Time to Bathe the Chow Chows!
Some of you have asked how my dogs are doing. I'm happy to report - my two French Bulldogs, Crème Brûlée and Bête Noire, and my two Chow Chows, Empress Qin and Emperor Han, are all doing wonderfully.
My dogs are groomed and checked for ticks and fleas every day. They are also bathed regularly - every couple weeks for the dogs, and about once a month for my cats. Recently, it was bath time for Qin and Han. I actually love to do this task myself when I am home, but when I am away, my house cleaner, Carlos, takes on job. When bathing pets, it’s important to always use lukewarm water and only mild pet shampoos - we use my own Martha Stewart shampoos and conditioners from my collection on Amazon.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
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- Empress Qin and Emperor Han are down at the stable ready for a summertime bath. Chow Chows have dense, double coats. They need to be groomed regularly to keep them clean, and free of mats. Regular bathing also helps to lessen the amount of allergens in a dog’s fur. And, bath time is a good opportunity to check for any abnormalities of the skin or body.
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- This giant shower stall is located at one end of the stable. It is a large stall with padded lower walls for animal safety. The faucets are housed in a cabinet on the right to keep them out of the way. The shower stall is also equipped with heaters suspended from the ceiling if needed. The boom sprayer is very flexible and can swivel around easily.
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- My pet shampoos and conditioners are all-natural, hypoallergenic and gentle enough for regular bathing. The formulas are also paraben and sulfate-free. My moisturizing shampoo and conditioner cleanse and intensely moisturize the dog’s skin and coat. When bathing a dog, it’s essential to use products made especially for dogs because of the differences in pH balance. You can find my pet products at my shop on Amazon.
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- First, Carlos fills this wheelbarrow with soapy, lukewarm water. One doesn’t have to use a lot of shampoo for a dog – it can be diluted.
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- We love this specially made wheelbarrow from Scenic Road. It was made with a drain at the bottom. Han is first.
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- Once Han feels the lukewarm water, he starts to relax. Han is five-years-old and such a good boy. When washing, always be very careful around the face, ears, and eyes.
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- My dogs are very accustomed to being bathed. They’ve had many, many baths, but always keep an eye on any dog who is getting washed – just in case they want to make a quick move.
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- After Han is soaped and cleaned, he is given a good rinse. My shampoo formulas are all great for pets with sensitive skin, but with any shampoo, it is very important to remove all the soap from the coat – keep rinsing until there are no visible bubbles on the coat – and then rinse a little more.
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- Meanwhile, the drain of the wheelbarrow is opened so all the dirty, soapy water is released as Han is rinsed. A drainage hole in the wheelbarrow is a very good thing.
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- Han looks over at his sister, Qin. I think he is saying, “just wait, you’re next.”
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- After the shampoo is the conditioner. Conditioner helps restore the dog’s natural oils, leaving its skin feeling moisturized. The added hydration can also help prevent dry, irritated skin before it becomes itchy.
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- Towel drying is not enough for a thick-coated dog, even in the summer. The coats must also be blown completely dry.
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- These specially made dog hair dryers are essential. These machines do not really dry a dog’s coat by heat, but instead blast the water out of the fur. The high speeds also help remove the loose fur in their undercoat, which lessens shedding.
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- Drying completely is crucial. Otherwise, the hair closest to the skin will pack down, retain dirt and moisture, and cause skin irritations.
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- Here, one can see how the dryer blows the fur right down to skin, blowing all the water out. And do you know the difference between fur and hair? Actually, fur is just a collective term used to describe the hairs of an animal other than human.
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- Here’s Han after his “spa” treatments. According to the breed standard, Chows must have a lovely thick mane, with small rounded ears, giving it the appearance of a lion when all grown up. Han is a handsome boy.
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- Qin is next. Qin is a champion conformation show dog, so she is also very used to getting bathed and groomed. Carlos scrubs Qin thoroughly especially her underside, which can pick up burs or other debris.
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- Here she is after her bath, getting a good towel dry. Qin stays very still for the entire process. This is a good time to have the dog shake the water off. Train the dog to shake on cue, so no one gets wet in the process.
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- And look at her getting dried – such an empress.
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- There are two types of coat on a Chow Chow – rough and smooth. Both are double-coated. Qin is a rough-coated Chow. The outer coat is abundant and straight. The undercoat is soft and woolly. Chows should be sturdy and squarely built. Its body should be compact, and heavy-boned – Qin has a perfect body.
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- Carlos dries the feet thoroughly, including in between the dog’s pads. This is important also, to prevent any yeast or irritations on the feet. If one chooses to use a hair dryer for humans, always put it to the no-heat setting. Never use high heat on a dog’s coat. Dogs are much more sensitive to external heat than humans are and have a far more difficult time dissipating heat.
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- Qin looks beautiful, and ready to romp and play, sniff and explore, and yes, get dirty once again. It’s a dog’s wonderful life, here at the farm.
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