Chow guidance

[hjh]

Good evening

After 20 years of loving smaller dogs, I adopted a rescued 9-year old Chow mix this spring.  He'd been in the no-kill shelter for 3 years.

His behavior is different from what I'm used to and I'm trying to figure out how much is his normal temperament, and how much might be breed specific.

When we first met, he ignored me (the shelter staff told me that this was usual for him).  He frequently does that in public with strangers today, although if the stranger makes a move too close to him, he growls and barks. 

He frequently looks away from me, rather than at me.  He doesn't appear angry or tense or bored or whatever.  He just looks away.  He even does that when I'm rubbing his belly, or his ears or rubbing his shoulders (which he loves).  I never had a dog do this before. 

He listens most of the time (unless engrossed in a particularly fascinating smell).  He sits and stays and does down and stay ... although his down is intermittant.  He's not aggressive with other dogs.  He's interested in smelling them,  but mostly doesn't seem to know what to do with them.  He doesn't play, doesn't like toys or balls.  If I throw things, he watches them roll down the hill. 

You understand, I don't have a problem with any of that, I just want to understand who he is, and help him to be as comfortable and feel as safe as possible. 

Anybody out there have Chow experience that can tell me if this is Chow related or Cody related?

Thanks
hjh