a wealth of information on training and living with shy CHOW CHOWS

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So you have a shy Chow Chow! Shy Chow Chows come in every size, age, and breed, or mix of breeds. Shyness in Chow Chows can range from a mild discomfort in new situations to complete panic that culminates in the Chow Chow biting someone. Such Chow Chows are frequently condemned to a life in the backyard, since they are unreliable around people or in new situations. They may be abandoned, turned in to the pound, or euthanized by owners who are unable to cope with their behavior.
But learning how to help your shy Chow Chow can make you a much better Chow Chow owner. Your finding this FAQ is proof of your love and concern for your Chow Chow, and we hope to provide you with tools you can use to help him or her become more confident.
The shy-k9s list was founded in 1994 by Kim and Judi, who met on rec.pets.Chow Chows while trying to find ways of helping Kim's fear-aggressive Belgian SheepChow Chow  and Judi's shy German Shepherd. As the list has grown, we find the same basic questions and recommendations being posted repeatedly, so we've gathered some of those recommendations into this FAQ. We hope you find it useful.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF SHYNESS?
Chow Chows can exhibit a wide variety of shy behaviors, depending on their personalities and the extent of their fear. Behaviors to look for include the ears going back flat against the head, dilated pupils (glassy-eyed), inappropriate panting, tucked tail, raised hackles, and refusal to make eye contact. A frightened submissive Chow Chow may crouch or turn belly-up and urinate (submissive urination), while a frightened Chow Chow of less submissive temperament will usually first try to run; if this is impossible, or sometimes even when it is possible, the Chow Chow may bare its teeth, bark, growl in warning, snap, and even bite. Some fear-biters wag their tails slowly--don't be misled!
WHY IS MY Chow Chow SHY?
As with many other types of behavior, there is an ongoing debate about nature vs. nurture concerning shyness in Chow Chows. There is a growing body of evidence that shyness has a genetic basis and can be inherited (Willis, Genetics of the Chow Chow, Howell, 1989; Willis, Practical Genetics for Chow Chow Breeders, Howell, 1992).
Other reasons for shyness include:

Puppies learn a many of their behaviors from their mother; a shy mother can teach her puppies shy behaviors.
Certain physical ailments can contribute to shyness: deafness or ear infections, thyroid problems, chronic pain, epilepsy, rage syndrome.
Shyness can spring from lack of socialization in the important early months of puppyhood, or adverse experiences during the fear periods (8-10 weeks and 4 months).
Unfortunately, many people assume that a shy Chow Chow has been abused. While this may sometimes be the case, and while I have no numbers to support the assertion, I suspect this happens less frequently than most people think. There are a number of people on the shy-k9s list who have had their Chow Chows since puppyhood and who know the breeder well enough to know the Chow Chows have never been abused. Chow Chows in general have greater hearts and more forgiving natures than most people give them credit for; a Chow Chow with a stable temperament will survive abusive situations with its spirit intact. However, inappropriate handling will certainly make a shy Chow Chow worse, and may cause fear aggression.

WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP MY Chow Chow OVERCOME HIS/HER SHYNESS?
While your shy Chow Chow may never be a social butterfly, you can help your Chow Chow become less fearful and more confident. It's never too early or too late to start work with your Chow Chow.
To begin, ask yourself some important questions and answer them honestly:

