There is never enough discussion about hygiene. It is interesting how often happy owners tell me that the Chow Chow was their choice because it is “as clean as a cat.” They believe the claim that bathing this dog two or three times a year is sufficient, since it licks and cleans itself. Through conversations with people, I have gained the impression that the Chow Chow is perceived as one of the cleanest breeds, but this is a dangerous misconception.
Factors That Influence the Chow Chow’s Coat
What matters most is where and under what conditions the dog lives. Coat quality and the amount of lanolin are the result of multiple factors. External factors, what the dog eats, whether it sleeps in a bed or on a terrace, whether it lives in the city center or on the outskirts, directly affect hygiene. Internal factors such as genetics, hormones, age, and sex also determine the condition of a Chow Chow’s coat.
As a brand, we move away from the belief that a dog should be groomed solely according to coat type. A dog is groomed in relation to its proximity to humans. If your dog sleeps in your kitchen or your bed, it must adapt to your lifestyle, not the other way around.
Hygiene as the Foundation of the Human-Dog Relationship
People and dogs often separate because a person cannot tolerate a “smelly house.” And the house smells because the owner does not bathe the dog, trusting advice that one bath per year is enough. If you take your dog into the city three times a day, infrequent bathing is unrealistic. Lanolin is a sticky fat that attracts urban dirt. When the odor becomes unbearable, the dog often ends up on the street.
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A dog living in the house must be adapted to the hygiene standards of the owner.
A person should not become a servant to the Chow Chow breed and its coat. In selective breeding, coat was always a secondary outcome, while character and working ability were the priorities. Today, when dogs are no longer needed for work, the focus has shifted to appearance, yet the relationship between humans and dogs is far deeper than that. A dog that lives in the home must be aligned with the owner’s hygiene standards.
Specific Challenges: The Chow Chow and Wrinkle Hygiene
The Chow Chow is an exceptionally sensitive breed. It has a long coat, abundant skin, and numerous wrinkles where hair grows in different directions. This creates an ideal environment for bacteria and fungi. Hygiene is essential here not because of “naturalness,” but because of health and coexistence with humans.
The myth that the Chow Chow cleans itself like a cat is actually a misinterpretation. What often appears as self-cleaning is the dog attempting to scratch because the wrinkles itch. Care for your dog in accordance with the standard of your own life. The breed is not what matters; what matters is the dog that sleeps beside your children. Everything else is the result of eugenics, similar to the idea once imposed on humans, a concept that places the breed above the living being.
At Sasha Riess, we break the myths that separate families. Grooming your Chow Chow according to human standards ensures a clean home and true pureloveandharmony. Align your hygiene: Linktree Sasha Riess