we got a puppy

Well, after much searching of local shelters, my boyfriend and I brought home our new Lab/chow puppy. 12 weeks old. Sooo,, here's my question, does anyone know about lab/chow mixes?? We took her out 3 times when we got home. One after getting acquainted with her new home, one a half hour after she ate, then once before we went to bed. We set our alarm for 2 am, to check on her, well, she ended up making a BIG #2!!! WE took her outside, only went #1, went to bed. I got up at 7am and took her out...only #1. Let her eat, waited a half hour, took her out again only #1. I'm wondering why she won't go #2 when we take her outside. I literally stay out there for a while and walk her around in our back yard. Also I"m trying to get her from play biting me. I got the chew toys where I can stuff like a piece of food... she'll only play with it if it has food in it..... when she goes for it I say, " Good chew toy".

Let me know if you can help me out here with some pointers. It's greatly appreciated.

 

I can give you a few tips for the Lab side but for the Chow side I'm not really sure. I do know that Chows tend to be a more aggressive breed so I would enrol in a basic obedience class as soon as possible to start to socialize you pup around other dogs and to establish you as the leader. Learning the few basic commands will make you life with your dog much more rewarding.
As for the Lab side I would purchase a crate (kennel) and get you pup accustomed to it. There is a lot of info out there on crate training. Labs, as pups, will eat anything and everything if left unsupervised. It will also help with the house breaking as a dog will try it's best not to mess in his crate. A first do not put anything in the crate with the dog besides the chew toy as they will eat any bedding or blankets.
You should get a crate that can be partitioned off, if possible, as it should be just big enough so the dog can stand and turn around comfortably but not so big that the dog can go to one end and relieve himself. The crate becomes their "den". If you have one that is partitioned you can expand it as the dog grows.
Let us know how it's going.

 

We bought a crate, and at night we put Bella in there with a chew toy. The first night she whined, etc, then at 2am we got up and she had made a mess, #2, big piles. last night she didn't go in her crate at all. Got up at 3am to check and took her outside she went #1. This morning she went #1 inside... so we are keeping a close eye on her, anytime she squats we take her straight outside. Should we say "no" when she tries squatting in the house.


I'm also trying to stop her from biting me.. we are trying to train her to be interested in her chew toy.... always keeping one handy for when she tries to play bite, put her toy in front of her and say, "chew toy" and praise her when she chews it.

Definitely alot of work, but she is a joy to have around. I will definitely check out obedience school!!

 

To stop that biting try grabbing her muzzle firmly and in a sharp command say "NO". Keep holding her muzzle until she relaxes.
Mother dogs discipline their pups this way and it really does work.

 

re: puppy biting issue

thank you I'll give that a try!

 

Chows are stubborn and contrary. The like to get into things when they are young and will not usually tolerate anyone outside of there family unless they are well socialized to accept them. They will also usually pick one human as there special friend and not really listen to anyone else. But they are very loving to those that they accept and will demand attention when they want it.
Often times when you try to command them or get them to do things they will just flat out refuse, and act like they have better things to do.

I love my Rott/Chow mix boys, they are my dogs and no one else's. Even though they are father and son they are not alike in almost everything. Dowser likes people and excitement. Duncan likes no one except my closest friend and will stand in firm protection against anyone or thing approaching us.

Make sure you do get your pup as much socialization as you possibly can with both dog and human. Or you might have troubles in the future.

 

I would have to agree with DMikeM Chows are stubborn dogs but with the correct obedience training they can be great dogs. I have a chow/St Bernard mix that is not 11 years old and I remember when he was young and not neutered he had a really bad agression towards any dogs female or male and he also had really bad food agressions so I advise you to watch for those things. After my dog was neutered at 5 years of age, his temperment and agression problems calmed down but the obedience training helped with that a lot too. Also another thing I noticed about my chow mix is that he is a one person dog and will not listen to anyone except me, so if u put him in an obedience class I would highly suggest having everyone in the house participate with training the dog so he will know everyone in the house is boss.

 

Growing up my family had a lab/chow mix female. She was awesome with us and other people, so patient and gentle! She did have a chewing problem in the beginning though. My dad just bought some bitter apple spray and that stopped her chewing almost immediately. She growled at my brother once, but she was taught that that kind of behavior wasn't appropriate and she never did it again. She was a very loyal dog and very obedient.
Sorry, I can't help you with the potty training issue, I'm trying to figure that out myself. :wink: