DH and I adopt Chows and/or Chow mixes. Here is our bunch:
Shadow (lab/chow) - is currently being treated for oral malignant melanoma. Unfortunately, it is a situation that will eventually take her life, but until then she and I work daily to keep her quality of life at top notch.
Scully (black chow)- was chained to a tree in a backyard for 4 years and allowed to breed with any dog that got into the yard. When we adopted her she had a sparse coat, double ear infection, and stage two heartworms...but she doesn't have a mean bone in her body (although she is still aprehensive about men entering the house). She's such a loving and protective dog (but she does prominently display the Chow trait of stubornness!).
Teddy (golden retriever/chow) - His traits are 95% Golden, 5% Chow. He loves to play and is quite the jokester. But if you try to take advantage of him, his Chow side will come out!
Mulder (blue chow)- Mulder was picked up by Animal Control one day and it was suspected that he had been left to fend for himself in the "wild" for quite some time. He was very skittish, was underweight, and had nasty food agression issues when we adopted him. We worked very hard with him to make him feel safe and secure. As a result, Mulder slowly grew into the sweetest and most loyal dog ever. Mulder died very suddenly November 2007. I still miss him every day.
Bonus pic - Mulder and Teddy were best good friends. Teddy (and I) was devastated after Mulder's sudden passing. Here is a pic of my boys on a happy afternoon.
My friends think that he needs a monacle and top hat. 
