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