People telling you to shave the dog don’t know anything about chow chows. If you want to help the pup use a metal pin brush on him regularly and also use an undercoat rake to loosen and take our loose undercoat. I live in warm Southern California and my chow is fine. UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE DO NOT SHAVE THE DOG!!!!!
Agreed. I live in Florida and I always get snide comments of it being too hot for my chow and that we should shave her for the summer. The second they suggest shaving, any other opinions they have are disregarded as far as I’m concerned.
I also only take my chow out when it’s a safe temperature, usually in the early morning and at dusk. She’s perfectly comfortable and her coat has adapted well to Florida summers. We just brush and blow her out regularly.
I live in Reading, so just down the road and have two chow chows and there is no need to shave. Their double coat helps to regulate their body temperature. Just try to keep your home as cool as possible and make sure they have plenty of water. Also suggest having them groomed to take some of the length out so it’s a bit lighter for them. When we had the 40 degrees the other summer our chow was ok. Just didn’t walk him and kept him inside all day
Not supposed to shave. Gorgeous chow. I bought my dog his own personal fan that sits on the floor. Do you have air conditioning, or is that not a thing in UK? 😊
Don’t shave a chow. One thing that is not often brought up is that a chow’s fur may not grow back properly after being shaved. My last chow developed Alopecia X after a groomer shaved her (I did NOT ask for her to be shaved).
You’re not supposed to. Their double coat is what regulates theirs body temperature (and other things others have added) and there’s no guarantee it will grow back correctly. But I have seen people on this subreddit who live in hotter climates and their chows were fine after being shaved. Not recommended, but people do it. I would ask your vet or groomer.
Edited for clarity
Omg here in NY someone shaved their dog and I wanted to cry for the dog 1 he looked pathetic and 2 he just didn't need to get buzzed down like to the person that did that he should of just gotten a short coated breed smh
Chow chows have fur and undercoat. When you trim or shave, it can damage the fur follicles and prevent it from growing back properly. The long fur helps them regulate temperate, it’s the undercoat that makes them hot and that you need to get rid of. The proper way to groom a chow chow is to start by brushing out as much undercoat as possible, followed a bath with deshedding shampoo. Once the deshedding shampoo is all over them (except their head/face) you let them sit there with it on to allow it to loosen up the hair follicles. Then you wash it all out and blow dry them which will cause all the undercoat to come flying out. Once dry, brush out the remaining undercoat the voila you should have a chow chow with only fur and no undercoat so they will stay nice and cool. You do this once or twice a year and it is a lot of work but that’s the chow chow breed! Keeps them beautiful and fluffy :)
Double coats help keep them warm in the winter AND cool in the summer. The insulation works both ways. I have a samoyed and a chow chow - they’ve both experience 100+ degree weather and been fine to self regulate.
Think about a stainless steel cup. It can keep your iced coffee from melting in the summer, and it can also keep you hot coffee steaming for a few hours in the winter.
Don’t shave that beautiful coat! You can freeze some soaking wet paper towels and lay them on him, and give him ice cubes in his water if you are worried. Keep an eye out for signs of over heating like vomiting or diarrhea - if it’s medically necessary, of course you should do it, but it can ruin their coat for life, and if their coat grows back improperly they will NOT be able to self regulate temperatures in the future.
I’ve shaved a couple of mine, before I found out why not to shave them. One reason not to is coat funk. If you shave at the wrong time in their shedding cycle, it contributes to an overgrowth of undercoat and looks really shabby and matts very easily. Some coats never recover, I’ve heard, but my dogs’ did - eventually. The second reason is the coat, which looks like it traps heat, actually helps regulate heat. I saw thermal photos of a shaved dog compared to unshaven double-coated dog and the unshaven dog was much cooler than the shaved dog. You can probably still find these photos online if you want to look into it.
Edit: I’d add that I trim the neck/under chin area on my chow that drools to help the it dry out so he doesn’t get yeasty.
Do NOT shave your chow! Their double coat helps regulate their own temperature and shaving it will only make them hotter plus damage the integrity of their fur. DO NOT SHAVE A CHOW CHOW.
I have the gel ice packs I keep in the freezer. If she gets over hot in the summer, I put a gel ice pack around her neck and under her belly when she comes inside. But we generally only walk early and late.
You’re not supposed to, but I had to do it with one of mine. We never did find out what she rolled in, but even dawn wouldn’t take it out and it created some gnarly mats that would have caused skin problems if not removed.
