This month our member interview was with Brenda Buechler of Rhapsody Chows who lives in Alaska, USA

.  Brenda I can’t believe how cute some of these pix are.  This one of Odo in his costume had me rolling on the floor when I saw it in the envelope!

How many years have you been owned by Chows? How many chows do you have today and their names?
Been involved in chows for 20 + years and currently have 2 chows one boy Ch.Rosewines Rockibilli nRhapsody Odo… and 1 female SingFus Kira Nerys..Kira is a little over a year and Odo will be 3 years old in May 2009.

FATHER AND DAUGHTER

When did you acquire your FIRST chow…tell me a little bit about him/her?
My very first chows name was Sampson and I got him in Fairbanks Alaska in 1985 or 86 he was 10 weeks old and very pet but he lived to be 14 years old and lived a wonderful life..I will never forget him as he set me on a path that has been a godsend at times for me if it were not for my chows I dont know how I would of got threw it all with many changes in my life.. I have forever been hooked on the breed.

A LITTER OF PUPPIES AT THE BUECHLER HOUSE

What are your favorite qualities that only a Chow Chow can possess?
Really there are many but the number 1 would be loyalty..This breed is forever loyal to their family and friends. Second the independent nature they have .. and 3rd the incredible intelligence they have..so very very smart..and so clean…

Favorite activities that you and your family share with your chow(s)
my chow kids love to go in the car they never seem to get enough of this they love to stick their heads out and watch everything THEY especially like going to PETCO with mom for dog training class to be involved in class or just to socialize…its all fun especially the Treat Bar loaded with yummy dog treats we never make it passed there…

BRENDA WITH “SHOOTER”

What would you like to see WORLDCHOW MAGAZINE offer to the Chow fancy?
i would like to see educational articles on current events concerning chows and fun stuff to like the photo contests and community events people have participated in….

EXTREMELY RARE COLORED CHOW PUPPIES…OR…..BRENDAS GUINEA PIGS “LAVERNE AND SHIRLEY”

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

The people that got me started in showing chows would be Lewis and Nancy Cuccia I spent alot of time learning under them and they taught me alot also Bob and Love Banghart as this is where I really started understanding dog showing I traveled with them to many shows and watched and observed as well as showed  the knowledge I gained was truly priceless as I still remember things even today that they passed on to me they were wonderful and I cant thank them enough for all the the help they gave me…Chow people are awsome you just need to ask and they will be more than happy to teach you….wonderful

BRENDA WITH KIRA

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.
Feeding the right food is soooooooooo important a good diet is the key to everything else… I had to go thru several foods before I found a food for the chows the fact they are fussy doesnt help..Salmon oil in food also very good for skin and coat….

CALENDAR GIRL KIRA

I recently entered my chows Odo and Kira in a photo contest locally to raise funds for our local dog park and Im happy to say that Kira won the contest with the most votes and was featured on the cover of the calandar for 2009 with all proceeds of calandar going to support the dog park and Odo was a top ten finalist also not to bad as there were ALOT of dogs in this contest and it was a tough competition they also won alot of neat prizes and cool stuff.

BRENDA HAS SOME “SMOOTH MOVES” AS WELL…HEE HEE

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

• Health Issues
• Loss of overall breed type
• Increase in bad dog laws

Thank you so very much Brenda!!! As much as I already knew about you from years of showing and breeding dogs ..it’s so fun to learn lots more about our fellow chowists through these interviews!

1000 pardons for the OOPS post that went out to a few of the members today and then disappeared off the site.  That was supposed to be   saved as a draft to be posted tomorrow but apparently my computer has different ideas….. I am still having issues with this blog but we got it worked out in the long run!

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”

Our Featured Worldchow member for this week is my good friend Catherine Crooks . Cathy and her hubby Ryan and their adorable daughter Ave live in  Iowa in the  USA

How many years have you been owned by Chows? How many chows do you have today and their names?
1o years Roses- 7 Kozmo- 5 Rowdy- 2

How many years have you been owned by Chows? How many chows do you have today and their names?
1o years Roses- 7 Kozmo- 5 Rowdy- 2

Cathy, when did you acquire your FIRST chow…tell me a little bit about him/her?
In 1999 my husband and I starting looking for a Chow puppy. We were newlyweds, had just purchased a house and wanted to add a dog to our life. I had always loved the look of the Chow and did lots of research on the breed before deciding I had to have one. We knew nothing about “breeders” and had no idea where to start.

