The Chow Chow and Obedience

Many a Chow has competed successfully at Obedience - gaining the title of Obedience Champion. Knowing the character of this intelligent dog, we also know that it requires a certain rapport between owner and Chow, to achieve that level. Do you have a very special bond with your Chow? Then why not try your hand at Obedience. It is also a platform to many other activities - Carting, Agility, and more.

Pasqualé, my cinnamon-coloured Chow, started her Obedience training at age six months with an all-breed training school run by Chris Pretorius. Paco, our black male, started even earlier at three months. This consisted of basic Obedience moves, e.g. heelwork, sit-stays, down-stays and stand-stays together with retrieving and some agility and jumping. Group socialising was part and parcel of their training.

 

Ch Dendale Pasquale CGC& Ch Dendale Paco CGC APT proving how useful the "down-stay" command is for getting a beautiful photograph!

 

 

 

Sessions always end with a ‘high’ when all dogs are given a chance to chase a hessian ‘rabbit’, which they just love! We do not believe in triggering a dog’s aggression but we do utilize their hunting drive. After they both received their certificates, we opted to remain with the school - it has been eight years now.

Both my Chows presently help newcomers by being ‘demo’ dogs for them and showing them how exercises ought to be done. They work off-lead as well as on-lead and respond to hand signals too. I’ve never had a need to use tit-bits during training.

(kindly contributed in 2004 by Susan Rheeder - Dendale Chow Chows, South Africa)

 

 

 

 

Has your Chow Chow excelled at Obedience? We'd like to hear from you! Please contact the Webmaster!