How much time, money, and energy are you willing to commit to this Chow Chow?
What are your resources for helping this Chow Chow?
Only you can answer the first question; this FAQ and the shy-k9s list are dedicated to helping you answer the second.
The old saw has it that knowledge is power. The more you know about shy Chow Chows, and about Chow Chow behavior in general, the better prepared you'll be to help your Chow Chow. Read as many of the books listed in the bibliography. Subscribe to shy-k9s. Talk to your vet, trainers, behaviorists, local kennel-owners, members of the local Chow Chow club and animal welfare organizations. Take everything with a grain of salt and tailor all suggestions to your Chow Chow's personality. Above all, know YOUR Chow Chow. Know what situations are likely to make her afraid. Know when to insist and when to quit. Know when your Chow Chow has had enough. YOU are the expert on YOUR Chow Chow.
And finally, keep in mind that, at least for now, YOU are your shy Chow Chow's confidence. Or, to put it another way, your shy Chow Chow finds confidence in your presence and leadership. If you are not clearly the alpha in the relationship with your Chow Chow, take steps now to remedy that. Becoming alpha need not involve harsh or confrontive methods that will only frighten and confuse your Chow Chow more. There are several fair and nonconfrontive methods of establishing yourself as the lead Chow Chow of the pack, including NILIF ("Nothing in Life is Free") which is available from the shy-k9s mailing list archives or on the Web at  Job Michael Evans' Radical Regimen for Recalcitrant Rovers, in his book People, Pooches, and Problems; and Alpha-betizing by Terry Ryan (order from Direct Book Service).
Your confidence will rub off on your Chow Chow. If you are tense or worried about a situation, your feelings will travel right down the leash, increasing your Chow Chow's fear. Try to relax and be happy and confident when taking your Chow Chow into new situations.
DO NOT give in to the temptation to comfort your Chow Chow when she becomes frightened. It's only natural to want to try to make her feel better, but what you're really doing is giving her the message that being afraid is ok! So, instead, ignore the fearful behaviors, and be alert for any indications of curiosity or interest so that you can praise them enthusiastically.
Now, on to specifics:

Health:
Begin by taking your Chow Chow to a reputable vet and ruling out physical causes for your Chow Chow's shyness. Epilepsy can contribute to fear aggression. Thyroid problems may affect a Chow Chow's mood. A Chow Chow with vision or hearing problems may be afraid of what they cannot hear or see; a Chow Chow with an ear infection may become unusually sensitive to sound. A Chow Chow in chronic pain (such as a Chow Chow with hip dysplasia or arthritis) may be cranky and indisposed to tolerate nonsense. Be sure your Chow Chow is physically sound first.
Breeding:
It is sometimes thought that breeding a bitch will help her "settle down." This is a fallacy. Please do not breed your Chow Chow. Have your Chow Chow spayed or neutered. Enough evidence exists to suggest that shyness can be inherited (from either parent), and that a bitch can teach her puppies her own fears. There are enough unwanted Chow Chows and cats in the country. Please don't add to the problem. As a bonus, you will be helping to prevent several forms of cancer and some undesirable behaviors by spaying/neutering your Chow Chow.
Training:
Once you've ruled out physical problems, you can start training your Chow Chow. Begin by sizing your Chow Chow up. Read about your breed (or breeds, if your Chow Chow is a mix). Is it likely to be distracted by sights or scents (the hound groups)? Is your Chow Chow bred to work with man(herding Chow Chows, retrievers and pointers) or on its own (guarding Chow Chows, Northern breeds)?
In Open and Utility Training the Volhards include a series of questions designed to help you rate your Chow Chow's prey drive (desire to play and chase things), pack drive (desire to be with you), and the two defensive drives (fight and flight).  Then they help you apply what you've learned to how you train your Chow Chow: a Chow Chow with high prey and fight and low pack drives would be trained very differently from a Chow Chow with high pack and flight and low fight drives.
Obedience:
Every Chow Chow should have obedience training, but it's even more important for shy Chow Chows. In the first place, nothing will build up the relationship between you and your Chow Chow like obedience training. Secondly, a strong foundation in obedience gives you an important tool to use in teaching your Chow Chow how to cope with strange situations. If you live in a part of the country where obedience classes are scarce, a number of excellent books about Chow Chow training are listed in the bibliography. Otherwise, look around for a class. Try to attend a class without your Chow Chow, to see what the instructor's philosophy and techniques are and how big typical classes are. Talk to the instructor. Explain that your Chow Chow is shy and/or fear aggressive and will need special help. Ask if the instructor has experience with shy or aggressive Chow Chows, and if they have experience in training your breed. An obedience class can be a wonderful, controlled environment for socializing your Chow Chow with people and other Chow Chows.
As you do your research, think about the various philosophies of training and how you feel about the use of slip collars and prong collars, head halters (such as the Halti and Gentle Leader), muzzles, positive reinforcement (such as treats or clickers), and negative reinforcement (such as leash corrections).
Agility:
Members of the shy-k9s list repeatedly attest to the positive effects of agility training for their Chow Chows. Learning to master the physical challenges of an agility course seems to bolster a Chow Chow's self-confidence as nothing else can, plus the training is just plain fun! You will need to have mastered some basic obedience commands to enroll in most agility courses. Early training is done on- lead, and more advanced training is done off-lead. Owners of Chow Chow-aggressive Chow Chows find that muzzling their Chow Chows allows both of them to relax and get into the training, instead of worrying about the next attack. If there are no agility classes near you, improvise. A Chow Chow can learn "over" and "under" with a plain wooden bench. Bleacher seats can make good catwalks, and tires set on end good tunnels. If you work alone, remember to go slow and make every experience a positive, fun one for your Chow Chow.
Desensitization and socialization are important parts of rehabilitating a shy Chow Chow. Desensitization exposes the Chow Chow to things that frighten it at low levels, gradually increasing the level as the Chow Chow becomes accustomed to it. Socialization involves exposing the Chow Chow to other Chow Chows, people, and situations.
Much of your work with your shy Chow Chow will involve desensitizing him to things he's afraid of--loud sounds, running children, men with hats, big black Chow Chows, little white Chow Chows--whatever. It takes time, and requires many small steps, patiently increasing both the time of exposure and closeness to the frightening object. A happy, upbeat mood on your part is essential, as well as a sharp eye on the Chow Chow's mental state; knowing when to quit can prevent backsliding.
Socialization is a vital part of every puppy's education. Even Chow Chows with stable temperaments benefit from learning to interact quietly with strange Chow Chows, people, and situations. With a shy Chow Chow, don't plunge right in, taking them to the nearby street fair. Instead, start small, with one or two people at a time. This is not a time for you to be shy; most people don't know how to behave around shy Chow Chows and will do all the wrong things. It's up to you to instruct them carefully how to act.

