Lola protecting me ???

[Tan160581]

First day today I could proper walk her so me and a neighbour took her to the woods to be walked she was on a extended lead and running in the grass loving it anyway 2 people coming towards us we were on a bench sitting and she stood as if on guard now usually where I live if she sees a neighbour she run up wagging tail but at the woods she on guard and bark/growl I said Lola be nice Lola but she kept barking the people weren't interested in her and ignored her don't think animal people should I have done more to stop growling ??

[kitten1426]

Our fermale chow is like the walmart greeter..and our Male chow is the protector..he has been growling and huffing since we got him at 7 weeks old..we do tell him to be nice and he will settle down,,,but in a way i do want him to be a little protective anything is better then our female chow[Mia]...Our Airedale is very protective too..Our collie well he could careless about people ONLY if the pay extra attention to him he cares then..lol...So its up to you how you want her to be..Friendly with everyone or more protective but controlled by YOU....when you tell her enough she stops...

[Fozzbear]

There are quite a few signs from your posts that Lola thinks that she is the pack leader - chows can be naturally protective but really she should be looking to you for an indication of whether people/other dogs etc are 'OK'. Like Kitten says - you should control her reactions. I really feel that maybe you need to stop worrying about every little thing that Lola does or does not do and work on being the Alpha in your little pack.

[Judy Fox]

I agree with Fozzbear - your little Lola is thinking she is the boss! Add this post to all your other posts and it is making up a big picture.
However, it is in their nature to protect and you cannot discourage that. As she gets older she will learn what is a threat and what isn't. In the meantime, just control her and comfort her - reassure her that "....it is alright Lola, there's a good girl " and so on.
Also, you have got to ensure that she sees you as the pack leader - she is not and she must learn that.
Chow Chows are very confident - she does not think she is it - she damn well knows she is it, if you see what I mean!
So carry on being firm with her - use the NILF thingamebob others have advised on this site. That means NOTHING IN LIFE IS FREE.
Seems like you are doing ok but she is trying to run rings round you - just keep one step ahead of her.
Her being poorly hasn't helped.

[wokman]

YES.
And I agree with Fozz and Judy. Puppies are like the duck that hatched from the egg, they follow the first thing they see. You must be a good leader and guide her in the right direction. She will respect you if you show her a strong personality, no cowering to her reactions.

[Victory]

I also agree with Judy and Fozzbear, in all new environments she needs very firm leadership right now. You shouldn't have allowed her to be walking/running that far in front of you. Keeping her near you during these new excursions will allow you to be there when and guide her behavior when she meets new people. To teach her how to greet strangers you should have made her sit, stay then you could have asked the people if they would mind meeting your puppy. If they had said yes, you would have then encouraged Lola to approach for a pet or scratch, this is how socialization works. If the people had said no to your invitation, then you thank them and say come along Lola, they are busy. And you continue with your walk. And it is good for her, she MUST learn from you when people are okay and when they are not.

At her age she isn't protecting you so much as protecting herself, and she needs to learn that that is YOUR job.

[Pinoy51]

Everyone is giving you the right feedback here. Also agree with victory don't allow her to walk that much ahead of you. That is a clear sign for her to go into leadership mode and of course that will trigger the protective barking if strangers approach.
I brought Simba after our leash training and our remote village walks (no people), right into an open shopping mall environment. Few Vet visits not counted.
But he had to be on my side, very short harness. I guided him through parking lot, across the street etc.
The way to do that, is a continuous change between leash tension and no tension. Encouragement if he feels uncomfortable and rejects to go on. These training walks are for the dogs to learn not for you to enjoy, that will come later.
After like 20 minutes on showing him how to take this new environment, I let him more freedom and he did relatively well. Few barks etc., but also here relax, dogs are slow learners don't be to alarmed if there is a unwanted behavior.

Now I educate people who want to meet him how to do that, rather them telling him not to go into protection, it is his nature specially in a new environment. Simple rule "no touch, no talk, no eye contact". Usually there is no more barking, if people approach him, by approaching me first. Then I let him decide how much contact he wants. 9 out of 10 cases, he doesn't want contact . Nala is different, like someone said, the Walmart greeter type. " look how cute I am, you want to pet me? " Let's see once she grows up, but right now she enjoys being recognized.
So in summary, the people walking by did well. Now it is up to you to make her more acquainted with the environment and people passing by and how much or how less you want her to be protective.

[Judy Fox]

Victory is right about asking people if they would like to meet your puppy.
Thirteen years ago, when our first chow Milly was a baby we used to take her into the town centre, specially on market day and on a Saturday. We would be inundated with families wanting to stop and pet her. It was quite embarassing actually - we would be standing there and there would be a queue of people waiting for their turn but it did the job - Milly was a beautifully socialised chow chow when she grew up and so was her sister Mabel.
These people would sometimes be parents with children or maybe just one parent with children. At first Milly would be a little timid so I would pick her up and cuddle her and encourage them to hold their hands out to her palm up and gradually it became the norm for her to sit and lap up the adulation!
I told you - chow Chow don't think they are the bees knees - they know they are!
During that time we had one really tear-jerking experience. We were walking across the car-park after such an excursion and Milly was about 4 months old and beginning to look very much like a chow chow rather than a little live teddy bear. Walking towards us were two Chinese ladies - one young and one very old. The old lady stopped in her tracks and started to talk very quickly to her companion - then tears began to trickle down her face. The younger lady asked us if she could pet her. We said of course, the old lady then got down on her knees and cuddled Milly and kissed her and petted her and talked to her all the time in Chinese. She got beautiful little kisses in return ( which was unusual for the little "snotty totty" madame).
The younger lady then explained that her grandmother used to have a chow chow when she was younger.
So you see, a beautifully socialised chow chow can be a pleasure to other people as well as yourself.
Our postmen all love our two and loved Milly and Mabel also.
The Refuse collectors give them a biscuit when they empty the bins and our neighbours always stop and pet them. It is worth the effort to go and make a serious effort to socialise.
At the time when we had Milly and Mabel young, we used to walk up to the schools to meet our three granddaughters and naturally met dozens and dozens of children coming out of school. Many of them would ask to pet them and we showed them how to hold their hands out to them palm up and not lunge at the top of their heads and also not to approach them from behind.
As we were walking up one side of the road, children on the other side would stop and call "Hello Milly, hello Mabel" and they would be honoured by a twitch of the tails.
So carry on being the pack leader and don't let her boss you. As I have said she knows she is "The Bees Knees" - you have got to impress upon her that yours are bigger than hers so therefore you are the boss.