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TrainPetDog.com 2010 Dog Blog Award

2010-01-07T06:35:00.000-08:00

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What you should know about Breeding and Welping your Bitch

2009-06-29T02:08:00.000-07:00

THE IN HEAT PERIOD OF THE BITCH
A Chow Chow bitch comes into season, one in every six months. Her first sign will be a bloody discharge from the vagina, this discharge lasts for approximately nine days before turning to a light pink or creamy color, it is in these next seven days that the bitch will be ready to accept a male.
Many Chow Bitches are difficult to mate, and you will need a helping hand, one person should steady the bitch’s head and it is wise to apply a muzzle to her jaws as she could give a nasty bite if frightened. Another person will be needed to steady her body and to raise her vulva so that the male can penetrate her vagina. A third person will be needed to assist the male to mount the bitch in the correct position, and to be held in that position whiles the mating occurs.
The best time to mate your bitch is from the 9th day of her discharge to the 16th day, l has found that the best Day for my bitches is the 13th day. This is when the eggs are being released from the ovaries; the sperm will find their way to the ovaries and will impregnate them. Sperm can live for a period of seven days inside the uterus before dying, -if no eggs are available to impregnate.
The last seven days (or five days) some dogs season is a little longer than other going up to 25 days, is when the bitch is going out of heat, the resting period. If you have mated your bitch at the right time, you can count forward 61 days to have the approximate time of when to expect her puppies.
If you find your bitch very unco-operative with the chosen male, it is no use wasting time, and hoping that they will mate another day, it may be to late, go directly to Artificial Insemination and be sure that your bitch gets the right amount of sperm which in 99% of the case. Artificial Insemination does work. And produces very good litters, I have personally inseminated three of my Bitches, and all have produced good healthy litters, It is advisable to breed your female only once a year, so that she is in a good condition when she has her litter -A chronic female is not a valuable breeding hitch any you do not wish to raise a litter of puppies, you should consider having her spayed, provided she is not a show dog.
PRENATAL CARE:
The average length of pregnancy from mating to whelping is 63 days. For the first few weeks of pregnancy if a bitch is on a balanced diet and she receives sufficient but not too much exercise, then no change is necessary.
2) Weight gain, not much weight is gained in the first 4 weeks. But again it is advisable to weigh your bitch from mating and each week thereafter. A gain of 2kg could mean 1-2 puppy, but 4-5 kg might be many more, depending on their size. This is not a definite way of calculation the size of a litter but could give you a slight estimate of how many to expect, and average newborn puppy weighs about 250grams at birth.
The best way to settle you curiosity is to have your bitch X Rayed, at about the 55-58th day when the bones are sufficiently formed to be able to show the formation of the Puppies, If only one or Two puppies you may be able to see one or both clearly, but on the other hand if she has not had a bowel action during the day, one or both puppies may be super-imposed by stool in the large bowel. In a recent x-ray of my pregnant Bitch Champion Monique, one good size puppy showed up clearly, on the x-ray plate, perfectly formed, but above it was what looked like parts of another puppy but as I have said super-imposed by stool. The opinion of both vets who looked at the x-ray was that there might be another puppy or it might be just an unusual stool formation, and we would have to wait until she Gave birth.
3) A change in breasts and nipples is noticed about the 35th day, she may also show a darkening of her nipples very early in pregnancy. At about the 5th week the nipples begin to swell and stand out, they may appear very pink. As her pregnancy advances the breasts soften and enlarge until about the 50th day. Several days before whelping a watery fluid may be expressed from the nipples. In a maiden bitch, real milk will not appear until the birth of the litter.
4) Bitches usually become more serene and settled and affectionate as the pregnancy advances, but on occasions the highly-strung bitch may be more aggressive and tense. In her last few days she may be inclined to follow you all over the house, looking for attention all the time.
5) In the last week of her pregnancy the unborn puppies can often be seen or touched as they move inside the mother while she is lying down on her side in a relaxed position. Movement may not be felt in a bitch with only one puppy. Do not palpate your bitch’s abdomen for this could cause damage to the fetuses, A Vet will all ways be available to examine her.
At 28 days the Vet will be able to tell whether she is pregnant or not, by feeling for the puppies in her uterus, the puppies may be very high under her rib cage, then they will be almost impossible to detect.
If you feel carefully the abdomen up the uterine horn you may feel what feels like little marbles, these are the puppies developing, but do not press hard or be rough as you could damage or even kill them. You will find that during her forth week she may loose her appetite for a few days, but this will come back with a vengeance, and it is during this forth week that she should start having two meals a day. She will also require increased levels of vitamins and minerals, amino acids and energy. If these are not received from an adequate diet, she will get them by depleting her body reserve. As her appetite increases start offering her two meals a day, morning and evening, but make sure she has plenty of water and dried dog food available at all times. Nutritious additions to her diet should be added and these should include a high level of protein, such as cottage cheese, eggs, meat, and liver. Butter milk and goat’s milk is also very good for her. In addition to any vitamins and minerals supplement calcium for the formation of bones. Kelp or seaweed for the dark coloring on the Chow Chow tongue, and cod liver oil for their fur.
Towards the end of her pregnancy be careful that she does not become constipated, - and also watch that she does not contract gastroenteritis. Your bitch will appreciate extra attention and love during her pregnancy, but do not over indulge her and do not become neurotic about her condition, for you will find you may need the doctor yourself, allow her to continue naturally as you would yourself if you were pregnant.
Preparation for whelping should be made during the last weeks of pregnancy. Select an area away from the bustle of the household, in a spare room or somewhere where it will be quite for your bitch. If in a flat or apartment place a box for her in your own bedroom where she will be near to you when her labor begins. A large wooden box is the most advisable, lined with newspapers; the sides must be high enough to keep the puppies in and draughts out. One side can be partly cut down so as to allow the mother easy access to her baby’s -A tray with necessary supplies should be placed on a table near the whelping box or on top of it.
THIS TRAY SHOULD INCLUDE.
1. Rectal Thermometer, Towels, Hot water bottle or heating pad, covered to keep puppies warm, Paper towels and cleaning tissues. Extra newspapers for the box. Cotton tips. Vaseline, Blunt scissors for cutting cords, dental floss for tying cords iodine Small forceps to remove- membranes around puppy, Baby scale or kitchen scale. Premature or special puppy baby bottle, Bitches milk substitute or Ideal milk, available from your supermarket or Vet.
DIFFERENT STAGE’S OF PREGANCY.
Not all dogs go through these stages.
1st week. 1-7 days. She may he off her food and quite at this stage, she is still in season and it will be impossible to tell it she is pregnant.
2nd Week 8-14 days She should be eating her normal ration of food and may still have a discharge from the vulva which could be brown in color-
3rd Week Her discharge should now he turning white and you maybe able to feel small lumps in her uterus, if you know how to palpate her properly. If not a vet will be able to tell you for sure during her forth week, She should he eating her normal food as well as extra milk every day.
4th Week 22-27 Days She may still have a slight white discharge, and you sill find that she will now become fussy over what she eats; she will also have morning sickness.
5th Week 28.35 days. Her abdomen may look slightly enlarged and her nipples may look bigger and harder. She may still be suffering from the various bout of morning sickness, and may still not he interested in plain dog food, treat her to more tasty food from this week onwards•

6th week
36-42 days She should now start eating more than her normal ration, and you should be able to see an increase in her girth. She will also be very protective of herself and may attack other dogs; it is best that she is kept separated from them.
7th Week 43-49 days. Eating well and looking pregnant, her coat should be in perfect Condition and she herself should be in excellent health.
8th Week 49*55 days She is now looking very large and heavy, her breasts should be well formed and fluid may be expressed towards the end of this week. Exercise is important throughout her pregnancy. She should be eating very well.
9th Week
56-63 days She may not be very interested in her food during this last week, and it is best to feed her a light diet, she will also start looking for a nesting place in which to give birth. Best to provide her with a strong whelping box and lots of newspapers. She will be very heavy, and tire very easily. Her breasts will have milk and she will go into labor and give birth to her puppies.
RASPBERRY LEAF THE WONDER PLANT FOR IN WHELP BITHCES.
When it was established that my bitch was pregnant, I decided to try the ancient birth remedy of feeding her Raspberry leaf with all her meals. The reason for this is that the Raspberry leaf which is available from any health shop softens the tissues of the vagina and cervix, therefore allowing an almost pain and problem free birth. It also helps to provide more oxygen to the placentas and thence to the unborn puppies. This in turn makes them stronger and more able to cope with the elements outside the uterus, once my bitch started her early labor she took it very easy. "I was the anxious one who paced the floor all night and got no sleep at all" She started to make her nest at about 4pm on the 3rd July, during the night she was at times restless, but most off the time she relaxed and tried to sleep, during her wake full periods I fed her on Honey, Milk, and Raspberry leaf. "Lady" produced her first healthy bitch puppy at 6.25am on the 4th July, She did not scream in pain and the puppy was Born with no difficulty at all, the next four followed in very quick succession with about 20 minutes to each birth, her fifth puppy arrived at about 8.55am. She then rested for two hours, knowing that she still could give birth to another puppy I gave her another drink of Honey and Raspberry and Milk, and the last most beautiful puppy born in the litter arrived at 10am. This was the largest puppy born in the litter. Now that all the births were over another dose of the above with extra calcium this time, to help her to rid her self of any retained placentas.
Today my puppies are a day old, they are healthy and sucking well, their color is good and their temperatures are normal. Mum has plenty of milk to feed them. I can only recommend Raspberry leaves to all those who have had problems in their breeding pattern. Hopefully your bitch may not have to have a Caesarean the next time and that all your puppies will be born alive and healthy. So please give Raspberry leaves a place in your home, next time you are expecting a litter and may all your problems he healthy little ones. "This also works on the pregnant human as well making birth very much easier and far less painful.

WHELPING
A few days before whelping you will possibly he able to extract a few drops of liquid from the* bitches breasts, but sometimes the breasts do not fill until she is in labor or even after the puppies are born, It is essential that once she has completed whelping that she attends the Vet who can give her a hormone injection to reduce the uterus and any fever, this will also bring on the milk.
From about the 60th day you may notice a slight drop in her temperature from the normal 38.5 it will drop to about 37.9 this could fluctuate during the next few days, and could be a little higher in the evening, e.g. 38.1 this drop and rise can continue for a few days and please remember not all bitches whelp when they should, some have puppies on the 61st day while others can go to 70 days, this is most probably caused by the egg's not been united with the sperm at the time of mating and the sperm having to lie in the uterus waiting for a few days until the eggs are ready, sperm can live for 7 days in the uterus, before they die, do not worry if your bitch appears to be a little over her date, or even a little early. First time pregnancies usually arrive a little earlier then second pregnancies. Fat bitches appear to go into labor later then their thinner companions.
Once she goes into labor, you will notice a sudden drop in her temperature from 37,7 it may drop right down the thermometer to 36.5 but again this varies with different bitches and she may have only a slight change before she whelps. You may or may not feel movement in her abdomen in the last week and you can easily mistake her breathing for movements of the puppies. By 9 weeks the puppies are getting very large and if her uterus is crowded, there will not be much space for the puppies to move Large whelps are often quieter then smaller whelps, and this also depends on whether you mated the bitch with a dog very much larger then her, and also on what you have fed her during her pregnancy, a bitch only carrying one or two whelps, may not even look pregnant right until the end and you may not feel or even notice movement of the puppies in the uterus. In the last few days of pregnancy feed her several times a day and give her at least a half a liter of milk each day, her dry food should always be available and it might be an idea to feed her puppy biscuits at this stage. Many bitches have a change of appetite while-t pregnant, and you may find her wanting more raw meat, then the conventional dog food. My Chow "Monique" loved a plate of strawberries and cream* Fruit is very good for your dog if she will eat it. She will also love sour milk or "maas" and Buttermilk is also very good for her and helps to make her milk rich and strong-
Once she has started making her nest she will become very destructive and may ruin your carpets or furniture, you should have a whelping box for her or she should be placed in her outdoor kennel, which is draught free and rain proof.
The bitch will continue to do the same until all the puppies are born. Do not stop her from eating all the placentas. As they help her to produce milk and will do her no harm.
Dead puppies.
Sometimes a puppy could die in the uterus this could be caused by any number of problems. An unconditioned bitch, a puppy to large to pass through the birth canal, Pelvis to small in the bitch, the cord around the puppies neck or even the placenta dying during the growth period, or becoming detached from the puppy, the puppy could be deformed. Sometimes puppies fade away soon after birth and this could be caused by insufficient heating, lack of milk in the bitch, or birth trauma, the puppy could die from over heating as well, Lack of proper care in the pregnant bitch could lead to the death of the whole litter.
Analectic:
This is when the bitch has no milk supply at all, and is unable to feed her puppies, A hormone injection within 12 hours of whelping will help to bring on her milk supply, also a tablet from the homeopath called LAC CAN given to her once a day a week before she is due to whelp, and then three times a day until she has sufficient milk supply. If not you will have to feed the puppies yourself to avoid loosing them. A formula made from puppy milk available from your Vet or you can use Carnation Ideal Milk one can of milk to one can of water, and feed about 5ml every two hours during the day and at least three feeds during the night. You may have to stimulate the puppies by gently wiping their anus and genitalia and vagina with a piece of damp cotton wool, or if the mother is well enough she will hopefully do this and clean the puppies at the same time. The best way to feed a new born puppy is by stomach tube for the first two weeks as this is very quick and you know just how much food the puppy is getting, after two weeks the puppy can be fed by a puppy bottle, or be taught to drink out of a saucer. By three weeks they can be weaned and put onto more solid foods. Such as a baby cereal.
To tube feed, a puppy measure a fairly thick catheter from the puppies’ mouth to the last rib, and then mark the end by the mouth. Attach the catheter to a syringe and fill the syringe with milk, then allow a little to run through the tube, now clamp the tube above the mark, and insert the tube into the mouth and then into the stomach, If you get a blockage then you have gone into the lung do not depress the plunger until you know that the tube is safely in the puppies stomach.
The tube is in the stomach, now remove the clamp and allow the milk. To run slowly into the puppies stomach, the milk must be just warm, and not to hot, '"after feeding burp the puppy by holding it in your hand and patting it on the back, It would he help full if you were able to get a surrogate mother for the puppy, if the mother can’t- manage it or if she has died giving birth. A whelping box is essential for your bitch to give birth to her puppies. Below is a list of whelping boxes you can make for her. As a chow is a large dog she will need a lot of space in which to move, a cardboard box is not advised as the bitch will possibly tear it to pieces and it will be wet and stained after the birth. I personally feel the best place for a bitch to have her puppies is on an old piece of carpeting laid on a lot of lot of newspapers in your bedroom. Please cover the whole of your carpet with newspaper. She will be most comfortable with you at her side, to attend to her and the newly arrived puppies. I have a large whelping box, which when not in use is left in the sunshine and disinfected before each new litter arrives, and replaced, in my bedroom. Once the puppies have been born, it is then that I place them with their mother into the whelping box. I find that my bitch requires my services when their time is near and that any comfort that I can give them is most essential. Once labor starts, I keep an eye on the bitch the whole time. I will take her temperature rectally every hour until she start's to bear down. Once the puppies have born and the floor had been cleaned of wet and dirty paper, this is the time to start using the whelping box.
The one I have is about 3 feet high by 2 feet wide and 3 ft long; it has a 1id that can be opened from the top so the bitch and puppies can be observed with out interference. There are pig rails around the inside of the box to protect the puppies from suffocating if their' mother should accidentally sit on one of them. All the instruments you need for whelping may be laid out on the top of this box within easy reach.. Try to keep her in her box which should be lined with newspapers as she can scratch up these and they can be easily replaced. Once labour starts you may notice a slight swelling of her vulva and a slight discharge.This second stage is when she starts to have contractions, she will now be very restless and start walking up and down the room pausing at each contraction and breathing deeply. If you notice a green discharage, call your Vet as something could be wrong, You sill find that she may stare and lick at her hind quaters and panting and trembling will increase. She will then begin to strain. When giving birth the bitch may cry aout in pain, be with her at all times and reasure her. chows are very intellegent and she will understand what you are doing and saying to her.The first puppy should be born after two - three hours after contractions begin , If not again call your Vet, as the contractions increase in strength you may see part of the water bag of the first fetus appear at the mouth of the vulva. Usually it will burst by subsequent contractions or her continual licking, within a few minuets after th water bag has burst the first puppy should make his appearance into theworld. if is is not born after 30 minutes again call your Vet,but only call him if you think she is in difficulties. My Chrystal had a problem when she was in labour and being a very small bitch for a chow, I decided to take her to my Vet for assistance, Well athe first puppy was born dead, He then scanned her and said that there were 3 more puppies, and that she would have to stay in hospital, Chrystal Lost all her puppies because my Vet allowed her to stay in labour instead of doing an emergency ceaser. Regardless to say I found myself another Vet. The puppy usually appears head first, but sometimes you will have a breech delivery. The puppies head and shoulders are the largest part and require a great amount of exertion. Once the head is free the rest of the puppy should take between one and four minutes for it to be born. The puppy is enclosed in a slippery membrane with the umbical cord attached to the placenta. If she does not sever the cord or the membrane covering the puppy you must then take the matter into your own hands, If not removed immediately the puppy will sufforcate and die. Remove the membrane by tearing it with your fingers away from the puppies face enabling it to breath as quickly as possible to avoid suffercation. Once he is free you may then tie the cord and then cut it with sterile siccors. Be carefull not to pull on the stomach wall as this will cause an umbical hernia. HOW TO DEAL WITH THE CORD. Tie the cord firmly with dental floss about 1-2inches from the puppies body, clamp the center of the cord nearest the placenta with forceps or tie it again with dental floss. Now cut the cord in the centre of the two ties with blunt siccors. After the puppy has been seperated from the placenter swab the cord on the puppy end with iodine. Dry the puppy quickly and place him next to his mother. she will now begin to lick him and you may hear it gasp or cry. The bitch will then direct the puppy to her nipples and it should begin to suck.
CESARIAN SECTION
This is a Life saving operation and not done just for the asking. If your Chow Bitch has not gone into labor three days after her due date, please seek urgent advice from your Vet. He may then advise an injection which would encourage her to start labor or do a Caesarean Section, this is an operation, in which the Surgeon cuts into the uteri of the Bitch to remove the whelps-if done in time all the puppies have a chance of surviving, but if left to long as in the case of my Bitch "Monique" who never went into labor, a Caesar was performed 5 days after her due date, and she was delivered of one large dead male whelp. There was no reason for the puppy to have died, and on inspection it was a perfectly formed puppy. But due to the bitch not going into labor it was lost. She herself suffered a slight set back, as her uterus would not reduce in size, and was only slightly infected, once on antibiotics as well as Oxytocin injection given she slowly started to feel more her normal self. She only really started to eat about 5 days after the operation and had to be coaxed with chicken and fish as well as a large slice of Christmas pudding and thick cream.
After a Cesar the Bitch will be very sore and will bleed a lot from the Vulva, don’t be to perturbed about the loss of Blood, and if you are, telephone or take her to see your Vet. Keep a check of her temperature at least 3 times a day and chart it. Make sure she is able to urinate as well as pass a stool. The third day after the operation is a good day to take her for a short walk around the garden or a dog park to get her bladder and bowels working properly.
Her wound and Stitches must be kept dry at all times and it is advisable to dust the stitches three times a day with a wound powder available from your Vet or chemist. If she is feeding puppies, and her breasts are pendulous, please dry between them after each feed, and dust with powder, this will keep infection away. Keep Breasts and Nipples free from fur while the young are sucking, as loose hair or fur can cause an obstruction in the digestive system of the young puppy. The Caesar wound should be healed by the 13th day and the stitches can be removed. POINTS TO REMEMBER –
1. Any bitch over 3 days
2 Protracted Labor.
3 The birth followed by a puppy blocking the birth passage.
4. No sign of labor and 3 days over due.
5 X-ray first to see where the problem lies and then treat.
6. A green discharge can be a sure sign that there is a problem, if this happens before the birth of any puppies. It means that the first placenta has parted from the puppy, and if the puppy is not delivered it will suffocate. Sometimes a Caesar should be done if this is suspected.