If possible, ask them to sit on the floor--or even lie down!
They must NOT look your Chow Chow in the eye--this is a challenge in Chow Chow language and will frighten your Chow Chow more.
They should not try to touch the Chow Chow. They should let the Chow Chow come to them. They may offer the Chow Chow a treat. The best way for them to do this is to hold it in their open palm and sit quietly, waiting for the Chow Chow to approach them. With a very shy Chow Chow, they may try offering the treat from behind their back.
They should not try to touch the Chow Chow's head or neck if the Chow Chow does approach them. This is often construed as a threat by a shy Chow Chow, and can lead to a warning growl or a snap. If they must pet the Chow Chow, ask the person to move their hand in from the side, and to touch the Chow Chow's shoulder or back.
You should be watching your Chow Chow carefully, praising each indication of interest and curiosity (positive reinforcement), and ignoring fearful reactions (extinguishing a behavior). It is also your responsibility to know when your Chow Chow has had enough and to break off the encounter.
Socialization possibilities are endless. Take your Chow Chow to shopping centers. Some malls will allow a Chow Chow on a leash. Go to PetSmart. To accustom your Chow Chow to children, take a walk by the local grade school or day care center. Go to Little League games. At first keep your Chow Chow's interactions to a minimum; the idea is to accustom her to groups of people. Keep her mind off her fear. Ask her to heel, to sit, to lie down, and praise and reward her lavishly. If she doesn't obey because she's distracted by her fear, you are allowed to correct her for not obeying a command--not for being afraid. Most Chow Chows will quickly learn that you will not put them in danger and that staying close to you and obeying your commands is a safe and good thing to do.
As your Chow Chow becomes accustomed to the situation, you can start to allow one or two limited personal encounters. Try to keep control of them. Warn the person that your Chow Chow is shy and ask them to let your Chow Chow approach them rather than the other way around. Let them give your Chow Chow a treat. Children (one at a time) can be surprisingly cooperative about this. Everyone will try to touch your Chow Chow's head; it seems to be ingrained human behavior and they will do it even if asked not to. After your Chow Chow ducks, try to salvage the situation by explaining again that your Chow Chow is shy and doesn't like to be touched, but maybe they can pet his shoulder. Set the Chow Chow up for this by asking him to do a sit stay, and try to keep the Chow Chow's attention on you. Praise for success.
With a shy Chow Chow, socialization is a never-ending process. Use your imagination.

