LENE SHILA HEDENGRAN…Worldchow Interview

This is the first in an ongoing series of Worldchow Member interviews. This week we will meet

Lene Shila Hedengran from Sweden…...KENNEL LONG FENG

(pardon the double post…that first one self destructed for some reason)

Lene has been owned by Chows for 19 years and the current chow residents in her home are XaSha (8 years old), Willi ( 1 1/2 years old),Vicki (2 1/2 years old)  and Penny 1/2 year old-  I’m having Penny for a friend in 2 1/2 year.

(Lene tells this editor that the jackets keep snow balls from forming on the coats! CLEVER)

LENE, WHEN DID YOU ACQUIRE YOUR FIRST CHOW?  …TELL US A BIT ABOUT HER.

I got my first chow in 1990.  she was the most wonderful creature – fawn quite heavily build. and already by 6 montsh of age stated with severe HP (e). She only lived for 4½ year and I still miss her and now I did so much wrong and there is so much I can’t forgive myself or vets for so I still cry about her.

I wanted a fawn girl from Karen Tracy to fill out the gap she has left in me, unfortunately I couldn’t come up with the money at that moment and I think she stayed with Karen – don’t know if she was one of those that lost their lives – if she was don’t tell me because then I won’t be able to forgive myself again. Just sitting here I start crying again – I’m crazy.

(from Sandra…if that is the same fawn bitch I almost  got from Karen I know she is still alive and well)

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE QUALITIES THAT ONLY A CHOW CHOW CAN POSSESS?
Once a Chow always a Chow. If they change the standard more we move to a country where the Chow is accepted as it is and where they hold the breed specifics about/of the Chow dearly. Their independence and differentials. Their love and strength and their laziness Their look – their walk….everything!! A Chow is so different from everything else. What is there not to like.

WHAT ARE SOME FAVORITE ACTIVITIES THAT YOU AND YOUR  FAMILY SHARE WITH YOUR CHOWS?

I’m hidding treats around in our yard or in the house if the weather is bad and let them find them. Lots of good nose work. XaSha loved blood-tracking/tracing. Vicki is very good at shows.

” Here Vicki is (below) ready to being “dipped”
She really likes swimming and swims round and round and even jumps
from our little boat if we don’t get a shore as quickly as she wants and
then she swims in and waits to be carried on board again
Willi is also a good swimmer but he is not as happy for the water
as Vicki is.

We think it’s good to swim since it’s very healthy and very kind to all
muscles and joints – therefore we swim “

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE WORLDCHOW MAGAZINE OFFER TO THE FANCY?
We need something international to work for our breed. We shouldn’t be afraid of helping each other and share between the countries. More than ever it’s important that we co-operate for the sake of our beloved breed. We need to be more alike in health issues to make sure that nothing is suddenly pressed down on us because we are so far from each other

OUR DOGS HAVE A WONDERFUL WAY OF BRINGING HUMAN BEINGS TOGETHER.   TELL US ABOUT SOME CLOSE FRIENDS YOU HAVE MET VIA YOUR CHOW PASSION AND A LITTLE DETAIL ABOUT THE CONNECTIONS
Gerard O’Shea (professional handler & rottweiler breeder) whom never thought I had any chance of handling a Chow the way he handles dogs (which for me of course is a perfect way since you are not pressing the dog into something – all comes from willingness – and the dog looks happy when showed. I’m his GOOD example now when other says it’s impossible for their breed………(to him the Chow is the most stubborn and difficult )

Aira Setälä (Kennel Samsaran – Finland) this has just been the most wonderful friendship and we hve so much else in common – like jewellery which is a hobby for her and before were my work She also made sure that we got Willi Tineke van der Heide-Dass (vanJutterburch kennel – Holland) one of the first I tried to get a pup from and we have been friends ever since even though I never have gotten a pup from her since that first time

She is my help in all homeopathic’s which is a very big part of my life. I’m very holistic and very “green” and tries to not use to much chemicals and always checks what the vets prescribe to the Chows and if they do something wrong I’ll be the first to tell them (which is actually quite often) It’s so nice to discuss with Tineke about different ways to care for our chows in a natural way.

TELL US ABOUT A GROOMING OR FEEDING REGIME THAT HAS HELPED KEEP YOUR CHOWS COAT IN GREAT CONDITION.

Since XaSha had allergies (she had allergy for everything – I don’t think there was anything that she was tested negative to….) I have been stuck on Hokamix30, HokamixForte and HokamixJoint mixed with Salmon Oil (one without ethoxyquin, which is thought to cause cancer).

The one with joint I use when they grow up and if an injury. Forte I used for XaSha’s allergies. When they are grown up I use normal Hokamix30.

Now I have also begon with Bio Active Dog which is a pill only containing amino acids in their normal “look”…like “L’s” – since they often get altered in processing dog food so they become “D’s” giving the dog even harder to make it back + to retrieve all the necessary amino acids out of the food in the small intestine.

WHAT DO YOU FEEL THE TRUE ESSENCE OF OUR BREED IS IN THE YEAR 2009?

I like that it looks like the bones have become stronger – heavier. The breed is shrinking and that is bad Given heavier structure and growing smaller will give problems. It’s very important that we keep breeding on those that are big and more like “spitz” together with for example smaller and heavier like my Willi.

If XaSha would have been healthy they would have been perfect She very big (52 cm) and he little and quite heavy

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WHEN PRESENTED WITH A LIST OF 6 CHOICES, LENE CHOSE THESE AS HER BIGGEST CONCERNS FOR THE BREED RIGHT NOW:

• Health Issues
• Loss of overall breed type and balance
• Need for Judges education

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And if any of you are  familiar with the  TALLGRASS INSTITUTE ….. Lene has been taking
their courses and hopefully in August will be finished as a Canine
Acupressure Therapist

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH LENE FOR YOUR VERY INTERESTING ANSWERS AND AWESOME PHOTOS.  IT’S SUCH A PLEASURE TO SEE YOU AND YOUR DOGS AND FIND OUT SO MUCH MORE ABOUT YOU THROUGH OUR

WORLDCHOW MAGAZINE INTERVIEW

Please feel free to comment below and continue asking Lene questions about her interview and her chows.

This is how we grow in the Chow fancy

“Vicki and my husband Urban on our little boat – I’m sailing it”