All four of the above need emergency treatment to save the life of the Bitch and her Whelps.
After "Monique’s" operation she fostered Two Chow Puppies from my other Bitch who had given birth a few days before, to four large puppies, all four did very well with their two mothers

A cat called Nelson

2009-06-29T02:02:00.000-07:00

A CAT CALLED NELSIN
She was born in the garage of our company some time over the Christmas break, I only saw he when I got back from leave and she must have been about 5 weeks old, she had 3 siblings a black a black and white and a lovely Tabby. I started to feed them, and then I decided to take these totally wild kittens home. It took a few days to plan their capture and then one at a time I managed to get three of the kittens. I took them home and placed then in a holding cage, I had the black we now call Nelsin, the black and white and the tabby, after 2 weeks I let them out hoping they would settle down, but not to be the black and white made a run for it, the Tabby vanished but Nelsin settled down slowly. A week later I found the Tabby behind the fish tank and she was jus learning that humans would not hurt he when she got out of my bedroom window and was sadly killed by my Dobermans. But this story is about Nelsin, whom was at first called Nelson because she is so black with yellow eyes and we thought she was a male. But after being with us for 11 weeks we knew she was a female. The first six weeks with us were pure hell for her as well as us. She screamed for her food, peed on the bed, and then one day she was gone, I could not find her anywhere. This was the day that the tabby died. Well I thought I only had them for 6 weeks, I should never have taken them away from their original home. One of my Chows had recently passed away suddenly after been bitten by a snake, and I went to her grave and spoke to her. "Nickie" I said, "Please help me to find Nelsin, send your sprit back and find the kitten for me" I stood at her grave for a while and then left. It was while I was getting supper that evening when I heard the meow of a kitten; it was dark so I took the torch to look for her. I eventually saw her walking up the drive with mo other cat speckles, a Maine coon, my prayer to Nickie ha been answered. Nelsin was very hungry and was only too happy to be home. Nelsin is now home bound and has grown into a lovely pitch-black cat and has been a mother herself a couple of times. She still screams at me when she thinks its supper time, she loves to watch the fish in the fish tank, and often sits and watches T.V. she is a gentle cat with a lovely nature. And She loved speckles and would sleep curled up with him between his paws. I trust that Nelsin will have a long and happy life with us, and her other cat friends.

Tidbits

2009-06-29T02:01:00.001-07:00

TIDBITS
These are two little stories told to me by my Vet.
THE GREAT DANE AND THE SOCKS.
Sadie the Great Dane loved playing with the washing and in particular socks. One morning her mistress phoned the Vet, "Charles" she said, "Sadie has just vomited up 3 socks", bring her in to the surgery and I look her over " he said. At the surgery she promptly vomited up another sock, "Well " Said Charles "everything in pairs' He sent her home on antibiotics to ward off any infection the socks might have caused. But alas all was not well, the following morning, Sadie was even worse, not eating and not passing any stools, back to the Vet. Charles decided to X-ray the Great Dane, and got trapped, the only cure was to open her up and remove the offending object there it was another sock stuck in her mall intestine, it had passed through the stomach. This was done, and Sadie was once again a happy Great Dane no worse for wear. All the socks in the house are now kept well out of the way. Let this little story be a lesson to all, don't let the dog play with your smalls, it might just turn out to be more costly then buying a pair of socks.
PIP AND THE CHAMELEON
Pip was a Toy Pom puppy, therefore she was still very small, as you can imagine. Her owner also had a pet chameleon, but the day the Pom and the Chameleon met is to be remembered by many especially the Vet for a long time.
The vet "Charles" received a frantic call one morning " My toy Pom puppy has swallowed my pet chameleon, what can I do. I can see the Chameleon wriggling in his tummy". Well holding back his laughter Charles said to wait and see, as the chameleon would surly die and the puppy would pass in a stool in a day or two. Well an hour later another frantic phone call. The Toy Pom puppy had vomited up the Chameleon, What could she do for it, as it was still alive. Charles of course suggested bringing both the puppy and the Chameleon to the surgery. Pip the Pom passed a clean bill of health and the Chameleon was given a wash and survived to continue his creepy crawly life, well out of the way of the Toy Pom puppy.

Eclampsia

2009-06-29T01:58:00.001-07:00

ECLAMPSIA
Candy, my little Maltese, was 60 days into her pregnancy, it had been a good pregnancy, and I could feel her puppies moving quite vigorously. On the Saturday 2nd November, she seemed to suddenly quieten down, she would not eat, or drink and her temperature was 38.5. Rather strange behaviour, but I thought it best to leave her to se what progressed. By the time I went to bed she was still lying next to me, breathing gently, and although she appeared to be in a deep sleep, she was not agitated.
At 2.20am I was woken up by a terrible scream, she was swaying her head from side to side, the fit only lasted a few seconds, and she then settled down to sleep again, an hour later she had the second fit. Oh my god I thought this is Eclampsia, I knew that it was imperative that I get calcium into her blood stream, and not having calcium injections, I missed a spoon of Cal sup into half a cup of water and syringed this into her mouth, she swallowed it all and again fell asleep, at 4 am she had another fit, but not as bad as the first two. I again gave her the cal sup mixture and again she settled down to sleep. But she was still not right, as she slept her head was in a thrown back position and her back legs were stiff, there were no contractions at this time. At 6am she started to have slight pushing contractions and these carried on for almost 2 hours. She still appeared to be in a comatose state. At 8.15am she gave birth to her first puppy, I revived the puppy and offered it to her but she was not interested in it at all.
As our Vet only opened at 9am, we took her over and waited for him. When he arrived I explained to him her condition, and he agreed with as to the trouble. While examining her before and X-ray was taken, she screamed again and then gave birth to her 2nd puppy. Once the Vet had taken the X-rays in which we could see another 5 puppies still to come, He put her on a drip, of glucose, into which he injected Calcium gluconate, and Oxytocin. During the day she recovered enough to take interest in her puppies and delivered another 4 healthy puppies, but by 4pm she still had not give birth to the 7th one, it was then decided to do a caesarean Section, and to spay her at the same time, due to a malfunction which showed up on her heart in the X-ray.
The 7th puppy was very weak but alive, and was put into the incubator with the others. Candy was then allowed home with her puppies.
These were fed by tube every 2 hours while their mother slept. This morning they all appeared well and candy was much better, although still very weak, she had started to take note of her babies, and was cleaning them. They were put to her teats and allowed to suck. I gave them a tube feed before I left for work. Knowing that my son would watch over them during the day and if anything went wrong, he would take them to the vet.
Eclampsia is a lack of Calcium in the Blood, which can lead to fits, coma and death, this usually occurs in small and medium bitches, but can affect any bitch, either before or even after whelping. It is not very common but is very dangerous, when it does occur. Emergency treatment must be sort after as soon as possible.
Post script: 4.7.2004
A week ago my little maltese bitch Roxy gave birth to 5 lovely puppies, but tonight things started to go horribly wrong, she became very restless and would not attend to her puppies refusing to go near them or feed them, she would not eat of drink and her gums and tongue went a bright color red, immediately this started to happen instead of panicking I started to give her Cal Phos tablets 2 every 10minutes I gave her a rescue tablet as well, When she started to pant and breathe rather to quickly for my liking, I made strong black coffee and put a lot of sugar into it, this I feed her with a syringe into her mouth and she was able to swollow it with no problems, I wraped her in a cold damp towel to bring her temperature down which helped dramatically, there was almost an immediate response for the better in her condition. Her Eclampsia started at about 10pm and with out a car I was unable to get her to an emergency hospital, I kept up the treatment until 4am in the morning, when she started to breathe easier and settled down with her puppies, as her heart beat slowed to a normal rate, and she looked more comfortable, she eventually went to sleep, exhausted but breathing normally and temperature normal. During the day I continued to give her 2 Cal Phos tablets every 2 hours, and that evening she ate all her food as well as a bowl of milk and then a plate of scrambled egg. To day I gave her a Niacin tablet which contains 234 mg of Calcium phosphate,100 mg Niacin,8mg Vegetable Steanic Acid, 4mg Vegetable Cellulose, she has recovered and is eating well and feeding her puppies. Yes I took her life into my hands, and with the help of her protector she is much better and is her loving self again.

The horrors of the infared lamp

2009-06-29T01:54:00.000-07:00

Melushka looking for the cats

THE HORRORS OF THE INFRARED LAMP
In May a few years ago, my Bitch Meltari Chrystal Gazer was expecting a litter from Meltari blue Denim. The weather was turning cooler and my heating pad I had used for years had finally packed up. All the books I have on puppy rearing suggest the use of the infrared lamp, saying this was the best way of keeping young puppies warm, so instead of buying another heating pad, I bought an infrared lamp from the chemist.

My bitch's litter of nine puppies were born but two died soon after birth. The rest survived and were kept warm under the infrared lamp. No, unknown to me, I sued a medicated infrared lamp, not knowing at the time you could buy a special lamp for keeping puppies or chickens warm. I left the lamp on all night and turned it on periodically during the day when the weather turned chilly - never knowing the damage I was causing my lovely puppies and their mother.
My puppies thrived and grew and soon their eyes were open. All of them had bright blue eyes and as they grew the blue did not fade away very much. Only two puppies' eyes eventually turned brown at six weeks of age. I took my bitch puppy Meltari Melushka to the vet and on careful examination he pronounced her blind in both eyes. The corneas were badly damaged and he suggested I put her down and it was possibly a genetic disability.
Well I went through my puppy's pedigrees to try to trace this blindness but all dogs on both sides were of sound bloodlines and there was no blindness. I did not destroy my puppy and today although she cannot see, she can find her way around like any Chow with sight. I telephoned S.A. Phillips to get a replacement globe for my infrared lamp. The gentleman I spoke to was horrified when I told him what I wanted " You cannot use a medicated lamp on small puppies, you need an incubator lam" was what he said. Suddenly it struck me; Melushka's blindness was not a genetic fault by my fault for using an incorrect infrared lamp. I phoned my Vet and spoke to him about my discovery and he agreed immediately with me. It was the rays of the infrared lamp that had burned the corneas of the whole litter of puppies abut somehow my puppy received more than the others. There were three puppies that developed white spots on their corneas, my blind puppy, only one had clear eyes and two were blind in one eye. This was terrible and all puppies were given away to people who wanted them. Their mother Chrystal, because of receiving such a large dose of infrared has lost all the hair on her chest and tummy. I am horrified at the dangers of a medicated infrared lamp. Don't trust your chemist for providing the correct lamp. They may also not know the difference. Rather get professional advise on where to buy the correct item from S.A. Phillips or use a heating pad which is far safer for you precious litter.

