New to the forum!!

[SumosMum]

Hello everyone!

My name is Julie and I live with my fiance and our 6 years old son in Sherbrooke, Canada. After almost a year of intense breed research and 7 months of waiting for our little puppy, we finally got him on October 26th! Sumo is a purebred Chow Chow and he is a total sweetheart!

I have been looking into this forum for a while and decided it was about time to join! Anyways here is some pictures of Sumo.

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Hi Julie! I noticed "Sumo" in the Recently Added Section and thought what an adorable puppy.

It's nice to have another Canadian join us. I am in London, Ontario with my two Cavaliers, but lived in Ottawa for a few years, as well as Montreal for a short while, so I know where you are located. I used to know a fellow from Sherbrooke who attended Bishop's University. That was a million years ago though.

I'm glad you finally decided to join. Many of us were "lurkers" for a while prior to joining. I know all about waiting for a puppy, as I waited 5 years to finally have Oliver. I think your son is at the perfect age to add a puppy to the house. They will be best buds, I'm sure. It looks like they are already.

You mentioned your fiance....when's the wedding?!

Sumo is a gorgeous teddy bear of a puppy, and I'm sure you are enjoying him immensely. There is tons of information available all over the Forums. It sounds like you already did a lot of research, but there is always help available if needed, as well as support for those tougher times.

We have a few members who are Behaviourists and Trainers as well. Is Sumo your very first dog or puppy?

Welcome to the Daily Puppy from Oliver & Henry, and their Mum, Deborah

[SumosMum]

My son and Sumo are already bonded in funny ways.. During the week when his dad would go wait for Keyven's bus to arrive, Sumo would wait on the balcony, we don't want to bring Sumo outside yet until he got at least his second set of shots, then when he sees Keyven he would just run from the balcony to the door and just sit there until he gets inside it's so funny! When it's time for bed I have to close Keyven's door or Sumo will never let him sleep, it's just so cute! One time Keyven was taking his bath and don't ask me how Sumo did it but jumped into his bath and they both played for at least an hour and mind you, Sumo HATES baths!

I have been with my Fiance for 10 years now and we have been engaged for 4 years, no idea when the wedding will be, as long as I have my ring, I am fine with no wedding since it can be amazingly pricey! Besides I am just 27 and he is just 26, we got plenty of time left!

Sumo is just an amazing puppy and keeps surprising me! He will be 8 weeks old tomorrow and he never had an accident in the apartment, he knew right from the start he had to use the newspaper and the old rug on our balcony, knows the sit, stay, lay down, give paw and he is awesome on re-call. He learns super fast and rarely chews! Of course we have few issues but we try our best to address them. He also met 125 people so far from all ages and we already scheduled him for puppy class, we just can't wait to bring him outside and show him the neighborhood.

Sumo is our first dog and my fiance's parents never have owned one though me on the other hand, I have been raised with 5 rottweilers and 1 rescued doberman which was just a big baby who died recently from skin cancer but she was 18 yrs old! Lemme tell you growing up and having to share my bed with 2 rottweilers and 1 doberman has my pillow was really fun and I can tell you I was never cold! We chose the Chow Chow since it was fitting our lifestyle and I absolutely wanted a dog from the Spitz family and almosy got a Shiba Inu until the breeder almost scammed me.. (That's another story!)

OMG sorry for the LONG post!

Julie

[me123]

Sumo is just beautiful. Your stories about "the boys" made me smile.

[SumosMum]

I am glad it made you smile and I just thought that I should contact the breeder who "almost" scammed me.. If she wouldn't have done it, I would probably have never met my awesome breeder and my Sumo! And talking about the two boys Sumo is sleeping in front of my son's bedroom door haha.. But I can't let the door open or else he will wake him up and Keyven has school tomorrow.

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Julie, it's lovely to hear more about you. I was teasing about the wedding date as I assumed it had been a long engagement already. We just enjoy celebrating things around here. You may often see reference to our "OH's". That stands for "Other Half" as some of us are married, and some of us are not, and term is also without gender.

