Mixed temperament Staffordshire terrier chow chow mix

by Leslie
(Idaho)

My 3 year old Mia is a mix breed of Staffordshire Terrier and Chow Chow. So she has the strength of a bully breed and an attitude of a chow chow. She is a great dog, loves the kids, loves HER animals meaning the other pets we have but is super protective. Recently she’s become a bit more aggressive with us and I’m not to happy about it. She snarls and shows her teeth when she’s ticked off... she snaps at her Lab sister, she has even snapped at me. She has not actually bit us but she acts like she’s going too. She’s began to snarl and snap at the neighbor kids she knows very well and even the adult neighbors she used to love. No matter what we have done we cannot get her to stop this behavior. She actually bit her Lab sister and broke skin... not bad enough to need medical attention but gave her quite and owie on her face. Mia used to only snap or bite people she did not like or she knew they were not good people (yeah we should trust her when she doesn’t like someone at first) but she’s starting to be this way with everyone. She is a rescue, but we got her at 7 weeks old and did not know what breed she was until the vet did a DNA test to tell us. I do not have experience with the chow chow breed and read all these horrible things about them. I love my Mia, she’s really a real dog but how can I get her to stop snarling, snapping, and biting? I can’t risk her actually hurting someone, and I cannot afford some fancy night priced training. Since you can’t disipline her like my Lab, because she will snap at you, what Can I do? I really need help with her because I’m afraid she’s going to hurt someone. She gets in these moods and you can just tell she hates everyone and everything! Then she’s in these moods that she’s so happy and just wants to love and play. But the moods can switch so fast and you can’t always tell it’s switched and one second she’s cuddling and the next she’s wanting to snap at you. When she does snap you can see she feels bad because she always comes and apologies by licking you or hugging you, but I’d like to prevent the aggressive behavior all together. Someone please help!!!!!!

Comments for Mixed temperament Staffordshire terrier chow chow mix

Average Rating

Click here to add your own comments

Apr 24, 2023
Rating

Mine
by: D king

We had a staff/chow mix. She was the best dog I've ever had by far. She was so laid back and could even put your hand in her food bowl or pester her while she was sleeping and nothing, we could never get her to growl, show her teeth, etc. She definitely has the chow mentality but my she's a gem. Maybe if you do things with her with the both dogs together then do one on one with the chow playing.

Mar 27, 2019
Rating

Great dog
by: Anonymous

I rescued Harper during Hurricane Harvey. I was told she was a five month old lab mix. At about a year and a half we did a DNA test and found out she was 3/4 Staffordshire Terrior and 1/8 Chow Chow and the rest unknown. I made the Shelter sign a document stating that she was a lab / boxer mix so I could get her into my apartment. I also have a male black lab that is 8 and now Harper is about 2 years old.

Harper is naturally resourse aggressive. She has separation anxiety which can lead to distructive tendencies. She was difficult to potty train, as compared to my lab rescue. She barks at noises and homeless people and can act strange around children that she doesn’t know. She is so aggressive around cats, although she has caught them and never hurt them, her prey drive is unbelievable. Last she is an absolute escape artist. And she is the best dog I’ve ever known. Even my trusty lab, Fitz, agrees.

Breaking resourse aggressive behavior was easier than I thought. She is NEVER fed first, I always feed my lab first and in front of her. If she interrupts him she goes to the kennel. She never gets toys first, always the lab. And I use an e-collar to correct it in the dog park. I got a travel kennel with one entrance and solid walls. I give her all treats and bones in that kennel. After four months she stopped trying to eat her way out of it and goes in it on command. I have a large private dog park that I let her run in twice a day until she lays down panting and that seems to keep her calm. She is fully potty trained after 6 months and I used hanging bells so she can tell me when she has to go, her bladder is tiny. To break the prey drive, and against my instincts, I use a shock collar on Harper. But only after she mastered basic commands in the house. After two weeks with the e-collar I am able to get her to stop chasing anything and come sit next to me. It also is great with aggressive behavior as I stated above.

I always thought I would only ever get Labrador retrievers but after adopting Harper I am obsessed with Staffies. Harper is incredibly loving and loyal. All dogs love playing with her and all of my neighbors love seeing her out. She is almost always happy. She is easy to train and wants nothing more than to be successful. She is the most sensitive and emotionally intelligent dog I’ve ever met. When I lost a close realative she refused to leave my side for a week. Sitting solomly next to me even in the dog park. She has average intelligence but above average cleverness and drive. My doors auto lock and I locked myself out last week. She figured out how to open the door in less than five minutes to let me in. My lab didn’t even get out of bed, lol.

Bottom line, all dogs have their own set of challenges and no two dogs are alike. But with consistent and firm training I have the best dog I’ve ever owned.

Mar 03, 2018
Rating

Nothing In Life Is Free
by: Adam G. Katz

Employ the "Nothing In Life Is Free" approach, so that your dog starts to view you as the "pack leader." If your dog doesn't see you as the leader, then your corrections will be meaningless. So, if you're doing subtle things (inadvertently) to undermine your leadership role around the house-- it will be counter-productive.

All the best,
Adam

Adam G. Katz is the author of, "Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer!" -- which you can find at DogProblems.com.