CHOW GROOMING
Recommended Products & Advice

Professional Tools For Sale

Heavy Duty Rake	Heavy Duty Big Comb With Handle	Flea Comb (also works good for fine tuning the coat)
Comfort grip handles, stainless steel safety point, replaceable blades. This tool is amazing for chows, it will bust through the toughest coats and mats. It also is excellent for thinning the coat for comfort during the heat of the summer. Helps assure healthy fresh coat for the winter months. $30 Size: 2" W. Replacement Blades $12	Perfect for long haired breeds. Comfortable wooden handle with 18 stainless steel pins 1-3/8" long that penetrate coat for easy comb through. This tool is good for when you want to freshen up without pulling out the coat or having any resistance. $9 Size: 8-1/2"L	Finger-fitting contours of handle increase comfort and control. Soft rubber-sheathed handle gives a non-slip comfortable grip. Remove fleas and their eggs from the coat of cats and dogs. New design prevents "raking" which can irritate the skin on a pet. $9 Size: 8-1/2"L

Resco #80 Combs (medium and Coarse)	Slicker Brush (we now only stock the large Size)	Pin Brush
The popular #80 Comb is back with an all new aluminum extruded, contoured handle that is lightweight yet exceptionally strong. Ideal for curly and long-haired breeds. $25 Coarse $25 Medium	Specially designed to maintain a healthy coat and eliminate hand strain. Pins are high quality steel. This tool is excellent for picking up loose hair for a tidy up or after other grooming to keep their loose hair from getting all over the house or causing more mats. Large 5 1/2 in x 3 in $21	This pin brush is the best we have seen for grooming chows and strong durability. The wood handle is strong and contoured with a soft comfort grip, and the bed of pins is really quality to not pull apart from the frame. Large 10" $12

Grooming Advice For Chows

Always brush your chow out completely before bathing.  Try to remove all dead undercoat before bathing and remove any mats.  If you brush your chow 10 minutes a week you will probably never have any major grooming difficulties.

For the chow owner you will need the types of tools pictured above.  It is much more important to keep a chow brushed then bathed.  Brushing has several benefits.

• Removes dead coat
• Promotes healthier - fuller coat
• Healthier skin and easier to apply flea control products (frontline/advantage)
• Eliminates matting problems
• Makes your chow the talk of the town :)
• Causes your chow to bond with you and to enjoying grooming
   

• How often your chow needs groomed depends on several facts
   
• Type of coat your chow has
   
• Climate where your chow lives and living conditions
   
• How important it is to you to have him or her looking great

STEP 1: (Pre-Brushing) We start with The Rake and then go over the coat with the medium Resco comb most often. Be sure to get all areas, including down the legs and every other place. The bathing and drying will be much easier with all dead or loose coat removed prior to the bath.

STEP 2: (Bathing) Use a quality shampoo and wash your chow fully including the under carriage, head, feet and rear area.  Rinse thoroughly (repeat if necessary) and depending on his or her coat you may need a light conditioner.  For all my dogs unless needing a show quality product I use Oat Mella Shampoo on the adult chows and Fluffy Puppy Tearless Shampoo on the puppies and also on the adult chows heads as it does not irritate their eyes. For softening and condition we use Mane & Tail leave in conditioner and use it sparingly pre-diluted with water. Be sure to rinse thoroughly.  Depending if you have a professional dryer or just your preference, towel dry and then blow dry.

Do not over bath your chow. Over bathing dries out the coat and skin.  Brushing is easier when the hair is dry.

STEP 3: (Drying) It is important for the health & comfort of the chow and the coat to not use much heat while drying.  Some vacuums can be reversed and used as a dog dryer. Hair dryers tend to over heat or get pretty hot. I recommend a professional dog dry for Chow owners who do their own grooming. Dry your chow to the skin. Feel down to their skin to be sure they are dry. You can brush while drying or wait till the end.  Always brush their coat towards the head. Sometimes the bath and drying will allow more undercoat to cut loose which is more reason to be sure to comb thoroughly first. Chows that are afraid to be dried usually get used to it.  It helps to love on the chow while being groomed.  This will not only comfort him or her but make it a positive time together for you both and usually will end up an enjoyable time for you both.  The younger your Chow is when grooming is started the easier the task.

STEP 4: (Finish Brushing) This step can vary. Depends on several things. Coat type, goal and time of year and age of the chow.
When your chow is completely dry, I recommend brushing or combing your chow to the skin. I like using a fine comb and or the slicker brush or pin brush, depending on the chow and if they are blowing puppy coat or winter coat....etc Combing to the skin is a must for going to the dogs shows, but will also get the final loosen coat out to eliminate more mats later. I really recommend all the above tools and you will use them all either always or parts of the year.
Brush your chow forward. Use two hands to get to the skin. You cannot just skim down a chow one handed.

STEP 5: (trimming, optional) I recommend having good dog scissors. People scissors will dull fast. Keeping their feet trimmed, skirts, britches and around their anus are the most common trimmed areas on chows. Extra long shaggy bibs can be trimmed also. We don't recommend shaving chows for their health. They can sunburn and their coat works to help keep them cool as wool does in the desert. We recommend The Rake for keeping their loose dead undercoat out for maximum coolness.

We are attempting to get pictures to help show cutting methods....etc and will be placed here when we have them.

STEP 6: (Nails) Don't forget to keep your Chows nails trimmed. This is also important to start when the Chow is young and to touch their feet as puppies so they will more easily allow you to trim their nails. It is recommended to have Quick-Stop handy in case needed to stop bleeding. The quick will move back where you can cut the nails shorter and shorter if kept up on a regular basis. Most dogs should have their nails cut about 4 times per year , but monthly is ideal. Puppies much more often as theirs grow much more quickly. Nail Trimming Website

We use a Dremel and grind their nails, we prefer grinding over cutting.

STEP 7: (Flea Control) Don't forget month Frontline Plus. For dogs with a lot of fleas and prior to using the Frontline, you can suds your chow thoroughly with Dawn Dishwashing Liquid (original formula is what we use) and let stand 5 to 10 minutes and this will kill the present fleas. Now use the Frontline monthly to prevent fleas and ticks. Dawn is NOT a preventative.
 

Feel free to email or call for any further answers to any grooming questions.

OR Call 509 773 4327

Updated 10/15/2008

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