My family and I are thinking about adopting a chow mix. Would it be okay around a toddler?

Question

We currently have a purebreed lab. Would the chow get along with it? The chow is a male (which we will get neutered) and is about four months old. The dog is a mix of chow,german shepard, collie and not sure of the rest.

Answer 1

The chow will be fine around the tottler if you train him right. Id be more concerned with the lab ( a usually high strung breed) and the chow getting along.
Only thing you should worry about if you train ur chow correctly is that is is so big, it may knock the child over with its tail inadvertently. Also, teach the child to not touch the dog's food while eating... even IF you train this out of the chow, the instinct can never be fully trained out... I have heard of most dog bites coming this way!

Answer 2

I'd be careful Chow have a rep for being aggressive, and German Shepherds tend to be territorial. With puppy personally I'd be okay with it. Knowing there would be a lot of discipline and obedience training in the dog's future. With a good owner and upbringing the dog would be happy, healthy, and understand is place in the home. It depends on the level of commitment you are willing to put into raising this dog, and if the you can keep the dog separate from your child when you aren't around. (That said I'd want to get a Lab any way as I grew with Labs for the most part.)

That said I'm not sure I'd bring a new dog into the house until my child was older. I suspect that while your lab tolerates your toddler pretty well. He is also an older dog. A younger dog of any breed might react poorly to the "playing" of a small child. With a "used" adult dog of that background you describe I would never put it any where near a child.

As far as the Lab there is a good chance the Lab would end out on the losing end of pecking order. The Lab would do better with a more mellow breed, or smaller dog.

Answer 3

Chows can be "tempermental". By that I mean, they have a reputation for being unpredictable and energetic. I am the owner of TWO chow mixes: one is part chow, part cocker spaniel and the other is part chow, part german shepard.

Both of them are unpredictable -- they will snap if you push them too hard (this is becuase they are extremely stubborn as well). If they don't want to do something, it is very difficult to control them. After time, they do calm down and get used to your authority,but it will be an effort. The only time they've been around a small child, the cocker couldn't understand what this "little person" was and kept sniffing at him, wouldn't leave him alone (ok, the cocker is probably a bit retarded anyway) and the shepard behaved similarly but wanting to play with him. I think that with some time, understanding, and patience on your part you could adjust the dog to behaving properly.

There will be some fighting when you introduce him, as with any breed. Mine get along fine together and have actually become quite good buds.

Most importantly to consider when choosing this dog is that you will need to invest some time in him. He won't be as easy to train as a more biddable (or smart) dog like a lab or a golden retriever. BUT I love both of my dogs, they are wonderful, loving, and extremely loyal animals.

Short answer: Yes, as long as you have some time to dedicate to training him.

Answer 4

I have had many chows. They can be very tempermental but yet they can be the most loving and loyal pets. I do not recommend a older chow around small children, but a pup to be raised with children would be fine. My chows always got along with other dogs. They would get a little aggressive over food bowls, but if seperated they are fine. Being 4 months old it should do really well, they are great protectors and very smart.

You are going to get alot of contiversial answers about chows. I have never had one hurt my children being raised up with my children. The chow subject is like the pitbull subject, but if you are a responsible pet owner, do not abuse the chow to make it mean do not tease the dog and teach it right from wrong it will be fine. Usually these dogs like pitbulls are mistreated to make them mean and get the wrong reputation. Just because one dog is bad doesn't make them all bad and people do not understand this. See how the pup does with your other dog and your child and go from there.

Answer 5

Usually breeds of Chows dont make good pets for those with small children. However, if you introduce the toddler and dog prior to the adoption and make sure there are safety procautions used in this introduction and plenty of people around, and they get along then it should be okay. Also, when you introduce them, if they get along fine while holding into the dog and child, slowly but cautiously let them go to each other one at a time without anyone holding them and see what happens but do it very very carefully. This is because, dogs usually dont feel threatend when theyre being restrained or the child is being restrained. Overall, you may not have a bad chance considering what the chow is bred with, but it can still make a bad match so be careful in your choosing, and introduce the dogs in the same way as you do with the child and the chow. Labs usually get along with different breeds of dogs and the chow still being a puppy it will want to play, but as it gets older and grows around the lab it will be perfectly fine and chows usually dont have problems being around other animals, its usually just people to worry about.

Answer 6

I would be very careful. Chow personalities are very strong, so are those of a german shepherd. The pup is young enough, that you could make it work, but I strongly suggest that you take this dog to obedience classes. Chows tend to want to be the boss, and you will immediatly have to set yourself up as the pack leader and the ruler of the roost. The pup will automatically learn behaviors from your lab, both good and bad. I would see if you, your child and your lab can spend some time with the pup before you make your final decision. I know it probably looks like a big fluff ball right now, all cute and fuzzy, but you need to take your time and make an informed decision

Answer 7

Lemme' just give you a lil' tip...

I had a chow and /pitbull/ mix, and he was the best dog you could ask for! He was literally my best friend in the whole world. He never bit me... ever. Never even snapped at me. I, personally, think that it all depends on how the animal is treated. Any dog can be a great dog as long as they're treated properly. The only exception is the sort of dogs whose bloodlines aren't good. Where the ancestors have been bred with bad social skills, health problems, etc. But other than that, it should be a great dog as long as you teach it the right way... =)

Answer 8

Every dog is different, and the fact this dog has Chow Chow in his genes, shouldn't be held against him. I've known Chow Chows that were sweet as could be, didn't have an aggressive bone in their body.
If you met this dog, and are able to introduce your dog to him, in a neutral enviroment (maybe at the shelter you are adopting from), along with your child, you can be the judge, along with the shelter workers, and just go by the dog's body language.
Make sure to ask if the dog shows aggression around the food bowl, chew toys and bones. Also if he shows aggression towards ''rough'' petting.

Answer 9

From what I have heard about Chow's is that they are NOT good around children. I just adopted a Rottweiler and while I was looking around at the animal shelters, I was amazed at all the Chow/mixes that were in there. The staff actually commented on how they aren't the most tolerable breeds. So good luck with that....

Answer 10

We had chows - pure bred though - growing up, from the time I was two years old, never bitten once. I loved that dog, he was my best buddy growing up and he was awesome. It was like having a living teddy-bear in the house all the time.

With that said, they're an extremely protective breed and will bond very much to the family, usually one member more than the rest. It's also a dominant breed, if you're not used to German Shepards, Rotties, etc. I wouldn't suggest it, simply because you have to be very clear about heirarchy. It's not the same personality as a lab. It would need TONS of socializing, not just with your dog, but as much access to other dogs and people you can find throughout his/her life. Also, they're not necessarily the brightest of dogs, cute but kind of dumb.

Re: calling them fear biters? They're not generally, but they don't growl a whole lot before they do.

Re: the lady that has the pit-bulls. She's right, the same training applies to any dominant breed. Clear boundaries, obedience training, consistency, consistency, consistency... did I meantion consistency.

Generally, I've heard them referred to as fuzzy pit-bulls.