My Chow Chows and French Bulldogs
I am always so happy to share updates on my pets - my dogs, cats, canaries, horses, donkeys, pony, chickens, geese, pigeons, and the peafowl. They bring such joy to me and everyone here at my Bedford, New York farm.
I currently have four dogs. I have two Chow Chows, Empress Qin and Emperor Han. And I have two French Bulldogs, Creme Brûlée and Bete Noire. My dogs love all the extra time I spend at home. They love being in the kitchen with me, especially when I'm cooking and baking - they're always ready for whatever "falls their way." They love joining me on tours of the farm when I visit the other animals and check on all the gardens. And they love to stop and play in the soft grass of the enclosed pool area.
Here are some of the latest photos, enjoy.
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- Creme Brulee and Bete Noire are my two French Bulldogs. Here they are in the courtyard behind my kitchen. This breed is known for its wrinkly, smushed face and bat-like ears.
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- Empress Qin and Emperor Han are my two Chow Chows. They are half siblings and both grand-dogs of my late Champion G.K. The Chow Chow is an ancient breed of northern Chinese origin. As an all-purpose dog of China, it was used for hunting, herding, pulling, and protection.
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- One of the dogs’ favorite play areas is the lawn surrounding the pool. Because this area is completely fenced, I often take them here to run and play…
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- And roll…
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- And roll… Creme Brulee loves to roll. One reason dogs roll may be to rub their scent off on an area, marking it as theirs. Dogs may also be trying to scratch an itch when they roll in grass. And others just like how it feels.
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- Here is Bete Noire walking over to check out the action. Bete Noire is called a brindle French Bulldog. Brindling mixes black hairs with brown or fawn. Brindle-colored dogs look a bit like canine tigers.
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- My big boy, Emperor Han, is the youngest of the four – he’s two years old, born Easter Sunday, 2018.
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- It is so important to provide dogs with ample exercise to keep them physically and mentally fit. I make sure my dogs get good long walks, and lots of time to play with each other outdoors.
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- He and Qin (pronounced chin) also enjoy wrestling with each other. This is all safe dog play behavior.
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- Chows should be sturdy and squarely built. Its body should be compact, and heavy boned. Empress Qin is already a Champion show dog – she is a beautiful Chow. I know Han will also do very well in the show ring.
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- The French Bulldog is a small, active, and muscular dog with heavy bone and smooth coat.
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- These two will try to catch anything in the air. Have you seen the videos of them on my Instagram page @MarthaStewart48?
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- Here’s Bete Noire in action – she is extremely agile. And don’t worry, everything is held at a safe height.
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- And she is always ready for a belly rub after she is done jumping.
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- Here she is taking a little rest before running around again. Frenchies, as they are affectionately called, are very playful. In fact, they have been referred to as “clown dogs” for their fun-loving and vivacious personalities. They also have calm, gentle natures.
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- My dogs are all accustomed to the the many sounds on a working farm, but like all dogs, have a very sharp sense of hearing – I wonder what caught their attention.
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- Han loves to rest on the stone pavers. Chows have dense coats, so the stone feels cool. Chows can weigh anywhere from 45 to 60 pounds. Their coats can be rough or smooth and come in red, black, blue, cinnamon, or cream. Both Qin and Han are red rough-coated Chow Chows. What is most unique and distinctive of a true Chow Chow is its blue-black tongue. The Chow should have a large head with a broad, flat skull, a short, deep muzzle, and very expressive eyes.
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- Qin chose the grass for a rest – also soft and cool. The Chow has a lovely thick mane, with small rounded ears, giving it the appearance of a lion.
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- Are you getting tired, Bete Noire and Creme Brulee? The bright, affectionate Frenchie is a very charming breed. They don’t bark much, but their alertness makes them excellent watchdogs and great companions.
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- Once inside, all the dogs are brushed, their paws are washed, and their coats are inspected for ticks. And then all the dogs rest in the kitchen – until it’s time to “patrol” the farm again.
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