You all read about the devastating effect of the infrared lamp on my puppies. Now I am going to tell you about my blind chow, "Melushka".
She was the pick of the litter, a lovely sturdy puppy with good bone and a lovely head; only we did not know that she would never be able to see.
As a tiny puppy she won every one's heart. When we realised there was something very wrong with her sight, I took her to my vet who confirmed my fears and suggested that we put her down. She was then 8 Weeks old. Instead I asked him to inoculate her as I would be keeping her, blind or not she was a Chow and one of mine.
As the months went past, we watched her grow from a tiny puppy, which at first would stumble around the garden finding her feet, but soon learnt where every obstacle was that she might bump into. In her rush around the yard, she soon learned that her best friends were my three cats. She would gleefully sniff them out and the chase was on. She flew around the garden after them. Looking at her you would never think this lovely chow was totally blind. She has never seen the sun or the trees and really has no idea what the cats look like. Many a time, when the cats were well and truly cornered, they would jump over my garden fence. She was not perturbed by their actions and would stand with her two front paws balanced on the fence. She was not perturbed by their actions and would stand with her two front paws balance on the fence "looking" over to see if they were anywhere within reach. While she was still very young, I also got Charlie, a black Maltese Cross Toy Poodle to be her companion. She loved Charlie and when they are together, follows him around the garden. It's like having a guide dog for a blind dog. They have always got on very well together.
Two weeks ago Melushka had to have one of her eyes removed as she had developed glaucoma in it. It was unsightly to look at. I thought it would be better if it were not there at all. She sailed through the operation and although my Vet said it was a difficult operation as the eyeball itself was a big as a golf ball and full of fluid, he thought that infection might set in and that he would have to put her down. But again she proved him wrong and she healed very quickly and was soon getting around even better than before. Without the pain and the weight of a very bad eye, the cats are now even more aware of her. You would never think that she was blind unless you look at her eyes. She is a truly lovely young 18-month-old chow and so far she has coped extremely well with her disability. And I am sure she will cope very well with anything put in her way. On a sad ending note of Melushkas life I had to put her down at the age of 8 years because she developed cancer in her throat.

2009-06-29T01:52:00.000-07:00

THE MATING OF LADY AND LEO
I wish to thank the following members who helped me in the very frustrating job of mating two very Novice Chow Chow's.
Many thanks to Andries and Lia Du Toit, Mr & Mrs Myburg and Mr and Mrs Zwang, for their offer to help as well. I think you are all very wonderful people and I don't know what I would have done without all of you.
I also wish to thank Mr Skidmore for allowing me to mate Lady Loretta with Leo, even though it took almost four hours, half a dozen beers and a few cigarettes. Oh what a night, I will never forget it.
Lady produced her first two gorgeous puppies, Midnight and Leo's son a lovely red and a lovely black.
MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS
Many of you "oldies" may remember the story of how Rick and I were so frustrated when we tried to mate our very first two sill Chow's, "Lady" and "Leo" and had to eventually call in the help of the Chow Club to get these two dogs together. It was only after the kind assistance of Coen Myburg and Andries du Toit that we made thing happen. Out of this union were born two male puppies "Leo's son" and "Midnight". We showed them at shows as puppies and Midnight was sold at the age of 5 months. "Sonny" as we called him was sold to a Mrs Annamarie Balmer. These puppies were born on the 17th April 1984. At the time of writing this story 10 years ago and to day "2nd May 1994" I received a very unexpected phone call. Annamarie Balmer phoned me at work, after getting my number from the Chow Club. What a wonderful surprise she had for me! "Sonny" now called "Leo" had just become a father for the first time to a young bitch they call "Kama". He sired a magnificent litter of 5 bitches and 3 dogs. All doing very well. This was his very first mating and I really feel that this could be a record. i.e. his age and the number of puppies born for his age!
I know that he is truly loved and cared for by the Balmers and I am so very proud to be a grandmother to his puppies! He was our very first.

Reaching out

2009-06-29T01:50:00.000-07:00

REACHING OUT
For the last few days, my mind has been playing tricks with me, I found my self constantly thinking about my "Skye's" sister, "Bortei Sidgen", whom I sold to two young men when she was 8 weeks old. I have not seen her as she has grown up, but something nagged me so I tried to phone her owners. The phone was disconnected.
To day at lunchtime, 19 January 1995, tow of my friends from work and I decided to spend our lunch hour at the Kloof S. P.C.A. We often do this at lunchtime, as we all love the animals. Well today was no exception. We first went and said hello to the cats and the kittens then slowly made our way to the dogs available for adoption. There were all sorts, a lot of nice staffies etc. then Jo, who was looking at another cage called me,"Carol there is a Chow here" Well I ran to the cage and my heart almost stopped when I saw her. She looked so much like my "Sharin", she could be her daughter, and I ran to the office to Enquirer if she had a pedigree. "Yes" the lady, said a very good one. "May I see it I asked" To my surprise I found my name as the breeder. She was the bitch I had been worrying about for the last week "Her owner died suddenly " I was told." I am Mrs. Mc Intyre Dewrance" I explained to them, that I was the breeder and that I have copies of her papers. "I want her back, but not spayed, I told them" I was told that they would have to speak to Dr Pringle the Chairman of the S.P.C.A. and also whether I could prove that I am her breeder. I explained that I will show them my Kennel Union Registration number and I will bring it to them.
I then went to her kennel and went inside, at first she was a little nervous, but soon settled down with me when I spoke to her,"Sidgen" I said "I'm coming to get you tomorrow". I rubbed my face against her soft cheek and because her kennel was very hot, no shade at all, I put a choke chain onto her and took her out for a walk. I then put her back into her kennel.
I went back to work and immediately phoned Dr Pringle and explained to him what I had told the S.P.C.A. he said he would consider my request not to spay her and that I must phone back sometime later. When I phoned back later I was told the wonderful news, "She is yours, you can come and get her" I was so thrilled I burst into tears. I was getting my baby back even though she is now 20 months old. I know she will produce lovely puppies one day with Baxter and I will have her in the show ring as soon as possible.
"De JA Vu" or what ever it's called. "Sidgen " reached out to me in her time f trouble and I felt it. I know she will be happy and soon settle down in her birth home.
Sidgen has settled down very well. You would think she had never spent 20 months of her young life away from home. She is lovely, and has a marvelous nature and loves me as much as I love her. She will be my Chow forever.
PostScript 5th Dec 200l.
Sidgen will be 10years old next year and like her sister Skye she is still getting around not as much as she used to because of arthritis in her hind legs but she is still with us and still loved very much.

Apollo and snake bite

2009-06-29T01:44:00.000-07:00

SNAKE BITE; Not many Chow breeders go through this traumatic experience but it can and does happen.
The date is Thursday night 18.11.93.
I allow Apollo and Monique out of their kennel run each night, so that they can sleep on the veranda by the front door. On Thursday night it was no different, in the morning as usual I then put them back into their kennel for the day. Neither of them are energetic dogs nor therefor do not run all over the grounds as the younger Chows do. When I got home from work on Friday I noticed that Apollo was not standing on his left leg, and after questioning both Rick and Robin as to his activities during the day they both said that neither of them noticed anything unusual. I examined his leg and found it to be very swollen, presuming that he might have strained a ligament; I gave him an Indocid tablet with his supper of which he only ate half. On the Saturday morning I took him over to the Vet, who after examining him agreed with me that he had hurt his leg and put him onto a course of anti inflammatory tablets to reduce the swelling and the pain. I took him home and put him straight back into his kennel, with strict instructions that he was to rest his leg as much as possible. I gave him his tablets with a small amount of food and again tried to feed him his supper, which he was not interested in. The following morning he appeared to be worse, he was not very keen to walk on his led, I again examined it and to my horror found that his glands in his groin were very swollen he had a very high temperature and when I lifted him to see if he could stand he collapsed, I called Rick and showed him the swelling saying that if this was a ligament problem he should be able to stand and not collapse as he did. I immediately realized that this was a very dangerous situation and a snake had possibly bitten that he. Possibly a small Night Adder, I phoned every Vet in the book and eventually found a Doctor in Hillcrest where we immediately took him. By this time Apollo was battling to breathe he could not even lift his head or his body he was in a comatose state, the doctor examined him and immediately agreed with me that a snake had bitten him, and due to the large swelling of the groin this was the possible entrance of the fang bite. He was put onto a drip and placed in the intensive care ward. He managed to survive the night but was still not out of danger when I phoned the Vet at 9am on Monday. I again phoned him at 5pm when I got home to be told that his temperature had gone down and the drip had been removed, He was able to stand, but not on the swollen leg, The Doctor said he was very depressed, and when he slept he snored all the time, He was afraid that Apollo might be getting respiratory complications. He said he thought Apollo's face looked rather puffy, but then he had never worked on chow before, I explained that most Chows snore, and that Apollo's bone structure was normal and that he did have rather big cheeks. The Vet assured me that he was better than he had been in the morning, but he would like me to go up and see him on Tuesday after work to help his access him, and his condition and that I must phone to see how he was doing in the morning, and that hopefully he would be able to hold out through the night. Although in a very critical condition he said he thought that Apollo would survive this bite. It's Tuesday morning the date is the 23.11.93 and its been 5 days since Apollo was bitten by a night adder, this morning when I phoned the Vet, he said that Apollo had had a good night although he had snored all night. He had eaten a little chicken for breakfast, and was standing up on all four legs. When I got to the hospital this evening I saw a remarkable change in my very sick dog, from almost being a dead dog, to come to me when I opened his cage, and stood up on all four legs and even wagged his tail, he then placed his lovely head on my lap as I sat in his kennel on the floor next to him. He was so happy to see me, and I think he was so grateful to still be alive, he tried to follow me out the Hospital ward door, and was still very shaky on his legs, I put him back into the kennel an told him that I would see him tomorrow. I then spoke to the Vet whom said that he would like to do a thyroid test on him tomorrow and that hey would like to keep him in another day to make sure that here was no relapse. Apollo was nearly just one of the many Chows to walk in Doggy heaven, but thanks to a wonderful medical team he is not going to be in Heaven until the right time comes.
Wednesday 24.11.93 I phoned this morning and the Vet told me that he felt that Apollo would be better off at home, due to bad depression. I picked him up this evening, he was still very confused and we took him home. On arrival at home I allowed him to take a short walk in the garden allowing him to urinate, you could actually see a smile on his face when he suddenly realized that he was really at home, he wagged his tail and had a very short walk around and then Rick picked him up and carried him inside, and put him into the Shower room, where I had made a cozy bed for him, hopeing that he would sleep there and settle down, I gave him a small amount of supper which he heartily ate as he had refused to eat anything at the hospital, I then allowed him to eat what Tasha had Left, a good meal for a dog that had not eaten in 6 days. He is still very weak but I am sure he will grow stronger each day now he is at home. The swelling in his leg has gone down and the only swelling now is where the actual snake bite is, but this has considerably reduced from the size of a tennis ball to the size of a ping pong ball, he is still not very happy about walking on the leg but does try his best to get up without help, which is very difficult on the bathroom floor. The Vet has given him tablet to take that should set him on the path to full recovery.
30.11.93 It has been a week now since Apollo came home from the hospital, his condition has improved very slowly and today he was able to stand for a few minutes on his damaged leg. He is still taking anti-inflammatory tablets and shall do so for the next week, I have put him back into his kennel as he appears much happier there with Monique, He is eating well and looks much better. I have now put him onto a course of Arnica tablets which I think had helped in his recovery, I also rubbed his leg every day with Arnica ointment, these are available at your local pharmacy, and I advise anyone who has dogs to keep a supply of them at home, they reduce swelling, sprains, bruising and inflammation, they are truly a wonder tablet. This will be a long procedure for Apollo but I know that he will regain his strength in his leg. I shall follow this up with a report next week to inform the progress he has made.
Apollo has improved tremendously since he has been on the Arnica tablets, and although his leg is still weak he is now walking slowly around our garden on all fours.
APOLLO
I know this is a very touchy subject to write about, and I know I have written about it before in chapter one, but feel that this story and the follow up in Afrikaans by Mrs. L Naude are an essential part of my book.
Over the years we have lost some of the best dogs in the Chow World, To Gastric Torsion. The first I knew of was "Adoons" Andries du Toit's male, then my "Halley" died suddenly, "Sheila" of Johan Naude used to suffer from gastric torsion, "toper" Cheryl Ann's lovely dog, and then my dear old "Lady", "Tinkerbell" of Coen Myburg, "Benjie" Elize Greens imported male and also "Suster" of Tom Putter, as well as our beloved "Tangerine dream - Tangie" owned by Alma and Andrew, Toppie van Niekerk also lost number of Chows due to gastric torsion, and as I have said, a great loss to all of us.
Now I know that once this happens there is very little that can be done, but on Thursday night when I got home from work all my dogs appeared fine, I fed them at five and allowed them out to do their business before settling them down for the night. At 9pm I heard a terrible scream from "Apollo's" kennel, I rushed outside to see what was the matter, all the time with the fear of the dreadful Bloat in the back of my mind. I was right, his belly was blown up like an over size football, ready to explode. I knew if I could not reduce it in size he would die, we did not even have time to get him to the emergency Vet in Westville, as he would have died by the time we got him down the drive. I screamed for Rick and Robin to help me, We cut a piece of hose pipe and while Robin held "Apollo's" mouth open with a piece of wood, I battled a few times to get the hose down his throat into his stomach, It seemed to take hours, but only a few seconds had passed when we heard the sound of air escaping through the tube. Rick pressed gently on his belly helping to expel the excessive gasses that had built up so quickly. I gave no thought to what other damage the hosepipe might cause; I just knew I had to reduce the gas if I wanted my dog to live.
Within five minutes the belly of my dog had reduced to almost normal, I gave him a massive dose of Arnica to reduce swelling, bruising and shock and allowed him to sleep inside during the night, I stayed up with him the whole night to see that it won't happen again and also that he did not suffer a heart attack.
The following morning, I took him over to our Vet who examined him and said that he was a very lucky chow to have me, as he would have died if I had tried to move him. A hosepipe was all I was able to think of too release the gasses he had built up. To prevent this from happening again he is now being fed a mixture of food that is liquidated into a pulp to aid his digestive system. He has a limited amount of food per day and his water intake is restricted before and after meals. I did not allow him to eat anything for 24 hours after bloating and today, a week later he is back to normal.
Bloat is something, which I know now, is to be treated immediately on the spot, you do not have time to wait for a Vet or even get to a Vet. This is how I lost my "Halley". Any flexible tubing inserted through his mouth into the stomach will help to reduce the gas built up, but unfortunately if left to long or a car trip could cause the stomach to turn and this will cause the death of your dog. Try to save him before moving him, fast thinking, no fuss and fast work and you dog may live to see many more happy years. I hope and pray that Apollo will and that my little story will be able to save maybe one Chow chow out there. Please don't be afraid to try this treatment on your own, Your Chow is a valuable member of your family and his life must be save if at all possible.
In die lig van bogenoemde artikel, wil ek ook net graag iets ontrent"bloat" kwytraak. Eerstens did is seker die aakligste dood wat 'n hond kan sterf. Dit is ontsettend pynlik en soos Carol gese het indien verligting niebinne sekondes of 'n minuut to twee bebring kan word nie, slaan die hond se maag on en sterf hy binne 10 minute.
On whet die gavel met "Sheila" 'n swart chow tee wat Gerald net nadat sy 'n werpsel kleintjies gehad het(as die kleintjies sowat 'n week oud is) "ge bloat" het. Gelukkig was ons elke keer tuis on na haar om te sien. Die pyp waarvan Carol gepraat het werk uitstekend, Dis is miskien 'n goeie idee om so 'n stuk pyp, wat van 'n sagte tekstuur moet wees on maklik kan buig ann te skaf vir die wis en onwis (verkrygbaar by die Veears). Wees eerder voorbereid as om in die middel van die nag; terwyl jy deur die slaap is to wonder wat moet ek nou doen.
Nog'n metode om die gas uit die maag te laat ontsnap is deur gebruik te maak van 'n hol naald (verkrybaar by die Veearts) was dan so 2 sentimeter onder die laaste ribbebeen
van die hond ingedruk word. Die hond moet op sy sy geplaas word en voel dan met die hande waar die laaste rib is en ongeveer twee sentimeter verder (in die maag) word die naald dan ingedruk en die opgeboude gasse ontsnap dan deur die hol naald. Die hond moet egter nadat die gasse ontsnap het so spoedig moontlik by 'n Veearts kom sodat daar vasgestel kan word of daar enige verder skade was en of die maag nie dalk omgeslaan het nie.
In "Sheila" se geval het haar maag die eerste maal werklik omgeslaan en moes die Veerats opereer om dit weer reg te draai. Dit was net blote geluk dat ons haar nie verloor het nie. He het aan ons verduidelik dat die maag in sy opgeswelde posisie soos 'n ballon is wat vol water gemaak is, as die hond enigsins sou beweeg gedurende hierdie "vol" toestand dan draai die maag om, in welke geval die gasse glad nie kan ontsnap nie en die giftige gasse in die ingewande versprei word. Lewerskade word ook op die manier opgedoen.
Hierdie toestand het " Sheila" net oorgekom nadat sy kleintjies gehad het en op 'n vrag aan die Veearts waarom, het hy gese dat verskeie faktore daartoe kan bydra. Onder andere to groot maaltye (tewe vreet gewoonlik meer as gewoonlik nadat hulle kleintjies gehad het) en daarna drink hulle te veel water. Nog 'n oorsaak is te veel oefening (rondhardloop, speel ens.) nadat hulle geeet het. Spanning by sommige honde kan dit ook veroorsaak deurdat spanning veroorsaak dat die maag gasse vrystel wat dan opbou en sodoende die toestand veroorsaak.
Die oplossing is on te sorg dat die hond eerder twee of drie kleiner maaltye per dg kry as een groot maaltyd. Maak ook seker dat jou hond nie 'n groot doeveelheid water op 'n slag drink nie. Voorsien eerder 'n kleiner waterbak en sien toe dat die bak altyd vol vars water is en dan natuurlik, maak seker dat daar nie gespeel word of rondgehardloop na maaltye nie.
"Bloat" ge beur gewoonlik in die laat-aand of nag wanneer almal slaap en as jy nie 'n ligte slaper is nie, tel jy jou hond die volgende dag dood op. Wanneer die toestand ontstaan sal die hond op 'n baie vreemde manier begin "skreeu-blaf-tjank". Ek wet nie wat om dit anders to noem nie, jy sal dadelik agterkom dat daar groot fout is en dat die diere in geweldige pyn verkeer.
Ek hoop van harte nie dat hiedie toestand enige verder Chows in ons geledere sal tref nie. Soo Carol gese het, dit is 'n groot verlies vir die Chowwereld. Prgtige honde, ingeevoerde honde is all o die maniere dood en dit wil al lyk of dit ongelukkig iets is wat die Chows nogal gereeld tref. As jou hond dit eenmaal gehad het en jy kon hom deurhaal, kan jy maar seker wees jy sal hom voortaan soos 'n valk moet dophou want die kanse dat dit weer met hom sal gebeur is 99% party honde isgeneig daartoe ander nie.
Die belangrikste van alles is, is om nie die hond water of medisyne to probeer injaag of om hom onnodig te beweeg nie. Moenie paniekbevange raak nie, as jy die pyp of hol naald byderhand het gebruik dit en wanneer dar verligting is kan die hond beweeg word of no 'n Veearts gebring word.
Sterkte!
Leana Naude

