Is Socialization Important During Chow Chow Training?
They might be large for a lap dog but without a doubt every owner or even those who are not owners would like to cuddle and play with this tough and dense-coated Chow Chow. Their robust and somewhat dominant appearance hides a disposition most owners are looking for in a pet dog – protective of its owners and good with kids. This breed should never be aggressive or timid yet owners or possible owners ought to remember that dogs, whatever the breed is, can't figure out right behavior on their own. They need their owners to provide effective Chow Chow training and lead them in learning how to behave in desired ways.
Chow Chows, along with other dominant and robust breeds for that matter, need more intensive socialization than other less dominant breeds since socialization helps them get accustomed to sights and sounds they might encounter. If they're accustomed to such things – delivery man, the phone ringing and siren for instance, they're less likely to exhibit aggressive behavior that if not eliminated early on will develop into a habit.
Socialization ought to start during puppyhood but if you adopted a grown or adult dog, you will also have to socialize it the same way you would socialize a puppy. You need to set rules and employ them firmly to make it clear to your pet that it is not free to do whatever it pleases. Through this, you are also sending it the message that you're the leader of the pack that needs to be obeyed and respected. By establishing your role as the leader of the pack, your sturdy Chow Chow is less likely to exhibit aggressive, dominant and unruly behavior. Owners need to be confident, firm in handling the dog and consistent in order to be considered by the pet as pack leader.
One important step when socializing a puppy is to let it spend time with the mother along with other puppies in the litter because it is during this time that bite inhibition is learned. Bite inhibition is a reaction in which a puppy controls or inhibits the force of its bite so as not to hurt or cause harm to others. This time is very necessary to Chow Chow training considering that this breed is reported to be related to dog bites.
Socialization must also include introducing them to daily scenarios such as passersby, be it cars or people, delivery man, chaotic neighbors and friends coming to visit. As such, they're less likely to feel threatened and attempt to protect you from these people.
Socialization is very important to every dog and to Chows Chows, it could keep everyone safe.