Can you control a fear reaction?

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

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Mandy
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Can you control a fear reaction?

Post by Mandy »

Hi All.

Chewie has just turned a year old. He is full into the willful adolescent stage and it shows! As a pup, he had no fear of babies, children, strangers, adults, dogs etc. Lately he has begun to act different. He has been dropping he tail when the kids in the neighborhood have come over to see him and he is ready to bolt any second. I usually put him into a sit as soon as I see them coming and remind the kids to be respectful and ask them to let him smell them first. Sometimes he is fine - other times he is ready to run if I would let him.

He has also been reacting the same way to African Americans. I have a very mixed race neighborhood and as a pup he never had any problems with any race. There were two instances that may have initiated this behavior. The first was when we were on a walk late at night and we almost ran into a couple as we came around a corner. It startled him and he pulled out of my hands and ran all the way home and stood barking in the yard. The other incident was a group of kids said something very disrespectful to me (I would never repeat it!) and I marched up to them full of anger. I'm sure Chewie could sense my mood. After I calmed down, one of the kids wanted to pet him and as soon as he put out his hand for Chewie to smell, Chewie pulled away from me again and ran down the hill back to our house. I realize that it was wrong for me to go up to anyone (especially children) when I am angry with the dog in hand.

How should I handle his fear? I asked my trainer what she would do and she recommended having the children/adult hold a treat out for him until he is able to come over and take it. I have tried this a couple of times and it seems to work okay but I just to make sure that I'm doing the right thing. You all have much more experience than I do! I would hate for his fear to get worse because I didn't handle this in the correct way. I will admit that I may have made it worse already because I did discipline him (just a sharp pop on his collar and forcing him to sit despite the fear) twice before I figured out that I may be doing this wrong. I am open to any and all advice. I want to help Chewie overcome this fear! Thank you for your help!

Mandy & Chewie
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Post by Guest »

I would like to know too. As Chi-Ching is only 9weeks old, he gets terrified of some people, he will walk up to them and sniff their hand and then bolt. Or when I am holding him and someone will walk up, he will sniff someones hand and when they go to pet him he will arch his head and not let them. I want him to be able to do obedience but I am scared that he will not get passed the stand for exam. How do I get him used to other people? I have let other people hold him and walk away from me as he has already developed a strong attachment to me. I just want him to not run or get freaked out when someone wants to pet him.
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Post by Mandy »

As a puppy I always had people that wanted to pet him only pet him under the chin. Often dogs, especially chows, have a fear reaction to a hand going over their head that they can't see. Try having strangers come at him with a closed fist to smell and then scratch under his chin where he can see them. That could help a little bit. We also carried him around and handed him off to anyone that would hold them. They can't get away easily when they are being held! Chewie learned to love being held like that as a puppy if it involved scratches!
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Post by Guest »

That is what I do with Chingy, I hand him to just about anyone that wants to hold him. I always stay close but sometimes try to get out of his view so that he gets used to not needing me around ALL the time.
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Post by Judy Fox »

Can I just tip in my sixpenneth! 8)

There are others on the site with far more experience than me but from my experience with Milly and Mabel, I have found that from being very friendly chowlings, they have developed into very dignified Chow ladies and are not nearly so friendly. :)

This does not mean they are unfriendly - just aloof. They will let some people stroke them and then pull away from others. I don't know why and I don't know what to do about it. Nothing, I suppose! :?

Having said all this, I suppose we must remember and remember and remember, that they are not dogs but chows. :lol:

They have very set ideas and if I must be truthful, I don't really want them being stroked by all and sundry. When they were chowlings we used to do with them as you do and the result seems to be very well balanced and good natured chows. But that, I thing is that. :)

So, I suggest you carry on socialising the chowlings and support their decision to be stroked or not stroked. Some children can be very rough and make sharp movements that with the limitations in a chow's field of vision can perhaps frighten them.

I don't suppose this has been much help really but just carry on and trust your chows' instinct as as they get older - 'cos as I have said before on this site, you are never going to get the dogged obedience of dogs. :D


p.s. Mandy, sometimes children can be very rude and make rude or vulgar remarks. I find that I respond in two ways - I either just ignore them, don't make eye contact - that humiliates them if you treat them like they don't exist. Or, and this sometimes shocks people who know me, I give an equally rude remark back and that just takes the wind out of their sails!! 8) 8)
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Post by kingalls »

All our Chows will behave differently, I think. My Chow mix has only allowed a handful of people (that I can recall) come close enough to give her a quick pet. She will still jerk back from us if we approach her to fast. Even though she has been with over 2 years, what ever happened to her during her first 3 months with her unknown owner has left a lasting impression. So we do take care about what happens around her. She still cringes when she hears the jingling of keys. Mr. N has his own instinct about people. Most of the time he is inquisitive with people - especially kids. He will stop and watch them with great interest. On the other hand, he has reacted adversely to strangers on the street. I especially felt bad when we got near an elderly women doing some front yard gardening. My Mr. N did not like something about her or what she was doing - he barked and barked. He reacted this way with a neighbor that we don't particularly like (he was known to trap neighborhood cats and dispose of them). So it's a combination of us and our Chow that determines their response to the different situations.
Maybe Chewie has had several incidences (sp?) that has him a little spooked for now. I'm just thinking Chewie will be okay after awhile as long as you let him know what is okay.
As for those kids - I'm with Judy - I would have given it right back to them :twisted: ...but maybe I'm just at that point where I rather not put up with that sort of stuff....