Meltari Midnight

2009-06-29T01:40:00.000-07:00

Middies first adventure

2009-06-29T01:39:00.000-07:00

MIDDIES FIRST ADVENTURE.
BY
Mrs. Sue Forgan
Having been a Chow Chow owner for 13 years, of two dignified and stately animals did not however prepare me for the advent of Meltari Midnight. "Midnight " or "Midi" as we fondly call him, arrived at our home five months ago. He was four months old then and very cuddly looking, as Chow Chow puppies usually are. The problem was that he was unapproachable. He barked viciously and bit too! It took a very wary three weeks to win his confidence but eventually he saw things our way and decided we were not planning anything - other than love and devotion.
He ate voraciously and bloomed, with much pampering and plenty of exercise. We thought he as growing into a very good dog and thoughts turned to the show ring. We walked him on his leash, gave a few commands to obey and watched him going from strength to strength. As the date for the open show at Goldfields drew closer, we groomed him more often and more thoroughly, and bathed him and groomed some more.
Eventually the big day arrived. We were quite nervous, my husband and I, as we had never shown a dog before. Looking at the opponent puppy, made us more nervous and we thought- "ah well, he probably will be placed second, it is experience for him". So imagine our joy and elation when he was chosen as best puppy, and given 3 Seconds in S.A. Bred, Open and Novice sections respectively. Our apologies if we overdid the joyous bit, but we were so delighted! Here's hoping he will improve and grow even more delightful as time passes, and use this opportunity to compliment other Chow owners on their gorgeous dogs!

The destructive itch

2009-06-29T01:36:00.000-07:00

THE DESTRUCTIVE ITCH
In August last year, we had a constant young visitor, who at the time worked with my son, Well he loved the Chows and would sit for hours rubbing their tummies and ears, this was fine and the dogs loved it, but unfortunately we did not realize the damage this was going to cause our dogs over the next few months. Unknown to any of us this young man had Scabies and he passed the mite on to our dogs.
Scabies or Sarcoptic Mange is a disease caused by a microscopic spider like creature called a mite; this disease causes uncontrollable itching of the skin, causing the dog to loose all his coat by scratching and biting. The first signs are small red lumps that itch, at this stage our Vet suggested a course of antibiotics and cortisone saying the dogs had hot spots because of the sun’s powerful rays. The treatment only made them worse. Now five of our Chows were driving us and themselves mad with their now very destructive itching.
Well studied all my 43 medical books and came to the conclusion that they had Scabies. So I shaved all their coats off an with the help from my Homeopath I started treating them on Homeopathic remedies, as well as shampooing all of them is a shampoo called Quelled shampoo. After a good bath, I then applied Quellada lotion to their skins, after the first application the itching sopped.
I then waited for another 10 days when I re-shampooed and again I applied the lotion to their shins. At last I had conquered the itch, and now 6 weeks later their fur is growing back and they are starting to look like chows again. During the treatment I cleaned the Kennels out and washed everything in a dog dip. And finally after the treatment was completed I dipped all my dogs as a safety precaution against re-infection and shall continue to dip them once a month in future. I have learnt a lesson from this unfortunate disease, not to allow anyone to touch my dogs unless they have first washed their hands and especially their nails in Savlon. All your carpets in your home must also be treated with the dip, including your furniture, beds and bedding Scabies is very contagious and can be transferred to the human during grooming sessions. The mites do not live longer than three weeks on the human body and the treatment is the same.
This is not a terrible disease and can be cured very quickly but it is a very uncomfortable disease for your dog. It is very disfiguring a they look terrible with no coats, but rather a Chow with no coat than a dead one as coats do grow back.
This treatment can also be used on early eczema as well, I have found the bet remedy for my chows with very sore hot spots or eczema, is that the raw patch is first sprayed with Dermoplast to stop the itch, and then to be completely covered with Gentian Violet. This clears the skin up in a few days. Not all skin problems need Cortisone and I for one do not think it is a good thing to give in excess to your dog. There are other remedies that are just as good.

a tribute to Smurf and Flash

2009-06-29T01:30:00.000-07:00

This Chow deservs a medal

2009-06-29T01:28:00.000-07:00

THESE CHOWS DESERVE MEDALS
In the May issue of Heads and Tails, I read the lovely article on chows, Well I phoned Shirley Birkett and managed to obtain the telephone number of Mrs Bunty Hubard in Uvongo on the South Coast of Natal, and I phoned her, what a lovely Lady, I could have spoken to her for the whole day, but telephone calls are expensive, she told me that she had two chows, Tzu Tang a Cream chow of ten years old and a young ten month old female called Laura, whom she got from very dear friends of mine, Erica and Shawn O'roiden a third chow had died a few months ago, this chow as well a her other two deserve medals.
While she was driving through the town of Uvongo, she stopped at a stop street, her handbag was on the seat next to her and her Chow bitch was in the back seat of the car, an African approached the car and a quick as lightening thrust his hand through the open window and grabbed her handbag, but before he could withdraw his prize, her chow sunk her teeth into the thief's arm and would not let go, He was arrested and never got the handbag.
Her chow Tza Tang has covered himself with glory twice by saving her life when a knife yielding man attacked her; see her newspaper cuttings, which were front page of their local newspaper.
Mrs. Hubbards husband is blind and his guide dog is getting old, she is really not safe to take him down the streets anymore, and this is where Lara comes in, she has been learning to lead Mr Hubbard in his daily life and is learning to become his eyes, Who would ever have thought a Chow could be a guide as well a Guard dog, but then they are very special dogs.
Thank you Shirley Birkett for helping me find this wonderful lady and her very special Chows, and thank you Bunty for having the time to speak to me and tell me about your wonderful dogs.
CHOW SAID 'CIAO' TO THIS BURGLAR
STORY BY Sheila Park
South Coast Herald
Friday February 17th 1989.

He might look like a Teddy bear, but there was nothing cuddly about the way Tzu Tang the Chow attacked his mistresses knife-wielding assailant, who cornered her in her garage and demanded money last Saturday afternoon.
Nor did his sprightly 70-year-old owner, Mrs. Bunty Dilworth (Hubard) let her attacker get away lightly for when he threw her to the ground, leapt on top of her and threatened to slit her throat, she kicked and bit him until he gave up and fled.
Mrs. Hubard of Manaba had been shopping at the local supermarket with her blind elderly Husband and returned home at about 1.30pm when she faced her terrifying ordeal, Having dropped her husband and his guide dog off at the gate leading from the driveway to their house, she proceeded to park the car in the garage a few meters away.
When she opened the back door of the car to takeout a bucket she had purchased, she was accosted by a Black Man, who pinned her between her car door and the garage entrance, Initially he told her he was looking for employment, but when she told him that she had none to offer, he demanded money and, after she said she had none, he grabbed her leather handbag.
REFUSED
However she refused to let go of it and he threw her onto the grass, climbed on top of her and pulled out a knife, threatening to slit her throat,
But the determined Mrs Hubard was not prepared to give up without a fight, and she caught him with her knee, kicked him and bit him, he wrenched the bag from her, tearing the handle off and scattering its contents. During the scuffle, She said she had "screamed her head off" which resulted in her losing her voice, her screams alerted a neighbor, Mrs Jean Mclean, who summoned the police.
Meanwhile Tzu Tang, one of Mrs Hubbard's two chows nearly went mad trying to gain access to the garden and Mr. Hubbard had closed the gate leading to it when he went into the house.
But Tzu Tang refused to give up and finding a Hole in the hedge between the next-door garden and his own, he wriggled through and attacked Mrs Hubards assailant, who was making off up the road.
Undeterred by the knife-wielding man Tzu Tang grabbed hold of his jacket and held on, despite being nicked by the attacker's knife. The assailant wriggled out of his jacket as Tzu Tang held firmly onto it.
Meanwhile the police arrived on the scene, as the assailant made his get-away, Attempts to corner him were unsuccessful. But he gained nothing from his attack and Mrs. Hubard was able to scoop up all her scattered belongings.
Mr. Hubard, who had also heard his wife's screams, had wanted to grab a truncheon and go to her assistance, despite being blind and sickly, Mrs. Hubard told the Herald on the Monday when we visited her.
The hero of the day Tza Tang was feeling most putout by the events and eyed our photographer with disdain, only reluctantly agreeing to pose for a photograph.

Smurf and Chrystal

2009-06-29T01:21:00.000-07:00

Arthur

2009-06-29T01:04:00.001-07:00

ARTHUR OR CHINABEAR BUSTER OF MELTARI.
He came to live with us four years ago, He was then just 5 years old, he was one of the most beautiful Chows I have ever seen, I fell in love with him at first sight, and within a week Arthur as he was called, why I will never know, as he really was not an Arthur, Golden Boy would have suited him better, but Arthur he was and Arthur he stayed, We were soon getting on very well together, he knew I loved him and he soon learnt to trust me, and then to love me. We were unable to show this lovely Chow, as we were unable to find his original owners, I knew his breeder, but she could not help me, We even went onto the Web but could not find them, I even tried the ITC but without an ID number, this did not help, so Arthur became a pet, where he should have been a Champion, I could not even use him for breeding as his puppies would not be able to be registered, but Arthur was a wonderful pet, he loved playing football, he would hit the ball with his paws and dribble it around the lawn like a professional football player, he never ever chewed up any ball or toy he was given, he would carefully place them in his kennel, these belonged to him and not to any one else, he lived with Gucci our blind rescue chow, and he loved her and she him, he would many a time lead her away from danger, like taking the wrong step and landing up in the dam, of which she did a few times when we first moved onto our small holding, but Arthur soon learnt to look after her. He was also very gentle with the puppies, especially if they were female, he loved the ladies, There was only one thin Arthur was not very happy with and that was my red dressing gown, when I ore it he would do his best to get it off me, and if he had been given his way, he would have dad it and most probably torn it up and laced it in his kennel to cuddle up and keep warm on, Arthur hated getting his feet wet, but loved the rain, he used to sleep on a pallet of wood above the ground so if it was raining his coat would get wet, and his feet tucked under him to keep them dry, crossing puddles in the lawn was another thing he would walk the length of the puddle, looking for the narrowest part where he could very carefully sort of skip over, making sure his paws would land on a dry spot on the oppersite side and when crossing back over the same puddle he would reverse his steps, and cross back in the same spot he had used before. Arthur did not like cats, Big cats, medium cats or even tiny kittens, given half a chance he would try his best to chase them but cats are not stupid, Arthur was in the run during the day and the cats stayed on the outside of the run, they did not trust the chows at all, even though they had been brought up with them. He also did not like the Egyptian Geese, their quacking made him mad, and he would continuously bark at them it was quite something to listen to the three of them, that is Arthur and the two geese, having a conversation, what they talked about I will never know and don't even know if they understood each other, Many a time he would sit and watched me while I was on the small boat on the dam, and he would sit and watch the Koi swimming past, but he never attempted to bet into the dam to try and catch them, But all good things must come to and end and soon Arthur's time started to run out, he got sick with a gastric torsion, but the first time I managed to save him, but four weeks later it happened again and although my son robin and I stayed up al night with him, I decided that it would be kinder in the long run to put this lovely chow to sleep, I miss you Arthur and will never forget you and your wonderful ways, May you rest in peace now.