I'm glad to hear that Keyven (interesting name btw) and Sumo are so close. Knowing that you grew up with large dogs, who require proper training, it sounds like Sumo ended up in a very good home indeed. Sometimes the smaller dogs are more of a handful, trust me.

I also grew up with many, many dogs, ranging from JRT's, to Goldens, to Irish Wolfhounds as well as several rescues in between. Raising a dog in an apartment has its own unique challenges, but it sounds like you have made plans for that as well.

Sumo and Keyven will be best friends for life. The story of Sumo waiting for Keyven after school is SO sweet. I'm sure he thinks of Keyven as his boy.

[SumosMum]

Also when we punish Keyven (means KEY to my heaVEN I spelled it that way since I was never suppose to have kids therefore a great surprise, he wasn't planned, we we're both at school but it was just a miracle of us so we took everything on our saving accounts we we're keeping for trips and made it work! He is probably the only kid we will be able to have) and bring him to his room for time outs, Sumo will keep whining and lay down next to his room waiting for the time out to be over, it's just so funny to watch.

We do face some challenges since we live in an apartment on the top floor and our vet really wants us to wait until he got at least his second set of shots since my neighborhood is very dog friendly and I don't know one person who doesn't own a dog and we really don't want Sumo to catch something. Though everyone is surprised to see how Sumo is so quiet even when my OH and I sometimes have to leave him alone, the longest time was 3 hours. I study mostly from home and he works full time.

Sumo also has weird behaviors, he is not interested in any type of toys at all including kongs filled with anything you can imagine, ropes, bones, rawhide, ball, squeaky toys, etc. He would just stare at us and have this look that says "If you think I'll play with this your wrong.." we also got a crate with his favorite blanket and sometimes he would sleep in it but most of the time he uses it to just put his toys that Keyven decides to play with once he is sleeping but that's pretty much it. We tried anything to make it as much fun as possible but sleeping on the Balcony or in front of my son's room is way more fun to him. We even tried to crate him in Keyven's room, that just didn't work well. Sumo didn't make any noises and would actually just watch Keyven sleep but at some point he would wake up at night and I would find two boys playing in the bed. So we decided to let him roam free in the apartment since he doesn't have any separation anxiety (We actually used a webcam once and he just ran to my son's room and sleep on his bed until we came home and go do his potty on the newspaper).

A lot of people kept telling us to get a smaller breed but neither my OH nor I are interested in any of those, they are cute but not for us, maybe because I was raised with really big dogs? The smallest breed we would have gotten was a Shiba Inu and like I stated before, since we almost got "scammed" and almost gave up entirely cause my heart was truly heart broken since we we're days away from bringing the dog home. Though my OH decided to not give up on getting a puppy and that's when we made even more research called our trainer and vet and both stated "Chow Chow is definitely the right breed for you!" and then we contacted our breeder and told her that I just wanted to meet her Chow in person and just touch them, pet them just to see if it would have been some kind of connection and that's when I just knew this was my breed. A few months later, I met Sumo and it just love at first sight for both of us, she had to refuse 3 other potential buyer since Sumo wasn't just not interested in them until I came along, Sumo just jumped right into my arms and kissed me all over the face! It gave me hope again and ironically we got Sumo at my son's birthday and that wasn't planned at all!

Oh god I am sorry for such a HUGE post again!
Julie, Sumo's Mom

PS: Another picture taken with the 2 boys together watching a movie.

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

So we decided to let him roam free in the apartment since he doesn't have any separation anxiety (We actually used a webcam once and he just ran to my son's room and sleep on his bed until we came home and go do his potty on the newspaper).

That part of your post implies that you left your six year old son, and young puppy, alone, unattended in the apartment for 3 hours, without another adult present, as you used a webcam. Clearly there is something I am not understanding.

I also noticed your post in the Housetraining 101 thread. It's always good when a new member feels comfortable to jump right in.

[lucky&babesmom]

Both your boys are adorable ! Welcome to the DP from Brenda in Illinios USA .

