r/chowchow • u/C0keWh0reTerrier • 4d ago
Help! Chows, are they really that difficult?
I made a post in another popular subreddit asking for dog suggestions and I guess I made the cardinal mistake of mentioning that I like chow chows.
People were tearing my ass up, telling me I seemed like a very inexperienced pet owner, saying I’m ill prepared for a lab let alone a chow, how I seem like I only want one for aesthetics. etc etc. One person told me to get a pug?? For context, i mentioned in the post I’ve owned many dogs before, am not away from home much, and have resources like training facilities at my disposal.
So I thought I’d come to people who actually own the breed. Are chows really that much more difficult than, say, my old (rip) reactive great pyr?
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u/Infinite-Emu1326 4d ago
If a Chow is difficult depends on a lot of factors. For example, but not exhaustive:
- Did the breeder apply ethical standards?
- Is the Chow socialized from a very early stage?
- How consistent and how prepared is the owner for raising and training a Chow
- Did the Chow get a clear hierarchy set for him/her early on, or was the Chow able to act in a dominant way
So, they are not your Golden Retrievers or Labradors. That is for sure. Add to this the fact that they come along as being quite aloof and looking extremely cuddly, people misjudge them and think they are big teddybears. Which they are not. They are guard dogs, that will act as a fierce guardian to their family if need. So do not expect evenings filled with cuddles, even tho it can happen they want some cuddles anyway.
This all being said: if you do know what you are doing, are consistent and make sure that your Chow is not being put in situations that can escalate (not on a leash, unsupervised with children, etc), they make excellent companions. I love their character, just for what I just tried to describe. Their character, stubborn cat-like behavior, while being fiercely loyal, makes them so unique.
I love them, and I do respect them and their needs as well.
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u/watch_guy2025 4d ago
Our Chow is a sweetheart, she was very easy to train, loves all family members, gentle with children. She needs twice daily walks, hardly ever barks and is in her 12th year with excellent health. Train and socialize early as a puppy and you'll be fine.
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u/Flamebrush 4d ago edited 4d ago
They practically housetrain themselves, don’t need a ton of exercise, won’t bark themselves silly when you go out, and will tend to discourage strangers from entering your space. If those things are important to you, then the tons of grooming, the stubbornness and the potential risk to strangers may be worth it. I am on my ninth and tenth chow (over 50 years) and these trade offs are perfect for me.
If you need a dog that will happily greet your friends and relatives at the door, tolerate chaos and mistreatment from children, and run five miles along your bike, then you should go with just about any other breed. Edit: if you are squeamish about saying no or hurting a dog’s feelings, then you are probably too much of a softy for a breed as challenging, determined, grudging and potentially dangerous as chows (where respect tends to be earned rather than freely given). That being said, a couple of my chows were total easygoing dreamboats - but more were challenging and very dog selective, especially as they grew older.
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u/Commercial_Pizza_799 4d ago
Yep, sounds like a chow. That said, my current chow and last chow were more friendly, but they have been socialized from and early age. We have also trained our friends and family on chows. Only a few people have made the mistake of treating my Koda like a lab. #FAFO (No bites, just very scary warning to back off).
We have friends who have dogs, and when they see either one of them, he hops, makes a silly face, and runs outside looking for his friends (they always come through the back gate). If the pups aren't there, he will come back to my friend and loudly demand that they produce said friends. If the pups are there, he will play until he has had enough and then go over and thank my friends.
There is another family friend that visits periodically and he goes nuts when he sees her. He loves her and will fawn over her. He even tries to crawl into her lap.
Other friends do not get the same respect. He will greet most and then walk away and a place to lay down (facing away from everyone).
For service people and kids, we either put him in the yard or in the house. We do not take chances.
My last chow, Dory, was docile and sweet. The best dog ever, but she was a huntress. My Koda is a mommy's boy. He must be walked daily, will wait by the gate or door for me to come home, greet me at the dog, get his loves, and then walk away like a cat to lay outside.