Lukes Nightmare and Kennels all shiny new

2009-06-29T01:01:00.002-07:00

sleep.
LUKES NIGHTMARE
We were awakened by a screaming dog, who sounded like he was in absolute agony, Robin and I ran outside with the torch, not thinking to put on the outside lights, the unholy screaming was coming from Luke's kennel, we shone the light into their run and Trisha seemed to be O.K. but Luke could not move, We went into the run and climbed on the top of his kennel with him, he had got this toe caught in a small hole on the top of the kennel, Now the Kennel is made out of metal and after looking to see what the problem was and calming him down, I said to Robin to run and get the wire cutters, and to see if we could cut the hole bigger and thus be able to get his toe out, While Robin very carefully and gently cut the metal away Luke never said a word, he seemed to know that we were trying to help him and within a few minutes he was free, we had pored a cup of cooking oil over his foot and he was far more interested in licking the cooking oil up then worrying about his toe, Thankfully there was no harm done, and the following morning he was walking around on all four feet, If this had happened in America, or maybe else where in the world, 911 would have been called to get him free.
KENNELS ALL SHINY NEW
It's not Christmas yet but close enough to it, the date is 19 November 200l and today Carol bought us some nice new shiny wooden kennels to sleep in and just in time because I know it's going to rain very hard, I was a bit worried as I like to sleep on top of my old kennel and when I saw all these new ones, I thought I would have to learn to sleep on the ground like every one else, but no Carol had made a plan as usual and when she took out my old kennel I was very reluctant to say good bye to it, as it had been home for two years and it smelt of me, Well she took out my kennel and them Alex's Kennel and then she and Robin her son carried in out new ones, first she placed Alex's one on the ground and then she put my kennel on top of Alex's, as she knew I would not sleep on the ground, then she placed a roof over mine that would act as a roof for both of our kennels, I was very suspicious at first and would not go into it, it smelt different, not the homely smell of the old one, but it looked far more comfortable, and when she put in my piece of carpet then it started to look and smell a bit like home, Alex refused point blank to go into his, So guess what old Sidjen pinched it even though she had a nice fiberglass kennel of her own, so now if Alex wants to keep out of the rain then he has to share the new kennel with Sidjen or use her old one, Tammy and Archie also got new kennels, and Archie could not wait to get into his, he tried to get into it before Robin and Carol and even managed to get the roof on and of course he does not mind sharing it with Tammy, Gucci now loves her kennel and it is not easy to get her to come out of it, as she is nice and warm. Skye and Sinjon also got one but Skye like me likes to sleep on top, she has a long bench in her kennel which is sheltered by the roof, and this she likes to clime up onto and go to sleep, weather it rains, hails or is boiling hot, Sinjon smelt the new kennel and that was it a new home for an old boy, Trish and Luke also got a new kennel and they take turns sleeping in it, as both of them like to sleep up on the old deepfreeze's that where put into their run for them to sleep in, and keep them out of the rain, but the new kennel has slightly changed their way of living. Denim got the spare lid put over his kennel, and is also now kept dry. We have had some terrible rain in the last few days and I as well as all the other Chows and the Dobermans are very grateful for the lovely Christmas present Carol has given us. Even though it may be a bit early.

Three hours past midnight

2009-06-29T01:01:00.001-07:00

THREE HOURS PAST MIDNIGHT
It's 3am, up until now I had been sleeping soundly, when I was rudely awoken by my Chow Chow Skye, who has her kennel right outside my bedroom window, she was not barking but almost screaming, what on earth is wrong this time I thought, this is the sound she makes when the monkeys are around, but there were no monkeys around at this time of the night, I got up and walked onto the veranda and looked into her pen, she was very agitated about something and Baxter was also bouncing around the kennel, well I thought there is no way bout but to go and see what is disturbing her, I walked around to her kennel and in the dark saw the shapes of Tao and Denim who have the run of the whole garden at night, attacking something under an old pile of wood we had used for making their kennels, I walked up to them calling their names, but to no avail, something was there, and they were trying to get at it, I could hear a sort of a "Yak Yak" noise and low growls coming from under the woodpile, they had cornered an animal, I tried to grad Tao by her coat, but she darted away from me, running to the other side of the wood pile, I eventually had to pick her up to get her out of danger, and carried her to her kennel where I locked her in, Denim now on his own wanted to go in for the kill but knowing this could be a dangerous situation, I made a grab at him risking his sharp teeth and shouting at him, I demanded that he return to his kennel, which surprisingly he did, I then tried in the dark to see what was there, but could only see two red eyes looking at me with the continued noise of"Yuk Yuk, growl" it must be a mongoose I thought, but being careful as to where I put my hands, I did not want a nasty bite from this terrified animal, I thought it best left alone, and hopefully it would make it's escape while the dogs were locked up. I went back to bed and tried to get back to sleep, but it was impossible.
Every now and again Skye would let out her terrible scream, so eventually I got up, and let her and Baxter out of their kennel into the protected area of the garden, Baxter listened to me buy Skye made straight for the wood pile, she had to have her say in this matter, I heard the terrified noise of the small animal, knowing that it was still there I grabbed Skye and pulled her through the gate, it was now 4am, I locked the gate behind me and allowed the two of them the run of the front garden knowing that they could not get into the back yard, I again went back to bed and tried to sleep, but it was impossible, I was wide awake, thinking of how I was going to capture this small animal, and at 5.30 I got up, hoping that it had gone, I put Skye and Baxter back into their kennel and allowed Tao out of hers, she went straight to the woodpile, but there was not a sound coming from it, the little animal had gone, Tao then went charging up the hill into the bush following it's scent, but it was gone, I'm sure it was a mongoose, and she was looking for a warm place to hide or make a nest, I felt sorry for the little creature and hope she finds somewhere in the bush away from my Chows to make her home, and hopefully will be able to get a good nights sleep tonight.
This morning I phoned the Natal Parks Board, and found out that it was not a mongoose but a Genet cat, possibly looking for food to feed her kittens; she may have had in a nest nearby. Although I have not seen her I believe they are incredibly beautiful cats, bigger then the house hold cat, they could also give the dogs a nasty bite if given a chance. They are very fast and will spend a lot of tie in the trees catching birds, they will eat anything, and this includes dog food, hopefully she does not come back tonight, and we are able to get some sleep.

A rainey weekend

2009-06-29T00:59:00.000-07:00

A RAINEY WEEKEND
I had taken the Friday off to prepare my dogs for the weekend shows, we had put the tent and stretcher to air before packing them, but as I opened my eyes that morning my sprits fell, it was raining so hard, the tent was soaking wet as well as the stretcher, the ground was flooded and half the drive had washed away. On checking my dogs half of them were dry and asleep in their kennels, but the others including Baxter were looking like drowned rats, to top it all I had a boarder bitch hat had come for mating closed in the bathroom as she was going home that evening, I had to try and keep her dry.
Well I went shopping and came home and prepared our bags to take with us, it was still raining, I got the stretcher in and managed to almost suck all the water out with the vacuum and then blew it dry with my hair dryer, I then attempted to do the same to the tent but to no avail, the more I vacuumed the tent the harder it rained, I gave up in the end and folded this large soggy canvas mess into two black garbage bags and hoped that Saturday would be a bit dryer.
My boarder bitch was collected a 6pm and then it was time to bath and prepare my two dogs for the weekend shows, Tao loves her bath and was soon clean and dry, but not allowed out for the night, Baxter was another problem, although he loves the bath it he drying afterwards that terrifies him, first of all I sucked the water out of his coat with my vacuum but he would not allow me to touch his head, he screamed his lungs out drying him with the hair dryer, eventually I had him reasonably dry, I allowed him out to relieve himself and then called him back inside, he was again covered with curs, so once again out cane the brush and the hairdryer, to get those sticky things out of his coat, it was not 1am and time to get some sleep before we left at 5 in the morning.
We awoke slightly refreshed and looked outside, Loa and behold it was still raining, pouring down, everything was underwater, we got the dogs settled into the car and paraglide down our drive, We were on our way, nothing could keep us from the shows, it's like a drug. The trip although wet was safe and we arrived in good time at the grounds, but to our dismay the field where we were suppose to show our dogs was under water in places a meter high. Cars were stuck in the mud, humans were fed up and dogs restless, we had to turn around and head for the Port Shepstone High school hall, of course we got lost going around in circles before we eventually followed some one who knew where they were going. Again chaos reigned, the hall although large felt crushed with dogs, humans and all their belongings, about 600 dogs, double the amount of adults and hundreds of kids, well we all settled down as best we could and the show went on.
Our judge I won't give her name, worked her way very quickly through the Bull Terriers that she judged before starting the utility group, she rushed the bulldogs in and out of the ring, we were the only two Chows, Baxter she liked enough to give best of breed and a C.C. but Tao she ignored, why I will never know as she is now starting to look lovely, even though her coat is still short, she walks like a dream and another judge not judging this day said she had lovely conformation and an excellent walk, head lovely and good bone, all that was lacking was coat "all Chows shed once a year.
Well once Saturdays show was over, I put away my disappointment over Tao and the Judge, and said I would never show under her again, and never have. We packed the car and set off for the beach, at least he rain had stopped and we could take the dogs for a walk, before settling them down at the Caravan Park in our wet tent for the evening. Once we had made our camp we thought a nice cup of tea would round up the day, Oops we had nothing to boil the water in but Baxter's dish, I had forgotten the kettle at home, so I fed Baxter and Tao and then washed his dish and soon we had a cup of very welcome tea, and supper, The stretcher was still wet, so I covered it with a blanket and by 8pm that night I was ready for bed, Rick slept in the car and I in the soggy wet cold tent, it was quite a long time before I fell asleep, as the noise from the traffic on the main south coast road was terrific, During the night while my two dogs slept peacefully in the tent on dry blankets, I heard a strange sound, we were being visited by a family of ducks, Thank heavens the dogs did not wake, they might have had duck for supper the next night. The following morning dawned, soft blue clouds floated above us, and no sign of rain at last it had cleared up, we had breakfast and then packed all our gear into the car, got the dogs settled and off we went for the second show this weekend. Baxter and Tao both did very well at this show both gaining their C.C points and Baxter again Best of Breed. Once the show was over we again packed everything into the car and headed for home, quite some weekend and one that won't be forgotten in a long time but this all goes to making dog showing the enjoyable sport that it is.

Heidie

2009-06-29T00:58:00.002-07:00

HEIDIE
Heidie flew down from Johannesburg at the age of 6 weeks, She was a very lovely puppy, and once we had got her home she was soon accepted by all our other Chows, especially Tammy who had just had a puppy herself only one out of a litter of 4 survived, our dear little Amour who sadly was born with congenital cateracts on both of her eyes, and although she can see a little it will take a lot of treatment until the cataracts clear, this we now realize she inherited from her father Archie who on looking closely you can see the blue film over his eyes, But this is Heidies story. Heidie was a very very lovely golden red chow, a very quite puppy and loved to sit in her water bowl for hours on end, she was forever wet front and back, and as soon as I dried her off she would be back into the water, so I built her and Amour a puppy pen where they could play together safely with a small flat bowl of water the could play in, they were allowed certain play time out of their puppy pen and this was when my heartbreak started.On the 30th Dec l998 while playing with Amour ,.how this happened, I don't know. I was busy painting the Kitchen, and noticed Heidie limping. I took her inside to examine her and felt her Hip did not feel right, it felt out of joint, so I kept her inside and settled her down in the bedroom with some warm milk soon after drinking her milk she started to Vomit, I gave her gastrospect but it did not help, our vet only opened his surgery at 4.30, So as soon as Rick came home I rushed her up to see him, He confirmed that her hip was dislocated and said she had enteritis as well, He said that I should leave her in
hospital for that night so he could put her on a drip to control the vomiting and that he would x-ray her hip the next day, and put it right. I could fetch her in the evening. When I got to my Vets on the 31st Dec l998 Heidie had stopped vomiting, Her leg was strapped to her body with thick plaster and she was allowed to come home, She refused to eat and lay with her little face in her water bowl taking small laps of it now and again, I was still very worried about her but she eventually seemed to settle down, and went to sleep, I sat with her until 2am, then went to bed, When I woke up at 6am she was crying a bit, and I thought her leg was sore, so I gave her an antibiotic and a little milk. But she continued to cry and was very restless, I phoned my Vet but he was not there and as Rick had to work that day I could not get her to the emergency clinic in Durban. She got weaker and weaker, And I tried everything in my Power to help her. My lovely baby died at 10am on New Years Day l999, and I cried and cried. I could only get hold of our Vet on the Saturday morning, and I took her body back to ask him to do and autopsy. As I wanted to know why a perfectly healthy puppy 3 days ago was now dead. She had only been with us a few weeks. He did the autopsy and the cause of death was "Enterotoxaemia, resulting from Acute enteritis, complicated by intersusception of the small intestine, (i.e. The bowel had telescoped in on itself and had been unable to free itself) She also had some arrears of hemorrhage of the lungs. When I spoke to him on the phone he said he had also examined her hip and although not qualified to say so he said it looked suspicious and that if she had lived
she would have had to undergo further X-rays at 12 months and possible hip replacement to correct the defect. I have cried and cried over the loss of this little Angel, but God wanted her so he took her. Was it shock that caused the enteritis, How did she dislocate her hip at such a young age did she have congenital Hip Dysplasia, These are questions that will never be answered, All I know is I miss her so much and Tammy and Amour miss her as well, she was part of our hearts, and our life, for such a short period, but we will never forget her she grew into my heart and there she will stay forever.

Sezer

2009-06-29T00:58:00.001-07:00

Bringing up Sezar
He was just six weeks old when he came to live with us, a cute little baby Bear, and he loved everyone, this included the other chows of our house hold, young and old alike. His favorite was out tiny blue chow Tanya, He just loved her and she loved him back, she cleaned him and even tried to feed him, but Sezar was destined to grow, and this he did, you could almost see him growing after each meal he ate, he just grew and grew.
He loves the Rain and plays with the hosepipe, whether it is on or not.
Paddles in his water bowl and I can never keep him dry, so I bought a bigger bowl, that he could not get in too. Well it did not stop him, at that time We had very heavy rain and this lasted for nearly a week, He loved it and
flew around the garden getting as wet as he possibly could, I had the jobof trying to get him dry, every evening once I got home from work. putting him under the hair dryer is no joke, but he eventually started to enjoy this as well and would stand and allow me to dry him. It was during this time that he caught a bad cold, and had to have a visit to the Vet, bronchitis said Charles, keep the little bugger dry, and gave him a shot of antibiotics, of course Sezar did not like this treatment from a stranger and tried to bite him, I guess he is going to need training said Charles, The devil must be gotten out of him.
And I had to agree , If I was hoping to show this lovely puppy. Now our darling Sezar whose name really suits his cheeky attitude, is five months old, a very very pretty puppy except for where I cut the fur fromunder his chin and chest when he was getting so wet that it made him sick.
he has had all his injections and deworming and is healthy loveable bundle of joy, very square and compact with very good bone, not to tall or to short, But he does have a few bad habits, he insists that I get up at 5.04 every morning to give him his breakfast, he bangs on the veranda door, and if that does not work, he barks and barks until he wakes the whole house hold up. He then flies inside to the kitchen and stands looking at the fridge until I get his plate and feed him. At first he hated the car and cried and cried and barked as loud as he could, but now he is Ready to go, he is going to training lessons on a Saturday afternoon, and loves it, he walks like a dream on the lead and loves to show himself, he knows that he is a winner, and is slowly starting to allow other humans to handle him as well , at first he growled and tried to bite, but he was only nervous, he still drops his tail If he is not sure of someone, but once away and walking up it comes and he is his smiling self once again.
When he was 3 months old Robin was given a little Doberman Bitch puppy, and Sezar loves to play with her, she will soon have to start her lessons, As she is growing like a horse, and is also well accepted by the other Chows and the Maltese..
As our home has large grounds for the dogs to play in, it is not necessary to walk them every day like we used to do in Hillbrow, but I do miss my Sunday walk, but it is to dangerous to walk them in this area of Pinetown, there have been a lot of attacks, and muggings, and I don't intend being a victim ever again. Sezar will be going to his first open show on the 9th November, and then the following weekend he will be representing the Natal Chows at the World of Dogs and Cats.