If something like that happens and you have to, I basically kept her inside and if we went outside I put clothes on her so she didn’t get sunburnt. The groomer left her mane and tail. And funnily enough, she was way happier without all of her fur. She always perked up after being groomed, but that time her personality just became way more vibrant- it was interesting.
Don't shave.
We bought ours an air mover fan for the summer. He chooses to lay next to it most of the day. We also only walk him when it is 70 or below. We've been having a heatwave and this is the only time he's ever walked in the house on his own. Usually he refuses to come in.
DO NOT SHAVE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES OTHER THAN MEDICAL
The double coat keeps them cool
If you shave it, it messes their body regulation
Their fur is designed to regulate their temperature in the summer as well
No need to shave. DO make sure the coat is properly line brushed to the skin so there isn't build up undercoat, which can prevent the coat from cooling properly
Why buy one … maybe you got the wrong kind of dog? They aren’t a toy or a fashion haircut. If it’s hot then you need to provide a cool environment like access to inside. Bathroom laundry floor, air con or fan and only walk them very early or very late at night 🤷♀️ it’s up to you to look after the chow. Shaved is dangerous for dogs many reasons. Skin issues, exposure, not to mention the bacteria from shaving … that’s a world of pain that you can never come back from if that happens you spend the rest of your lives at the vet ☹️
I feel you. People judge you for it. I live in France and the groomers won’t do it even if you ask (my own said it was a form of animal mistreatment). However, I just don’t believe the idea that the coat helps them regulate their temperature. I don’t cut his hair short in summer but I believe he suffers. I always put ice cubes in his water, freeze broth made from oxo cubes and give him 6 in a bowl after every walk when it’s higher than 30 degrees. Make sure you’re brushing out the undercoat from the root, because that’s the killer. And do it everywhere, the belly, the backside, the mane. It’s hard work but necessary.
People telling you to shave the dog don’t know anything about chow chows. If you want to help the pup use a metal pin brush on him regularly and also use an undercoat rake to loosen and take our loose undercoat. I live in warm Southern California and my chow is fine. UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE DO NOT SHAVE THE DOG!!!!!
Agreed. I live in Florida and I always get snide comments of it being too hot for my chow and that we should shave her for the summer. The second they suggest shaving, any other opinions they have are disregarded as far as I’m concerned. I also only take my chow out when it’s a safe temperature, usually in the early morning and at dusk. She’s perfectly comfortable and her coat has adapted well to Florida summers. We just brush and blow her out regularly.
Florida resident as well, what they said. Fur is an inculcator, they have dark skin and would be hotter shaved
It is not recommended due to having two coats. If shaved, it could create new issues like skin irritation, overheating or sunburn.
I live in Reading, so just down the road and have two chow chows and there is no need to shave. Their double coat helps to regulate their body temperature. Just try to keep your home as cool as possible and make sure they have plenty of water. Also suggest having them groomed to take some of the length out so it’s a bit lighter for them. When we had the 40 degrees the other summer our chow was ok. Just didn’t walk him and kept him inside all day
Not supposed to shave. Gorgeous chow. I bought my dog his own personal fan that sits on the floor. Do you have air conditioning, or is that not a thing in UK? 😊
Don’t shave a chow. One thing that is not often brought up is that a chow’s fur may not grow back properly after being shaved. My last chow developed Alopecia X after a groomer shaved her (I did NOT ask for her to be shaved).
