Every dog has what is called a ‘guardian instinct’ which means that they have a built in instinct to bark at strangers both in and outside of the house, bark at a mailman passing its territory, or bark at anybody when protecting their toys or their dish of food. So do not panic if your puppy does this occasionally. It’s totally normal for a puppy. With proper training these behavioral problems can become controlled.

Extreme cases of aggression are dogs that bite. And even those dogs that have bitten before can be rehabilitated through proper training. A dog may bite someone or something because of several reasons. A dog’s aggression may be related to its need to dominate or its desire to guard people or objects. It could also be as simple as fear which causes a dog to bite.

Today we are going to talk about three types of dog aggression that you just might have to deal with; dominance, fear, and territorial. All of these actions are normal in puppies to some degree. However, they need to be controlled before your puppy grows into a truly aggressive dog.

First let’s talk about dominant dog aggression. If you have a puppy that likes to steal your stuff for fun (like clothing), or barks just to get your attention, then you have no choice but to deal with this aggression and take control of this behavior long before she becomes an adult.

To train your dog to fix its dominant aggression you can do several things. One is to have ‘stare down’ competitions with your dog (only if you initiate them) until your puppy breaks the stare first. Also, regulate it’s feeding to only twice per day and do not practice giving your dog treats or rewards until these aggression problems are gone.

Dog aggression can also happen when a dog is afraid and feels cornered. If your puppy hides under the table when you have company or leans against you in a new environment out of fear, you need to begin socializing him immediately. Take him to the park, attend puppy obedience classes, and go for daily walks to get your puppy used to strange things or you may end up with a dog that attacks anyone who approaches him out of fear.

Next we have what is called ‘territorial dog aggression’. A dog displays territorial aggression by barking at strangers whom approach the home in which the live in. If you have people constantly coming in and out then a puppy thinks that she has driven them away, which reinforces aggression. And ironically enough, if you yell at the dog for barking when someone is visiting your house then they take this yelling not as a bad thing, but a good thing. The dog actually perceives this yelling as support or backup for their own aggression towards another person leaving the house.

To prevent this type of behavioral problem here are a few tips for you. You should assert yourself by keeping the puppy clear from furniture. Also, make the dog’s associations with visitors to your house positive by giving them a treat. Peanut butter is great for this. When you have guests arrive at your house then have the guests offer the puppy a treat as well. But make sure that the puppy is settled down first. Last but not least, try to put a halt to all yelling and do not do any physical corrections. All it does is add even more negative energy to their tense situations.

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Chows are prone to several health problems and genetic diseases.

1. Hip dysplasia: This is caused by a malformed hip joint that results in the head of the femur bone not fitting perfectly into the hip socket in which the femoral head lies. Often, it leads to pain, lameness and arthritis. However, the good news is that this condition, though congenital, can be treated by surgery.

Since this condition is congenital, dogs with hip dysplasia should not be bred. To ensure you’re taking home a healthy pup, ask if the sire and the dam have been OFA certified, which means that the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals has x-rayed their hips to verify that they do not carry hip dysplasia. You may want to ask to see a copy of the certification, as well.

2. Entropion: Another medical condition Chow Chows suffer from is entropion. Check to see if the puppies or their parents have runny eyes. If so, they may well suffer from entropion, which is a condition caused by eyelid abnormality in which the dog’s eyelids are turned inwards rather than outwards. This irritates the eye and can even lead to your pet turning blind. If detected in time, entropion can be corrected with surgery. If, after you buy your puppy, you do see inflamed or runny eyes or crusty eyelids, you should take him to the veterinarian immediately.

3. Luxating patella: This hereditary condition occurs when the small, flat and mobile bone in the front of your Chow Chow’s knee is dislocated. This problem is more common in overweight Chows, so be sure you keep your dog in shape. This condition can be corrected surgically.

4. Intolerance to anesthesia: Chow owners are often worried about their pets being intolerant to anesthesia, resulting in complications or even death during surgery. This happens because this breed is said to have small hearts in comparison to their body weight. Since anesthesia is given according to body weight, the dog receives a much larger dose than his heart can handle. Always check to be sure your veterinarian knows about this condition before he uses anesthesia on your Chow Chow.

5. Ruptured or torn ligaments: Your Chow Chow has such straight rear legs that there is sometimes too much strain on his ligaments. This results in torn or ruptured cruciate ligaments. Try to avoid having your Chow play or exercise too enthusiastically. If he does injure himself, seek veterinary treatment.