Kimiko

2009-06-29T00:55:00.000-07:00

GOING BACK A BIT IN TIME TO 1972
KIMIKO
As I was passing a pet shop in Ladysmith one hot summer's day, I saw what looked like a little golden teddy bear, lying in the window box. the bowl which was near to her contained no water She looked at me with dark almond eyes and yawned, Her tongue was almost black in color. I walked into the shop and enquired as to what breed she was and the price, She I was told was a Chow Chow I bought her and took her home, much to the delight of my two small sons. She was just six weeks old.
As the months passed Kim grew into a beautiful golden dog, She had the most loving nature and was always at my side. A better friend and watch dog I could never have had. The local Africans, were terrified of her, for she looked like a small lion.
By the time she was nine months old, she had become a mother, to seven smaller images of herself, except for one which was black and very much larger than his brothers and sisters. Kim took motherhood well but missed her romps with myself and the boys in the veldt. Soon new homes were found for her litter, and she was once again free to be with me.
One afternoon when she was about a year old, she showed just how faithful she was, She was walking through the bush with the children, when they came across a large snake basking in the afternoon sun. Kim barked a warning and stood between the boys and the now alert snake. As the snake's head started to rise, Kim pounced, catching it behind the head, she bit hard and shook the snake, as a cat would a mouse, the snake fought back wiping its long body from left of right. Kim grimly hung on not letting go of her deadly hold until the snake was dead. All the time the children were screaming at her to stop. We never found out what kind of snake it was, but Kim came off her ordeal scott free, and with repercussions for her brave deed.
On our weekend walks we would take her down to the Klip River, where she soon became a proficient swimmer. She would swim the width of the river climbing out on the opposite bank, to chase the rock rabbits that lived there. You could hear her grunts of joy as she sprang around like a mountain goat, She never hurt them and would return to us shaking her wet fur over any one that was within her reach.
When she was two years old we moved from Ladysmith to Durban to a small flat at the seaside. We were very lucky to be able to keep her in the flat. Soon she became a creature of the sea. There was no need to worry when she was not at home. All you had to do was look out of the window, and you could see her where she was playing with the children along the beach. She loved running in the cool water, barking as the waves chased her along the wet sands, then chasing the ripples back to the deeper water.
Many nights we would go swimming, there was no leaving her behind.she would follow me into the water, swimming by my side, grabbing hold of the back of my costume if she thought I was swimming out to far.
she never allowed the children into the water on their own, and kept them within a few feet of the shore. If one of them was bowled over by a strong wave, Kim would dive to the rescue, bringing up the little person screaming his lungs out. She would then tug on his shorts until she had him safe on the shore.

Often we would take her down to the Point Yacht Club for an early morning swim, This was when she would catch her fish for breakfast there wasn't a morning that she did not catch at least two fish, one for her breakfast and one for mine. They were never big fish but big enough for a light meal.
We would take her with us camping, She loved to ride in cars, Anyone's car that had an open door, was an open invitation for Kim to demand a ride. She would jump in regardless of whom they were and where they were supposed to be going. I would then have the battle of getting her out. Most people after their initial fright of having a strange animal jumping into their cars fell in love with her, her friendly tongue licking their surprised faces and often sitting on their laps.
As she grew older Kim was plagued by skin infections, brought on by her swimming in the sea, time after time her fur would fall out covering my carpets and the furniture in a soft golden down, but try as I would there was no way of keeping her out of the water. She developed chest problems, she also lost weight. We took her to Vet after Vet, trying to get her well. The only advice to me was to keep her out of the sea, and away from the sand, as it was termites in the sand that was causing her fur to drop out. But Kim was adamant, that
the sea was her life and she pined for the water. Any chance she could get, to slip out of the flat, when I was not looking and she was gone.
Kim lived with us for 8 years, a real Water dog.
The day came when I knew that things were getting progressively worse she was now going blind and was also deaf. I could not leave her to her own resources. I took her for walks in the park on her leash,
I was now her eyes and ears. Occasionally I would take her to her beloved sea.
It was there that one night on our evening walk in the sand that she stopped and looked at me, I sat down beside her in the cool sand and she put her beautiful head into my lap, growling and almost as as if she was talking to me. I knew the time had come to say goodbye to my precious friend. She closed her blind eyes and took her last shuddering breath. She had left me for a life full of peace. We buried her in a quite spot near the beach at midnight when no one was around. But although she is now gone, if you look hard you will see her paw prints in she sand as she roams the beaches at midnight.

In Memory of Cyan

2009-03-04T02:33:00.000-08:00

Cyan passed away from a heart attack at the age of 14years, on the 1.3.09

I breed her and she was my sisters chow for all these years. Loved unconditionaly and will be sadly missed.

2008-12-20T23:58:00.001-08:00

2008-12-20T23:45:00.001-08:00

My Book Is Published

2008-12-04T09:58:00.001-08:00

carolynsscraps@gmail.com

Smurf crossed the Rainbow Bridge to day

2008-09-19T10:10:00.000-07:00

Rest in Peace my Chow Chow, you were greatly loved, We will never forget you.

Back up we go again

2008-08-03T09:01:00.000-07:00

BACK UP WE GO AGAIN

From the title of this story, and the change of address, you must presume that things did not work out well for us sharing a house. Carol packed all her things, Rick packed them into the old blue Combi, and once again we stated to move, and guess where we are going to,
our first flat of course, this hopefully will now be the permanent home of the Meltari Chow Chows. So any one who is looking for us, will find us up the Sky, away from the wet cold damp grass, away from Eczema, flees, files and ticks, back home where we really belong.

Little Monique had rather a nasty accident at the house, after climbing the back steps, which are rather steep, she dislocated her left hip and her right knee, and after a lot of pain, she is now slowly coming right. Because at the flat she can sleep inside in the warmth and she
is being treated by homeopathic remedies, which are now beginning to take effect.

Here at the flat we are in close contact with Carol and get more attention then we did at the house, for there we were not allowed inside I would say in my doggy way that things are really looking up for thebetter, and now that Robin has a job selling art, and some really
lovely pictures, I do hope you will all support him by buying one sometime, A good piece of art work is a treasure to own. Now my mistress spoke to the Chow Chow judge Mr. C. Shyrock at the Pretoria show and he has agreed to try and promote her book in America this is the book of the Chow Chow in South Africa. Now what we need is Photographs of your Chow Chows to be included in her book which will be sent to America at the end of June. All photos will be sent with the book.

Meltari. My Kennel Name

2008-08-03T08:57:00.000-07:00

Above is a photo of the man I named my kennels after, he had been to visit South Africa, and I thought that it would be a good sign to name my kennels after a spirutal man, Hence the name Meltari. I hope he does not mind, but I do admire him and his special work he does around the world.

Down to earth

2008-08-03T08:54:00.001-07:00

DOWN TO EARTH
Everything is upside down, there are boxes of all sizes all over the place, I just can't understand what is happening around here.
Carol keeps on coming outside to the balcony and tells us we are going to live in a nice house with Rick and his woman friend Christie, well I know Rick so I wag my tail gaily, and when let out of my kennel, go and sit at the front door waiting for him to come.

Over the last few days, Robin and Rick have been moving all the boxes filled with goods that really belong back on the shelves. The walls are bare and the carpets are all rolled up so that when Halley barks the flat sounds empty and echoes.

This morning Carol brought over our leads to the balcony and we all thought we were going for a walk to Hillbrow, but no again she said we were going to live in a house, Just what is a house, I really don't know. I have the very slight remembrance of my very early days
of puppy hood when I played on a lot of soft green stuff but that's all I can remember. Tessa says a house is where people live , like a flat but no closed rooms that go up and down to get to the different homes, and there is usually lots of green stuff to play on She says
when she still lived with her Mom and Uncle Coens he used to love to play when the skies fell and made the green stuff wet. She believed the humans called this rain and grass, but Tessa is very much wiser, so I won't argue with her. I just hope Carol takes us with her, as well as all the cats. Well Rick helped me into the care as my legs are sore, and he had to lift up little Monique No 2 as she can't even climb the step Then with Halley and Tessa's well as the three cats, and the three birds, the two tanks of fish, we were off. Ten minutes later we arrived at the house, what a mess, with boxes all over the place. We were taken around the back yard, that's what its called anyway, and there waiting for us were our new homes. All covered in this green stuff Tessa told us about. Halley of course had to try all the trees out first, and little Monique just wanted to play with her sisters. I was tired after my journey so settled down in my new kennel to sleep the rest of the morning.

We have been here for a week now, and I rather like it, The ground is soft and my box is snug and war Although my leg is a bit sore, I am happy and relaxed. Halley says he prefers the flat, but I am sure he will soon settle in. Tessa loves it and flies around like a mad thing It reminds her of her early days and of course our little Monique is thrilled to have her sisters Angelique and Jamie to play with. To her life is just a bowl of ice-cream and popcorn but she is still a puppy so I let her enjoy herself.Suddenly we are now eight, myself (Lady) , Halley, Tessa, Monique, Angelique, Jamie, my grand son Dr.Jon and of course my daughter Julie Quite a happy family don't you think. We as well as our humans have all settled down, and I think we are going to rather enjoy staying in a house

The Day of the Mutt.

2008-08-03T08:50:00.000-07:00

THE DAY OF THE MUTT
Yesterday as most of you know was the S.P.C.A.'s dog show, The day of the Mutt. Which I was forced to attend, by my humans wanting to give a little help to less fortunate Mutts. I also had to play nursemaid to Lady's two 10 week old playful horrors.
Well it turned out to be quite a warm day and thanks to the S.P.C.A. a lot of water troughs were placed around for the "Mutts" to drink out of.
Let me tell you a little about the others. But first of all I must tell you there were five of us Chow Chow's at the show. a nice male called "Shogun."
And of course the terrible black twins Julie and Leo. If this had been a breed show we may have stood a chance, but against all the mutts, well I suppose we were just not in their lower class or the judges had never seen one of us before and thought we were from another planet. Not one of us Chows won a prize, but we did get our photos taken for TV. The first class was for the most disabled dog and the prize went to a little mutt that had lost her front leg in a car accident. I thought the dog that had been savaged and had had a broken neck should have won as she was a grand 21 years old and still very beautiful except for her raw and open sores that were trying to heal. The next class was the dog that could do the best tricks. The winner here was a little black scruffy dog that could climba step ladder as well as ride pillion on a B.M.X.bike He really deserved the first prize as he was terrific. I barked my appreciation at him. My mistress was a volunteer in this class and she had to pretend that she was being molested by a man. I did not like the idea very much, but she always does what she wants and she is not afraid of any animal. I was terrified just watching her and shut my eyes tight expecting the worst to happen. The man's was a Mastiff and very large. As the man put his arms around my mistress the dog got between them and even tried to pull my mistress away. I was very frightened of him but she seemed to enjoy it. Well they took 3rd prize and I was very proud of her afterwards. The next class that came up was for the most unusual Mutt. Now I think I am unusual as I have a blue tongue, but the judges did not think so and the prize went to a Husky which had yellow eyes. if only I had yellow eyes and a blue tongue I might have won. "But I soon got my revenge! Two bitches one an Irish Wolfhound and the other an Alsation kept getting in my way, so I nipped them both on the backsides and gave them and their owners a nasty fright. oh yes I got a smack for doing it but my fur is so thick I did not feel a thing You see I just hate Irish Wolfhounds, great big things think they can push us little Chow Chow's around, and ugly plain Alsations, this one was not even pure bred anyway. Well the other classes are hardly worth mentioning but I was nearly placed in the best kept pedigree but was knocked out in the final judging. I'd really like to take a nip out of the judges as well.. It's all so very frustrating when you have been shampooed and groomed for hours, and they don't even run their hands over your soft fur, but they are all patting the dirty dogs that have never seen a bath in years. They are not real Judges, just TV stars playing a different game for the day Anyway we Chows had a good day and were admired by so many people. My head was throbbing by the time I got home from all the patting. I did not even feel like eating my supper. All I wanted to do was go to sleep. Not even Lady bothered to ask me how things went as she did not go with. She could see I was just worn out. Lady and I are the only ones who know I may be pregnant, but my mistress will have to wait a few more week to find out, as I am not going to tell her yet. See my story (the facts and fancies of a non pregnant bitch)
Anyway we all had a good gay at the Mutt show and hope the S.P.C.A. gets lot's of money to help other Mutts. By the way I heard that one of South African Chows was placed in the finals at the Crufts show in England. How true this is I do not know but the dog was bought from a breeder in Joubert Park, could this have been one of my children? I dearly love to think so!

The facts and fancys of a non pregnant bitch

2008-05-17T06:45:00.000-07:00

THE FACTS AND FANCIES OF A
NON PREGNANT BITCH

Most of you know what it's like to be in season pregnant and to have puppies, but I am going to tell you all about mine.
I had been in season for ten days when I was bundled into Rick's combie, with my Mistress Carol and driven to a house; I have never been to before. It was all a bit strange. At this house I was introduced,
To Alfonso. I have met him before at dog shows, and have always admired him. He has a lovely nature, a perfect face and is all over a very nicely proportioned dog. He really is a super fellow and I fell in love with him there and then. Well as it was raining we were allowed to roam around the house together and when it stopped raining he showed me his yard. I was very impressed, as it is so much nicer then living in a flat. He has a lovely safe garden in which to lie and some lovely other
Chows to talk to. Not that I am lonely, as I have Lady and little Julie and I go for long walks in the park every day. To cut things short, Alfonso and I were mated, and I left with my Mistress and Rick and returned to my flat. The next day I felt sick, and really was not in the mood to do any thing, not even eat my food.

Then once again I was put in the car, and taken back to Alfonso. I think Alfonso really liked me, as he was very pleased to see me this time! Once again we were mated, and I am sure that I am going to have puppies this time.

I am now in my second week of pregnancy and am not feeling very well I went up to see the Vet, and he says I have a slight kidney infection and a small lump in my uterus He gave me an Injection and some tablets to take. I really don't feel like eating anything but raw oats and milk and an egg now and then. Dog food is taboo.
It makes me sick. I really can't stand what they put into tinned meat and the meat from the butcher, is also revolting, I will not eat biscuits, but I do like sardines as well as a nice piece of steak as was liver and Kidney, I am sure I am pregnant, but no one else knows yet. So I shall keep it a secret for a while longer. I have finished my tablets and am feeling well again.

My third week is coming up and I still have a slight discharge, which is brown in color. I am feeling much quieter and like to lie around the flat during the day. I am not very friendly to Lady and the puppies. I must say I am looking really lovely, it's only my eye that is worrying me at the moment, but my mistress is treating it so I know that it will be fine.

My forth week, I feel good and look good, and this week I have decided to eat strawberries and cream. I have gone off my other food, so my Mistress has put me onto a vitamin tonic. What an awful taste it has I do try to spit it out, but it doesn't help and she only gives me more if I do. I am beginning to put on weight and the Vet says I am pregnant. My discharge is turning white but there are no other signs yet. We all went to the day of the Mutt Show but none of us won a prize, all the mutts did, Anyway it was nice to have a days outing, and I think the puppies enjoyed it.

This is now my 5th week and I have put on weight and am getting wider around my rib cage. I am sure I can feel my puppies kicking inside but I really don't know just how many I am going to have this time. I am now off strawberries and cream and back onto fresh meat and milk, but I will still not eat my cereals, somehow my babies do not like conventional dog food.

On Saturday and Sunday the 12th and 13th October I was awoken early in the morning and taken to the dog shows. Now these I love and I always try to look my best, even when I think I am pregnant. Well this time I worked extra hard and surprised everyone including my sisters by taking home 2CC's as well as five trophies. Boy was I proud of my self, I had the widest Chow grin on my face that I had ever had, and I felt I really deserved it! So Rick has promised to take me to shows out of town next year to try and make me a Champion. Alfonso is now a Champion so my puppies have a direct line Champion in their blood!

This is now my 6th week and I am still very fussy about my food. Last night I ended up eating a few Chicken pieces with out the bones and some left over ham the neighbors sent up. I am very lucky as they send me something up every night and just to make Carol mad, I won't touch the food she prepares for me, but wait for the scraps, which I prefer. My breasts are now starting to feel a bit fuller, but I can’t see much change in them. Every night when Carol gets home from work
She gets me to lie on my side and she looks to see if there is any change in my breasts and the she rubs my tummy which I love and she talks to the puppies, She says this is getting to know them before they are born, I love this and it helps me to relax.