My Mother just happened to meet a former Chow breeder/handler at a natural foods co-op. She just happened to have a litter of puppies on the way- the last litter she was ever going to breed. It was all by chance that Teddy came into our lives, and what an impact she would have. She wasn’t a show dog, that’s not what we were looking for at the time. She was beautiful, loving, and funny and we fell in love with her immediately.

At 6 months of age Teddy had a siezure, we hoped it was an isolated occurance. Unfortunately that wasn’t the case. She turned out to be a severe epileptic. We researched and tried many different types of things to treat her. At one time I was driving an hour, one way, 3 times a week for accupuncture. Her seizures were never able to be completely controlled. She spent 4 short years with us, before her body could take no more. I am so greatful to have had her in our life, she taught us so much. She gave us the best gift of all- our deep love of the Chow.

What are your favorite qualities that only a Chow Chow can possess?
I love their intelligence, graceful movement, and outstanding beauty. I love that if you have a room full of Chows each one is unique. They may have similar features, but I don’t think 2 Chows are ever identical in appearance. I feel that way about their personalities also. All my Chows have different personalities, each one unique.

Favorite activities that you and your family share with your chow(s)
Our Chows are family members first, show dogs second. They do almost eveything we do. I’m lucky to work from home so I’m with my dogs all day. Rowdy and my 3 year old daughter have a strong bond. He participates in “tea parties” and playing “Doctor” on a regular basis.

What would you like to see WORLDCHOW MAGAZINE offer to the Chow fancy?
I think World Chow is a great place for people to come together and share this love we all have in common.

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
Chows brought me to Diana Hillygus and Sandra Miller, two of my best friends. I met Diana at a dog show I attended and she invited me to come to her home and meet all her other dogs. I was so impressed by the beauty and temperament her dogs. I started traveling to dog shows with her learning so much along the way.

Diana introduced me to Sandra and the three of us all have so much in common. They have been great mentors to me, and we’ve developed a life-long freindship. I also met my wonderful Vet because of my epileptic Chow. My former Vet turned me away because he really didn’t know how to treat her when the medication wasn’t working. It turned out to be a blessing in disquise because I found my current Vet, Dr. Phyllis Frost, who is amazing. I can’t say enough good things about her. It is such a good feeling to have a Vet that you can trust and rely on 100%

What do you feel the true essence of our breed is …in 2009?
I think people are more aware of genetic issues and utilizing the tools such as OFA and CERF for healthier future generations. We are lucky to have these tools available and I hope people continue to use them. I have a concern about so many long bodied and short legged dogs in the show ring. Balance is sometimes lost. We need to respect the standard with square dogs and stilted gaits.

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

* Health Issues

* Loss of overall breed type and balance

* Lack of public education regarding “dangerous breeds”

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Cathy …THANK YOU SO MUCH for taking the time to do this interview!!! I realized just as I was getting ready to publish it , that I don’t have a photo of YOUR beautiful face in here!!!!  We would love to see a photo of you , with our without the chows.  Also there is one you sent that said is a MUST HAVE ……but the file didn’t come thru.  Just send that one along too and I’ll add them to the interview!!

One of the biggest disappointments for me this year, not being able to attend the National was our dear Chow guru Mr. Joel Marston was the guest of honor this year.  Love Banghart put together the most beautiful tribut to Joel , digging deep in to her boxes of pix  to find all sorts of great shots .  I got a peek at the Powerpoint Presentation a few months ago and was so tickled to read about Joels dogs again…Just like it were yesterday

On the drive home from the National, Love called and we were chatting.  I asked her if she would like to share all that work on Worldchow as a permanent place for the tribute to reside.  Love agreed wholeheartedly and I converted it to video format today.  I aplogize for the weird glitch at the end where 2 slides got mixed up.  I’ll redo it again this week but wanted to share this with you all asap!!!!

CLICK THE ARROW ON THE VIDEO BELOW TO START THE SHOW.  THERE IS AUDIO AS WELL.

TRIBUTE TO JOEL MARSTON AT THE 2009 CCCI NATIONAL SPECIALTY from Sandra Miller on Vimeo.

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”