Chow Chow dogs emerged over 200 years ago in China as a symbol of status for the wealthy and were used for herding, hunting, and guarding purposes. Over the years, the dog has gained the position of a companion due to its unique lion-like appearance and cat-like nature. They are wildly popular in show rings due to their distinctive special features and colors.
BREED PROFILE:
- Medium to large dogs that weigh between 40-75 pounds
- Thick, double coated that comes in rough as well as smooth variations
- Colors: blue, black, red, cinnamon, and cream
- Sturdy and square built set on strong muscular legs
- A big broad face with almond-shaped eyes, a blue-black tongue with a stilted gait
- Prone to hip Dysplasia, Entropion (an eye condition), and skin problems due to their dense coat.
- Due to their thick coat, they have climate sensitivity; Chow Chows do better in cooler climates and may struggle in hot weather
- Their coats shed heavily
HOW TO GROOM A CHOW CHOW DOG
Grooming a Chow Chow is quite the task as you have to take care of each step keeping their sensitivities and unique built in mind. The entire process starts with brushing their hair, followed by bathing(shampoo and conditioning), drying and detangling their dense coat, cleaning the eyes and ears, trimming their nails, taking care of their dental hygiene and lastly, trimming their coat to a desired/ length shape.
A smooth chow has a wool like coat that is thick, straight and short top upstanding coat with a plaster like texture. however, the rough Chow has a rich, dense straight coat with a soft wool like undercoat, outer coat being coarse.
Let’s discuss each step in detail with additional information, tips and tricks advised by our expert groomers to make the process easier for those of you who need help in Chow dog grooming process.
Brushing a Chow Chow Dog
A Chow Chow dog needs to be brushed every single day because of their dense, yet not so puffy coat. There are three types of tools you’ll need for this process, each to be used at a different time; these tools are a large slicker brush, a pin brush and a metal comb.
The breed is prone to heavy shedding and loose hair, which is why it must be brushed on a daily basis, especially before bathing, to be rid of knots, tangling, and matting. Our groomers lay emphasis on the fact that you should never brush their coats when dry, always spray their hair wet, or use a conditioning mist before brushing their coats. The dog goes through a significant amount of shedding twice a year. To remove the loose hair, you will need a metal comb or a high-quality shedding blade to remove the loose hair and prevent it from getting stuck in the coat. Matting can result in difficulty for the dog in regulating its body temperature.
Some groomers suggest you brush your Chow once a week in between baths, while others suggest a daily routine of brushing, starting from when they were a puppy. Some suggest brushing them up-to 2-3 times a week and others lay emphasis on brushing them daily.
How to brush a Chow?
Use a slicker brush, start with the legs first by brushing them out thoroughly. Follow with brushing the base and working your way up the body, this process be done with a pin brush, the brush should glide all the way down to the skin.
Always scrape your brush in an upward motion when brushing through knots. You can use a slicker brush for short hair and a pin brush for long hair.
Keep brushing through until the brush glides smoothly and you are rid of all the knots and tangles.
Bathing a Chow Chow Dog
Some groomers suggest you bathe your dog every 3 months, others suggest every 4-6 weeks, some suggest they can be bathed weekly up to no longer than 6 weeks. We would suggest yo consult your groomer for advice on the matter as it is important to be mindful of the fact that every groomer has individual needs and must be catered to accordingly. But, make note of the fact that over-bathing can strip them of their natural oils.
Heavy-coated dogs have naturally oily and repellent coats that tend not to catch debris; therefore, they can go on without baths for as long as three months, no longer than that. This characteristic allows their coat to remain odorless, but in case their coat gets dirty in the mud and catches it on their coat, they will need to be bathed immediately. Their coat should smell fresh with no shedding from loose hair. If their coat is left dirty, the hair shaft develops a rough texture and eventually breaks down, damaging the coat. it can also result in the formation of cobwebs on the skin from matting.
TIP: Before bathing your dog, take a high velocity dryer, keeping it at an arms length from your dog. Go over the coat slowly keeping the dryer in one place, working your way around the coat to loosen any debris and cobweb formation on the skin.
How to bathe a Chow?
Of course the process mainly consists of shampooing and conditioning your dog, but the question is how does it differ from others.
You need to invest in a high quality shampoo and conditioner, as recommended by your vet or groomer. Start by thoroughly wetting their dense coat with warm water all the way down to the hair shaft and skin. This part can be time consuming but be patient.
Follow by shampooing, work the lather deep into the coat and massage the coat in circular motions, some groomers prefer using a a silicone scrub glove for this part to penetrate deep into the coat making sure it is thoroughly clean. We recommend you rinse twice to make sure all the product comes out.