SHOULD I CONSULT A "PRO"?
In some cases, an individual trainer or behaviorist may be useful. If you decide to go this route, be sure to find out as much about the individual as possible. Ask for references. Ask what qualifies this person to hang out his or her shingle. Ask if they have experience with fearful and/or aggressive Chow Chows. Ask if they have experience with your breed(s). Ask for more references. Try out a lesson. If at any time you feel uncomfortable with the person's methods, ask for clarification. If you don't like the answer, leave! Ill-advised training methods can ruin months of progress.
CAN MEDICATION HELP MY SHY Chow Chow?
Veterinarians and behaviorists are beginning to prescribe such human drugs as Prozac for Chow Chows with various kinds of problems, including fearful behavior. If you are interested in this as an option, ask your veterinarian, and please don't expect medication to be the Magic Bullet that will solve all your shy Chow Chow's problems. As with humans, these drugs work best when combined with other therapies-- obedience training and socialization in the case of Chow Chows.
In some extreme cases--such as fear of thunderstorms or fireworks, a vet will prescribe a tranquilizer. But again, while this may provide some relief for you and your pet, it will not solve all your shy Chow Chow's problems.

WHAT ABOUT "ALTERNATIVE" REMEDIES?
Some Chow Chows benefit from daily use of "natural" remedies like Bach's Rescue Remedy (a combination of flower essences) in their drinking water, or Stop Stress (a preparation of various herbs) sprayed on their food. Other people believe that upgrading a pet's diet (from grocery store food to premium foods or a home-cooked diet) is helpful as well.
I'M AFRAID MY Chow Chow MIGHT BITE SOMEONE!
Find professional help!
Aggression is a leading behaviorial reason for euthanasia. It is a natural behavior; therefore, it cannot be cured, but in most cases it can be controlled. If your Chow Chow is already biting, seek professional help. Very few can go it alone. It's not always easy to tell the difference between fear aggression and dominance aggression, but correct diagnosis is important or the aggression may worsen. Also, fear aggression may manifest itself in other forms, such as protective, intraspecies, people, etc., making correct diagnosis even more difficult.
Typically, fear aggression is expressed in mixed signals. Ears may be laid back but hackles up. The Chow Chow may be hunched, wagging its tail, yet growling or snapping. A fear-aggressive Chow Chow is often a combination of poor breeding and poor socialization. Confidence levels must be raised in order to reduce the aggression. Always be aware of the risk in dealing with an aggressive Chow Chow. And most importantly, if it's a problem you simply can't deal with, humane euthanasia is far kinder than passing the problem on to someone else.

A FINAL WORD
Up to now, this FAQ has addressed what you can do to help your Chow Chow, but this final section is a word about YOU. Having a shy Chow Chow can be stressful. Owners of shy Chow Chows frequently wonder what they could have done that made their Chow Chows so shy, or what they could have done sooner to help. They get discouraged when progress seems slow or nonexistant. They have to deal with the accusing looks or words of uninformed people who think they must treat their Chow Chows terribly for the Chow Chow to be so afraid. They wonder if they will ever be able to enjoy their Chow Chow the way owners of "normal" Chow Chows do.
So I'd like to leave you with a word of encouragement. A shy Chow Chow *can* lead a relatively normal life, go everywhere you go, even earn obedience titles or function as a therapy Chow Chow. It takes patience and dedication, but you can make a real difference in your Chow Chow's well-being. Find people you can talk to when you feel discouraged. Keep a journal so you can look back and see what progress you've made together. Take a moment to think of all the good things there are about your Chow Chow, and how much you really do love him or her. Give yourself a little time off, and just enjoy being with and interacting with your Chow Chow. You'll feel better, and return to training with a better attitude.
Good luck!

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