FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 I get a lot of questions asked by chow owners as well as potential chow owners regarding the training and handling of a new puppy as well as some technical ones about the care of their pet.  I am posting some of the most asked ones here.  If you don’t see the information you need just contact me and I will be glad to discuss it with you.  These answers are mostly about chows, but relate to almost any dog.

HOUSEBREAKING
There are as many theories about the proper way to housebreak a new puppy as there are puppies.  This is what works for me.  First off, luckily you are choosing a chow chow puppy, which are notoriously easy to housebreak.  Most will take care of it themselves.  Like everything, there are exceptions to this rule.  If your puppy has an accident in the house (and chances are they will) pick the puppy up and take them to the area where the mess is.  Place them on the floor, but DO NOT push their nose in it.  They already know it is there, after all, they put it there.  Pick them up by the scruff of the neck until the front feet are just off the floor.  Tap them lightly under the jaw or on the nose and tell them in a firm voice NO!!!  OUTSIDE!!! and take them immediately outside and stay with them until they go.  Tone of voice is everything to a puppy.  You have to sound as if you mean it.  No nicey nice baby talk.  Sound like you are angry and in charge.  No need to yell.  All that does is scare them.  Once or twice doing this will usually do the trick.  Then the trick is to recognize their signal that they want out.  The easy ones will go to the door and whine or bark.  The harder ones will come and stare at you and it is up to you to figure out what it is they want.  A puppy has to go outside first thing in the morning and last thing at night.  Even before you pour that first cup of coffee the puppy goes out.  They will also want out right after a full meal or a long nap.  If you pay attention to what is going on with your puppy you and they will work out a schedule in short order.

PUPPY SHOTS
 If you get your puppy from a good breeder, it will have already had at least the first puppy shot as well as a kennel cough shot.  Make sure you get a copy of the shot and worming record to take to your vet so he can see just what has been done to the puppy thus far.  All puppies need a series of three puppy shots.  This is to help build their immune system.  After that they will begin with the adult shots.  Talk to your vet about what diseases are prevalent in your area.  Some of these shots are hard on a puppies system and you don’t need to vaccinate against something that is not know to occur where you live.  Also, the vets love giving shots.  This is their bread and butter.  You take your dog in and they run their hands over him or her, call it a physical exam, stick a needle in his butt and you walk out a minimum of $50 for $75 poorer.  Every vet college in the country has done studies on over vaccination and they all agree that we are harming out pets with more shots than they need.  If you need more information on this just run a search on Over Vaccination of Pets on the internet and you will get more information than I can give you.

CHOOSING A VET
 A lot can be told about a vet on your first visit to him.  Some vets don’t much care for specific breeds, including in some cases chow chows.  Some will even refuse to treat them.  With many vets these days this is completely understandable.  Too many vets don’t understand the temperament of a chow and will not take the time to learn.  It is pretty much hard wired into a chow that they don’t trust people they don’t know and will not allow a stranger to touch them.  Your vet should be willing to take the time to properly introduce himself to your chow before laying hands on him.  The best vets will let you come into the examining room with the dog.  This keeps your dog calmer and makes things easier on both them and the vet.  If you stay by the toothy end and talk to the dog they are much more apt to be relaxed and easier to handle.  If a vet will not allow me to stay with my dog I want to know the reason and will not accept that their insurance is the reason.  I will find another vet.

GROOMING
 I always encourage people to learn to groom their own dog.  Again, this is not always practical and a groomer must be used.  Like with the vet, you want a groomer who does not already hold a grudge against chows.  Many do, and refuse to groom them.  Again, they must get to know the dog first.  If you are going to use a grooming service, you want to start the process as a young puppy.  Get them used to the whole idea.  Groomers can be scary things to a puppy, what with baths and blow dryers and all.  Again, try to find one that will let you stay with the dog to keep them calm and reassure them.  If a chow is groomed from the time they are a tiny puppy they usually get to where they enjoy it (except for the bath part.  Most chows do not like getting wet except on their own terms).  All you really need are a grooming comb and undercoat rake and maybe a brush.  Most chows are fussy about their tails and feet.  Make sure you handle both these parts often as a puppy and get them used to the idea.  Makes things a lot easier when they are grown.  I don’t believe in clipping a chow.  Mother nature gave them a long coat as insulation and to protect them from the sun.  As long as they have plenty of shade and water they will do fine with their full coat. 

DISCIPLINE
 This subject covers a lot of ground and I am just going to cover the basics.  As I stated on my home page, the chow dog is very stubborn and independent.  They need discipline.  Discipline is NOT being aggressive with your dog or striking them.  In does no good and usually a lot of harm to hit a chow.  They hold a grudge and they will get even eventually.  You NEVER strike a chow in anger.  They will not tolerate it and you will most likely get bit.  One major secret to disciplining a chow is to stay calm and center their attention on you.  This is most easily done when they are on a leash, where you know you have control of them.  At most a tap on the nose or butt will center their attention on you and you can show them what you want or expect.  A lot of folks think the way to discipline their chow is to dominate them by laying them on their side or back.  Although there are certain times this will work and is what is needed, be warned that it is dangerous and if you don’t know what you are doing you may end up in a fight.  Unless you are prepared to take some punishment and are willing to see it through to the end DO NOT attempt this without someone who knows what they are doing to show you how.  If things are that bad, consult a professional.

SOCIALIZATION
 This is among the most important things you can do for your dog.  Socializing a puppy is easy.  They like everyone.  Socializing an adult chow who has no experience with it can be a real headache.  Socialization means taking your puppy everywhere you can and introducing him or her to new people and new situations as well as other animals.  This builds self confidence in your dog and gets them to knowing that they can handle anything that comes along without getting defensive.  More bites occur because an animal is scared and defensive than because they are aggressive.  To them the best defense is a good offense.  If your puppy acts scared or defensive when you introduce him to someone, don’t let them force it.  Have them back off a bit and let the puppy make the advances on their own terms.  One problem with chows is that they are cute even as adults and people want to pet them.  If your puppy has been properly socialized he or she will not only tolerate this, but will enjoy the attention.  Children must especially be watched around chows.  They move fast and are generally loud, both of which can upset the chow and bring on defensive behavior.  If you see this happening stop the child and explain the proper way to approach any dog who is a stranger.  You will be doing them a favor.

MULTIPLE DOG HOUSEHOLDS
 There is no problem with multiple dogs in one house as long as one uses common sense and understands their dogs.  One thing I never recommend is two male chows in the same house.  Chows are very territorial and this can cause a problem.  Neutering them sometimes helps, but not always.  Two females together will usually get along pretty well unless one of them has a heat cycle.  Then they may get aggressive with each other.  The best combination is a male and a female.  The female will rule the household and the male will accept her abuse as a natural part of life.  Some people can get by with two boys running together, but I don’t do so after they are about nine months old and the hormones are raging.  Why take the chance on a fight starting and someone being hurt.