TRAINING & HOUSEBREAKING YOUR PUPPY
You brought your new family member home, now what?
* 8 to 12 weeks (about the time you'll get your pup), can be a very fearful time for them. They must be handled very gently, especially around children. They are well socialized when they leave us and are used to some noise but while they're acclimating to their new home a calm environment is key.
* When your pup has settled in a bit and starts getting into things, remember no harsh discipline! Its important to train your Chow with a firm but kind hand. They need to know you’re the boss, but never raise your hand to them in anger.. they will never forget it. They respond best to positive reinforcement.
* Do lots of recalls with them so they learn to come when they are called and always praise when they return even if they didn't listen in the first place. This can sometimes be hard to do when you're mad that they ran off to begin with but its all about the little steps!
* To keep food aggression at bay, its important to train your pup to get used to people being around while he or she is eating. You can do this simply by putting down the food bowl at feeding time, then after a minute or so remove it. Interact with the pup and then give the food back. Put your hands in the bowl and pet the dog as they continue to eat. This is the time to teach them that there is no reason to be protective over their food. If this becomes a problem down the road, it is MUCH HARDER to correct and in severe cases you can even risk a bite. This is crucial training for any breed of dog, especially when there are children in the home.
* When it comes to potty training, Chows usually housebreak very easily, but remember no scolding the first few weeks! Just encourage them to do their business outside and praise them lots. They are very quick to catch on! If you are having a lot of trouble with housebreaking, remember to have them checked for a Urinary Tract Infection (whether they are male or female). As we mentioned, they can develop this from sitting in a soiled crate too long (especially if they have a long travel schedule) or if you keep them in a crate at night and they have soiled in there. Sometimes their urinary tract may not be quite mature and makes them susceptible to infection.
* SUPER IMPORTANT!
This goes for any breed of dog and Chows are especially sensitive to this, due to their lack of peripheral vision. They need a "comfort space” around them and this is something you should teach EVERYONE! ESPECIALLY CHILDREN! Get them to draw a big imaginary circle around the dog or pup (about 5 feet out) then sit outside the circle and call the pup over. When the pup is comfortable with them, he will come.
DO NOT LET ANYONE, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN approach too quickly and invade the dogs comfort zone.
They are still animals and we must respect their space. We as people wouldn't like someone coming up quickly and grabbing us or getting right in our faces either!
* We strongly recommend reading “Cesar's Way” by Cesar Millan (The Dog Whisperer) as well as "Short Guide to a Happy Dog". He has lots of good advice on tips and training methods. Another good read is
“A New Owners Guide to Chow Chows” by Richard G. Beauchamp.
You can find these on Amazon by clicking here:
Cesar's Way
Short Guide to a Happy Dog
New Owners Guide to Chow Chows
