Question about Chows

For as long as I can remember, the neighbors about 4 houses down from my parents have had a Chow. We would see it on our bike rides past the house or when walking the neighbors Malamutes. The dog would either sit on the porch or in the yard and watch us quietly go by. He/she would never leave the yard. In all the years I'd never see the dog other than in the yard.

The other day I looked out the window and there was a Chow walking down our driveway. It looked like the same Chow but I had NEVER seen it leave the yard. It calmly hoofed on down the road in the direction of the farmhouse.

This only bothers me because I don't want this Chow coming down and trying to pick a fight with Kia. I know nothing of the breed or how this animal was raised. Are Chow's aggressive by nature? I assumed it was a well trained dog since it has never ran after walker, bikers, or dog walkers who have passed it's home.

My neighbors Malamutes have long since passed away but they kept their 10x10 cage. I had already planned on borrowing it but I'm really glad I have it now. If I can't be outside with Kia, I put her in there. If we are playing, she's on a lead. We are still working on 'come' and she will run off if not on some kind of leash.

I guess I've done all I can do.

Any suggestions? Am I worrying too much?

The nature of a chow depends on the owner. I have seen a chow that would bite you as fast as you could say chow. He was kept in a pen and not trained at all.

And I also know and love this adorable chow that the boy I babysit owns. She is the swetest girl in the world and would never hurt a flea, they recently got a kitten and she just loves him. She is great with kids they can jump all over her dress her up and rough house and she just loves them.

So if they are good people and great dog owners I wouldn't worry to much :D

To be honest, I don't really know them.

I saw the Chow in my yard on Saturday. Haven't seen him around since. I guess if he comes back, I'll have to see if the dog is friendly.

please be careful Kimmy. I am not trying to pick on the chow owners, there are always exceptions to EVERY breed, but chows are almost always very, very aggressive. I have seen them as young as 6 weeks old, growling and snapping at any being that got within tooth-range of them.

The chow may be OK with Kia but please, don't assume that means it's friendly to people. Just be on the safe side and stay out of it's way. It's better safe then sorry. If I were you I would try to talk to the dogs owners and find out about the dog through them, as opposed to finding out the hard way. I don't want to see you getting hurt.

I hope it stays out of your yard from now on...and the owners do a better job of keeping it on their property.

I thought Chows had a history of being aggressive. But I wasn't sure.

I'll try not to "confront him".

The only reason I don't go over there to talk to the owners is because I'm not sure if the dog is protective of it's property. I'm not about to step foot in their yard and find out. ;)