Chowmein

Description

* This dog will be at the Palo Alto Pet Food Express on Saturday, August 29th from 12–3 PM (unless adopted prior to the event). All DPS Rescue dogs are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, dewormed, flea/tick treated, and microchipped prior to adoption.     Adoption Fee: $650 Some dogs come into rescue ready to take over the couch. Chowmein came in ready to inspect the backyard, consider his options, and decide whether humans were actually worth the trouble. We are happy to report that the answer is now a very enthusiastic YES. Chowmein is a handsome 3–4 year old Chow Chow weighing 40.6 pounds, and he is one of those dogs who gets more lovable every time you see him. He came to us from a breeder who loved her Chows deeply and was known for raising dogs with wonderful, sound temperaments. When Chowmein first arrived, he was understandably cautious about this whole new-life business. Today, he is a completely different dog. He's walking, playing, making friends, exploring, and most importantly, having fun. Chowmein has discovered that walks are AWESOME. He loves getting out and about and has become comfortable walking on a leash. This is a pretty big transformation for a dog who initially needed some time to decide that the outside world wasn't quite as intimidating as he thought. He still enjoys spending part of his day doing what Chows do best: observing. He likes hanging out just inside the back door, watching everything that's happening around him. He's not necessarily going to be right in the middle of every activity. Sometimes he's perfectly content to sit there and supervise the household like a very fluffy security guard. If you suddenly walk toward him too quickly, Chowmein may politely retreat a few feet. Not because he's afraid of you; he's just apparently decided that personal space is an important household policy. Give him a moment and he's right back to hanging out nearby. That's Chowmein now. He's comfortable, curious, interested in his people, and increasingly willing to participate in all the fun parts of being a dog. And then there is Obi. We need to talk about Obi, because Obi has played a pretty important role in Chowmein's transformation. Obi is his foster brother (nope he's not for adoption!), a large Doodle with plenty of personality, and these two have become quite the pair. When Chowmein first arrived, he was simply observing Obi from a distance. Now they play chase, and while Obi is technically the chaser, Chowmein is clearly having a fantastic time participating in the game. The two get along beautifully, and Chowmein has shown us just how much he enjoys having another dog around. And it's not just big dogs. Chowmein is very dog social and does well with dogs big and small. We genuinely think another friendly dog could be a huge bonus for him. Having a canine companion seems to help Chowmein relax, have fun, and bring out his playful side. He's gone from quietly observing the other dog in the backyard to playing chase with his giant Doodle brother, and that's a pretty wonderful transformation. Chowmein is also much more comfortable inside the house now. He likes spending time with his foster family and doesn't need to be constantly entertained. He's happy lounging, wandering around, checking out what's going on, or simply hanging out near his people. He has also graduated from the crate. Chowmein now has free rein of the house at night and chooses where he wants to sleep. He's been doing beautifully, and there hasn't been a potty accident since his very first day. Apparently he had a little paperwork to complete when he arrived, got it out of the way on Day One, and has been a perfect gentleman ever since. He's also not particularly destructive. He's mildly interested in toys and enjoys a good Yak cheese chew, but he's not the kind of dog who needs to spend his day dismantling the furniture. He'd much rather go for a walk, play chase with Obi, hang out in the backyard, or sit inside the back door and keep an eye on everyone. Honestly, we think that's pretty darn adorable. Chowmein is still a Chow, so he's not going to be the dog who throws himself at every stranger he meets and announces, "WE ARE BEST FRIENDS!" within 14 seconds. But he's become so much more approachable. He's comfortable with his foster family, enjoys being around them, likes affection when he chooses to participate, and clearly enjoys having another dog around. He's developed enough confidence that we can genuinely picture him settling into a new home and becoming comfortable fairly quickly. He doesn't need to be handled like a fragile flower. He just needs people who understand that Chows have their own way of doing things. Chowmein's way is basically, "I'll come hang out with you. I'll go for a walk with you. I'll play with your dog. I'll observe your household. I'll accept your affection. But let's not make a big production about it." Fair enough. Chowmein is a regular-shedding Chow, so his gorgeous coat will require regular brushing and grooming. But that's just part of the package when you're adopting a handsome walking cloud with a tail. And while we originally thought Chowmein needed a very quiet, patient home where he could slowly figure everything out, we've watched him grow enough that we're changing our expectations. Chowmein is ready. He's ready for walks, playtime, another dog friend, hanging out in the house, sleeping wherever he wants, and most importantly, being someone's dog. He doesn't need months and months of waiting for his personality to appear. It's already here. It's the playful Chowmein who races around with Obi. It's the happy Chowmein who gets excited for his walks. It's the curious Chowmein sitting inside the back door watching his people. It's the increasingly confident boy who has figured out that humans aren't so bad after all. And it's the very lovable Chowmein who is finally ready to stop being the new guy and become someone's beloved family dog. We still think another dog would be wonderful for him because he absolutely blossoms with canine companionship. But more than anything, Chowmein needs a family who will appreciate him for exactly who he is: a sweet, handsome, playful Chow who doesn't need to be the center of attention to be completely content. He's already figured out the most important part of rescue: life is pretty good. Now he just needs someone to share it with—and preferably someone with a dog who is willing to play chase. Because Chowmein has discovered that being chased by a giant Doodle is actually a LOT of fun.