Second Chow (rough coat this time) ... Grooming Advice?

Topics, guidelines and tips for coat and skin care and grooming Chow Chows.

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dougg
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Second Chow (rough coat this time) ... Grooming Advice?

Post by dougg »

Hi all -
Well our adorable cream male rough coat -- we are leaning towards calling him 'Nico' -- arrives this coming Tuesday. I'm here writing on behalf of my wife who is the family groomer and loves doing it. She has a lovely evening ritual that she performs with our one year old red smooth chow (Simba) already; they clearly both love it. She told me today though that she isn't sure what the differences are in grooming a rough coat and when she went to the local chain pet stores, she didn't see the kind of quality or selection that she liked.

So I'm asking all the resident experts out there to help her/me out and let me know what sorts of tools you use and if you know of a good place (online site?) to get them. We'd watched a video and seen tools like a 'greyhound comb' and one that removes matted fur and other things caught inside the fur - but we couldn't find them at the local store and weren't sure what others thought about using them.

Any advice on this welcome!
Thanks.

-Doug (and Deborah)
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kiwani
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Re: Second Chow (rough coat this time) ... Grooming Advice?

Post by kiwani »

dougg wrote: She told me today though that she isn't sure what the differences are in grooming a rough coat and when she went to the local chain pet stores, she didn't see the kind of quality or selection that she liked....-Doug (and Deborah)
I've been recommending two grooming tools specially designed for rough long haired double-coat breeds. One is a pin brush with much longer 35mm pins.
It's made in Germany, is called "Because I am #1", costs about $15, and is available online. I posted a photo of it, which you'll find in the archives, and explained the difference between that brush and the one they also sell for finer coats. The one I'm talking about has a black-rubber base for the pins.

The second tool I recommend is a long-tooth, rotating pin, spring-loaded undercoat rake. Mikki is one of the brands. That type of brush glides rather than pulls fur, and it adjusts itself to fit the body contour. I consider both of these excellent tools for Chows.

It's important to lightly mist a rough coat before grooming. Moisture
strengthens the hair shaft and makes grooming less painful. It's also important to maintain the strong keratin layer of the hair shaft - either through optimal nutrition or through the use of 'color-intensifying' types of grooming products. These grooming products help maintain the keratin layer and heal fraying. A frayed hair shaft matts easily.

This topic comes up frequently and there are numerous threads in this forum's back pages containing product links, brand names, photos, etc.
summer_rose03
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Re: Second Chow (rough coat this time) ... Grooming Advice?

Post by summer_rose03 »

I am a groomer and these are the tools I use and recommend. They are all available from www.petedge.com.

Daily grooming is great and it sounds like you already have a routine, so adding a rough coat shouldn't be too difficult!
Although, if you do your own bathing as well, you may want to also invest in a good velocity dryer. The longer the dog stays wet, the more likely mats/tangles/rashes etc will develop. Also helps loosen clumps of undercoat during shedding season. Cuts grooming time in half during those times!
Dryer:
http://www.petedge.com/Metro-Air-Force- ... goryId=263



Long pins - Undercoat rake
http://www.petedge.com/Master-Grooming- ... goryId=276

Mat breaker- for cases of thick tangles
http://www.petedge.com/Matbreaker-Demat ... goryId=276

I love these- double hard teal, use the bent pin side
http://www.petedge.com/Master-Grooming- ... goryId=478

Comb- I would do the medium or coarse comb for a thicker coat.
http://www.petedge.com/Master-Grooming- ... goryId=479

And the best conditioning/dematting spray ever!
http://www.petedge.com/The-Stuff-Condit ... T18916.pro
ImageImage
Thanks SweetPea!
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