Chow Chow Puppy Snaps At My Other Dogs. How Can I Stop That?

[spirrall]

Hi guys,

I've recently got a chow chow puppy and she seems to mark her territory around my room and she won't let my other dogs inside.

Once I called one of my dogs and she glared at him for a while before snapping as he slowly made his way in (i believe he knew she was pissed). I told her off after that and she took a while to get over the incident. She then refused to go in my room if the dogs were inside and I told her to come in and said it was ok for all of them to come into my room.

Another time she snapped was when one of my dogs tried to take her food. They looked like they were fighting. Or she was trying to grab his neck with her jaws. I yelled on top of my lungs to stop and I'm not sure whether they stopped because of my angry voice or because my other dog made this whimpering noise. I got angry at her again and told her off.

Anyways, is this the best way to approach this kinda of stuff? Am I doing the right thing by telling her off? She's only been at my place for two days. Would she like kill my dogs?

I've been trying my best to socialise this dog because I've been told it's necessary of the breed. Everyday there's new people coming and petting her. I usually take my other two dogs to a fenced off leash park... Would it be a good idea for her to go too? I mean, I want to socialise her as much as possible to get her over her insecurities. Also I want her to kinda growl first before snapping? Is that possible? She kinda just gives the dogs a death stare which is enough to scare them anyways but growling is probably a more obvious sign to one of my silly dogs whose constantly testing her.

Thanks to anyone who contributes

Edited April 22, 2010 by spirrall

[Bjelkier]

How old is the Chow?

[persephone]

This is pretty full on behaviour for a puppy- how old is she?

What breed are your other dogs..and how old?

Whee did you get your chow from?

[spirrall]

Hey guys,

The chow is 16 weeks. I got her from a breeder in NZ. My other dogs are samoyeds. My sams are really playful and I have seen them get into a little bit of trouble at the doggy park when smaller dogs have snapped at them.

I did do my research on chows and I knew that they could be snappy as well but this behaviour could be prevented if they were trained earlier. My friend also has a really nicely trained chow as well and that chow is really good friends with my sams. So yeh, I suppose I was expecting to see a bit of a chow behaviour coming through but yeah, like you guys said, I was expecting it to be full on. My breeder also said she was good with other dogs, children etc and that was my main concern.

Hope this answers a bit more.

[Bjelkier]

Thats pretty intense behaviour for a baby

I would personally be getting a behaviourlist in to figure out the situation for you before it gets worse.

Someone in your area should be able to give you the name of someone good.

[Cosmolo]

Was the puppy socialised outside the breeders home before rehoming? Behaviourist asap IMO

[poodlefan]

Behaviourist asap IMO

X 2

There is no way in God's green earth I'd be taking any 16 week old pup to a dog park, let alone one displaying these behaviours.

Enrol her in obedience where she can get some controlled socialisation and seek professional help NOW.

Edited April 22, 2010 by poodlefan

[GoldenGirl85]

Behaviourist asap IMO

X3

Ouch, you want to nip this in the bud now while she is still young, if a pup is showing signs of aggression this young it wont just get better on its own, you will need to find out why its like this

Have you asked the breeder about it?

[spirrall]

Alright. Thanks for the input guys. I'll go give the behavourist thing a go.

[Jed]

The pup has been at your house for a very short time, and is, imho, making a place for herself. The behaviour does need to be checked. I don't think you need a behaviourist, you need advice from someone experienced with Chows. They are different from other breeds, and need to be treated so, and need different training.

You haven't had a chow before?

Ask the breeder what is best to do, or pm Goldchow on this forum for advice.

Check out this thread in the Chow Chow breed forum

http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=194263

Edited April 23, 2010 by Jed

[Dogsfevr]

I agree with jed,this dog has flown over from NZ,been home 2 days & it sounds like not given a chance to slowly fit into the group instead expected to just fit in.

It suddenly has 2 new adult dogs around it & no where that is its own space at present.It has had lots of visitors patting each day but when has it been given a chance to simply now its new home without every Tom,Dick & Harry visiting.

Yes the breed has special needs & its good your aware but its sounds like this dog needs some "it" time to simply get to now the new house,new dogs,new owners ,new Routine & less push.

Feeding should be done in its crate or a safe area until its got into a routine .

I think you need to take a step back & slow things done & allow this pup to settle without your current dogs also annoying it.

Any new pup brought in here is introduced slowly & steady.It may work in a day or take a few days but it isnt rushed .

Young new dogs can come with a different smell so they are bathed so our own dogs dont annoy over the odour & then given time to just slip into our routine