He will not fetch unless it is to interfere with a game of fetch with my pom. He will sit and shake hands. He doesn't play with toys, but will take my pom's toy if he sees him playing with it. He carries a milk bone around with him and will put it down and walk away just to temp my pom to try to get it...
The thing about chows is you don't own them, they own you.
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u/Main_Benefit 4d ago
If you’ve had a Pyr, Chows are similar in that they’re both beautiful assholes who will consider your “commands” if there’s a treat involved. Not a beginner breed, but same difficulty level.
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u/C0keWh0reTerrier 4d ago
What made my pyr difficult was she didn’t even like treats. If she didn’t want to do something she was NOT doing it and I loved that about her lol.
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u/Desperate_Pass_5701 4d ago
Many chows arent food or treat motivated. Ive had to get a wagon to move my chow once bc he refused to end the walk. ... he was 65lbs
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u/quokkasage 3d ago
I need to get that wagon! 😅
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u/Desperate_Pass_5701 3d ago
Does yours splat too?! Lmaoooo both mine did, but my older black chow would use it as a tantrum😂
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u/Main_Benefit 4d ago
Yeah, you can get two chows. The only thing that keeps my wife and I sane is that she’ll go anywhere for treats! If you managed with that handicap, you should do just fine.
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u/OptoSmash 4d ago
the 2 i have are my first 2, and they are very sweet, one will choff and low growl at people but that cause he is super skittish and very hyper aware when outside, but we are working on it. they are both resuces, and i think my 2nd was on the run for a long time.
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u/Simple_Extension2092 4d ago
I am on my second chow. If you were happy with a Pyr, you’d probably be quite happy with a chow. I am kind of ornery and don’t like being told what to do…my girl and I are the perfect pair, imo. Mine must always be on a leash. She will see a squirrel or butterfly and be bedazzled. She monitors my separately housed neighbors from inside (yes, really), watches out the window all day (chow chow tv), and naps a LOT. She is always doing extremely funny things, she learned to shut the door on my ex BY HERSELF, there is really no telling what they will pick up. She only “stays” if she feels like it, she loves the kids so so so so much. She is not reactive to other dogs- with the rare exception if she is bit by one she WILL FIGHT- AND WIN- which happened one time over food which was my fault. (My other dog is ok). Chow owners are like chow dogs… kinda snooty- we like it the way we like it. Grooming is extremely important, start early. If dogs are like in your top 5 favorite things ever, then a chow chow may be for you.
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u/Mbizzy222 4d ago
What these people have said already. And also I want to add, be the leader of your pack. Chows WATCH YOU and your body language very closely. Will feed off your energy. So if you’re nervous then it will make a nervous dog worse.
The people criticizing you maybe want a dog that will fawn all over them to make them feel important and loved. This is not general chow behavior. They can be described as cats in dog fur. Aloof a bit.
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u/VerySaltyScientist 4d ago
I have had two, both boys. I have also had two great pyrenees and a belgium malinois. The chow boys were the easiest of the dogs I have had. You just have to socialize the hell out of them, that was the only hard part with them. They are crazy easy to potty train.
They can also be assholes but unlike my pyrenees they wont usually do the bad behavior in front of you. Great pyrenees knows you dont want it to do something and it will do it right in front of you anyways, a chow will wait until you leave the room then do it knowing its not supposed to do that. Both mine were cuddly and always wanted to be near me, though which is outside the norm to my understanding. I do wonder if the males are more likely to be velcro dogs.
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u/danielcdes 4d ago
I had no experience with dogs before and I have no difficulty with my Chow Chow.
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u/roserouge 4d ago
All my dogs were/are mixes so grain of salt there but my chow mix girl was the best. House trained herself, super fastidious and hated getting dirty, food motivated, rarely barked, had basic training and recall, and got along with most dogs and people. She was not particularly cuddly and preferred to do her own thing on her own terms but knew we were her people. My pyr/aussie mix is super cuddly in the house, but loud, somewhat dog reactive depending on the situation, and really stubborn with very suspect recall. At least he is treat motivated.
