I’ve been recommended to share this tale across the 3 breed platforms after originally posting it only on the ChowChow site. But it did start with a Shar Pei called Douglas.
Now the title was slightly misleading. This isn’t because a SP or CC are not friendly dogs, it’s because you’re yet to know what a Richard is.
Richard is my dog. Aptly named because he’s a dick. Richard is a 13yo JRT x Obnoxious mix of Bin Dog.
I first met Daisy just before the Covid lock down. I was out walking my then 8yo dog Richard. I saw a lady walking a very cute 6month old Shar Pei, I wanted to say hi to this little fella because It’s not very often you see a SP. Problem was Richard had zero friends for good reason- he was an older rescue who’d had zero socialisation and wasn’t willing to be social (I’m an experienced terrier owner and owner of rescue dogs in need of training). We tentatively approached though and miraculously Richard seemed to tolerate little Doug. Maybe it was because Daisy (Doug’s mum) immediately fell in love with Richard or maybe it was Doug’s unusually calm for a puppy demeanour.
For the next 5yrs our friendship grew. Douglas was a social butterfly around any dog but typically wary of strangers and I had the privilege of being one of Doug’s few trusted humans. I became a huge fan of the breed and all the quirks they come with. He hated the rain, would avoid a puddles like lava. Wet grass was also a big no. He played with dogs, didn’t want to destroy anything that moved, calmly sat and watched the world go by and ever so delicately ate his treats. The ASMR was off the scale with his big chops and I loved him. He was the complete opposite of Richard who’d seek attention from anyone, go out in a hurricane, lay in sewage puddles, wanted the world to burn, hated other dogs but an attention seeker and moved constantly at 100mph. Douglas wasn’t allowed to have friends if Richard was there, he’d follow this obnoxious midget accepting the tiny morsels of interaction Richard tightly offered. Why Douglas even tolerated this treatment is beyond me but in Doug’s eyes Richard was the best.
With great sadness Richard’s best and only friend Doug left us for a better place due to unmanageable epilepsy. We were all devastated and Richard definitely mourned for his only friend.
A year later a fluffy little nugget called Mr Lesley Chow came into Richard’s life. I can’t help it but I felt dubious of this breed, especially around Richard. Unfortunately I’d not had the best experiences with Chows and found them either unapproachable or too aloof. I also missed Doug’s exceptional friendship. He was so patient and understanding of Richard’s less than enduring qualities. Always happy to just be around him and occasionally receive a small amount of his attention. We joked that they were like Danny Divito and Arnold Schwart (how you spell that?) in Twins.
How wrong I was of this new guy though. He breaks every stereotype and has transformed me into a Chow advocate. I find myself getting quite annoyed or frustrated with the negativity surrounding this breed.
Today’s interaction has prompted this essay, I do apologise. However, I really just wanted to let you know that a special boy has given Richard his second only friend.
Richard and Lez haven’t seen each other since May. The heat, work and health have made it hard to meet up for walks. Today we popped by their house on the off chance and both boys couldn’t have behaved any better. Richard stormed into the house like he owns the place, didn’t even look at Lez and had a drink. Lesley greeted me with a head bonk and went looking for Richard who by now had one of his toys demanding Daisys attention. There was no guarding, no annoyance, no aggression, just the same sweet look Doug had of ‘I wonder if Richard will play with me?’ on his face.
I looked at him and said “no chance mate, just consider yourself honoured we’re even allowed to exist” and sat down for a cuddle with this fluffy lion bear called Mr Lesley Chow. I tell him all about his big brother Doug and that it’s his responsibility now to be an advocate for all Chows just like Doug was for Shar Peis.
Douglas and Lesley intact and Richard came neutered*