TIP: Use color-specific shampoos.
Next step is conditioning, you do not need heavy conditioners unless your Chows coat is severely damaged. Apply a generous amount of conditioner all over the coat and let it sit in for 3-5 minutes before you rinse. Again, double rinse to make sure there’s no residual product left behind. We suggest you cool down the temperature a bit when doing the final rinse on your dog’s coat.
In the end wash their head, avoiding the eyes and ears and rinse. Make sure not to get any water in the eyes.
How to dry a chow?
After the final rinse, blot the Chow dog dry with a towel, always dab never rub. The next step is blow drying, of-course you need to invest in a good quality high velocity hair dryer for dogs. Do not move the dryer around in circular motions, it'll make tangles in the process.
TIP: Try to get your Chow to lay down on each side when drying the, lure them using treats and positive reinforcement. It'll speed up the process without tiring the dog out. IN fact they might even fall asleep.
Start with belly and the legs and then work your way up the spine, by blow drying and brushing downwards on the coat using a pin brush. Brushing close to the skin is a must! Even around the most heavy and dense coats otherwise those areas will pack down on dirt and moisture leading to horrible skin problems. Pay close attention to the private parts and the back of the legs as well, they should be dried.
Post wash, Chows will shed for around 24 hours, therefore it is important that 18 hours after drying your brush them up again. Otherwise it can lead to those horrible instances of their hair coming out in uneven clumps, which then can not be balanced by trimming or shaving. You do not want to damage your dog's coat because of such a minor mistake as it might not even regrow properly., therefore remember to brush 18 hours post drying.
Grooming a Chow’s Eyes, Nails and Ears
Nails require bi-weekly trimming, some owners prefer their Chows nails filed rather then being clipped short to avoid the dog any discomfort or fussing, whatever seems more convenient. to start, press on the dogs paw gently to have him accustomed to the feeling. Start by filing a thin portion of the nail to make sure you don't reach the quick. You can use a dog nail file or a rasp file from the hardware store.
Long nails will harm the dog when walking and make it more difficult for them.
Eyes are an extremely sensitive area for this breed as they are deep-set and have loose skin around them, hence prone to eye discharge, irritation, and infections. To clean them, you need vet-recommended dog-safe eye wipes or sterile saline solution. Moisten a lint-free cotton pad with the solution and wipe the area clean, starting on the inner corner and moving outwards. Keep it at it until the cotton pad comes out clean; you can work in sections if there is excess discharge. Dry the area afterward by patting it dry with a clean towel to keep it bacteria-free. It is an essential part of your regular grooming routine; never skip. Make sure the facial hair around the eye is trimmed to prevent it from poking the eye or causing any irritation.
Ears are naturally prone to infection as well because of their placement, hence need to be plucked and trimmed if there's extra hair inside the ear canal to prevent infections. To clean them, moisten a cotton ball with mineral oil or vet recommended ear cleaning solution and wipe the insides. You must however avoid the ear canals, and never use a q-tip.
TIP: Take a small trimmer to trim around the tricky facial areas that have excess hair.
Grooming a Chows Coat
Shaving or cutting your Chow's hair too short can disrupt its natural function of regulating body temperature and lead to skin issues as well as overheating. You only need to trim around the paws and round them out to prevent the accumulation of dirt. The sanitary area requires light trimming as it is important for hygiene; when trimming here, use clippers with a guard to avoid any accidental cutting of the skin. The mane can be shaped to give it a more presentable appearance and the signature Chow look. Trim the tail to your desired length as well.
We do not recommend shaving because the double coat provides natural insulation against both hot and cold weather. Exposing the skin post-shaving can lead to sunburns, insect bites, and other irritants to gain access to it. The only exception can be made when your vet recommends it due to severe matting or other treatments of the skin. You do not want your Chow to have a sculpted outlook.
Dental Hygiene
Dental hygiene maintenance is as important as any other grooming aspect. There are two ways to go about it; first being regular brushing using dog tooth paste or using dental chews, the second being, giving them uncooked neck bones (chicken, lamb) or chicken carcasses on a regular basis. Both of these approach will help your Chow steer free of any dental problems and illnesses.
CONCLUSION
Grooming a Chow Chow needs a very skilled and mindful approach due to their unique characteristics in terms of their coat and physical structure. Regular brushing, proper bathing and extremely cautious hair trimming are crucial to maintaining their double coat and over-all well being. Consistent and professional grooming practices customised as per the Chow's needs will ensure their comfort, keep them healthy and help them look their best.
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