Page 66 - Chow LIfe - Spring 2019
P. 66
Chow Chow
Coat Care
AKC Gazette Excerpt
By Love Banghart
CCCI Gazette Columnist
One of the most beautiful sights Clean Grooming Equipment
in the show ring or the home – Oh so important! Do not use a
is a beautiful Chow Chow with dirty brush or comb on your Chow.
a magnificent coat (rough or Equipment should be cleaned
smooth). The AKC breed standard with an anti-bacterial cleaner at
describes the Chow Chow as least monthly. Metal combs that
“Clothed in a smooth or an are rusted or corroded should be
offstanding rough double coat, the discarded since they will cause
Chow is a masterpiece of beauty, coat damage that will take several
dignity and naturalness. “ months to recover.
The rough and smooth coated Bathing – We recommend bathing Clean Environment – Every
Chows are both double coated. the chow every two weeks if being effort must be made to rid the area
The coat length varies markedly shown and at least monthly for from parasites. Fleas and ticks can
on different Chows and thickness, other chows. Use only a good dog destroy a lovely coat and cause skin
texture and condition should be shampoo and rinse thoroughly…. irritation. Floors, dog bedding and
given greater emphasis than length. then rinse again! Any residual rugs should be cleaned regularly to
Obvious trimming or shaping is shampoo can cause skin irritations. remove dirt and dander. The Chow
undesirable. Dry with a cool air dryer and Chow should be provided a dry,
groom, including ear cleaning and cool place in which to live. Heat
nail cutting or grinding. and excessive moisture can cause
Essentials of Good Coat Care: serious health problems as well as
Regular Grooming – A MUST! coat problems.
Healthy Diet – The coat is a At least weekly, the coat should be
reflection of inner health. A thoroughly brushed and all mats
well balanced diet with adequate removed. Care should be given
protein and fat levels is essential. to brushing the undercoat as well
A daily tablespoon of flax seed as the outer coat. A high volume
oil added to the food will help to cool air dryer is a great tool for
maintain a healthy skin and coat. blowing dust and dander from
Please remember that constant the coat prior to brushing. Always
availability of clean fresh water finely mist the coat with distilled
is of utmost importance. water from a spray bottle prior
and during brushing. Brushing a
Ample Exercise – Fresh air and dry coat will cause coat damage.
exercise promote general good A small amount of conditioner
health, increasing circulation and can be added to the spray. We
the efficient metabolism of a good recommend the use of a pin
diet. brush or boar bristle brush to
stimulate healthy coat growth. A Photos for this article © Carol Ann Klein
good metal comb is great for mat
removal and adding the finishing
touch to the well groomed Chow
Chow.
(This article first appeared in the October 2008 AKC Gazette and is reprinted with permission. To read the online
64 Gazette, visit www.akc.org/pubs.)