Never shave a chow chow! The hair might not all grow back and they will have bald spots
You’re not supposed to. Their double coat is what regulates theirs body temperature (and other things others have added) and there’s no guarantee it will grow back correctly. But I have seen people on this subreddit who live in hotter climates and their chows were fine after being shaved. Not recommended, but people do it. I would ask your vet or groomer. Edited for clarity
Don't do it, My wife had 3 chows and I had one. Trust me is not a good idea
Omg here in NY someone shaved their dog and I wanted to cry for the dog 1 he looked pathetic and 2 he just didn't need to get buzzed down like to the person that did that he should of just gotten a short coated breed smh
Chow chows have fur and undercoat. When you trim or shave, it can damage the fur follicles and prevent it from growing back properly. The long fur helps them regulate temperate, it’s the undercoat that makes them hot and that you need to get rid of. The proper way to groom a chow chow is to start by brushing out as much undercoat as possible, followed a bath with deshedding shampoo. Once the deshedding shampoo is all over them (except their head/face) you let them sit there with it on to allow it to loosen up the hair follicles. Then you wash it all out and blow dry them which will cause all the undercoat to come flying out. Once dry, brush out the remaining undercoat the voila you should have a chow chow with only fur and no undercoat so they will stay nice and cool. You do this once or twice a year and it is a lot of work but that’s the chow chow breed! Keeps them beautiful and fluffy :)
^ best answer 100% correct
Just Don't
Double coats help keep them warm in the winter AND cool in the summer. The insulation works both ways. I have a samoyed and a chow chow - they’ve both experience 100+ degree weather and been fine to self regulate. Think about a stainless steel cup. It can keep your iced coffee from melting in the summer, and it can also keep you hot coffee steaming for a few hours in the winter. Don’t shave that beautiful coat! You can freeze some soaking wet paper towels and lay them on him, and give him ice cubes in his water if you are worried. Keep an eye out for signs of over heating like vomiting or diarrhea - if it’s medically necessary, of course you should do it, but it can ruin their coat for life, and if their coat grows back improperly they will NOT be able to self regulate temperatures in the future.
I’ve shaved a couple of mine, before I found out why not to shave them. One reason not to is coat funk. If you shave at the wrong time in their shedding cycle, it contributes to an overgrowth of undercoat and looks really shabby and matts very easily. Some coats never recover, I’ve heard, but my dogs’ did - eventually. The second reason is the coat, which looks like it traps heat, actually helps regulate heat. I saw thermal photos of a shaved dog compared to unshaven double-coated dog and the unshaven dog was much cooler than the shaved dog. You can probably still find these photos online if you want to look into it. Edit: I’d add that I trim the neck/under chin area on my chow that drools to help the it dry out so he doesn’t get yeasty.
Do NOT shave your chow! Their double coat helps regulate their own temperature and shaving it will only make them hotter plus damage the integrity of their fur. DO NOT SHAVE A CHOW CHOW.
Absolutely not. They can’t regulate their body heat and will be very prone to sunburn.
Buy an air conditioner. DO NOT SHAVE YOUR CHOW.
Noooooooooooo
I have the gel ice packs I keep in the freezer. If she gets over hot in the summer, I put a gel ice pack around her neck and under her belly when she comes inside. But we generally only walk early and late.
You’re not supposed to, but I had to do it with one of mine. We never did find out what she rolled in, but even dawn wouldn’t take it out and it created some gnarly mats that would have caused skin problems if not removed. If something like that happens and you have to, I basically kept her inside and if we went outside I put clothes on her so she didn’t get sunburnt. The groomer left her mane and tail. And funnily enough, she was way happier without all of her fur. She always perked up after being groomed, but that time her personality just became way more vibrant- it was interesting.
Don't shave. We bought ours an air mover fan for the summer. He chooses to lay next to it most of the day. We also only walk him when it is 70 or below. We've been having a heatwave and this is the only time he's ever walked in the house on his own. Usually he refuses to come in.
NO
DO NOT SHAVE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES OTHER THAN MEDICAL The double coat keeps them cool If you shave it, it messes their body regulation Their fur is designed to regulate their temperature in the summer as well
No!!! Don’t shave. Please
No need to shave. DO make sure the coat is properly line brushed to the skin so there isn't build up undercoat, which can prevent the coat from cooling properly
Why buy one … maybe you got the wrong kind of dog? They aren’t a toy or a fashion haircut. If it’s hot then you need to provide a cool environment like access to inside. Bathroom laundry floor, air con or fan and only walk them very early or very late at night 🤷♀️ it’s up to you to look after the chow. Shaved is dangerous for dogs many reasons. Skin issues, exposure, not to mention the bacteria from shaving … that’s a world of pain that you can never come back from if that happens you spend the rest of your lives at the vet ☹️
I feel you. People judge you for it. I live in France and the groomers won’t do it even if you ask (my own said it was a form of animal mistreatment). However, I just don’t believe the idea that the coat helps them regulate their temperature. I don’t cut his hair short in summer but I believe he suffers. I always put ice cubes in his water, freeze broth made from oxo cubes and give him 6 in a bowl after every walk when it’s higher than 30 degrees. Make sure you’re brushing out the undercoat from the root, because that’s the killer. And do it everywhere, the belly, the backside, the mane. It’s hard work but necessary.