There is just one thing I don't like, and that is Raspberry leaf tablets mixed with my milk, but I drink it all the same a she says it will help me when I give birth to the puppies, and that it aids the puppies by giving the extra oxygen to the placentas which will keep them healthy
And give them a good start in life. I myself feel really fantastic I wonder what my babies will look like, if they will be like their Champion father or like me; I will just have to be patient and wait a little while longer. Tomorrow my first litter will be a year old, and I must say that two of them have turned in to fantastic dogs. I wish I could see them again to compare them with my new litter.

Little Cindy the golden Cocker next door is due to have her puppies any day now and she is so tiny, a miniature Cocker if ever I saw one, and I am sure she is going to have at least 6 puppies, I feel so sorry for her, as she has not been to the Vet for a check up, and I do hope she will be alright. My mistress is keeping an eye on her, to see that all goes well.

I was awake all night last night, I just know its time for Cindy to have her puppies, and I was right, she had her first two at 7.30am and by 10am she had given birth to four bitches and 2 dogs, I just hope she can manage them all. The first little bitch nearly died but I think my mistress has managed to save her. Cindy doesn't seem very interested in her as she is a weak puppy, but all the rest seem to be healthy and sucking well.

Well tomorrow I am into my 7th week and don't have long to go myself. I don't think I will have as many puppies, certainly not six. I am feeling very lazy and tired, Although I look pretty big, my mistress says maybe I will only have about two or three puppies, but I will just have to wait and see. I love eating raw sheep's lung and heart, and had some very smelly sheep's stomach last night, which I did find rather rich and would not eat all of it. My mistress is really feeding Both Lady and I some strange foods. She call's them natural remedy foods and believes that raw foods are much better than cooked, I think I agree with her as she gave us both some Curry last night and neither Lady or I ate it! Not that it was too hot, but we have got used to raw meat.

I am going for a check up with the Vet tonight to see that all is well. I feel fine, but we must see that my unborn puppies are also developing correctly. My mistress is really very concerned about me, and I think she feels there is something wrong. The Vet says there is nothing to worry about and that I will have a few good-sized puppies. He also says that, I must not eat so much raw meat, as it is not good for me. He gave me some worm tablets and some Befee Vitamins to be crushed onto my food, well I never ate anything last night, just to spite everyone. I really don't feel hungry but my Mistress does not understand this and she cooked me some meat this morning and gave me some egg, milk and Honey, which I would not eat as well. So she took my temperature, which was normal. I wish I could tell her not to worry but she does.

My mistress seems very concerned about my breasts so she phoned the Vet this morning. He is also a little concerned about me, and says that I may have a dead puppy inside me and it my milk had not started to cone down my next Friday, he would like to x-ray me to check that all is O.K. I am sure there is nothing to worry about, I feel just fine. My mistress went to a homeopath Chemist to day and got me some tablets called Lac-Can; they are supposed to produce milk. Ha.Ha.

I am now well into my 8th week, an am felling on top of the world no dog could feel better. My breasts appear to be dropping, but I still don't have any milk. I spent the afternoon at Rick's Daughters house on Sunday, She has a big pool of water in the back yard, and everyone was jumping into it, Not I, it looked cool but I stayed well away, Chows don't get there toes wet. We all had a lovely braai, and I ate all the left over meat, which I really enjoyed. The people next door to Julie, have a Chow, and let me tell you he has the thinnest legs I have ever seen; He has a lovely body, but a "Wolf" face. He my dear friends is just not up to our standard and he thought me a bit of a snob when I growled at him, when he tried to smell me through the fence.

I am now almost in my 9th week and still have no milk to feed my puppies with, when they are born. It’s pouring with rain outside, and although I can come and go, as I like, Lady is locked in the bathroom. This is because we might fight. My Mistress is looking after the dogs next door as their owners are away. I think it is a sin, to leave a young mother Like Cindy alone with her puppies. The other three dogs are now locked in the kitchen, as their balcony is flooded with water, the drains are blocked. She does not have the heart to put them outside in this weather Lady and I am very lucky to have such a caring mistress. She really loves us and would never subject us to bad weather.

6th November, D.Day! Well I know every one at home is awaiting the birth of my litter. Carol has been taking my temperature every day and Robin is keeping an eye on me all the time. I myself just want to rest I am not hungry and will not eat. To day I am 63 days pregnant and I think my puppies are due, I suppose this is what they call a break before the storm I just want to be left alone.

Well my whelping day has come and gone, and I have dug my nest, and still not produced those long awaited puppies. I am also getting worried now. Carol took me to the Vet for a final check up. The verdict "NO PUPPIES' Well you can just imagine how I felt. We were both very upset and cried all the way home. I just can't believe that I went through all those stages of pregnancy for a full 9 weeks to produce 'NIKS well it happens to the best of us, so I wont let it worry me and I shall try again next time.

KEnnels in the Sky

2008-05-17T06:41:00.001-07:00

THE KENNELS IN THE SKY

The Sun rises very early in the morning, and by 6am our flat is lit by daylight, Monique, Halley and myself have our kennels out on the balcony, which is open to the sunshine and all weather conditions, we each have our kennel, and our runs are made out of swimming pool fencing and are quite roomy We have a nice wooden box in which to sleep and these also protect us from the rain and the midday sun. Our kennels are spacious enough for us to play in and to keep us out of any harm. Monique is kenneled separately from Halley and myself, we share adjoining kennels, and this is only because Monique and I are not the best of friends and will fight if given the chance. Up until now Halley shared his kennel with Monique, but now he is old enough to be on his own, and he resents it, but he is not alone as he has both of us to keep him company during the day.
On awakening in the morning, each of us takes a turn to go into the flat to be with our humans, and we love this, as the first place I make for is Carol's bed, Halley of course, goes to the Kitchen, to share his breakfast with our four cats. Monique loves Robin and wakes him every morning for work. But we have each other for company and the cleaning girl comes in every day; She always comes to see us as she fed all of us when we were very young - so we trust her. I must admit I can't wait till five o'clock in the afternoon, when Carol comes home from work. This is the time for our walk in the park. First of all Halley and I spend a lovely time running and playing catch in the dog park across the road from our flat.

This dog park was kindly erected for our use by the park board, after my Mistress wrote them a letter, requesting that a dog park be erected for all the city dogs. So, of course, we have to share it with a few other dogs. We spend a half an hour in the park, then it's time to go back home and Monique has her turn. After this it's suppertime and then we all get a to lie around the flat until bedtime at about 11pm. Weekends we love, because our mistress is home all day and we (that's Monique, Halley and I) are allowed inside for four hours each during The day, one at a time, then we spend two hours in the park.
Sundays are our favorite days as we either go to a dog show, or we go for a long walk around Hillbrow. Being admired by a great many people! Halley still being young does not walk very fast and now and again he has to be carried, which is difficult, as he is very heavy.
He does not like crowds or noisy places. After our long walk its back home, in time for supper and the to bed, and a good restful night, before the start of another week. I must admit, we are all rather spoilt, but then we are also loved very much and are treated as part of our family.
I, myself, have been to work a few times with my mistress when her doctor is away. You see - I may not be able to talk the human language but I can understand her.

Well my friends, now you know what life is like on the top of the roof- The Kennels in the Sky! It can be done and we are healthy living proof of it. Between Monique and I, we have raised 15 puppies so far, up here in the Sky. Where there is no chance of Parvo Virus, ticks or fleas.
Our kennels are cleaned each day and washed down once a week with antiseptic. Members are always welcome to come and visit our "Kennels in the Sky".

A Star is born

2008-04-28T09:12:00.000-07:00

A STAR IS BORN
Hello I'm Dr Halley. As you might have guessed by my name I have been called after Dr Edmond Halley, the man who gave his name to the Comet that is now passing our small planet Earth. I am one of a litter of six puppies three boys and three girls, I am now twelve weeks old, and am a lovable bundle of fur, a real live teddy bear. Last Saturday, I went to my first show with the permission of the Club secretary. Every on stopped to pat me and cuddle me and I gave friendly licks to all, before the show, I went for a walk on my lead around the show grounds with my Mistress. We looked at the other dogs, there but found nothing to compare with us Chows. As we were passing some people sitting on the grass, a man let go of his Rottweiler, who, as quick as lightning flew at me. Now as you know I am very small, and I got a terrible fright, when I saw this big brute was going to try and eat me. He just missed me as my Mistress grabbed me up into her arms; she got a nasty fright As well, for the dog could have bitten her as well. She hates these dogs as her Auntie was badly bitten by three of them a few weeks ago in Florida.
Well we went back to our spot, and I had some milk and was examined to see if any harm was done, thankfully not. Soon it was our turn to go to the ring in which we were to be shown. Again on my way, two very large Saint Bernard's that thankfully were tied down also thought I was something to eat, and the both flew at me, choking themselves on their chains.
This was just about enough for one day; I must have been born lucky! Well I was called into the ring and was placed 1st in the Minor Puppy class and then up against Julie, I took best Puppy, now I had to compete against Lady and Monique for the Best of Breed and Best Opposite Sex. Well in this class Lady Loretta surprised all by beating Monique for the first time in her life to take best of Breed and I just a little scrap of fur took best opposite Sex of which I am very proud. All in all it was a lovely afternoon except that I shall never like Rottweiler or St Bernard's ever in my life, just as Monique does not like Irish wolfhounds. I guess the Comet is my guiding star and when I'm older I hope to shine as brightly!

Bomb at the O.K. Bazaars

2008-04-28T08:57:00.000-07:00

SATURDAY AT THE O.K.

Hello again all you Chowists, I hope this is a wonderful New Year, even though it started with a bang.
I was going shopping with my mistress, to the O.K. Bazaars on the Saturday morning on the 11.1.1987, I go with her every Saturday morning, think she feels safe with me close to her, and she needn't worry about pick pocket thieves, when I am around. The shop windows had been shattered by a bomb that had been set off the
Day previously and a lot of damage had been done, now because of this they were having a sale on the ground floor, everything was going at the price of 2 for 1. There was still Christmas decorations hanging in one
Of the windows, which were also advertising a record "Stille Nag" these are definitely not silent nights or days.
If you have never been in a large store, you would be amazed at what goes on there, with hundreds of humans milling about and buying things that they don't really need. Well my mistress needed a couple of new T-shirts and as everything was going cheap, she thought now was the time to buy what she needed.
Now because I am a dog, I really don't like being in a crowd of people pushing and showing, but I take it in my stride and have never even had my paws trodden on. People especially the dark ones, tend to keep out of my way as I think they are a little afraid of me, and I growl and show my teeth If they do come to close for comfort. Well my mistress was standing on one side of the counter away from the queue.
After buying her T-shirts and was waiting for her friend Mandy to pay for her purchases, when we saw the police, coming into the building, they were telling the Humans to please leave the store, due to a bomb.
Now I don't know what a bomb is, and have never seen or even tasted one but the way people started pushing and screaming and running towards the exits, this must be something very nasty, so I lay down close to the
Floor, at my mistresses feet and tucked my head beneath my paws, She called Mandy and together they stood well away from the mad people rushing for the doors, People of all colors rushed passed us to get out, I have never seen humans so afraid in my life. I growled my fear, and crept closer to my mistress. One dark man went running straight through the plate glass window, there was blood everywhere, and a white lady due to whelp, was pushed over and trampled on, Thank heavens my mistress had the sense to stand still and not join the rushing crowd of humans, as I am sure I would have been hurt, or I might have bitten somebody. Once the store was nearly empty we calmly
Walked out, safe and sound, only to hear that it was only a bomb scare and that there was no bomb.

Kennel in the sky

2008-04-20T03:02:00.000-07:00

A Star is born

2008-04-19T10:25:00.001-07:00

Saturday at the O.K

2008-04-19T10:20:00.001-07:00

A chow chow christmas

2008-04-19T10:06:00.001-07:00

A CHOW CHOW CHRISTMAS.

It's Christmas Eve, and this year we have decided to spend it in the safety of our own home. The tree has been decorated, and the lights are flickering on and off there are a few little presents that we have bought for each other, The chickens in the oven and the salads are in the fridge, We are all ready for a day of prayer and peace. But we will not be alone this Christmas; we will be sharing it with a variety of furred and feathered friends. With us will be Leo and Lady and baby Monique the three Chow Chow's, Susie an Diana the cats, Tex the rat, and Romeo and Juliet the two little mice, In their cages will be Fred, Tammy and Storm the cocktails in the fish tank is Cleopatra and Caesar the two goldfish. Outside we will also share our day of peace with the pigeons and two little wild doves. For you see Christmas is a time of loving and sharing, and our love for our animals comes before our love of visiting friends.
For they are helpless creatures of God and he has given them into our care and safekeeping. Hanging on the Christmas tree is a little something for each of our animals, a gift of our love.
It's early Christmas morning when I am awakened to the sound of crackling paper coming from the lounge. I look across to see if Robin is up at this early hour, but find that he is still sound asleep. Getting out of bed and silently walking to the door, an amazing sight meets my eyes. The dogs have started Christmas without us. Monique has managed to open a few of the parcels with her baby teeth and lady has helped to decorate the lounge floor as well as the rest of the flat by undoing the toilet roll and scattering it all over the floor in small chewed up pieces. Leo has somehow managed to take the little fairy off the top of the tree, and has chewed her all to pieces. Not to say who ate the dog chocolates or the special goodies we had tied onto the tree for them. I stand flabbergasted, unable to say a work, Thank heavens the chicken is in the oven.
The dogs see me, and stand with their heads bowed, almost touching the floor, they know they have done wrong, but Monique [being the smallest] comes up to me, wagging her little tail in welcome, What can one say to three animals you love very much, on Christmas morning you would not scold them if they had been children of the same age, you would have patted their dear little heads and possibly helped them open the rest of their parcels, So that is exactly what I did with my three dogs, I patted them on their heads, and put the outside. While cleaned up the mess. Unfortunately they could not spend to long outside because as soon as I had cleaned up the mess, then down came the rain, so back inside they had to come, by this time I had got Robin up, and we had our breakfast, as well as feed the cats and other animals.
It was now time for the dogs to be groomed before we made our way to church. When you own three Chows the grooming never stops. You cannot miss a day for fear of one of them getting a skin irritation and they must be kept clean at all times. I checked the oven to find the chicken has cooked nicely everything is no ready to us to eat when we get back from church. You may be thinking, what about the dogs, yes they went to church with us and were very well behaved.
After lunch we are all pretty tired from all the good food that has been consumed, and it is now time to rest for a couple of hours, with a nice hot toddy and a new book to read for a while. It’s 4 o clock and is now time to take the dogs for a run in the park the grass is soaking wet, so it's on with old clothes and tackies, anxious dogs now waiting at the front door, ready to go walkies. The minute the door opens they charge out to the lift and wait while I lock the front door, Can you imagine what a hand full it is for two people to take three very strong dogs for a walk. They tie themselves around your legs and around them selves, {Just what Barbara Woodhouse would love] so it's walkies, or let's say jogies, as we make our way to the park just down the road, the dogs leading the way. On arriving at the park we are pleased to see that a lot of others have also taken their dogs walkies, on this Christmas day, so You are afraid to let Leo off the lead, as being male he may go for the other males around, or they may go for him. So poor Leo is kept tied until the other male dogs go home, but in the meantime, you have to keep an eye on Monique and Lady in case they happen to wander off to far on their own, or happen to pick up an old chicken bone that someone has carelessly thrown to the ground, just in front of their very highly sensitive noses. If they happen to find one of these bones you have a job of digging it out of their unyielding mouths.
At last all the other male dogs have gone, and it is o.k. To let Leo off his lead, He may look fierce but really has got a heart of gold and would not harm a flea, but you cannot tell this to strangers.
So Leo is let loose to run and enjoy his freedom. Soon it starts to get dark and it is time to take the dog’s home again.
It is almost the end of another Christmas day, but it has been rather special. It is only when I am alone that I think of the other dogs and cats, that are not as lucky as mine, and wish I could make a New years resolution for other people who have animals, that is if you don't love animals, then don't have them like children they are your responsibility, If you are cruel to animals, are you also cruel to your children? Christmas is for all to share, and the New Year is just around the corner waiting there.

