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Chow Chow Grooming Tips & Styles

Dr Julia Brassel
Reviewed by:
Dr. Julia Brassel
Veterinarian

Chow Chows are probably best known for their thick and fluffy coats, which make them look pretty much like a teddy bear with a blue tongue.

In this extensive grooming guide we will cover how to maintain a healthy skin and coat routine for your Chow, which brush to use and how often to brush your Chow.

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Do Chow Chows Need Haircuts?

Technically you do not need to cut your Chow Chows hair, ever. Their fur does not hinder their sight or their mobility in any way as it sometimes does with other dog breeds.

The fur of this ancient breed also acts as perfect, natural insulation and temperature regulator for cold and hot weather and, therefore, does not require any trimming.

You can, however, trim its hair slightly to keep its natural outline and neaten it up below the tail or on the legs. Make sure you do not cut off too much, as a Chow Chow’s fur needs to look airy and fluffy.

How often do Chow Chows need a haircut?

If you decide to trim your Chow to neaten up its entire coat a little, you can do this about every three months or so.

Chow Chow haircut styles

If you do decide to make your Chow stand out and give it a fashionable cut, here are the most popular ways to style your double-coated breed:

The Lion Cut

If you want to enhance your Chow’s lion-like appearance, this is the cut for you. We recommend a professional groomer to take care of this style as it requires a somewhat sturdy hand.

With this cut, your Chow will have shorter hair around the whole body, while your Chow’s coat will be kept long around its head, chest and tail.

The Puppy Cut

Just as with any other dog breed, this cut keeps your Chow’s hair the same fluffy length all over its body and makes for a more airy summer trim.
 

How Do You Groom A Chow Chow At Home?

Brushing

You can brush your Chow breed daily, even several times, with a metal comb, large slicker brush or a pin brush to remove excessive coat hair and prevent mats. Removing excess hair with a brush will also prevent your Chow from shedding hair all over your home and furniture.To make your dog’s coat look shiny after a brush, you can apply a specific coat dressing that will bring back its natural shine and works as a form of conditioner.

Bathing

You can bathe your Chow breed weekly or, ideally, bathing monthly to keep the smooth coat shiny. Make sure to use high-quality dog shampoo to avoid skin problems. Afterwards, towel dry your Chow, and if you want to give your Chow’s fur a good shape, you can even try and blow-dry it and use the slicker brush for that typical fluffy appearance.

Hair Trimming

Cutting your Chow’s hair is quite a mission; therefore, we would recommend taking it to a professional, but if you would like to just give your dog’s coat a little trim around its face, make sure it’s with a trimmer rather than a scissor to avoid accidentally injuring yourself or the dog in the process.

Nail Trimming

You will have to trim your Chow’s nails about every three months as long nails can be painful for your Chow and cause infections or, eventually breaks, which can be even more dangerous.
 

Chow Chow Additional Grooming Requirements

Nail clipping

How to do it

A dog’s paws are very sensitive areas, so make sure you train your Chow Chow from a young age to be comfortable around you touching its paws. If you have done your job properly, your Chow will trust you with its nails. You can trim long toenails with a grinder instead of a clipper to avoid cutting into the dog’s nail bed and causing heavy bleeding and pain.

This should be done about every three months, but usually, as soon as you can hear your dog’s nails make a clicking noise on the floor is a good point of reference.

Ear Cleaning

How to do it

Your dog’s ear canal can get easily infected if there is a build-up of too much debris and dirt. The best way to clean your dog’s ears is while bathing it. Use a damp cloth and try to remove as much debris as possible from inside and around the ear. Make sure to dry the ear canal thoroughly to avoid any infections.

Teeth & Gum Hygiene

How to do it

If food gets stuck in your dog’s teeth, it can eventually lead to gum disease and dental problems. Therefore you should regularly brush your Chow’s teeth with a smooth brush or give it chewy treats that are specifically for maintaining mouth hygiene. In general, your dog’s mouth should be brushed weekly.
 

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions by Chow owners that will give you some further insights on this sturdy dog of Northern Chinese origin:

When should you first groom a Chow Chow?

No matter if your Chow has a rough or smooth coat, you should start grooming your Chow breed as early as possible to get it used to the procedures and to build up trust. Ideally, start regular grooming by brushing out loose hair and bathing it once or twice before your dog turns 16 weeks old.

How often should I bathe my Chow Chow?

You can bathe your Chow Chow as often as once a week, but you should not wait any longer than six weeks as Chows tend to get skin infections if their thick hair gets too dirty.

Do Chow Chows require professional grooming?

As Chows do not require to get a haircut necessarily, they do not require professional grooming per se. However, if you want your Chow to get a haircut by a professional, you should definitely start introducing him to a grooming table as soon as possible to avoid your dog feeling anxious or aggressive in such a situation.

Should I shave my Chow Chow for summer?

As mentioned earlier, the double coats of your Chows and other dogs work as a perfect insulation system by themselves. However, if you are living in particularly hot areas in Australia, it might be a good idea to trim and air out your Chow’s coat a little to make it cool off easier in summer.
 

Final Thoughts on Chow Chow Grooming

Every dog breed has its own grooming requirements, and owners should make sure to do thorough research before acquiring any puppy to know what they might be in for in terms of time, effort and money.

The Chow Chow is certainly no exception to that, and any owner should make sure that they factor its grooming needs into their lifestyle accordingly.

These fluffy teddy bear dogs are certainly high-maintenance when it comes to their thick and rough undercoat. If you do not mind having their long hair stick to almost everything around the house and put in some extra work with a pin brush to brush your dog’s dead hair out daily, then this is the perfect furry friend for you and your family.

Learn more about: Chow Chow Dog Breed Information

Other helpful information

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