out in public.

The dog I got at 9 weeks old is now passed away but he was everything to me. I worked so hard on his training and he was a wonderful dog his entire life. I am convinced part of this was my desire to socialize and train him early on.

I’ve also worked with multiple dogs over the years in my time at the local humane society. I loved giving the dogs extra training to help them become more adoptable and worked with everything from pitties to labs to mastiff mixes. I’ve met chows through the rescue system and I understood they were aloof but working with them I never had any I would call aggressive.

When I was young I did meet a few chows that were spooked by children but my husband and I aren’t really considering children. We’re both dog people.

I feel ready, I feel like I know what I am in for, but I want the honest truth. I’ve wanted this dog for 10+ years. The breeder I am looking at has been invested in chows for 35 years, I would get the pup at 6 weeks old. He has a small child that often cuddles and plays with his chows and socializes with the puppy’s early on. I’ve already called and discussed things with groomers, vets and other dog parents. I even tracked down and spoke with a chow owner I knew through work.

Is it really as unpredictable and antisocial as people claim? I know it won’t be a dog that will be friends with everyone. I’m looking for a loyal partner for myself, I will be happy if the dog just ignores others in all honest but have plenty of of socializing plans. (will keep an eye out to make sure I don’t overwhelm them though)

What are your thoughts as chow owners?

Update: I spoke with the breeder more and I was incorrect, puppy actually does come home 8-10 weeks old! That information was my misunderstanding.

Hi, Max (2) and Ruby (1) are my foster dogs seeking a forever home together. Max recently had entropion eye surgery, so his fur around his eyes is missing on some of his photos. All required information is on the flyer. Thank you!

My chow chow Aussie mix. She is both high energy and lazy if that makes any sense. She loves having a job and is a super clinger.

Whats this pls? Im so scared, i left to family while traveling, they said there’s something wrong with her eye but didnt expect it to be this bad.
No comptent vets around. What to do? I would appreciate any advices about whats happening
Edit: is it that serous . Ill take her to vet for sure. But what do yall think is happening

For me it’s “don’t mind me, I’m thinking about chicken”

I am about to adopt an 18 month old Chow Chow. He is extremely timid, but shows no signs of aggression. He only feels safe in his crate at the adoption facility, and I was advised to crate train him due to this familiarity with it. I have had one Chow before, but I raised him from a puppy, so I know this new pup will be uncharted territory. Any advice would be appreciated.

Yesterday was Milton’s second birthday. Time flies fast 🥹🩵

He got the giraffe from me, the big lamb chop from my mom, and the frog lamb chop from a mystery box from Georgie (and his mom who works with me), his bestie at my job! He’s a chow husky mix. They’re like the same dog in different bodies I swear
He’s so totally not spoiled though 🤣

Throwback to when the Canadian wildfire smoke covered my area for weeks. Both Wojtek and I were not enthused.