WORLDCHOW MEMBER INTERVIEW…Marie and Bob McElroy

Our latest interview is with Worldchow members Marie and Bob McElroy of  Levittown, Pennsylvania, USA. Thank you so very much for submitting your interview and all these awesome chow pix you guys!!  Your chowdren look so incredibly spoiled and happy!!

Feel free to comment below the interview and ask questions of Marie and Bob if you have them! As requested in previous interviews and letters from WC members, I have been working on  some articles and would love if any of you have an article of your own to submit….please do so!! We would love to hear your opinions or share your expertise on any chow related topic.

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How many years have you been owned by Chows? How many chows do you have today and their names?
My husband and I have been owned by Chows for 24 years. Currrently we have 3 Chows; Zoie (9) , Ziggy (6) and Zachary (3). Zoie is the strong-willed, stoic Alpha female and keeps the rest of the pack in order. Ziggy is our mild-mannered, lovable, peace-keeping, I-like-to-do-my-own-thing kind of loner. Zachary is our out-of-control flying Walenda, overly-energetic, me-first, it’s all about me, double-handful of trouble.

When did you acquire your FIRST chow…tell me a little bit about him/her?

Twenty-four years ago, my husband and I ‘rescued’ our first Chow from a pet store at the mall….I know- the worst place in the world to buy a puppy! But, he was in the ‘Clearance’ crate and destined for doom-quickly outgrowing his place there and just a few weeks before Christmas, it was certain that no one would be interested in a 5-month old puppy who barely fit in a crate.

I couldn’t bear to leave him there to meet his fate, so after much deliberating, we brought him home! Our Dreyfus turned out to be a beautiful pet-quality Chow with wonderful temperament and unbelievably good health. In his happy and healthy 14 years with us, he succeeded in getting my husband and I hooked for life on the Chow breed!

What are your favorite qualities that only a Chow Chow can possess?

Their aloofness, inquisitiveness and playfulness are among my favorite Chow qualities!

Favorite activities that you and your family share with your chow(s)

I enjoy gardening and ponding, which our Chows always love to lay by my side to watch me and to supervise! Once a project is just-finished and pristine, their favorite thing is to burrow into the freshly-spread mulch or gravel, but only after digging a belly-hole down to the dirt first! Needless to say, the projects never seem to end; but I wouldn’t have it any other way!

What would you like to see WORLDCHOW MAGAZINE offer to the Chow fancy?

I’d like to see grooming tips and techniques, more informational articles on topics unique to the Chow breed. Also, links to resources for Chow specialty items,etc.

Our dogs have wonderful way of bringing humanimals together. List up to 3 close friends you have met via your chows and dog interests. Tell me a little bit about the connections

Through my first Chow, Dreyfus, I met a wonderful veterinarian who has since become a wonderful friend. Bitten badly by a Chow early in her veterinary career, she was initially very timid around my Chow. Once she got to know Dreyfus, she was quite taken with his sweet personality and gentle nature. She is an artist and did a wonderful watercolor portrait of Dreyfus when he was about 12.

She has gotten to know all my other Chows over the years and has gained a lot of knowledge specific to the Chow breed that she may not have otherwise gotten to acquire had it not been for their wonderful temperament and ongoing interaction with her.

I have also met several wonderful breeders from whom I’ve shared and learned so much about the Chow breed!

Tell us about a grooming secret/hint that has really helped you with keeping your chow coat in good shape or any special feeding regime that you find has been helpful for your dogs conditioning.

I feed my Chows an all-natural diet which is a combination of home-cooked meats, vegetables and grains, mostly organic. Their daily ‘dessert’ is plain organic yogurt which keeps their digestive systems in tip-top shape-sometimes topped with granola, sometimes plain.

I supplement with all-natural kibble to keep their teeth clean and they get only all-natural treats with no additives or preservatives. Yes, it does take extra time and fuss than buying commercial food, but I feel it’s a small price to pay for their excellent health!

Their veterinarian is always amazed at their good health, their coat condition and how clear and healthy their skin and eyes are. AND, they are happy and content and rarely sick.

What do you feel the true essence of our breed is …in 2009?

I feel that above all else, temperament is singlehandedly the most critical aspect of Chow breeding and should be the #1 priority in all breeding programs. Sadly, there are many Chows whose temperament ends up being their demise because owners are either ill-equipped or not fully committed to deal with temperament problems when they, unfortunately occur.

What are your 3 biggest concerns regarding the state of the Chow breed right now

* Temperament Issues

* Lack of mentorship for newbies

* Lack of public education regarding “dangerous breeds”