One More Coat Question

chowfrnd88 · Post by **chowfrnd88** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 8:56 am

Well, I guess it's more of an observation really. I noticed that after Special blew his coat, there were only a few weeks of him not having much of an undercoat. Is that how it works? He's not quite gotten it all abck, but he's pretty fluffy again. I've noticed this around his abdomen mostly. It was odd, when he had just finished his shed, with his hair being thinner around his abdomen, he was VERY ticklish in that area, now that he's gotten it back, he seems more resistant to tickling! But he really only had the lack of an undercoat for no more than a month, and it's really hot here. I was wondering what determines when the undercoat comes back in, is it climate dependant? Also, has anyone else notied thsi ticklish phenomenon?

Victory · Post by **Victory** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 9:45 am

I've not noticed it being climate dependent really. Most of my males have blown their coats early, like march and early april, (it can snow to the middle of april here in Minnesota) so by the summer, they have full coats again, though not quite as thick as say in December.

Firesong on the other hand is STILL blowing her coat, everything on her legs, tummy, around her neck and under her tail, it could partially be due to stress, so she's getting more supliments. But she's always been late in blowing her's, but by December she's as fluffy as the other are.

And they've all had really small mini blows in late october, early november, (which makes NO sense in Minnesota)

I think it's a combination of genetics, nutrition, stress and seasons.

ciaobella · Post by **ciaobella** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 10:19 am

It may be my imagination, but it seems like Sophie has blown less, retained more undercoat this year than in the past, except on her back, where she is definitely squirmy and ticklish.

Wonder if her undercoat could be blowing out slowly and growing in at the same time?

Sophie has had a mini blow in Dec too, glad to hear it's not uncommon.

Post by **Auddymay** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 10:47 am

I think the same thing- Lily is replacing as fast as I can brush it free!

Post by **jerryo** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 11:02 am

Benny blew his in May, and it's now pretty fluffy again in the last few weeks. It's close to a hundred here now so it doesn't seem weather related. Very little is coming out on the brush at present, so I guess he's storing it up for some unknown reason.

chowfrnd88 · Post by **chowfrnd88** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 11:58 am

Thanks everyone!! Wow! So should I expect a mini-blow later in the fall. It's so interesting!

Yes, indeed it really seems like he was growing it back in as I was brushing it out!! It was like for a few weeks after he blew his coat the hair on his back and abdomen was thin and then all of a sudden, he's this giant ball of fluff again! Too cute!

I'm glad that others have experienced the squirmy/ticklishness too!!

Sharons Chows · Post by **Sharons Chows** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 7:38 pm

as I have said before...it amazes me that Cheyenne still has a coat and she is still a huge ball of fluff.
She has blown her coat like crazy the past 6 weeks or so.

When our precious girl came to live with us in December...she didn't have much fur at all from being shaved at the pound for her later in life spay and who knows what else in her other 2 homes. Alan kept saying that she was a smooth, VERY short haired Chow...I just thought that she was pitiful looking with such a sad face.
Now....she has so much fur ...it is unreal...however, her undercoat does look a little less...so perhaps she has blown most of that now.
But she sure has a beautiful "smile" on her face ALL of the time...no more sad Cheyenne

kiwani · Post by **kiwani** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 12:43 pm

Re: "I noticed that after Special blew his coat, there were only a few weeks of him not having much of an undercoat. Is that how it works?

Yes, a new coat is growing while the old coat is blowing. There are some archived posts on factors linked with shed cycles too.

chowfrnd88 · Post by **chowfrnd88** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 4:19 pm

Thanks everyone!

Sharon, Cheyenne sure does love to show off her beautiful smile too!! It's amazing the look of love and happiness that they get on their faces.

Kiwani, thanks for info and I will look at the old posts too!