of ZORRO'sDynasty__________________Dezember1995

Dear Chowlovers, I was requested by the CCC to tell You a little bit more about my experiences about living together with several Chows - particularly over the possible influence of the owner on the interactions of his "Chowfamily". I would like to report only of my experiences , under no circumstances I however want to set up generally accepted rules .

The behavior of individually held Chows changes fundamentally when You enlarge the "family".So to that, is to be noticed that on the one hand the level of activity and attentiveness, and appetite and health are mostly enormously increased. Already with the arrival of a playful puppies, and only quite with accommodation of an adult animal it is called for the original Chow, regarding its boundariesin relation to its "district", and to set the attention to its human leader again.

For me as an owner is not in the focal point to diminish its original rights under any circumstances. The newcomer is to look itself up without support its workstation. Penetrated becomes both from this and obligation, and about the old-established as rejection understood. Due to the first uncertainty it came so far to no aggressiveness. A calmly spoken, "Behave well, ..!" to the owners of house was enough out around to make him act accordingly.

In the course of acclimatizing naturally the the newcomer's self-confident rises. It enjoys allowance and removes itself some liberties. I noticed howeverthat the interaction between the Chows normally is more than sufficient foran existence of the ranking . An expressive growling or clasping of the catch by dominant animal already avoided some discrepancy.

Naturally there are also some "Qufrastsackerln " (like mine), and also loner, with whom one has to intervene dominant by himself as more humanly " herd leaders ". With the firstones only dominant animal is to be supported, so that that really "unteachables " accepts its boundaries; because senseless disturbing of the herd order can affect all negatively.

With the latters You probably or bad will have to think of a separation from the type comrades . Thus it shows in an interesting way that my three "foreigners" even belong to this kind. I'm only able to combine them with their chowdren and differently-sexual partners in different districts, but under no circumstances with the remaining Chows. The Chows born here gets along even in larger community.

Stud dogs are kept only separate in order to base a new "family " and to be supposed to cover a bitch . When living together of more than one male only one develops dominant, the others even are consulted for the puppy maintenance and education .

In the special one is to be refered on the hormoneal caused nature modification of the dogs during or particularly however in the connection to their heat. Concentration and a short but certain instruction can avoid disputes. I prefer it however to separate and only after some time again integrate the respective dogs as a precaution.

In the case of forthcoming discrepancies I take basically the time to be calmly and concentrate between the contrahands. My authority and the calming dominant animal smooth the situation (only the struggle-lower animal, never the rank-higher is to be referred or about dominant factor!!)

If it should come however due to an imprudence, e.g. into connection with the district separation, nevertheless to a fight, one should keep the two quarrellers only calm, if possible diverts (which works very well). Under no circumstances one should pull them apart before independent releasing. Only from this more serious violations could result. The own peace is the highest requirement! Excitement and shouting only goad the arguing on.

The methods of the separation by water hose, - excavator buckets, vinegar water or bending of the tail I do not hold basically for target-prominently.

According to a such an argument I separate the Chows concerned, even if only for short time. Even bitches bend to deliver equal again their diversity of opinion. By the short separation time it is however in the link again possible to hold several together. This offers however on the one hand a far more varied existence to the Chows and on the other hand a far brighter spectrum of behavior's observation to me.

In the special one is to be referred to the "Tradierung", by which in our kennel a uniform behavior pattern over generations can be observed away. It is amazing how much the impetuous young animals learn of the older ones . Even the selection of the causes for announcing finds their development in this case. Likewise the self-confident, the communication and interaction are trained. A short whistle is often sufficient to transmit the meaning of a visitor to the Chows.

In summary I would like to say that on the one hand peace and authority, on the other hand periodically subordination exercises, like the consistent execution of the command "seat! ", and diverson in case of "emergency" has to be absolutely prefered to dramatic campaigns.

It is an indescribably beautiful experience to be allowed to attend in the interaction and its development of such different Chowcharacters .

Text Copyright OZD