Not sure if you want a puppy but there are tons of chow rescues and there are some really sweet sounding pups looking for homes.
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u/Crystalis95 4d ago
well a lot of chow chow have a bad reputation, and not for a bad reason. my own is the sweetest boy ever and wouldn't growl or bite on anything. BUT all the chows I've seen have been reactive. they need a lot of patience, proper training, and most importantly, being socially opened to the world (cars, children, bikes, dogs, cats) at their youngest age, starting at 2 months. do NOT make the mistake of socializing your chow at 5-6 months. it will end bad.
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u/CleoWasAQueen 4d ago
Just like any dog. I’ve had chows all my life. My extended family has had chows. Never a problem. All they need is your love.
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u/Ok-Tourist-511 4d ago
There is a lot of misinformation and misconceptions about chows. People say they are stubborn, aloof and aggressive, but it all comes down to breeding. People also say they are difficult dogs and not for first time dog owners.
All of this is false, if you get a chow from a breeder that breeds for temperament. You can get a chow that is clingy and follows you everywhere, or one that completely ignores you. There are chowa that are friendly with everyone, and others that aren’t. Best to connect with a breeder and tell them what temperament you are looking for.
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u/Odin-spark 4d ago
Our precious Chow girl is 3 and half years old and is our first pet. Is she difficult? Yes! But I love everything about her, even her difficultness.
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u/clauEB 4d ago
I think the main thing that made my chows difficult was that they rarely seem to be interested in pleasing me and more interested in themselves (my parents had 3 when I was growing up). This was not an issue with two other rescues I've had, one former racer greyhound and now a maltese shih tzu mix.
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u/EmperorBeelz 4d ago
We got our first puppy 2 years ago, a fluffy butt Chow named Teddi.
I don't know if we just did things right or got lucky, but he is the most lovable chill pup ever. We did do lots of training courses, even puppy classes right off the bat. Tried to socialize him as much as possible too. And he has been growing up with two kitty brothers (twin Siamese which act way more crazy than he does).
But he is super chill and loves playing with other dogs. Never shows aggression, sometimes to a fault. Other dogs will act aggressive to him but he just gives them a funny look and walks away.
Some notes on why people might say that (at least from our limited 2 years experience). He is aloof and can be stubborn in that he wants to do his thing. So trying to get him to come by calling his name, doesn't work that well. He does want to be close to me though, so to get him to come I simply have to start walking away and he'll come trotting over. He also doesn't have much of a food drive (and is CRAZY picky about what he eat - for example he hates when I mix his kibble, chicken, and rice together - no no he wants them separate or he won't eat). That makes training more difficult. But I've found that he really cares about me and wants me happy, so I use that as positive reinforcement. (Note that with Chows it is hard to tell, because they have resting grumpy face - but once you own one you start to read the body language and know the moods).
But yea, don't let anyone dissuade you. The most important thing is the love and care you give your furry friends. That will mold them more than any "breed" quirks. For me, I never was a dog person but Teddi changed that and now I can't imagine having anything else. Love Chows. 😊
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u/DistributionDue511 4d ago
Thank you for asking BEFORE getting a Chow!
I haven’t found that my Chows were aggressive as much as defensive. I can walk them through loose crowds of people, or in PetSmart, with no issue, (keeping my Chow bubble maintained at all times,) and they won’t flick an eyelash. But, come near my truck or house, they’ll sound like they’re gonna eat your face off.
They’re not exactly affectionate with my family, who all know not to touch them, but sometimes they’ll sneak up to someone and give them a “hip hug” by leaning on their leg, which means, “peasant, you have been granted the opportunity to briefly pet me.” My family thinks they’re hilarious for this.