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Post by Jeff&Peks »

I don't think your Chow is afraid or showing fear of anyone he is maturing and becoming a Chow, he just doesn't want to be bothered, you might be forcing him into a situation he just doesn't want to be around at that time, if you are forcing him to greet the neighbor hood kids and greet everyone with a wagging tail, that isn't going to happen with a Chow and you could make things worse by forcing him into these situations. I think once a Chow has adopted you and settled in, the only thing that matters is his home and family everyone else stay away, I'm happy and content so don't bother me.

As for your Chows reaction to certain people, I walk Pekoe all over the city she rarely pays attention to anyone but she can pick up on fear and strange behavior a mile away and react to the person when passing, not with attacking or biting but with a stare like she is saying what's your problem, why are you acting so weird and what are you up to, she will just stop and stare at certain people then continue watching them all the way down the street. Some people have a natural fear of all dogs and especially Chows, they act nervous or tense so your Chow will sense something isn't right here, plus you are walking him at night he will be a little more suspicious of people approaching, Being out at night he is in guard and protection mode.

Socializing a puppy is fine but I think you can only socialize a Chow to a point, a Chow is a Chow, you will never turn a Chow into a friendly tail wagging Golden Retriever that will run up and greet everyone that approches it.

Don't worry, your Chow is getting old enough to start teaching you proper behavior around the house and out in public so listen to your Chow and as Judy says never expect a Chow to act like a dog.
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Post by WorknChowz »

I agree with the others, you do have a Chow Chow and not a Golden Retriever afterall. :wink: :lol:

Having worked with Chows that have typical Chow Chow temperament AND have suffered abuse, I have learned quite alot about how to make thier lives more comfortable and help them be much more confident.
Here are some hints I want to share.

Food, food, and FOOD! If you carry REALLY yummy tidbits with you on a walkie, when someone stops to admire your Chow, (they always do, don't they?) ask them if they wouldn't mind helping you a teeny bit.
Have them squat down sideways from the dog, not facing them. No big eye contact, no forward reaching human "claws". Ask them to let the Chow Chow come to them without reaching out. Most Chows will go forward to investigate especially if you go forward with them and shake the persons hand. When your dog begins to move forward, tell them how gooood they are in a nice voice. Then have the stranger offer the tidbits.
This is the most important bit... After the tidbits are gone, call your dog and go backwards away from the stranger. Don't just stand there and leave your dog to wonder what comes next and imagining how scary it may be. :shock:

I use a happy tone of voice whenever I see a little fear response to anything. "Ooooo, let's go say hello!" I walk forward confidently and I do say "Hello!" even if it is a bicycle, or a garbage can! :lol:

Also, NEVER pet or speak sympathetically to your dog when they are acting fearful! It just makes them think you are happy they are responding this way.

Good luck!
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Post by Judy Fox »

Jeff. I chuckled when I read that Peks will watch people all the way down the street. :lol:
Milly and Mabel will act like that too, especially Mabel.
In the park, I am sure they think that it is actually theirs and they normally just ignore everybody and get on with their squirrel hunt etc. But sometimes, they will take a bit of a dislike to somebody and will actually sit down and watch them out of sight. 8)
Some dogs they will ignore but others they will huff and puff at and watch out of sight.
Also, they will be polite and friendly with some children and want nothing to do with others.
They certainly have their own minds and choose who and who not to talk to.
We don't have a problem with this. :)
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Post by Mandy »

Thank you all so much for all of your wonderful advice! I will try to remember that Chewie is a Chow. Up to this point he has been so "un-chowlike" that I forget all of the research we did prior to getting him. We were fully prepared for the aloof, quiet, one-family Chow but we got a super playful, fun loving, cuddly, kissy, outgoing pup. We have gotten so used to this personality that I assumed it was his"real" personality - when maybe it is still just puppy. I will make sure to respect his boundries and try the passive treat approach listed above. Thank you again for all your advice. Wish me luck... we get our second Chow in 2 weeks! Then everything will change for Chewie!

thanks again,

Mandy & Chewie
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Post by Judy Fox »

Oh that is brilliant - they do well in pairs. Are you getting a girl or a boy?

That will be fun, two!! :D
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Post by Mandy »

We are getting a 5 yr old girl. Her name is Ceyanne. She is a sweet, shy little girl but very dominant with the male dogs! Here are a couple pics of her. She liked my husband but is a little wary of me. She is more more the typical Chow personality than Chewie is. She has been living with my breeder and needed a home where she can get a lot of attention and love. I can't wait!

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Isn't she a pretty girl??

Mandy & Chewie
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Post by Judy Fox »

Gosh she is gorgeous and a beautiful red - just like that Gwrol in Tennessee! :)

I bet she will be a lovely companion for Chewie.

Keep us posted! :) :)
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Post by WorknChowz »

What a cutie! Yes, she does look like she's got a little attitude! Haha. I'll bet she struts around just knowing how beautiful she is. :D
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Post by arnis »

very beautiful chow... and she knows it. 8)
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