Can i cut my chows hair

Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. We own a 6-month old Chow-Chow. We'd like to take him to a professional groomer now that summer is here.

Are there any special precautions we should pay attention to? I've heard that some dogs have a two-layer coat and that it can be dangerous to shave both layers, is this true? Double coated dogs such as the Chow Chow and many others should never be shaved unless it's for medical reasons such as a skin disease or other vet recommended procedure. A dog's double coat actually helps insulate a dog to keep him cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

Shaving a double coated dog will not only prevent a dog from keeping cool, it can actually make them overheat and more likely to get sunburn. Besides that, the fur rarely grows in the same and you end up with fur that doesn't look right and is not as soft as it was previously.

Here is a diagram explaining the purpose of the double coat. The best way to groom a dog with a double coat is to use a combination of an undercoat rake and wire comb.

For our dog, Nova an American Eskimo , the wire comb is usually good enough, but the undercoat rake can come in handy to get rid of any mats or extra dense spots. Grooming regularly we groom Nova about once a week makes the job very easy and only takes a little while. It also helps keep the dog cool in the summer and prevents mats from building up that prevent airflow.

It may be a good idea to have it in writing because even still it can sometimes happen! It seems like a natural idea to shave your dog to help them stay cool in the summer, but when you remove all their hair they are unable to retain a cool layer of air close to their skin.

The combination of both coats growing in at the same time will make your Chows even hotter since the undercoat will keep air from circulating. The changed texture of the long guard hairs will actually absorb heat from the sun to make your dog much more susceptible to overheating.

Your Chow Chow can handle quite the range of temperatures, but there are some things that you can do to help your dog to be more comfortable in the heat of the summer. They sweat from the pads of their feet and their panting can help cool them down but it may not be enough. Here are some tips to keep your Chows cool in the summertime. That are certain instances when the benefits of shaving a Chow Chow will out way the negatives. A few of these include when a dog is severely matted, a senior dog that has health conditions, or certain parts of all Chow Chows.

It is always heartbreaking to hear stories of neglect but if you have ever adopted a dog from a rescue or shelter chances are that their matted coat is only one of the problems that you may be dealing with while trying to help your Chow Chow have a better life.

The goal is to help your rescued dog have a much better life with causing as little added pain as possible. Chow Chows naturally remind us of the majestic lion and because of this, some owners may want to shave their dogs to accentuate that beauty. The Lion Cut is a popular cut for the Chow Chow.

The body is shaved using electric clippers, leaving the fur around the face, head, part of the chest, and on a small portion of the shoulders. The fur on the tip of the tail is left, as well as the fur on the feet and ankles. Read all about Chow Chow tails in this article! This dog is a rescue whose severe matting was near to impossible to fix without a shave. Even with the shave, the new owner had to brush out several matted areas. If this is the case then you should take precautions to keep your dog indoors and out of the elements where she is more likely to get sunburned or over heat.

When we are discussing shaving your dog we are talking about their entire body. Yes, the hair will grow back, but it most likely will not be the same texture.

When trimming the feet of your chow, ensure that you remove burrs and foreign objects from between the toes. Trim the fur between the toes carefully to prevent matting and pain when walking. Though this keeps the dog cooler in summer, it also leaves him vulnerable to sunburn and skin cancer. Place a small size T-shirt on the dog to prevent exposure to UV rays from intense sunlight.

Between baths, brush your chow weekly, working the brush down to the skin to remove mats. Use the slicker brush on the shorter hair and the pin brush on longer hair.

Adding a bit of coat dressing will prevent breakage of hair and static electricity as you brush. Share It. Brush the dog to remove large mats and loose hair before bathing.