I need some guidance on what to do with my chow

I would not move in if he cannot come. I would get him some good vet care and fix his smell and allergy/skin problems. I would get a behavoirist to help his aggression. Help him.

I don't understand people who "discard" dogs due to a move. I'd live in a leaky tent before moving somewhere my dogs couldn't go.
Why can't your fiancee move in with you? or the both of you move to some place with a yard?

IMO, you made a commitment to Boo to take care of him. To me, dogs are not discardable. I agree with sallya--get Boo to a vet to find out about the smell. Get him to a groomer to minimize the shedding. And then get a trainer/behaviorist to start working with the agression.
 
It will take work, but Boo can be trained to be an inside dog. He can be crate trained, so you can leave him inside when you are away. It's never too late to start with training a dog. Ask questions on this board, buy training books, consult professionals.
 
But please don't put your baby to sleep. Please help him be the best dog he can be.

I agree with all the posters above.  This is a problem you created by sending him outdoors to live and this is a problem that is your resposnibility to fix.

here are answers to some questions:

Why can't your fiancee move in with you? or the both of you move to some place with a yard?

the commute to his work place from my house is about 1 hour and being a 2nd year resident with at least 80 work hours/wk is out of the question for him.  I really want to find a place with a backyard but there's no cheap place around where he works and we can't afford it.

He brought him to several vets and he's on medication for his skin problems/allergy. Still, his odor is still very bad. I wash him often but it's not helping. About the shredding, I'm thinking of shaving him since I live in Texas and it's way too hot for his fur. Is this a good idea?


I do not want to "discard" him. Please don't use this word. If he doesn't matter to me I'd not come here to ask for alternatives. Also, I didn't send him outside to live. He lives inside when I'm home. I've left him inside when I wasn't home and I ended up spending 1k to fix the room. And leaving him in a kennel over 10 hrs is humane?
About his behavior, I'v tried to trained him but failed. He's still very unpredictable and agreesive to strangers. I can't afford trainer. Sorry, I'm not rich and can't afford these expenses. And please don't tell me I shouldn't adopted him to begin with if I have financial problems. I'm a dog lover and I can't NOT rescue him when he was homeless.

I'm in need of alternatives, not criticises.
Thanks.

ORIGINAL: mickeyboo

here are answers to some questions:

Why can't your fiancee move in with you? or the both of you move to some place with a yard?

the commute to his work place from my house is about 1 hour and being a 2nd year resident with at least 80 work hours/wk is out of the question for him.  I really want to find a place with a backyard but there's no cheap place around where he works and we can't afford it.

He brought him to several vets and he's on medication for his skin problems/allergy. Still, his odor is still very bad. I wash him often but it's not helping. About the shredding, I'm thinking of shaving him since I live in Texas and it's way too hot for his fur. Is this a good idea?


I do not want to "discard" him. Please don't use this word. If he doesn't matter to me I'd not come here to ask for alternatives. Also, I didn't send him outside to live. He lives inside when I'm home. I've left him inside when I wasn't home and I ended up spending 1k to fix the room. And leaving him in a kennel over 10 hrs is humane?
About his behavior, I'v tried to trained him but failed. He's still very unpredictable and agreesive to strangers. I can't afford trainer. Sorry, I'm not rich and can't afford these expenses. And please don't tell me I shouldn't adopted him to begin with if I have financial problems. I'm a dog lover and I can't NOT rescue him when he was homeless.

I'm in need of alternatives, not criticises.
Thanks.

Wow! You asked for alternatives and you were given some.

I know where you are coming from, is hard when you have a long commute.  For 1 1/2 yrs I  lived 45 miles from my job, that is 1 1/2 hr trip one way (w/Houston's traffic), but nothing in the world would have made me give up my dog.

I love dogs as well and always pick up strays, but I am realistic about my life and I know I could not afford another dog, therefore I do what is best for the dog no matter how attached I became.  I etiher find them a home and will only let go to a home where I know he will be part of the family or take to the shelter.

Please have your fiance reconsider..I know is hard, but it can be done.  And please if you pick up another homeless dog again, take it to the nearest shelter sometimes that is the best thing you can do.
 
And I know you said you did not like the word "discard", but unfortunatley that is what you would be doing. []

How is Boo with your fiance and your other dog?  Is he aggressive with them as well?

mickeyboo....
 
The most serious thing that needs fixing now is this aggression.  What type of aggression is it?  Did he bite someone and break the skin?  If he won't even tolerate friends of yours that aren't strangers, then he really needs help, fast. 
 
I know finances are an issue, but when your dog gets to this point of being "aggressive" with other people than it's imperative that you have this corrected. You may even be able to find a kind, compassionate,  trainer that will work for less money than normal or ro bono if it means not putting your dog to sleep.  Maybe finances can be worked out between you.  What does your vet say about this aggressive behavior??  How is he at the vet?  Maybe he/she can recommend  a behaviorist or trainer that is willing to work with you and your situation.
 
