Bright-eyed, fluffy, and cute. What’s not to love about your chow chow puppy? Originally bred as a hunting and working dog, it’s hard to imagine that these fluffy canine giants have the skill and the capacity to pull huge loads at a given time. You may not ask your chow chow to do the job of his or her ancestors, but you do need to train your new pet so that you two will have a harmonious relationship. This article lists down the things that you need to know about your chow chow puppy.
Temperament
A chow chow is dignified and reserved, even when he or she is with his or her owners and especially when around strangers. These dogs can become aggressive if there’s too much attention focus on them, so a chow chow puppy may not be the best choice for households that have small children. Chow chows, however, usually have a good relationship with other household pets. They are also quite protective of their families.
Diet
Your chow chow puppy should be fed three times a day until he or she is 6 months old. His or her food should contain at least 21% protein. Talk with the vet to get recommendations on what kinds of food to give to your puppy.
Exercise
You are more likely to find your chow chow puppy napping instead of exercising, but dogs belonging to this breed nonetheless need to be brought outside for some activity. It’s better to take the chow chow out for a walk early morning or at night, when the sun isn’t too high, as chow chows don’t do well in hot weather.
Grooming
Bathing your chow chow puppy isn’t really recommended. In fact, some experts suggest that you only bathe your dog three times a year, excepting special occasions. This is because excessive bathing can strip off the oils in their fur, making it more prone to damage, and it can also make your puppy’s skin dry.
While bathing isn’t really advised, grooming is strongly recommended, given the chow chow’s thick coat. Most owners use a steel-toothed comb with evenly-spaced teeth (with teeth 1/8 inch apart) to groom chow chows. Should there be any tangles in their coat, gently brush these straight. Be careful in grooming the chest and belly, as the fur here is softer and the skin more sensitive.
Clean the ears and eyes using a damp cloth. Trimming the nails regularly is also advised in order to keep your chow chow puppy well-groomed at all times.
Training
While smart, chow chows are quite willful and stubborn, so you’ll need to exercise a lot of patience when training your chow chow puppy. Socialization should be started as early as possible to make your pet used to strangers and unfamiliar dogs and situations.
Vaccinations
A chow chow puppy should be vaccinated starting at nine weeks. Coordinate with your vet on what schedule to follow when it comes to vaccinations, including worming. Some experts suggest that puppies should be wormed until they’re 6 months old, and twice a year after that.
As clich as it may sound, a dog is a very big responsibility. While a chow chow puppy may not be a high-maintenance pet, you still need to take certain steps to make sure that your new pet is safe and healthy.
Chow Chow Training…
