Chow Chow puppies

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Chow Chow puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A large breed puppy at eight weeks looks deceptively normal sized and will roughly double every few weeks for a while. Keep exercise short and low impact, the growth plates are wide open. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Entropion, an inward rolling eyelid that rubs the cornea, found on an eye exam and corrected surgically
• Hip and elbow dysplasia, screened by hip and elbow evaluation of breeding stock
• Patellar luxation, a slipping kneecap, found on a patella evaluation
• Thyroid disorders, screened by a thyroid evaluation
• Skin allergies, diagnosed once parasites and infection have been ruled out
• Heat intolerance, because of the dense double coat and short muzzle, so exercise should be timed for cooler hours

From Chow Chow breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/chow-chow/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Your Chow Chow puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Large for a Chow Chow.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 20.4 to 31.8 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Other large breeds

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