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I've had my chow/mix since July and have only bathed her once since having her (and that was an experience that I really don't want to repeat!) Unless it's in a bowl Chloe avoids being near water, so you can image what it's like just having to go out into the rain . I've read here that some people don't bathe their chows and others do it maybe once or twice a year. Is this a breed where bathing is discouraged? It took a lot of bribing to get her into the tub and she was obviously not happy about being there despite being plied with chicken which she loves. It also took forever to dry her down. She doesn't have a strong smell. I do have a "waterless" shampoo for her but I worry about rinsing well the one time I tried that (it's kind of like a sponge bath and she wasn't fooled for one minute.)

She does get brushed every day and it's an activity that she loves. She sheds like a fiend and I constantly find furry tumbleweeds all over the apartment. All I have to do is hold the brush in my hand and she's breaking speed records to plop herself at my feet (I thought about using the vacuum on her as every dog I had growing up just loved that but she rates the vacuum right up there with water) Anyway, brushing is kind of our wind-down activity at the end of the day. The only snag in this is that she doesn't really like having her hind end brushed and is only slightly more tolerant of having her tail brushed. I have two different brushes I use on her: a wiry type I use on her thicker hair and a softer one for her back (she has a smooth coat.)

Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.

The biggest concern is that you will dry out their oils if they are bathed too often. That can make them itchy and their skin flaky.

Butters gets a bath anywhere from 4 to 6 times a year depending on what he has been into and how bad he smells. HE also will shed better and the hair is easier to get out sometimes after a bath. (He hates water as well except to drink, he will try and pull my arm out of socket to jump water puddles!!) It is a 2 person job. But he has learned to quite fighting so once he is put in the tub he just sits an gives you those sad pitiful faces.

If you brush her a lot she should be ok as long as you can stand her. Brushing will keep the hair in good shape and you don't have to worry about drying her hair out.

I bathed mine once,the day after I got them from the shelter,they still fitted in the kitchen sink then,lol.
I brush them every day when they shed,and twice a week when hey don't.They never smell like wet dog the way the jack russel does,and they stay clean,so I don't see the point in bathing them.You can use baby wipes if they get something on them,like when they have the runs or are in heat.

I tend to bathe mine more regularly ( every 2 weeks) as M&A paddle in the lake, lie in the mud, roll in the sand I worry that leaving them dirty is more of an issue than bathing them! I rinse for ages & the conditioner I use helps neuteralise the shampoo. No problems with skin at all

I think it just depends more what works for you

Thanks for the input. I don't notice any smell from her unless we've been out in the rain. She does her darndest to avoid getting near water (lakes, puddles, etc.) If she could figure out a way to walk between raindrops she'd do it. I'll stick with her brushing for now and see how it goes.

Thanks, all, again for your input.

Mine get bathed at the groomer every six weeks or so. And brushed pretty much daily even though they both think the brushing is a horrible idea.