Deb I didn't read it that way , the way it sounded to me was the left Somos alone in the apartment and he waited for his boy on his bed. Funny how different people read it differently .

Anyways congrats on the new puppy , He is a Handsome little guy , love the dark tongue.

Welcome again from Brenda and her bunch of Mutts.

[RubyJeansMom]

Hi Julie, Sumo is just precious!!

Welcome to the DP from RJM, Ruby, Kessler and Gizzie in Michigan

(Deb, Like Brenda, I also read it as just Sumo being home alone.)

[SumosMum]

That part of your post implies that you left your six year old son, and young puppy, alone, unattended in the apartment for 3 hours, without another adult present, as you used a webcam. Clearly there is something I am not understanding.

Sorry I made you confused! I would never leave my 6 year old alone unsupervised with Sumo (Nor alone at all), I meant to say that we leave the dog alone for 3 hours max to do our errands and we watch him over the webcam using my iPhone and my OH's computer while Keyven is at school. If he is home, my OH would go do the errands and I would stay home with them. Sorry again for the misunderstanding.

I am glad you guys made that thread, it was an awesome read even though it didn't address some of my issues with Sumo but I figured I would ask one question at a time

Thanks Brenda & Ruby that's exactly what I meant! That's how sweet the 2 guys are so bonded to each other.

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Thank goodness we have some "sane" people on the DP, me perhaps not being one of them. I totally misread your post, and was delighted to be corrected! Of course that's what you did.

I am easily confused from time to time, so please don't apologize. It is lovely to hear how bonded Sumo and Keyven are to one another.

[SumosMum]

Don't worry it happens!

I just heard a sad puppy story from my vet. The girl next door didn't listen to her vet and brought her 3 month old boxer outside and now her boxer got Parvo! My vet actually called me in panic to made sure I didn't bring Sumo outside, I'm so glad I didn't but now the boxer might die because the owner just didn't listen!

I actually went to the owner to tell tell her that if she ever needs someone to talk to or need help, she could always come to me and the only thing she said is "Don't try to make me feel better, you got no idea how it feels like, you don't own a dog since I never see you with one besides I never thought it could happen to me what the odds!" and just shut her door.. This is going to make me think twice next time..

Sorry had to rant I feel like an idiot trying to help that woman!

Anyhow earlier today we had to leave Sumo alone since I had to get some groceries and we found a cute little Chow on my son's bed! The little guy was actually sleeping but the second I got my iPhone he woke up.. Damn!

[RubyJeansMom]

What a cute picture, Sumo has THE sweetest little face! ♥

Obviously your neighbor was very upset, but she could have been more gracious. Julie, you were very sweet to offer your support, even though she refused it in such a rude manner. How sad that she didn't listen to the vet's advice and decided to take her "chances", now the poor little puppy pays the price.

[SumosMum]

What is even more sad, the puppy was only a week away from getting his second shots.. Though I have no idea why the owner waited until the puppy was 3 months old?

Recently I felt bad not bringing him outside but since yesterday, I am happy I am waiting just thinking that this woman could have been me makes me really sad. Besides Sumo's appointment is only in 2 weeks.

Sumo keeps getting bigger after each passing day, one morning I'll wake up to an handsome 70lbs Chow Chow!

Also it's not official yet but Sumo might get a little sister! My mom never wanted dogs again when her brown Dobie died 3 years ago but.. When she gets to spend time with Sumo, it reminds her how it felt like and now she made research to learn more about the breed and she called my breeder to get a little cream girl. My little brother who's 17 yrs old will be so happy, he kept bugging mom! I told her what's the Chows temperament but I am not worried.. We always had dogs around! She also fostered for 20 years but had to stop a couple of years ago. Though for the first time in her life, she is going to get a puppy, that will be fun to watch! If it gets official, she'll have the puppy in January.

Before you ask, we won't breed them. Mom always preferred girls and both will be spayed and neutered when they are old enough. I will keep everyone updated on mom's decision!