6. Diabetes: One of the most common disorders in dogs is diabetes, which is caused by the body ‘s inability to produce sufficient amounts of insulin. The highest occurrence of diabetes is found in dogs aged five to seven years. Female dogs are affected by this disease more often than males. Keep your dog’s weight under control, since overweight dogs are more likely to have diabetes.

If your Chow Chow drinks more water than usual, urinates more frequently and may even do so within the house, or loses a lot of weight, ask your veterinarian to test him for diabetes. In addition, have your dog examined by the vet every year, and ask for urine and blood tests as part of the routine checkup. The earlier you detect diabetes, the higher the chances of controlling it.

7. Glaucoma: This is a painful and serious optic condition. As pressure within the eye increases, it can lead to blindness. Blindness can set in within 24 hours if the fluid pressure is very high or slowly over weeks and months if mild, but in all cases, it is extremely painful.

Glaucoma may either be inherited or caused by a variety of other eye disorders, such as luxation of the lens, tumors of the eye, and inflammation of the eye.

If you see your dog rubbing away at his red eyes, if his eyes look cloudy, or he is sensitive to light, seek veterinary care immediately. In order to save his sight, immediate surgery is necessary. Initially, your vet may render emergency medical therapy, but then will probably refer him to a large and more specialized veterinary center.

8. Skin, hormonal problems and allergies: Your Chow Chow can also suffer from skin and hormonal problems. Often congenital, these problems are hardly ever obvious to the naked eye in pups. Once again, you should ask the breeder about the parents of the pup to be sure that they do not carry these hereditary problems.

Skin and hormone problems include hot-spots and allergies. If your pet scratches himself a bit too much or has irritated skin that looks red and infected, take him to the vet immediately.

9. Heat prostration: If you leave your pet in a hot area with no ventilation, or out in the sun, he will be very uncomfortable and suffer from heat prostration. He reacts to extremely high humidity, particularly if the temperature rises above 80º.

To avoid heat prostration, keep your Chow cool in a shady area or room on hot days. If he is still uncomfortable, call in your vet. In the meantime, wet him with cold water or towels soaked with cold water.

10. Bloat: If he eats too much, your Chow may suffer from bloat or gastric torsion—a life-threatening and sudden illness caused due to the stomach filling with air and twisting.

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Hot spots, also known as Summer Sores or Moist Eczema, can
make a dog and its owner miserable. The wet, skin lesions
appear and grow larger by the hour.

Dogs most susceptible to hot spots are those with heavy
coats and histories of allergies, ear infections, flea
infestations, irritated anal sacs, matted hair and tangles,
but any dog can be afflicted.

Most dogs that suffer from hot spots usually have allergies
or have been bitten by insects, such as ticks, mosquitoes,
and especially fleas.

The most common locations for hot spots are the legs and
feet, flanks, and rum, but these localized infections can
also appear on ears, neck, and chest.

To help prevent these infections:

Keep dogs free of fleas.

Comb often to keep hair loose and tangle free.

Rinse out all shampoo after bathing. Dried shampoo residue
can cause itching and irritation.

Sometimes adding an Omega Fatty Acid supplement to the dog’s
diet can help with many dermatological problems.

If a hot spot has started:

Hot spots require immediate veterinary attention as they can
double their size overnight and make pets miserable. They
require professional treatment of hair clipping or shaving,
cleansing, cortisone and antibiotics.

To keep hotspots more bearable before getting to a vet here
are some tips that dog owners have found helpful:

First wash the area in a mild water-based astringent or
antiseptic and dry.

Apply a very warm compress with a wash cloth with as hot of
water as can be used without burning.

Apply regular Listerine with a clean cotton ball.

Gold bond powder. Shake into hand and then apply to itchy
spot. Works immediately.

Soak hot spot with Epsom or sea salt solution.

Dry and dust with corn starch if irritated.

Aloe Vera gel, freshly squeezed from the plant, helps to
calm and heal.

Saturate a cotton ball with witch hazel and apply on hot
spots.

Apply a mixture of baking soda and water to the affected
areas

In severe cases, a veterinarian may suggest the use of an
Elizabethan collar to prevent the dog from scratching and
give the spot a chance to heal.

For more information on preventing and treating hotspots
visit:

http://www.apluswriting.net/petcare/doghotspots.htm

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Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
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