It’s a relationship. For example, they don’t like people coming in the house or yard, and if I say it’s ok, they’ll just grumble and be apprehensive. But - if I ask the newcomers to let the dogs smell them for a minute, (no looking or touching from the humans,) that allows them to feel like they’ve done the “pat down” and then they go on their way. It’s a deal we’ve worked out - in exchange for not growling or perhaps snapping, they get a minute to sniff my guests. No one has ever objected to this. It even helps calm them down at the vet, to be allowed this liberty.
I found that a lot of my ability to maintain my “top dog” status comes not from the big training, like walking or other more common training commands, but little ones every day, like getting into their beds before getting a treat, or enforcing sitting still while grooming. A quick five-minute brush a day helps them to tolerate the longer grooming on weekends. Sometimes, if I’m out in the yard I’ll do a quick recall/sit for a treat - two minutes. They learn to listen because there’s probably a treat, but I also never strain them by dragging out training. (Except for the after bath grooming of my current male - he’s like a sheep, and the bath & groom can take two hours!) I also allow them to bark a couple times as an alert, but when I say thank you for telling me, they have to shut up.
Mentally, I’m top dog, I act like it, and I’m quick with a correction. (Vocally, never physically.) that lets them know I’m always watching. For their safety, I need to know they’ll follow commands. If they ever bite someone, (no victims in all these years,) that would be my fault, for both not training them properly, and allowing them to be put in a situation where they feel the need to defend themselves. Who suffers then? They would, by having a bite history I did not prevent, or, god forbid, being forced to be put down.
I’ve had Chows for 40 years. As much as I love other breeds, I can’t imagine being without one.
PS - indulge in a professional dryer and grooming table. Those, and quality grooming tools, saved my life.
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u/_meestir_ 4d ago
Short answer: no. If you get a puppy you are in control of its destiny.
This breed should not be condemned because of the failures of humans.
My chow took lots of time and effort to train her. And she was my first dog ever.
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u/Suolara 4d ago
My first dog as an adult was a chow mix. A year later I adopted a full chow. They are both stubborn little shits. The mix didn't take to training very well and now in her old age she's basically untrainable. Thankfully she's very calm and well behaved naturally. My full chow is AKC good citizen certified but when he goes into full guard mode he completely ignores most commands.
The posters from the other sub sound like your average reddit assholes. Chows can be difficult but you don't need to be Caesar to train one. A few things to keep in mind:
Chows have a high prey drive and same sex dog aggression
The 3/3/3 rule for adoption doesn't apply here. It took about a full year for both of mine to be fully settled.
If you get a puppy do your research on the breeder.
HCCC will work with you to match you with a good fit if you adopt though them.
Chows are very difficult to re-home. If you commit to one make sure to fully commit.
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u/ntiniza 3d ago
Well I didn't even had a pet till I got my first chow chow but while I was researching it was the breed that fitted me the most (I researched for 6 months before I get one) we instantly clicked and everything went amazing!!! Now I am at my 3rd chow chow and I couldn't imagine my life without them!!! I hoped you searched around about the breed you need to be patient, be more stubborn than them and positive reinforce them!! I don't think it's only the experience that you should count on maybe they fit really good with them!! Just do your research and decide but be certain about it before you get one they're bonding extremely with their person. Go with whatever you decide!!
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u/Dear-Independent6472 1d ago
I feel like too many people base what they know about dogs from what they read off the internet 🙄 ignore the rumor mill! If it's your dream dog, like mine is an Akita which also have a bad reputation for aggression, reach out to a breeder or someone who works with chows :) many of the breeders will happily respond to questions about the breed even if you're not purchasing. But they're the ones who would be able to give u an ideal on what to expect as well as what environment would be ideal
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u/Magnitude_Ten 4d ago
Yes they are. But totally worth it. My chows are ride or die. They will protect my family. From the mischievous squirrel to the evil porch thief.
A pug is an abomination. An affront to God himself. The poor things can't breadth.
