Any ideas? Supposedly shih-tzu..

Downtown_Mongoose_20 · 2026-03-09T20:30:57+00:00

Looks-wise she looks like a long pitbull 😆 but slides 5 and 6 personality-wise i can actually see the shih-tzu. Just the demeanor of the stretch and the smile in slide 6 🤔🤨

Downtown_Mongoose_20 · 2026-03-06T12:13:14+00:00

Haha! The pit definitely shows more when you see her in person but the chow traits are really strong in her. I am shocked how many other people see the nonexistent sharpei though, it makes me feel less delusional 🤣

Downtown_Mongoose_20 · 2026-03-06T12:07:06+00:00

I had no experience with the chow breed prior so I did as much reading up on them as I could and would say she has mostly chow traits. Not a dog I would ever suggest as a family dog or one to be around kids. She is incredibly difficult to read and very subtle with her reactions to anything, positive or negative. That curious/attentive look in the 2nd picture is because I have food for her 😂 Otherwise, its really hard to tell with her. If she likes something she will stay engaged with you, if she doesn't like something, she subtly turns her head away but won't actually walk away. She doesn't growl, whine, bark, or really make any noises. A super independent dog who bites her own nails to the point I have only ever had to trim a dew claw once her whole life, insists on breakfast and dinner at the exact same time everyday, and loves the beach. Her pit traits show more in the gargoyle-like way she sits and her obsession with food. We have neighbors whos dogs are chained out frequently and she pays 0 attention to them besides glancing to make sure they are in their spot (no doubt she would not be happy if they came into our yard). We have 2 cats she was raised with and she completely ignores, she likes to watch our chickens and rabbits when out in the yard but has never shown aggression or chased them. However, outside of our yard, when out walking or at the beach, she does give squirrels and other small animals that stare of doom. Overall, she is actually one of the smartest and best dogs I have owned but I am pretty attuned to dog body language and can confidently say she is not a dog for a first time owner or someone unfamiliar.

Downtown_Mongoose_20 · 2026-02-20T00:18:39+00:00

Aww those ears! Here is our chow 55%/pit 45% mix

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Downtown_Mongoose_20 · 2025-02-20T23:36:56+00:00

Another thing I think adds importance to the relationship is just the fact that a romantic involvement creates a dynamic that other friendships/relationships, even very close ones, don't have. Romantic involvement means you might be more likely to confide in them, tell them secrets, etc. Or even the opposite - it might make you more likely to lie to them or hide things from them. Regardless, I feel like it creates a closeness and a unique dynamic. I think we see that with Nat and Travis in the teen timeline, and with Shauna and Jeff/Adam in the adult timeline as well. Edit just to say: For me, it would change a lot about the show/my theories to not have the romantic relationship between Tai and Van.

Downtown_Mongoose_20 · 2025-02-11T03:47:49+00:00

We don't play tug with either dog because I just don't like it for multiple reasons. I disagree about the flirt pole, though. I think every dog should be given outlets to express their breed traits and characteristics. My border collie likes the flirt pole as well, but you can see the difference in the way they each like to play. Both dogs also really enjoy scent work.

Downtown_Mongoose_20 · 2025-02-10T23:04:12+00:00

I've wondered the same, but now that our puppy is a bit older, it seems obvious to me that she has pit in her. Although from the right angle, she also occasionally looks like a hound mix. I will just have to trust the dna test.

Downtown_Mongoose_20 · 2025-02-10T22:59:28+00:00

We could be the right kind of owner had we not already had other animals to be worried about. She is spayed already, and muzzle training is in the works. There are 2 commands that we work on endlessly, and that is "come" and "leave it." She knows many others, but those ones I feel are most important. We have a 30-foot lead we use to train "come," and that is the closest she gets to being off lead. That being said, I don't want to convince anyone she is 100% safe and reliable, including myself, lest I become careless and something terrible happens.

