HOW TO GROOM A CHOW CHOW
HOW TO GROOM A CHOW CHOW
If you are planning to put a Chow chow, this is the best decision you will ever make. According to researchers, this is the oldest breed of dog, and Chinese Rulers in the past used to pet them because of their lion-like appearance. Even today, we as a veterinarian come across this question "Tell us about the history of CHOW CHOW". CHOW CHOW is also special because of its lion-like appearance, which is a challenge for the groomer.
Chow chow is naturally a clean animal and tends to keep itself away from dust and other wastes. According to statistics, 70 % of owners keep it as a pet due to its cleanliness, which itself tells so much about this breed.
Chow Chow's lion-like appearance needs grooming to maintain. You should start grooming by age 6 months or as early as 6 weeks. This breed usually does not require much trimming, but brushing once a week is essential to prevent mats.
MAKING GROOMING A HABIT FOR YOUR CHOW CHOW
Most dogs develop a fear of grooming if they are not familiar with it. Start grooming your dog at home by simply brushing it once a week from the age of 6 weeks to 6 months. This will make your dog get used to trimming and after 6 months, you can start regular trimming and grooming of your dog.
TOOLS FOR GROOMING
Selection of the right tools for the breed is also essential because it helps you do your task smartly and effectively. Here is the list of grooming tools that you will require.
- Grooming table
- Steel Comb
- Pin Brush
- Fine Toothed comb.
- Nail clippers
- Conditioning shampoo
- Spray on coat
- Blowdryer.
STEPS OF GROOMING
Grooming starts at the age of 6 months or as early as 6 weeks. You can groom your chow chow at home or in case you don't have skills of grooming, find your nearest grooming center or visit a veterinarian.
- Brushing
- Bathing
- Drying
- Brushing
- Trimming
1. BRUSHING
Make sure to do brushing before grooming to prevent any mats or particles. Otherwise, during bathing, these mats will get hard and tightened when they come in contact with water.
Use a steel brush for brushing and move the brush from head to toe direction for the upper body coat and the lower body coat use a small fine-toothed comb.
2. Bathing
After combing and Brushing is complete, start bathing. Chow chow needs bathing once every month but if you are using good products and instruments you can also bathe your chow weekly. There are a few things that you need for bathing like water, lukewarm water, shampoo, and a towel.
Start by bathing with water from head to toe direction and make sure water reaches the skin. After that apply conditioner shampoo on the body coat and rub it all over Chow Chow's body. Rinse it with water afterward. Then it’s time for the final step of bathing. Apply shampoo again this time on the body and rub it very well, then start rinsing with water. Make sure that shampoo is no more present in the body coat. Bathe you chow chow until the water runs clean.
3. DRYING
Dry your chow chow with a towel as soon as it comes out of the bathing tub. After that lay your dog on the grooming table on its side and start drying with the help of a blow-dryer. It's easy to dry chow when it's lying on the sides. Make sure to dry completely. Otherwise, water remaining there will cause dermatitis and other skin infections in your dog.
The most susceptible areas that should be dried are ears, between the legs, belly hair, and private parts.
4. BRUSHING
After drying brush chow chow again to remove all dead hairs and debris from the hair coat. Comb hair coat with the help of a small fine-toothed comb and after that brush with a steel comb several times.
After all these steps, allow your chow chow to relax now. It will stand up and dry its hair coat.
5. Trimming
Trimming is the final step of grooming and needs proper skills and training. Start trimming the hair around the ears with scissors so that the hearing of the dog is not affected. Trim hairs on the face with scissors too and it has a bear-like appearance. Trim hairs around the belly and anus so that the dog can keep itself clean. Remove excessive hairs from the legs and tail. Trim the ruff and make a perfect round shape.
TRIMMING OF PAWS AND TOENAILS.
It's so much easier to cut toenails right after bathing as they are softest at that point. Chow chow paw is the most compact in all breeds and to keep it that way their nails should be trimmed weekly or biweekly. Chow Chow does not like toenails trimming and needs to be trained. From an early age, start clipping your dog's nails so that your chow gets used to this treatment. Always make sure to give treats after every trimming season to make this rewarding for you chow chow. This is how your dog will get used to it.
FAQs
Q. How frequently should I give a bath to my chow chow?
Chow chow should be bathed once a month but If you are using right and good. Products, You can also bathe your chow chow weekly and it will not harm your dog.
Q. What is the right time for Nail trimming?
Right after bathing is the perfect time for tail trimming because nails are very soft at this point.
Q. Is it necessary to brush my chow chow before bathing?
Brushing helps to remove mats and tangles from fur which becomes harder during bathing due to water.
Q. What is the history of CHOW CHOW?
Chow chow is the oldest breed of dog known to man but their true history is lost somewhere in China. Rulers of China used to pet them only because of their lion-like appearance and they were used in combats to make enemies run away in fear of lions.
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