Having a dog can be a wonderful addition to your family. One of the cutest and most popular dog breeds is the chow chow. This breed of dog originated from China and its Chinese name, songshi quan literally means “puffy-lion dog” in reference to the dog’s appearance. As a pet, the chow chow is an aggressive and fiercely protective breed. Proper chow chow dog training and socialization is crucial, because this breed of dog is suspicious of strangers and have the tendency to bite. Chow chows are not particularly active so they are well-suited for apartment living. They just need a bit of daily exercise.
Chow chows are particularly stubborn so the owner should do chow chow dog training as early as possible, while the dog is still a puppy. If you are going to be the one who is going to do the chow chow dog training, you should be a firm and confident master, an alpha dog. You also need sufficient time and patience in training your dog. After you have established yourself as the alpha dog, your chow chow will trust, respect and obey you.
You can start your chow chow dog training when your dog is about 2 or 3 months old. First, you must establish the dog’s daily routines and this include:
- What time will your dog eat
- Where the food bowl and water dish is located
- What time is he or she going for his daily walk
- What time will he or she be going to the bathroom
- If he or she has toys, where are they located
The daily routines should be repeated every day so the puppy will get used to it.
The first two words you can teach your dog in chow chow dog training is “No” and “Good”. These can be taught when the puppy is 2 or 3 months old. The intonation of the voice and the body language of the trainer are crucial so the dog can distinguish between the two. After the puppy has mastered No and Good, you can teach your dog “Come”, “Sit”, “Stay” and “Lie Down”.
You should begin housebreaking your dog the moment he or she arrives at your home. Set a space in your home (inside or outside) where the dog can do bathroom duties. Praise your dog if he or she goes to the bathroom properly. If accidents happen, you should bring your dog to his or her bathroom immediately and tell the dog this is your bathroom. Clean up the accidents immediately and make sure to mask the odors with a mixture of vinegar and water.
Socializing your chow chow is important so you will not have to put up with an unruly and aggressive dog. You should introduce your dog to other family members. Remember to hold your puppy from time to time and let other family members do the same. Let your dog play with you and start handling him or her in the beginning. By regularly handling your dog (opening the mouth, cleaning the eyes and ears, clipping the nails, etc.) the dog will get used to it and will not show aggression.