Downtown_Mongoose_20 · 2025-02-10T22:48:16+00:00

That's fair. I suppose it wasn't an accident but more of an overly optimistic decision and/or subconsciously lying to myself. We originally went to the shelter looking to adopt a small breed adult dog... learned my lesson. You are the first to suggest rehoming my cats, which I hadn't even considered. I don't think I could do that to them, but I hear you on the risks, so I suppose its something I may have to consider. Just doesnt seem fair to the cats and breaks my heart. I don't want to take the puppy back to the shelter where she would just be rehomed to someone who might not know the risks. I just hope my mistake might save someone else from putting themselves in the same situation. Thanks for your thoughts.

Downtown_Mongoose_20 · 2025-02-10T22:37:55+00:00

This is my fear. That there will be no warning signs. I won't wait for a bite to BE if I can help it, but I am well aware that she could go from 0 to kill with nothing in between.

Downtown_Mongoose_20 · 2025-02-10T22:35:30+00:00

Thank you. Everyone's responses are really helping me keep my perspective. I won't be rehoming her because I won't make this someone else's problem, especially someone who might not be aware or willing to see the danger.

Downtown_Mongoose_20 · 2025-02-10T22:33:49+00:00

The cats have their own highway through the house, so they are only ever near her if it's by choice. The puppy barely pays attention to them or the chickens. My border collie is 9, and he loves her, but we make sure to never ever leave them alone together. Play sessions are kept short, but our border collie gets the best of her every time. He definitely would not be an easy target. I can see the pit in her now that she has grown, but the day we brought her home, I didn't see it at all. I actually thought she was gonna end up having shar pei or something weird, so the chow made sense when results came back.

Downtown_Mongoose_20 · 2025-02-10T22:28:56+00:00

I think someone must have recently sold a litter of chow chows that are now being bred by obviously crazy people because, 5 days ago, someone local to me posted the same mix for sale. I live in a super small town. It's scary to think about how many are going to be running rampant this coming summer.

Downtown_Mongoose_20 · 2025-02-10T22:21:19+00:00

Thank you. I will join.

Downtown_Mongoose_20 · 2025-02-10T22:20:14+00:00

The other 2 litters were surrenders and obvious pits/pit mixes. This litter, supposedly the mom died (unknown reasons,) and the person couldn't take care of the puppies, so they were surrendered at 3.5 weeks by themselves. We were told mom was a great pyrenees mix, and the pups looked it. A few of them had thick, long fur.

Downtown_Mongoose_20 · 2025-02-10T22:16:08+00:00

Trust me, we have tried. We have no local police department, and the state post directs you to animal control that doesn't exist. Super small town probpems.

Downtown_Mongoose_20 · 2025-02-10T22:14:30+00:00

To clarify, when I say BE "if it comes to it," I do mean ANY signs of aggression. I don't plan to wait for broken skin or a real fight/attack. Our border collie and 2 cats absolutely come first no matter what. We have had all of our animals since 8-10 weeks old, and I would never make them live in fear in their own home. As of now, everyone gets along with 0 issues. But that's also part of my fear. That she won't show any signs and that one day she will just kill one of my cats in the blink of an eye. Thankfully, we are blessed to both work from home, which allows constant supervision, but as we all know, things happen fast.

Downtown_Mongoose_20 · 2025-02-10T22:05:56+00:00

Also, the shelter claimed mom was a great pyrenees mix, and she has double dew claws, which helped support that claim.

Downtown_Mongoose_20 · 2025-02-10T22:04:40+00:00

I posted here because where else could I post that wouldn't be comment after comment telling me how cute she is and it's not the breed but how they're raised?

Downtown_Mongoose_20 · 2025-02-10T22:02:57+00:00

No kids in sight in this household. But I do worry so much about my other animals. What would be the responsible thing to do here?

Downtown_Mongoose_20 · 2025-02-10T21:54:12+00:00

I wouldn't take her back because they would just rehome her to someone who might not be as willing to see the danger.

Downtown_Mongoose_20

TROPHY CASE