Help with biting and growling

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

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Jedi-Like
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Help with biting and growling

Post by Jedi-Like »

My family just got our male puppy obi about a week and a half ago. He's about 10 weeks old right now. He was a shy timid puppy at first...but has grown into a feisty lil gentleman. He constantly bites anything and everything. I understand he'll grow out of this phase, but his playing and rough-housing sometimes gets out of hands. At times while we are playing he will growl and bite in an energetic whirlwind of chaos. I am in search of training tips and any other suggestions that the forum may provide for a first time chow owner.

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Brisco
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Post by Brisco »

Hi,
Chows by nature are protective dogs that don't take to much encouragement to make them aggressive. When properly socialized the Chow can be very trusting and freindly though. We just came from a work picnic with about 25 strangers there and our two chows were not overly freindly, they are not supposed to be, but they wandered through the group and would allow anyone to pet them that wanted to make the effort.
Any of these same people would never make it into our backyard without us being there though. There is a big difference between a "protective dog"
and a "mean dog" you don't need one to have the other.
I would certainly not encourage much if any ruff-housing such as pushing and shoveing the dog away and slap type games around the face as it seems many people want to do this as soon as the meet a puppy. with some dogs this never leads to anything but it can lead to aggression and make it difficult later for the dog to be gentle.
Don't get me wrong, playing with your dog is very important but I have found that with the chow, it is better not to let them get to the point where they a growling at a person even if it's playing. Use a toy of some kind like tug of war or anything where the aggression is not directed toward the person.
My first Chow was a bit on the mean side and it wasn't much fun worrying all the time and not being able to take him places like I do with my two current dogs. I hope this helps a little bit, it's just my observations and hopefully some others can help also.
P,S, I've also found the best chew toys to be, the "Kong" which we put peanut butter in, and the "Nylabone" which last forever it seems and is great for there teeth and gums. GOOD LUCK
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Taz
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Post by Taz »

If he get's to harsh when playing with you, just ignore him.
Let him know that if he doesn't play nicely, you guys won't play at all.
Just get up, turn your back at him and ignore him, and when he
stops praise him.
If that doesn't help, put him in a seperate room so he can calm down.

My Chow has a little playing issue as well, he doesn't know where the line is.
So I ignore him, and it works. He is much better to play with now.
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Post by Auddymay »

Lily was a toe nipper at the time we got her- she didn't understand she was inflicting pain. Everytime we got an unpleasant nip, we'd let out a loud gasp to let her know it hurt, and if the gasp wasn't enough we followed with an 'unh uh'...spelling may be off...lol. She wanted to also grab treats, so we taught her to take it gentle by keeping the treat in our closed hand until she sat nice. She'd sniff once and immediately sit nice after she did it twice. She loves rough play, and we let her go, but we do reel her back if she starts to go over board. We have nylabones too. The dogs equivelent to an ever lasting gob stopper! Lily and Pip are always tugging on Pip's because it's all broke in (9 years old) and Lily's is unscathed.
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Post by willowchow »

Everyone also gave great advice. I just wanted to add that I have to be very careful with games where Willow is running and scooting after something. She goes to far and starts to grab my arm and growl. She's "bitten" me couple of times doing this. Now, as soon as she starts getting too wound up I stop her. I spoke with a trainer, it's called play aggression.
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Post by Jedi-Like »

thank you for all your suggestions...please please keep them coming
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Post by Guest »

I would also teach the "no bite" command. All my dogs know that when I say that, whether it is to me or to someone else that they need to stop IMMEDIATELY. Even Chingers who had some issues after we got him. He is GREAT now. He has not growled or bitten at anyone. He still growls at new people but we are working with that. Also, he starts obedience in the beginning of January. I think that would be a GREAT idea for you to look into. I pay only $45 for a 8 week course. 1 hour, once a week for 8 weeks. I train in between and I have taken 6 dogs through and just had one graduate with his CGC Certificate. Obedience class is a great way for socialization as well as teaching basic manners.

Adorable Puppy by the way!!
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willowchow
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Post by willowchow »

ChowLover-How do you start teaching "no bite"? I'd be really interested in teaching that to Willow. Thanks.
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Post by Tote »

willowchow wrote:ChowLover-How do you start teaching "no bite"? I'd be really interested in teaching that to Willow. Thanks.
Well first you have to teach them how to "bite" on command. They should already know the "NO" command. Thus "NO BITE," I've been able to get this through to my Gsd, Rotty and poodle; No luck with the chow chow mix yet. The Schutzhund people have gotten this down to a science although I would never use the average chow chow for schutzhund.

As to the original post, I would recommend you correct him every time he even mouths you. With a firm "NO" or whatever suits you, if that’s not working a quick shake of the scruff will. I think, the squealing technique is a good for the submissive breeds but for the breeds that tend to become super dominate you need to take steps towards reinforcing in their mind that you’re in control, not them. Akita, Rotts, Staffs, Chows, Gsds and any other breed that tends to dominate you have to be careful with.
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Post by chow0 »

willowchow

you can't train a chow like any other dog!

treat him like your friend, buddy, pal and you;ll get way better results.

no bite? errrrrrrrrrrr, that'll never happen!
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Post by Guest »

hmm, I actually just would put my finger in chingys mouth, not hard or anything, and tell him no bite. I have also pressed gently on his tongue if he gets real bad, I NEVER put hardly any pressure at all, just enough that it makes them stop and I always say "no bite" at the same time. He usually will then start to lick, and he gets TONS of praise for licking a hand. It took about a day and he has not bitten ANYONE, even in play. There has been a few times where I will have to remind him.
I have had MANY dogs and trained them ALL with this technique and it really does work. Chows can be trained the same thing as any other dog, you might have to vary the way you teach it but it can be done. They are still dogs and NONE of my dogs, including Chingers will bite anymore, not even in play. They also do not act shy or afraid to play, it is a very gentle but very effective training technique.

Anyway, you can take it or leave it. But it worked with my puppy and many dogs past, including Koda(golden retriever/chow mix), and he was a year old when we got him. He had no training and no manners! lol

I love my dogs as much as any one on here, but I think that they need to know that they are dogs......they can be your best friends, your pals, whatever, but they are NOT your equals. I think that you are asking for trouble by putting that much pressure on a pack structure. Yes, chows are dogs and in that, even if by a little, they do have a pack structure. (Just My Opinion......as always)

I haven't ever taught my dogs to bite first. lol I have taught them to bark on command to help teach them no bark.

Good Luck with your puppy! I think he is ADORABLE!!
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Post by loverman »

The book "Good Owners, Great Dogs" has given me some ideas to respectfully, and lovingly establish that I am alpha. It has also opened my eyes to behaviors that might seem cute or harmless, but are a dog's way of testing boundaries to try to move up on the pack order. It sounds like it is very important to be one step ahead of your Chowling as it is easier to reinforce good behavior than stop bad habits. It is also important for your Chow's adult years that he have good manners (obedience) so he doesn't get in trouble with human society. It makes me think about raising a child as I write this!
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