Readjusting Chow

Training and behavior topics, guidelines, and tips for Chow Chows.

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maiterbox
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Readjusting Chow

Post by maiterbox »

Hi there, I am Maita and I own a 1.5 year old male Chow, Sarjie. I've had him since he was 3 month old (literally love at first sight. I went to 15 other pet stores as to not be hasty but kept coming back to him!). Anyway to explain his living situation here in the Philippines, he is an outdoor dog. Because I don't work as I am a caregiver to my mom, we spend the whole day together in a fenced area (about 1/4th hectare) with running, sniffing things around and then leash training and he also has a cage where he is in for eating, sleeping, resting and sometimes we sit in it together hanging out. Although I have been very fortunate enough to be with him and try and train him everyday since he was 3 months old, I do have a few concerns:

1. We will be moving to the UK in 2013 so he will become an apartment dog - I am trying to anticipate any issues he may have like it's smaller and indoors. How do you keep your chows from chewing on furniture or more importantly, plugs? Also, currently, he just goes into the yard to do his business and now I will be working 8-7pm. I plan on taking him out in the morning and in the evening, how can I train him not to pee in the apt in the middle?

2. He is scared of other dogs - he didn't used to be but while walking him on a leash (which is more of an exception rather than a rule here in the PH) he was mauled by a pitbull not once, but twice on separate occasions.. The pitbull is unfortunately my uncle's and well he has been with the family 1 year before Sarjie. I've tried to socialise them and I thought it was going really well (no aggression from either of them) and then when Sarjie was just 5 months old Max bit him 7 bites (only one person intervened because people are really scared of pitbulls and dogs because of rabies) and I didn't know if he was going to survive but somehow after a week of not being able to use his left hind leg, he was back on track. After that, they each got given a fenced area away from each other. The second time I was actually out walking Sarjie and the pitbull got out of the house nearly ate his ear but I was able to manage the situation better and two people intervened. Anyway after the second time and after Sarjie grew to be too heavy to just pick up and move around, we go on walks in the fenced area just me and him because our other neighbour got a new dog who is quite aggressive and has bitten someone already and sometimes it's on a leash sometimes it manages to get out of it and I just don't want anymore incidents. So now, whenever he sees any other dogs he gets so fearful turned barky turned aggressive. I try and get him to sit down and calm down with treats, slowly introduce our new rottweiler/shepherd mix he just goes bananas and scares the poor girl into crying. I'm just wondering what else I can do? The thing about this pitbull is he has no aggression towards the rottweiler/shepherd mix and they get on well but Sarjie and him seem to hate each other.

3. He has bitten one person - admittedly the person was at fault. I was in the shower and Sarjie was in his home minding his own business and my aunt's brother in law went to him and started to poke his face (he has done this with the pitbull as well and got bitten before) anyway, he came to me afterwards with a bite from Sarjie. Other than that, Sarjie has never bitten anyone (I am always there to introduce people to him so that he knows they are a friend). The vet can poke and prod him all day long and Sarjie doesn't care or get aggressive (he looks a bit annoyed and bored but that is about it). Anyway, the reason I get a bit worried is that when we move to the UK next year he will most likely fly cargo which means I will not be there to accompany him. I am just worried that with him being in a crate for nearly 24 hours and then surrounded by strangers poking him around he might bite someone and then be punished. I know it sounds quite peculiar but are there any steps I can take to help avoid this?

Thanks everyone for your response ahead of time xx
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Merlin
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Re: Readjusting Chow

Post by Merlin »

Buying a dog from a pet store means you bought a puppymill dog. This means you bought a dog that was not bred for character, nor temperament, so you have your work cut out for you. Once you do relocate, or if you have time before you relocate, please consider signing up for a few levels of obedience classes for yourself and your chow. Almost all behavioural problems can be avoided or solved through obedience training, especially that he's already demonstrating dog/fear aggression at this early age.


If you'd like to understand the pet trade in the Philipines and the plight of petstore dogs
Please contact:
http://www.mefindhome.org/
NEVER Support Back Yard Breeders & Puppy Mills
Contact Your local Chow Chow Association to find your Breeder of Merit!
Better Yet ! Adopt!
maiterbox
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Re: Readjusting Chow

Post by maiterbox »

Thank you, Merlin. I had thought that buy buying him from a legitimate pet shop with PCCI papers/registered puppy that I steered clear of all this puppymill business but turns out I may be wrong :( Will definitely look into an obedience class/school for myself and Sarjie Bear.
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