Beginner Tips for Training
Moderator: chowadmin
Beginner Tips for Training
Shiloh is about 7 weeks and i've been reading some of these horror stories about chows not listening and being disobedient. Since she is a pup and i can correct things now where do i begin?
-
Judy Fox
- Rank 4
- Posts: 6320
- Joined: Wed Mar 02, 2005 9:49 am
- Location: Cheshire, On The Island.(But always wishing she was back home in Wales)
Hello there!
Now - don't believe all these horror stories about chow chows being disobedient and not hearing!!
However, you have got to understand the chow is a chow and not a dog and if you are aiming for dogged obedience and the image of you walking round with your beautiful chow chow listening to your every word and giving you the fun of fetching the ball for you etc. etc. - Forget it!!
Your chow will grow up to be a wonderful companion and you have, as you quite rightly assume, got to get on top of the situation now.
You will read on this site time and time again about socialising your chowling and this is the most important thing.
You must also teach her all the basic commands. Keep them simple.
For example, choose a word which means No and when you use it mean it. It can be "No!" or "Aah!" or "Oi!" or whatever comes naturally to you.
Also teach her to sit and perhaps give a paw for her dinner. She can do that now even though she is so young. It establishes who is the boss. She has got to learn that you are her Daddy Person and her Mum is her Mummy Person and you say she does.
Chows are very independent - as she gets older you will notice this. They also have selective hearing which is totally different from not listening. She will always listen - whether she does anything about it is another matter.
Don't assume you are ever going to walk along the street with your chow off her lead, walking nicely to heel - if she runs true to form, she will probably take off. Most chows do and cannot be trusted off the lead - there are a few on this site who can be.
Regarding growling, showing any signs of aggression and being too rough in play and using her gorgeous little teeth, discourage her - don't let her get away with it. At 7/8 weeks her grabbing your hand in her mouth and tugging might be sweet - when she is a full-grown chow lady - she might just pull your hand off - or worse, somebody elses.
Other than the points I have raised, just use common sense - you have a little chow person with you who will be intent at this stage in sorting out her life to suit her - you must be one step ahead and sort it out to suit you!
Remember that the chow is a very ancient and proud breed and they know it! Brought up with care, firmness and love they are delightful and they know that too. 
They also have a keen sense of humour and they also love to be talked to. But then, you will find, I suspect, when she is a bit older, she will go off somewhere in the house and do her own thing - you might not know where she is but you can bet your bottom dollar, she will know where you are! 
So, Derrick, you have a great deal of fun ahead and treasure every minute of her chowlinghood, turn around and she will be the magnificant creature that a fully grown lady chow is.
Now - don't believe all these horror stories about chow chows being disobedient and not hearing!!
However, you have got to understand the chow is a chow and not a dog and if you are aiming for dogged obedience and the image of you walking round with your beautiful chow chow listening to your every word and giving you the fun of fetching the ball for you etc. etc. - Forget it!!
Your chow will grow up to be a wonderful companion and you have, as you quite rightly assume, got to get on top of the situation now.
You will read on this site time and time again about socialising your chowling and this is the most important thing.
You must also teach her all the basic commands. Keep them simple.
For example, choose a word which means No and when you use it mean it. It can be "No!" or "Aah!" or "Oi!" or whatever comes naturally to you.
Also teach her to sit and perhaps give a paw for her dinner. She can do that now even though she is so young. It establishes who is the boss. She has got to learn that you are her Daddy Person and her Mum is her Mummy Person and you say she does.
Chows are very independent - as she gets older you will notice this. They also have selective hearing which is totally different from not listening. She will always listen - whether she does anything about it is another matter.
Don't assume you are ever going to walk along the street with your chow off her lead, walking nicely to heel - if she runs true to form, she will probably take off. Most chows do and cannot be trusted off the lead - there are a few on this site who can be.
Regarding growling, showing any signs of aggression and being too rough in play and using her gorgeous little teeth, discourage her - don't let her get away with it. At 7/8 weeks her grabbing your hand in her mouth and tugging might be sweet - when she is a full-grown chow lady - she might just pull your hand off - or worse, somebody elses.
Other than the points I have raised, just use common sense - you have a little chow person with you who will be intent at this stage in sorting out her life to suit her - you must be one step ahead and sort it out to suit you!
Remember that the chow is a very ancient and proud breed and they know it!
Brought up with care, firmness and love they are delightful and they know that too. They also have a keen sense of humour and they also love to be talked to. But then, you will find, I suspect, when she is a bit older, she will go off somewhere in the house and do her own thing - you might not know where she is but you can bet your bottom dollar, she will know where you are! So, Derrick, you have a great deal of fun ahead and treasure every minute of her chowlinghood, turn around and she will be the magnificant creature that a fully grown lady chow is.
(Thank you Sweetpea for my new banner.)