I'm in the movies

2008-04-01T09:36:00.000-07:00

WE'RE IN THE MOVIES.

The great day has come, we have been invited to see a preview of ourselves in a great movie called "You're in the Movies" You all know about my days filming so let me tell you now about our evening at the movies. We went with our human companions, Carol, Rick and Robin, who took us into the Cinema, we went up a lot of stairs before coming to what they decided were suitable seats, Carol, Rick and Robin sat down, then Leo and I made ourselves comfortable on two extra seats, I sat close to Leo as I felt a little nervous, this was the first time I had ever been in a cinema, and all these people around me were rather frightening. I looked at Leo and then placed my paw on top of his, feeling a little comforted. The lights dimmed and everything went black, the curtains opened and I saw what looked like a giant TV screen, now I often watch TV but never expected to see anything like this. As the film started, first up was Robin, spinning around in a post box, well I knew it was Robin, as he told me so himself, I turned and gave him a big lick. As the film progressed I was faced with the biggest gorilla I had ever seen it seemed to jump right out at us and I barked at it and almost landed on Leo's front paws. We both got such a fright. There were lots of scenes in which I saw Rick, and Leo stretched over me to give him a big lick As well, I guess no one could miss him and his bald spot on his head.
Suddenly I saw Leo, on the screen, and I was so excited, I barked so loudly and at the same time upset my popcorn all over the floor. Oh he looked so handsome and all shining black, how lucky I was to have a boyfriend likes him.
Then suddenly before my very eyes "That's me" I barked, I was so excited "Did you see me" I licked my mistress’s face all over, She looked good as well, and I was walking backwards, really walking backwards.
I looked lovely and my fur was shining clean I was really proud of myself "Woof Woof" I'm so happy.
Well I am not going to say to much about the movie, as I hope you are all going to see it, as it will be the last time you see Leo He was sold to new owners a few weeks ago and I have been very heart broken, but he made me pregnant before he went, so I hope to have some little ones just like him soon. After the movie, we went to the Cheese and wine party, I love Cheese and wine, but Leo does not. We were congratulated by the Directors and the producer and patted on the head by just about everyone. It was a really grand time for us all.
By six o Clock we went home all a little tipsy, but I was a very happy little Chow Chow.

Dogs on Ice

2008-04-01T09:32:00.000-07:00

DOGS ON ICE

Today I was taken to a place that the humans call the Ice Rink. This is A field of frozen water, all white and shiny Once again I'm supposed To be a film star, I will now tell you what it is like to be ice-skating Star, not that I was very successful. There were two cameras standing outside the ice barrier, and quite a number of other types of dogs, if you can call them dogs, some were short and fat, and some were long and tall and they were all of different colors. Really you can't class us in the world of dogs, as we chows are just perfect So I just snarled at the others, to let them know I was not like them and I was better in many ways. My Mistress put on what she called Ice Skates, they seemed to make her so Much taller, Now my mistress had not been ice-skating since I was born As she had been to busy with me. She tied me to a post outside the ring and carefully stepped onto the Ice, hanging on for dear life she walked around slowly trying to get her Footing. Well after a little while, not without a few falls, she seemed to be doing all right, so she came over to fetch me. I thought they were going to give me ice skates, but apparently not, As I was lifted onto the ice by a strange man I did not like and I tried to bite him. How dare he treat a Chow in such a manner, I stood Carefully on the ice, which was very cold on my bare feet, my mistress Called me to come to her, well I tried my best, but with four legs slipping and sliding all over the place, as I took my first step, I Got such a big fright that I sat down and much to my disgrace I wet Myself. For this I was severely scolded by the director, he didn't have any pity for me. I was now cold and wet and very afraid, so I started Bark for my mistress to come and help me. I really didn't know where To put my feet, I tried to step high on my toes, which would have made any Judge proud of me, but I slipped even worse, then I sat down to get my Bearings only to jump up as quick as lightning as my bottom almost got stuck to the ice. Eventually I just stood very carefully and waited Slowly lifting one foot and placing it in front of the other. The problem then was that my back legs would slide away from me and I would land up on my belly. My dear friends don't ever let any one talk you into going ice-skating. You will just make an idiot of yourself. Well after being on that ice for what seemed like hours, the Director asked my mistress to take me off. I went, dripping puddles of water all over everything and once I was on dry ground I had a darn good shake to get all the water out of my fur; I am glad I am pedigreed, because if I was a mongrel like some of the others I would have not fared so lightly, They were dragged around the ice by their owners and they slipped and slid all over the ice. That they did not break any bones is a wonder. I think they must think I am an awful snob, but I really don't care if that is the only way I will be able to keep away from the ice rink. I must admit it was quite an experience but I don't ever want to repeat it again. I would advise you all to keep well away from ice of any kind, It's not much fun for Chows and it is very cold and wet.
Once we were allowed to leave the ice rink I went straight home and the first stop was the kitchen, I really think I deserved a nice warm cup of milk and a chocolate biscuit for my labor. When I told my friend Monique what I had been doing she laughed at me and said that is what I get for creeping up to my mistress all the time. Monique would never allow anyone make her do what she did not want to do.
And if they did try she would just walk like a crab and spoil everything for everyone concerned. But then that's Monique. She really can be a snob. I'm glad she is out of condition, and won't be showing for a few months.

I may then be able to gain some points on her. Oh wishful thinking.

Forever Lady

2008-04-01T03:13:00.000-07:00

FOREVER LADY

It was Christmas Eve 1982 when you came to live with us; you were a tiny six-week-old little ball of fluff and like a tiny golden teddy bear. Your registered name was Loretta but to us you were our little lady. At three months of age you started to walk on the lead and your first walk was to Hillbrow, everyone stopped to admire you, much to your dislike, you growled at them and hid behind my legs, presumably to protect yourself rather then me. When you turned six months, Rick bought Leo, he was a lovely black Chow and now you were happy, You loved him and when ever we went for a walk to Hillbrow you made your way first to Rick's flat to fetch Leo and together we would take the two of you for a walk to the park, and then a cup of tea at the Wimpy and then home again. At nine months we decided that you were both good enough to enter into a dog show, the night before the show was a sleepless one for us humans, both excitement and mixed feelings, our first dog show, we never knew much about showing in those days, off we went in the old Combie, we had bathed and brushed you both until your coats shone, We were really very excited about showing you off.
When we arrived at the show grounds we were pleasantly greeted by many other Chow owners, with some lovely animals, Well we thought we could only try our best, We had not bought a blanket for you to lie on or even your brushes to keep your fur clean. It was winter in the Transvaal and even though the weather was warm the grass was dry and brittle, soon covering your lovely coats.
It was Leo's turn to go into the show ring, there were three other puppies as well as him, and as I watched, I did not really expect him to stand a chance against the heavier older dogs with their flatter faces and heavier bones, Well he walked very well and for the first time in the show ring, and much to our surprise and pleasure he was placed third in the puppy class.
Then it was your turn Lady and you held your tail high and with that stupid chow grin on you face, along with the other young puppies, of your age, you lined up to be judged, You looked lovely and did not try to bite the judge, you were also placed third and I was thrilled,
I put my arms around you and loved you.
When we got home that evening we got the camera out and took photos of you and Leo with your very first certificates, a remembrance forever.
As you grew we started to think of allowing the two of you to have a litter of puppies, you had already had you first season, and now you were sixteen months old and were again in season. Well we left the two of you together all day and all night, really we were the stupid ones, how were we to know that Chows are very hard to mate, eventually we very desperately called in help from The Chow Club, and were very kindly offered help in mating the two of you.
I cried when you eventually did, Leo got the right position and suddenly there you were, mating, it was already your seventeenth day into your season and we really did not expect anything to come of this mating, but we prayed and hoped that we would be lucky.
Five weeks later your belly appeared to look a little rounder, and to make sure we went up to the Vet, Yes you were pregnant and had four weeks to go. We could hardly contain our excitement we were going to be grandparents, the days seemed to go by extra slowly, then suddenly it was the 16th of April and our babies were due, I sat with you the whole night, I felt your pains with you and when you started to push, I pushed with you, at last at ten minuets to twelve you gave birth to your first lovely black male puppy " Leo's Son" how proud I was of you, you licked him and cuddled him and the look of pride in your eyes was the most wonderful thing I had ever seen, then it started all over again the huffing and puffing the pain and the cries then suddenly you produced another lovely son, this one was golden like you and we called him "Midnight" as he was born just after that hour.
As your babies grew we found it very difficult to part with them and the thought again turned to the show ring, their first show was a success, "Sonny" won best puppy and then went best puppy in the group, and the went on to win Second best puppy on show, with little Midnight following close behind, we were so very proud.
The day came when we decided to sell Midnight and we all cried our eyes out once he had gone to his new home with the promises that his new owners would show him some day. "Sonny" was sold to a lady who became a very close friend of mine over the next 20 years. We had by now bought Monique, a very lovely baby with good bone, and a flat face, this one we knew would be a Champion. And She was with a lot of hard work.
As time passed we were asked if you would like to do a movie, we were thrilled, to know that you and Leo would both go down on film in history.
Your part was in the film "We're in the Movies" it was hard work and also great fun and when the movie was released I was so proud of you My Lady, you really looked so lovely, I do hope that one day we will see that movie again. As the years went past you won many prizes at the dog shows and also produced many lovely puppies, In 1989 you had your last litter and either because of your failure to go into labor or some terrible mistake during your Caesar to bring your little puppies into the world, all your lovely eight puppies died, how sad we were, and I cried day and night for weeks for your loss. By now we had added to your companions Tessa and Halley. Halley was the father of this last litter.
1990 brought a lot of sadness to our lives, didn't it Lady, we had lost our lovely Champion Monique after a very difficult birth in 1986.
And now suddenly Tessa was gone, after a very short illness. Now you only had Halley to talk to, so I went out and bought Ushka and Tasha to keep you company, We also had Monique 2 and her son Apollo, but you weren't on speaking terms with them, you were the only one who knew that Halley would never come back that dreadful Sunday Last August 1990.You cried real tears and I cried with you, Lady you were my oldest and dearest, and you seemed to understand my grief. Slowly we got over the sadness and were looking forward to a New Year when just before Christmas you got sick, I tried my best to help you and stayed awake all night to make sure you were alright, but to no avail, On Christmas eve eight years after I got you, I had to allow you your freedom in the Heavenly Gardens, a Garden where only Gods dogs are allowed to roam.

2008-03-21T02:25:00.000-07:00

A LOVE AFFAIR WITH CHOWS
I got my first K.U.S.A. Registered Chow Chow in 1982, and this started a great love affair, Lady was just a small little ball of fluff, 6 weeks old and the sweetest thing I had ever owned, At that time we lived in a penthouse on the top of Park Central in the center of Johannesburg, How was I allowed to keep a dog in a penthouse you may ask your self, but quite a few of the residents had dogs and the caretaker had 4 of her own although they were very much smaller then my Chow would be when she was grown. These first stories are dedicated to the memory of Lady, Tessa, and Monique Halley and Ushka and of course Leo. These first stories are told by some of the dogs themselves.
WHAT DOG
This was the question I asked myself when I set my eyes on the first Chow I had ever seen.

Often I would see these beautiful animals riding around on the back of a bakkie, through the streets of Ladysmith and they overawed me. They were the most beautiful dogs I had ever seen.

One day while I was working in a bookshop, the owner of the Chows a Mr. Prinsloo parked his van outside and came into the shop to order a book. I plucked up the courage to ask him just what kind of dogs He bred. To answer my question he went out to his van and brought in the most beautiful six-month-old puppy I had ever seen. He told me he had just imported this dog from the United Kingdom and that his name was Hanoi Tazu of Karloo. Now at that time I had no idea of what his Title meant but I could see that he really was one of the best, and it was then that I decided that I too would one day own a Chow Chow like Tazu.

Today almost 10 years later I do own a dog like Tazu and I am very fond of her. She may not be a Champion but I know that she is one of the best Chows in South Africa today and that she will hopefully be able to be the mother of future champions.

Tazu was a red Chow and as a small puppy looked like a lovely red Teddy bear, and it is thanks to Mr Prinsloo that my interest in these lovely animals grew. I don't know if Tazu is still alive, but on going through many of the Kennel Union's old records, I came across an entry that he had become a Champion.

You can just imagine the lovely sight I saw when I saw those Chow Chows riding around on the back of the bakkie, their fur shining red in the bright sunlight. They were the only Chow Chows in Ladysmith at the time and I felt that they were a very special kind of dog, to be owned by very special people.

Today I know that very special people own Chows Chows, and it is only Chowists that love and understand these fantastic animals I am pleased to say that I have made many very good friends amongst the Chow World. I have also been able to sell my special puppies to people who love the breed as much as I do.

Chow Chows in my home are like my children and are so treated, they are given the best of care, and I never stint on medical care. A rise in temperature will be taken to our Vet for a Checkup.

Mr. Prinsloo you were the start of my love for these dogs and my first chow although not a pedigree was a very special animal. (See Kimiko's story) Since those days I have owned many Chow Chows.
And it is now with thanks to Mr. Johan Naude, Mr. Andries and Lia Du Toit and Mr. and Mrs. Myburg, that I have been able to put my Kennel name on the Map

I am very grateful to all you wonderful friends and hope that our Chow Chow's will go from strength to Strength.

2008-03-21T02:22:00.000-07:00

DOGS IN MY BED BOOK 1

DOG'S IN MY BED

STORIES ON CHOW CHOW'S
AND OTHER DOGS & CATS.

AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY
OVER 20 YEARS
OF LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING

BY Carolyn Dewranceã

THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO
It is with thanks to so many people who have encouraged me with the writing of this book. To name a few but very important to me.

My Son’S Ian Dewrance, Robin Viljoen, Charles Viljoen and Mr. Rick Skidmore, for the assistance and support they have given me over the past 25years of owning, breeding and showing the lovely Chow Chow.

To my sisters, Gaye Cuff and Shirley Holmes, thank you for your support especially in the last year when I was retrenched from work, for help in feeding my dogs and being able to keep them safe with me.

To the Chow Chow Club of the Transvaal, especially Mr. and Mrs. Johan Naude, Mrs. and Mrs. Myburg, Mr. and Mrs. Botes, Annamarie Balmer, Danie and Mandy van der Walt, Andre and Lia Du Toit, Mr. Bob Stevens, and to the attending Veterinarians, Dr John Pyn (now deceased) Dr Charles Barnard, Dr L Evans, and Dr Wendy Neadly, Dr Brian Corcoran, a very special thank you to Cheryl Ann Hurley, you have all been wonderful and very supportive in the writing of this book.
To all the members of the CHOW CHOW .ORG SITE HOPE YOU ENJOY IT.

Fleurette Ellis and to others to many to name. Steve Cousins for the many studio photos he has taken of my Chows. Visual Concepts.

You are all wonderful and without you and your encouragement this book may never have been.

In memory of
Kimiko Lady, Halley, Tessa, Monique , Apools, and all the rest.

First started writing in 1982
Now published by myself to disk
2004. ©
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means. Electronic or mechanical, includes photocopying, recording or any other information storage and retrieval system, without permission of the author/publisher. Stories and photographs copy writes to the author/publisher.ã

These stories that you read here, are all true stories, the medical stories are of true happenings, they may make you cry, and some will make you smile, I do hope that my experiences with The Chows and other dogs included will assist you with your problems with your dogs.
C.A.Dewrance
Copyright 2001©

25 YEARS OF LIVING WITH CHOW CHOWS

AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY
By
Carolyn Dewrance