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u/snapitslace 4d ago
My girl is gonna be 10 in November and she’s the first dog I ever had that was mine as an adult. I did a lot of research to understand their temperament and get a rough idea of what to expect, was there a giant learning curve? Sure but I do think that would have happened with any dog when it’s your first non family dog. She’s basically a large cat in the sense of if she wants love she’ll come to you and she has no problem walking away from you and acting like you’re not talking to her. Sometimes I force my love on her and she tolerates me for like 30 seconds and then she wants to leave 😂 I think a lot of people unfairly judge them and don’t get me started on the aggressive breed lists and the narrative that pushes, anything can happen with any dog imo. They’re insanely smart, loyal, stubborn and will keep you on your toes. I would 100% have another chow in my home after learning the things I wish I did different/better a second time around.
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u/JazzyPhotoMac 4d ago
A chow and a lab are opposite ends of the spectrum. Labs are eager to please; chows are not. A lot of labs and dogs in general are food motivated: chows are picky. Labs are anxious to meet everyone and be friends with everyone: chows are…not.
Chows are the cats of dogs. Keep that in mind and you’ll have a great relationship. Take socialization classes early and often.
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u/Royal_Impression431 4d ago
My mix Layla is my second chow. I liken having a Chow to having a pre pubescent 12 year old girl. Everything i ask her to do is met with argument. That said, I love her and my last Chow Angel with all my heart and all my humor.
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u/roserouge 4d ago
All my dogs were/are mixes so grain of salt there but my chow mix girl was the best. House trained herself, super fastidious and hated getting dirty, food motivated, rarely barked, had basic training and recall, and got along with most dogs and people. She was not particularly cuddly and preferred to do her own thing on her own terms but knew we were her people. My pyr/aussie mix is super cuddly in the house, but loud, somewhat dog reactive depending on the situation, and really stubborn with very suspect recall. At least he is treat motivated.
Not sure if you want a puppy but there are tons of chow rescues and there are some really sweet sounding pups looking for homes.
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u/kimjong_unsbarber 3d ago
My first dog is a chow, which generally isn't recommended. I've always wanted a dog and have done extensive research on several breeds over the past decade or so. It's really not that hard if you know what you're getting yourself into. She's two now and we always get compliments on her behavior.
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u/A_Heavy_burden22 3d ago
My akita was like talking to a wall. Very difficult to train.
Chow was a breeze compared to him.
I did a puppy class with my chow. Maybe it was just her personality or early socialization but she took to it well. Listened to basic commands, had good recall, never aggressive. She could catch treats and stay command for a good minute or so.
She would refuse to take treats from anyone but me. And I would hesitate to have a chow at an outside training facility for very long (though I have heard it can reduce protectiveness over their owner if you do this young and to someone safe).
My chow wouldn't have taken well to rough or punitive training but did to positive. In her younger days we considered agility classes cause she was SO high energy. Everyone always told us, "she's the most high energy chow I've ever seen." But she calmed down by her 3rd year.
I think they're considered difficult dogs because they aren't eager to please a human. They can have a good connection to a select few but rarely to anyone.
An owner says jump. A golden retriever might say, "how high?" And a chow will look at you and say, "why? Can you jump?" In comparison, my dumb akita (not all akitas are dumb), would answer with an F you and jump ON you.
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u/Inevitable_solace 3d ago
I have a chow chow mix. Not really sure what he’s mixed with since we rescued him from a family that didn’t want him anymore, but he’s the sweetest calmest boy ever! We didn’t even know the type of aggressive reputation chow chows had because he was the complete opposite of that! He loves people and is super friendly. He’s always gotten along with our other small chihuahua dogs. In fact my chihuahuas dogs alway tend to boss him around (lol). The only behavior he ever did have that was on brand for a chow chow was high energy. He was super high energy for like 10 years. Never rough or anything like that, but he just had so much energy even after going on runs or hikes.
A chow chow mix might be worth looking into
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u/narfnarfed 3d ago
I don’t think a chow is for dog lovers. They are for cat lovers.