-
cheriekynb
- Rank 3
- Posts: 1962
- Joined: Fri Mar 23, 2007 5:01 pm
- Location: Nor Cal - LOL, or Wine Country as the natives call it.
- Contact:
HA HA HA... "not hearing".. more like SELECTIVE hearing!Judy Fox wrote:Hello there!
Now - don't believe all these horror stories about chow chows being disobedient and not hearing!!
However, you have got to understand the chow is a chow and not a dog and if you are aiming for dogged obedience and the image of you walking round with your beautiful chow chow listening to your every word and giving you the fun of fetching the ball for you etc. etc. - Forget it!!
But wait, Sid won't get a ball, but, he will bring me socks, my FAVORITE tennis, stuffed animals.. give them to me.. I'll toss them, he'll go get them and bring them back for me to toss again. The other day? We started playing "catch" with my hair scrunchie!! LOL.. Sid will actually bring me his snake and, while keeping one end in his mouth, toss the other end so I'll grab it, thennnnnnnn, he'll try to yank it out of my hand!! LOL
-
redangie24
- Rank 3
- Posts: 2386
- Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 3:36 pm
- Location: Keesler AFB, MS
- Contact:
I can tell you have not had a chow before, but what about dogs?
I would suggest you use positive reinforcement it is the best option for chows. Do not ever hit your chow.
If you have never had a dog before or never trained before find a trainer who is both experienced with chows and talks about them positively. If they start off by telling you they are aggressive or something to that effect run!!
socialize socialize socialize. This is the most important. this does not just mean with your friends and family, but with vets, groomers, strangers, other dogs, cats, any chance you get. It is most important before 12 weeks, but keep it up after that as well. If you do it allot before 12 weeks you can do it less after that and not have to worry.
Good luck any more questions ask. We love to answer.
I would suggest you use positive reinforcement it is the best option for chows. Do not ever hit your chow.
If you have never had a dog before or never trained before find a trainer who is both experienced with chows and talks about them positively. If they start off by telling you they are aggressive or something to that effect run!!
socialize socialize socialize. This is the most important. this does not just mean with your friends and family, but with vets, groomers, strangers, other dogs, cats, any chance you get. It is most important before 12 weeks, but keep it up after that as well. If you do it allot before 12 weeks you can do it less after that and not have to worry.
Good luck any more questions ask. We love to answer.
Have a Chowfastic Day!!
-
Judy Fox
- Rank 4
- Posts: 6320
- Joined: Wed Mar 02, 2005 9:49 am
- Location: Cheshire, On The Island.(But always wishing she was back home in Wales)
Redangie has mentioned what I forgot to mention - never hit your chowling.
Our Milly and Mabel are litter sisters and we brought Milly home when they were just 6 weeks old. When they were just 6 months old we heard that Mabel was in need of a forever home so we bought her and brought her home.
We were shocked at the way she cowered when we tried to put a collar on and when we tried to clip on the lead, she flattened herself onto the floor with sheer terror in her eyes. It broke our hearts!
They will be 7 in September and even now Mabel will cringe sometimes when I put her harness on or when her lead is clipped on. It took years of coaxing her and making the whole thing into a game - but somewhere, buried in the "little noodles" in her brain, she remembers something. What it is we can only take a guess at but we suspect she had been belted with a lead.
Milly on the other hand, does not care a damn and will leap about in exitement waiting for her harness and if the lead is not clipped on quickly enough, will drag it around with a mischievous look on her gorgeous little face.
So, as Redangie said - never hit your chowling.
Stern voice, special word "Aaah!" or whatever and if she is getting too rough and needs restraining - hold the scruff of her neck (i.e. behind her head) and hold her firmly until she calms down. This will only be needed whilst she is small - my bet is by the time she is grown, she will be too dignified anyway!
Our Milly and Mabel are litter sisters and we brought Milly home when they were just 6 weeks old. When they were just 6 months old we heard that Mabel was in need of a forever home so we bought her and brought her home.
We were shocked at the way she cowered when we tried to put a collar on and when we tried to clip on the lead, she flattened herself onto the floor with sheer terror in her eyes. It broke our hearts!
They will be 7 in September and even now Mabel will cringe sometimes when I put her harness on or when her lead is clipped on. It took years of coaxing her and making the whole thing into a game - but somewhere, buried in the "little noodles" in her brain, she remembers something. What it is we can only take a guess at but we suspect she had been belted with a lead.
Milly on the other hand, does not care a damn and will leap about in exitement waiting for her harness and if the lead is not clipped on quickly enough, will drag it around with a mischievous look on her gorgeous little face.
So, as Redangie said - never hit your chowling.
Stern voice, special word "Aaah!" or whatever and if she is getting too rough and needs restraining - hold the scruff of her neck (i.e. behind her head) and hold her firmly until she calms down. This will only be needed whilst she is small - my bet is by the time she is grown, she will be too dignified anyway!
(Thank you Sweetpea for my new banner.)
