WONT stay still and biting. need to clean her eyes!!!

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Bucksey9
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WONT stay still and biting. need to clean her eyes!!!

Post by Bucksey9 »

Hello their! I have a 9 week old red chow chow female and I want to start training her BUT we bought her treats not realizing their only for puppies 3+months and over. does anyone recommend what treats to give her a 9 week old puppy? we need treats to give her for number of reasons because she has Entropion - an eye infection where the bottom eyelid folds inwards causing some of her fur to rub against her eyeball which causes irration so causes some watery eyes :(... So when we try to clean her eyes shes very difficult to stay still and starts biting. So we want to give her treats to train her to get used to getting her eyes cleaned and when we try to brush her she also bites the brush :(.. can anyone please help me? has anyone had the same problem? any advice of someone! :( :(
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Pinoy51
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Re: WONT stay still and biting. need to clean her eyes!!!

Post by Pinoy51 »

Cleaning eyes of a nine week old Chow isn't an easy task. So let me break down the chain of events which should make it possible.
1st you mention she is biting if she doesn't agree with being handled. Biting is a strongly negative ,absolutely unacceptable behaviour. But to make sure, a real biting is usually pre-ceeded by growling and baring teeth. It will leave teeth mark or draw blood.
If your Chow just opens his mouth to take your hand or tool to move it away, that's not biting just showing strong disagreement with the handling. Which needs to be addresses as well, but in a way different manner.
In order for you to handle a Chow in unpleasant activities, like cleaning eyes, ears or brushing in the area of the private parts, you need to be trusted and accepted as the the pack leader.
I can't go and explain now what needs to be done to establish that but there is a lot of information here and in many other places in the net.
If your Chow indeed bites you (see definition above) you clearly are not respected and trusted. So that needs to be addressed first ! Unfortunately there is no short-cut for that, except having the vet or another professional doing it for you. But in any case in order to have the perfect relationship with your Chow you need her trust and acceptance for so many other activities, you need to work on that !!!
if you're just made aware that this isn't nice and she doesn't like it, you need to work through that with her,
This is best done with a mixture of discipline and reward.
Discipline: don't allow her to stop the activity, you say when it is over.
Reward: praise her for every little thing done right (sit down, let her touch the head near the eye etc. reward with small treats in the beginning and praise. Stop giving treats the moment she get's it but keep on praising, give treats for new achievements.
Keep on workig on your acceptance and trust building outside the activity. Don't get frustrated when you don't achieve your goal (cleaning eyes) in the first attempt. Keep on trying, be gentle and stop if she gets too irritated (but you stop the activity, not her).
Make it as fun as possible before and immediately after the unpleasant part. Don't give up, cleaning ears and eyes is essential for the well being of Chows.
Success wishing Simba and Nala with daily cleaned ears and eyes. :)
Best regards
Pinoy51
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Bucksey9
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Re: WONT stay still and biting. need to clean her eyes!!!

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Thanks alot Pinoy51 for your great advice :D I think shes just play biting shes not agressive! shes just a silly billy 11 week old chow chow who likes to play :-) haha I think she play bites sometimes and get energetic because shes bored sometimes. Shes having her second vaccination tommorow, so can can walk her in a 7 days time!! I cant wait! she really needs to socialise with other dogs and see so many different surroundings. I heard when you start walking your puppy and getting her to socialise with other dogs they start to less bite you which is good. LOL! :mrgreen: I have notcied when I pick her up (and mum cleans her eye) she doesnt bite as much.. maybe because she cant go anywhere when im holding her up I dont know. but I give her a treat everytime shes a good girl when she lets us clean her eye :)

thanks for your help!! :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgeen: I really appreciate it!! :D

Many thanks!!

- Rob
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