Kato prefers to be outside as well.  He is going bonkers today because it's raining and he can only go out to the bathroom and walk around a bit.  He has always preferred outside and has many favorite places to lay and things to do.  I think he thinks the backyard is his domain and he guards it.  He is fine in the house though, and will lay on his mattress and chew something or sleep.  If he was destructive, he'd be crated.  He is crate trained, but the door is always open and he can go in if he wants.
 
Bottom line is that I wouldn't move now with his issues.  It's creating more stress and you may lose your dog over this.  Try to fix his issues and crate train him in the rocess.  If you choose to move (which benefits you, and you want to), and you put Boo to sleep....can you live with that?  The guilt may get you and you'll regret not trying something else.  Please call your vet and get a recommendation for a trainer that will work with your finanacial situation.  Good luck!    

the commute to his work place from my house is about 1 hour and being a 2nd year resident with at least 80 work hours/wk is out of the question for him.

 
gee, he sounds like a real catch-- let's kill YOUR dog rather than make ME drive a little bit for a couple of years. Any guy even suggested that to me, he'd be out the door so fast. Don't think with your hormones here. "love chemicals" can truly mess with your brain. Make no decisions now that you may seriously regret later. Simplest solution is you stay put, and this guy visits you/you visit him. He won't be a resident for long.
 
Let's see. The dog is smelly: healthy dogs are not smelly even if not bathed for years. There's something physically wrong with your dog. Perhaps he is in pain, and this is what is making him "unpredictable and aggressive"?

thanks all for your replies.
 
Mastiff & Willowchow:
 
Boo's behavior is unpredictable. He is lovey to me and people who expose to him everyday. But with friends and strangers who he doesnt' see everyday he'd attack them...And yes, attack as biting through the skin, growling and drooling. If he's with me and there's stranger he'd try to snap and sometimes try to get loose to attack. He's like a mad dog when he doesn't like someone. I dont know how to deal with him. I've tried to socialize him with my friends but few got bitten and one got attacked pretty bad. I'm so afraid to expose him to my friends. With family members, he's very affectionate.
 
In a meantime, I'm trying to ask my fiance to reconside taking him in. I haven't move in yet because of Boo. I've been keeping my house just because of Boo. I know I can't live with myself if I end up putting him down. I was hoping anyone on this forum know any kind of rescue group that would take him???

Maybe simply swtiching his food to better food will clear up the stink. What do you feed him?
 
Sometimes switching to raw food cures aggression I've read.  Becuase the dog is SO miserable (and that he stinks, is a big clue), that when the irrirtation  stops, the aggression stops...
 
My boyfreinds alway had to move in with ME, cuase I would never give up my pets.

I don't know that a rescue will take in an unstable dog as he can't be adopted out like this.  But, I don't know that they won't.  So Google for a Chow rescue, speak with them and see what they say.  The shelters already said they won't take him, so your options are really limited. 
 
I'm hearing that you are going to move and need a place to put Boo so you can avoid euthanasia.  Is that right??  Does the apartment complex your fiance moved to allow dogs?  I don't see how his personality will fit into an apt. situation.  He will see people all the time and your neighbors will make complaints if he even looks at them funny.  You can't risk him biting someone.  He needs professional help that as his owner you should be trying to find.  

My post was intended to be helpful, not critical. You did say that "any input is greatly appreciated." It sounds like you're really stuck in a difficult situation. I know you came to the board looking for advice. But I'm not quite sure what you want us to tell you.
 
Do you want to hear that it's ok to put your dog to sleep so that you can move in with your fiance? I don't know anyone on this board who will agree with that. A dog is a big responsibility and IMO a responsibility that is for life, not for convenience. Please think hard about that decision before doing something you cannot take back.
 
Honestly, I'm still sticking with my original suggestions. Boo obviously has some sort of medical problem, because as mudpuppy pointed out, healthy dogs are not smelly. I don't know much about shaving dogs, but it sounds like that may be a good solution for the grooming problems.
 
As far as training and aggression issues, there are many resources that you can find that won't be expensive. Have you read through the training section of this forum? There are trainers and behaviorists who post here and they may be able to give you some tips. You can also buy/check out from the library many books on training aggressive dogs. Others on this board will have good suggestions if you ask. If you just do a google search for that topic, you'll probably find more info than you can read through.
 
Just know that you're not alone. Other people are dealing with issues similar to yours and you can find help. On this board, online somewhere else, or in your community. Just be willing to listen to suggestions and accept help when you find it.

I've switching food quite often. Now, he's on Nutro Max naturals. This is the food that give him less allergies. He's a big dog, I can't afford raw meat for him. He weights about 90 lbs. He is on some prodes*** something..allergy med and it seems to help, but not much.
What about the shredding? is shaving him humane? Has anyone done this ?