How Often Should I Brush My Chow?

Chows have two types of coats, either rough and straight or smooth and hard. Both types of coats have a wool-type undercoat that provides warm insulation. A chow's coat comes in colors, including black, cinnamon, red, blue or cream. Regular brushing and grooming is required to keep a chow's coat maintained.

Chow puppies have a very soft and dense coat. It takes up to several months for the puppy coat to transition into the adult coat. The puppy coat tangles easily; daily brushing is required for the entire length of time your chow has his puppy coat. Give your chow puppy special grooming time and attention by brushing him on a daily basis. This will allow him to get used to being brushed; a task that he will endure frequently throughout his lifetime. The rake brush is best suited for chows thick coat. A rake brush is shaped like a shaving razor and has up to two rows of pins that penetrate a chow's thick coat, removing the dead undercoat and trapped debris.

A hard, dense, smooth coat requires brushing once a week. Brush your chow thoroughly in small sections at a time. Ensure the brush reaches through the fur, and lightly brush across the skin. Your chow will need to lie down on his side so that you can brush his side and undercarriage. Behind the ear, elbows and on his tummy are frequent places that matting forms easily. Be sure to reach all of these places with every brushing session.

Rough-coated chows have thick hair that sticks outwards around their head and neck, closely resembling a lion-like mane. Brushing is required every other day for rough-coated chows, and daily during the shedding season, according to Animal Planet.

Noticeable signs of shedding will appear throughout your home, yard, car and any where else your chow visits. Both coat types, rough and smooth, are heavy seasonal shedders and daily thorough brushing is needed to maintain a healthy, mat-free coat. Choose grooming tools, such as a rake brush for heavy undercoats and a slicker brush with short, fine wires placed closely together on a flat surface for shorter hair. The slicker brush helps thin out a rough-coated chow's dense undercoat during the shedding season, but avoid using too much pressure as you brush your dog to prevent any discomfort. To groom other areas, including the chow's face, legs and feet, choose a fine-toothed comb. An oval-shaped pin brush with pins located on top of flexible wires work well to finish off a thorough grooming session.