Shedding Cycle of a Chow Chow

Chow Chows are a very old breed of dog most recognized for their hair. There are two specific types of Chows. The rough-coated Chow has an abundance of hair that is straight, coarse and thick around the neck and thighs. The smooth variety of Chow also has an abundance of hair that is tightly packed, straight and smooth. Chows have a thin undercoating of hair that is like wool. Both varieties of Chow shed their coats on a seasonal basis.

  1. Spring

    • During the spring months, Chow's begin to shed their heavy coats of hair in preparation for warm weather. This is particularly true for their undercoats. The top coat is shed to some degree, but not in the massive manner as the undercoat. Many people think pets shed because of the temperature. This is not true. Shedding is a result of exposure to light. The shedding process is affected by both sunlight and artificial light. Increased exposure to light stimulates the shedding process for Chows.

    Summer

    • As summer approaches and daylight hours increase, the shedding process in Chows increases exponentially. Although most hair is shed in the late spring, shedding continues into the summer months. The purpose of the heavy shedding is to prepare the Chow for being able to physically tolerate the increased temperatures of summer. By the end of summer, as days begin to grow shorter, less and less shedding occurs and the hair growth process begins again.

    Fall

    • While Chows have been busy shedding their undercoat, as the days begin to grow shorter in the fall, they begin to grow a new undercoat. The Chow is shedding its lighter coat appropriate for summer for a heavier coat in preparation for the colder months of winter.

    Winter

    • By the early days of winter, a Chow's undercoat has grown thick. As the days grow shorter and there is less daylight, the undercoat continues to grow and thicken. The thickness of the undercoat protects the Chow from the harsh cold weather of winter. When the days begin to get longer after the winter equinox, the shedding process begins again. By the time spring has sprung, Chows have begun to lose their thick undercoats in preparation for warmer weather.