Chowmein

Description

* This dog will be at the Palo Alto Pet Food Express on Saturday, August 15th 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: $800 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 increasingly becoming YES. Chowmein is a handsome 3–4 year old Chow Chow weighing 40.6 pounds, and he has the perfect name for a dog who is going to be served a lifetime of good things from here on out. No more mystery menu. No more wondering what comes next. Chowmein is officially ordering from the Happy Dog Menu, and we intend to make sure he gets the deluxe package. Chowmein came to us from a breeder who loved her Chows deeply and was known for raising dogs with wonderful, sound temperaments. His life is changing now, and our goal is to give this beautiful boy the chance to discover all the ordinary things a dog should get to enjoy: a comfortable home, people he trusts, a soft place to sleep, good food, a yard to explore and, eventually, someone who thinks he is absolutely perfect. Right now, Chowmein is taking things at his own pace. And honestly? We respect it. He spends much of his day outside in the backyard, where he is perfectly content to nap, wander around and investigate whatever important Chow business needs investigating. He seems happiest when he can take his time and observe the world without anyone expecting him to immediately become their best friend. He doesn't come running up to his foster family yet. If they gently corral him, however, he is perfectly happy to accept pets and affection. There is absolutely no aggression from this boy. None. He simply isn't ready to throw his heart at strangers quite yet. But here's the part we love: he is changing. Every day, Chowmein is becoming a tiny bit more playful and a little more trusting. He even seems to enjoy having his foster family hang out in the backyard with him. He may not be climbing into their laps, but he's starting to say, "Okay... you people aren't so bad." We'll take it. Chowmein has also made a very important discovery: Obi. Obi is his resident canine roommate, and apparently Obi has a personality. A big one. Even when Obi is being, according to his foster family, "a jerk," Chowmein has shown absolutely no aggression toward him. In fact, Chowmein has recently started following Obi around the backyard. We're calling this friendship development. Perhaps someday we'll get the photograph his foster family is hoping for: Chowmein and Obi doing synchronized sploots. Because yes, Chowmein has already demonstrated that he is capable of the highly sophisticated Chow maneuver known as the sploot. For those unfamiliar with the sploot, it is essentially when a dog stretches both back legs straight out behind them and flattens themselves against the ground like a furry pancake. Chowmein is apparently a natural. His days are pretty relaxed right now. He eats breakfast and dinner, spends time outside exploring or lounging, takes plenty of naps and is slowly becoming more comfortable with the people and dogs around him. He has shown no signs of separation anxiety and may honestly be too busy investigating the backyard to notice when his foster family leaves. He has not been taken on walks yet, and that is intentional. His foster family decided that Chowmein deserved a few quiet days without a parade of new experiences. There will be plenty of time for walks and adventures once he feels more secure. He did, however, have an unexpected encounter with tree trimmers. When Chowmein spotted unfamiliar people suddenly appearing in his backyard, he barked in surprise. Once his foster came inside, he stopped barking, although he remained concerned about the strange people outside. His foster then brought him into the bedroom with her husband, where he settled beautifully. So Chowmein seems to have a very reasonable position on strangers: "I don't necessarily need to meet them. I'd actually prefer to supervise from a safe distance, thank you." We can work with that. House training is still a question mark, so his new family should be prepared to continue working on it. He had one accident his first evening but did not have another the following night. He sleeps quietly in his crate overnight without complaining, although we're pretty sure his official opinion of the crate is something along the lines of, "I will tolerate this arrangement because apparently you people have rules." He is only mildly interested in dog toys, although he has discovered that a good Yak cheese chew is worth his attention. He's not currently a toy-destroying maniac, which is probably a relief to everyone involved. Chowmein is a regular-shedding Chow and will have those classic seasonal coat blowouts. His beautiful coat will need regular brushing and grooming to keep him comfortable and looking his handsome best. Fortunately, he has plenty of fur to work with. This is not a dog who will be mistaken for a minimalist. The home we envision for Chowmein is one with patience. He doesn't need someone who expects him to walk through the front door and immediately become a social butterfly. He needs someone who understands that trust is earned and that sometimes the best way to build a relationship with a dog is to simply sit nearby and let him decide when he's ready to come closer. Older, respectful children may be a better fit than very young children. If someone comes charging toward Chowmein, his current strategy is to quietly remove himself from the situation. We suspect that with time and confidence, he'll become much more comfortable, but he deserves a home where nobody is going to chase him around the house trying to make friends. And that is really what makes Chowmein special. He isn't a broken dog. He isn't an aggressive dog. He isn't a difficult dog. He's a dog who is learning what it feels like to have a life outside the environment he's always known. He is learning that humans can be kind. He is learning that other dogs can be friends. He is learning that the backyard is a pretty great place. He is learning that coming closer doesn't have to be scary. And every day, he's taking another little step forward. Somewhere underneath that beautiful Chow coat is a dog who is waiting to discover just how wonderful being someone's beloved pet can be. And when that happens, we're pretty sure Chowmein is going to be one very happy noodle. Because this Chow is finally getting his second serving of life — and this time, it's going to be the good stuff.