5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW WHEN SETTING UP A GROOMING SCHEDULE FOR YOUR CHOW
Grooming can be a bit of a chore but making it a pleasant and fun experience for your dog can make all the difference!
#1. Despite what you hear online.. Chows only need brushing once a week, and a slicker brush will do the job. You can even get them to lay on their side and relax while doing it. They usually love the experience because it scratches all their itches! If you find the odd little knot around the ear that can’t be brushed out, it can be carefully snipped out. You can gently pinch the skin between your fingers to ensure you don't catch the skin and snip downward into the bulk of the knot. This allows you to preserve the hair and the tangle should just brush right out. Consistency is the key however, and if you are grooming once a week, knots won't have time to grow very large and will keep your overall brushing time to a minimum.
#2. Make a habit of touching their feet to get them used to nail trims. If you take a little off their nails more often, the quick (pink coloration in nail bed) will retract, and won’t grow as long. Plus this reduces the chance of cutting off too much nail and cutting into the quick. Always have quick powder on hand to stop the bleeding in case of an accident. You can also try a styptic pencil which can be found at many stores where they sell razors etc. We found ours at Shoppers Drug Mart.
#3. Chows don’t blow their puppy coat for quite a while, usually for the first year or so, but when it is time to shed it Mother Nature will definitely let you know it. It just falls out in clumps.. but don’t try to force it or let a groomer tell you otherwise. They have an undercoat and it is supposed to be there all year. In summer it keeps their skin cool and in winter keeps them warm. They do shed some of it twice a year as adults, but are always growing another. NEVER HAVE THEM SHAVED OR TRIMMED DOWN. This will not keep them cool! It will have the opposite effect, and expose their delicate skin to the sun and elements. Mother Nature has taken care of things! If they were supposed to have no hair they would be born that way. You can seriously affect the future growth of the dogs hair by shaving and some coats never completely recover. The only trimming would be medical, to treat a hot spot, or around their feet and under the pads in the summer only.. unless you are showing the dog and he/she is mostly inside in the winter. The long hair under the pads keep their feet warm in the winter, so in the fall time, we let it grow! Ours love the snow and cold weather!
#4. If you decide to leave things to a groomer, do your homework and research them and/or the business before taking your dog in! Online reviews can be easily found on Google and provide great insight into the general customer experience. Many big box pet stores don't require certification for their groomers and just provide basic training. As a result, you may find these businesses will have some pretty controversial reviews.
It is always recommended to stay with the dog to make sure their experience is positive. If you can’t stay then ask the person who will be doing the grooming for their certificate of qualification and tell them clearly the do’s and don’ts of grooming your Chow. Remember YOU are in charge of your dog's grooming needs and they are working for you! So don’t let a pushy groomer tell you otherwise.
You know best!
#5. Chows only need bathing a few times a year as you don’t want to strip the coat of its natural oils! Both you and your dog have sebaceous glands that are attached to hair follicles. Your dog’s sebaceous glands are present in large numbers near the paws, back of the neck, rump, chin and tail area. The sebaceous glands produce a light, oily substance called sebum that keeps the skin healthy, well moisturized and shiny. Sebum also has natural antibiotic properties that provide the first line of defense against bacteria. The sebum is what gives your dog (and you too, if you admit it!) their distinct scent!
If you find your pet's coat to be quite greasy in spots you can absorb the excess oils on your dog with cornstarch (as long as your dog isn’t sensitive to corn!) Remember, the goal is to absorb the EXCESS oils – not ALL of the oils.
I recommend using a certified organic dog shampoo because certified organic products do have regulatory oversight and ingredient integrity. This gives you the highest level of confidence that you’re using something safe and non-toxic on your best friend!
Because Chows have a thick undercoat, they take a long time to dry completely, so if their undercoat is left damp, dermatitis can develop. That said, blow drying is never really recommended as it can be difficult to make sure you're moving the heat around enough to avoid burning your dog's skin.
If you have any questions please feel free to comment below and we'll try to get you an answer ASAP! :)