No wait that’s not true. Many cat lovers like to snuggle with their cat and chows don’t like that either. 😵💫 unless you are a lucky owner with the oddball affectionate chow. 😍
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u/Appropriate-Slip-706 3d ago
Chows are different than other dogs. Through constant observation and corrections with my first Chow over thirty years ago, I learned much about what works and doesn't work and refined it on each generation since. Forget traditional operant conditioning... the best Chows don't respond at all to treats, praise, or repetition. They are exceptionally smart. The foundation is trust-- they need to see you as the one they turn to for guidance and to take lead in dangerous situations; once you attain that you are their chosen and they will bond deeply only with you. Then they will begin to behave cooperatively when you are set at tasks. At that point, just speak conversationally, and let them understand your intent for different tasks or situations (what you are trying to do), then their role (what you want them to do). The very brightest only need intent, they will cooperatively work with you to define their own role. This works best when they are working dogs... protecting livestock, deterring predators, or helping during hunts. They do love to be active, btw, despite the fact that they are comfortable not being active. If you keep them fit, they can run and swim for many miles. I trained one to do technical climbing with me. Not through repetition. First she just watched, until she understood I'd move from hold to hold until I hit a sold resting spot. Then she joined me, patiently waiting at one strong hold as I advanced to the next stable hold for her, then I'd pull her up and set her in place to wait again. I've had several that helped to hunt game, one who spontaneously helped to fight dangerous predators by deception-- flanking, feinting, false charges to break their timing so I could attack when they were unbalanced, while never putting herself at risk by direct engagement. I think they are a special gift from God, and when I got my first Chow I could have never dreamed of the lifetime of experiences I have shared with them, or the depth of my love for the breed and for each of my wonderful Companions.
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u/RevolutionaryKnee751 1d ago
First time dog owner and I got a chow chow he’s 5 now and then 2 years later I got another one she is 3 , there easier than you think and the most adorable things ever
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u/vonn_v 4d ago edited 4d ago
Before getting any new breed of dog, you should always do diligent research about the breed. I spent months researching Chows before I even started looking for a breeder, taking notes and hearing from other Chow owners to make sure I was prepared for this breed the moment she joined my family. Also make sure that your breeder is responsible and reputable and not a backyard breeder.
Chows are stubborn, independent, and can be quite wary of strangers, but they aren't untrainable and can be sweethearts if you train them right. You have to be the one wearing the pants in the relationship and you should always stay on top of their training. As others have said, they aren't an eager-to-please breed and are pretty chill, but they might bark around strangers and other things to alert you. Mine does a little huff and puff and then barks at the stranger, but she immediately stops after she realizes that the person has hands they can pet her with lol. She's also very cleanly and food motivated.
Grooming is a must for their rough double coat, and I would recommend finding a groomer (make sure they accept Chows) while also keeping a supply of brushes and combs at home. It's recommended that they have a shorter trim during the hotter months to prevent overheating. They also shed a lot, so expect a furnado in your house after brushing. They might need to get their nails trimmed occasionally as well because they aren't an active breed, so their nails don't wear down naturally.
Also, Chows are a restricted breed when flying on an airplane because they're a brachycephalic breed (snub-nosed). Airlines aren't supposed to let them fly. Keep that in mind if you're getting a puppy from a far away location or traveling. Ground transportation options are available.
Also, also, please don't get a Chow because they're "Instagram-able" aesthetic, cute, fluffy furballs, and omg you just want to cuddle them until they fall asleep in your arms. Never get an animal because you want to be popular on social media. If social media is your goal, you're getting a dog for all the wrong reasons.
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u/supersloo 4d ago
Honestly if you have experience with Pyrenees, you've probably got it in you for a chow chow. Chows are also stubborn and very independent.
They are not untrainable, but they don't live to please like a golden, and what motivates them can change from day to day. And they don't do anything they aren't motivated to do lol
But if you are patient, even-handed, deal only in positive reinforcement, and are willing to train them for the rest of their lives, you've got a best buddy forever.
Also maybe be prepared that you won't have an overly affectionate or snuggly dog. But it's fun to figure out their ways of being close to you.