Are Chows known to be mean?

Question

I have always wanted a chow becuase I had one when I was younger, it's like a living teddy bear (lol). I have a son and I just seen this court show where a chow attacked this transgendered person and bit his nose off. Is this normal.

Answer 1

Chow chows are not usually firendly with strangers, but are very loyal to their family..Yes, unless well socialized, they can be quite mean..or overly protective

Answer 2

There has been some bad media related to chows, but it depends on the raising of the chow. Any dog can be mean and any dog can bite, and there is no such thing as a bad breed, only bad owners. Raise your chow to be social, introduce to kids slowly, and make sure when your children play with it, they do not hurt or scare it. If the dog shows any sign of aggression as it gets older, make sure to address it right away and do not let it get away with being hostile to others. Never train your dog to attack, even for safety sake, they can turn against you when they become scared.

I hate how people assume certain breeds are bad. It is all in how you raise them, believe me, I have grown up with pit bulls and rottweilers and never once did they attack anyone. My cousin had a chow and she was always very friendly, and they never had any trouble with her, even around kids and strangers.

Answer 3

Not at all, i have had 3 chows over the years, including the one i have now, he is like a big teddy bear, all of them were wonderful dogs, with other dogs & children, so go ahead and get one, you will be very happy with your choice. I babysit have for along time, my chows were always around kids, never had any trouble at all, so to answer your question, No i do not think it is normal.

Answer 4

Any dog can bite, or become aggressive.Any dog that is properly trained will be a good pet.

That said, chows are territorial and can be aggressive if they are not trained. The CDC has a list of dog's involved in fatal attacks from 79-98, and the chow (or chow mix) IS on that list with 11 fatal attacks.

But its all in how a dog is raised. My aunt raises Am. Staffs and they are wonderful dogs... My neighbots have a Jack Russell that scares the crap out of me, because he wasn't trained and is aggressive.

I believe in punishing the deed, not the breed, so I dont see any breed as "bad"

Answer 5

Any Dog can be mean...a handler can make a crap dog into a great dog or a great dog can be made into a crap dog....I have a few friends that have chows one of them is with a family with children and is very loving but protective with the family members and does not greet people outside the family with a wagging tail.... then on the other hand the other dogs are being raised by a couple with no children in the home, the male is mean as all get out and you do not dare to get near him, but loves his master, the female loves people outside the family and is very gentle and loving towards everyone...I guess it just depends on the dog....

Answer 6

Chows are known as one of the breeds prone to attacking humans, along with pit bulls, rottweilers, and huskies. This comes from their instinct to protect. However, any of these breeds can make a fine pet if the owner applies firm, assertive, and consistent discipline, as Chows can be very stubborn. It also needs a reasonable amount of exercise every day. If you cannot provide the proper discipline and exercise, this is not the dog for you.

Answer 7

All dogs can attack. Chows are great dogs but they are generally acknowledged to be a one person dog. They tend to bond with one member of the family and disresspect the others. This trait is fairly common in some animals, especially Chows and Siamese cats.

Answer 8

Chows are cute to look at, but are more prone to attack and be dangerous, as statistics of the past have shown. I would not in good faith buy a chow for my son, as a person who owned a Chow years ago, who did attack someone. It really comes out of nowhere with them, and at that point it's too late. I would get a black lab or a golden retriever, maybe even a sheep dog if you want them to be fuzzy, but not a Chow.

Answer 9

The breed as a whole is not known for being aggressive or mean. It is, however, known for being VERY protective of their handlers and/or families. As with many larger breeds, socialization is important but must be based on the purpose of the dog. If the dog is ment to be a companion and family dog and live in a situation where there will be many people comming and going into the home then a high level of socializing is needed. This means that many people will be introduced to the dog from a young age and that many people will be allowed to touch and handle the dog as well. If you have a dog that fits the character for personal protection and that is a desire you have for the dog, then the socialization is different. For protection dogs, the amount of contact they have with individuals outside the "friendly circle" is limited. Meaning, they can see them, maybe be around them but no one outside the "friendly circle" is allowed to pet or play with the dog. What and how a dog acts has to do with two things, its birth character and innate drives as well as how it is raised by its handlers/family.

Answer 10

Every dog is different, but Chows have a reputation for bonding closely to one person and not wanting anything to do with the rest of the family, up to and including being cranky (biting) when they don't want to interact with others.
I know folks who have them with children with no problems. If you get an adult you can get a better idea of it's personality, but if you get a puppy, you can socialize it to best fit your family.
Either way, ask lots of questions of whoever you get it from. Ask if the parents (if you get a pup) tolerate children. Ask if there has been any aggressiveness in the individual you are interested in.
Good luck