Learn here everything you need to groom your Japanese Chin like a pro, in the comfort of your home. You’ll learn: how to brush the coat, how to shape the head, how to trim the feet and hocks, suggested tools and equipment to use, and so on…

Pre-Work

Trim or grind nails every four to six weeks to maintain a healthy foot structure. Clean the ears by swabbing with a mild ear cleaning solution.

To loosen skin dander and to remove loose coat use the following tools:

• rubber curry
• shedding blade
• undercoat rake
• pumice stone
• carding tool
• fine stripping knife
• natural bristle brush

Use a high-velocity dryer over the coat to quickly and effectively lift dirt and debris away from the skin and loosen coat. Brush out or remove any matting found in the long-roared areas.

If the tangles are loose enough so water can fully penetrate the area, remove them after bathing and drying. If water cannot penetrate, remove the mat or tangle prior to bathing.

Note:

On short, flat-muzzled pets, it is extremely important to prevent water from entering the nasal cavity. When washing the face, lower the water pressure and do not use running water near the nose. Use a moist, clean cloth to gently wipe clean the muzzle and wrinkles.

Brushing the Coat

Line brush, working in sections until the Japanese Chin is entirely tangle-free and all loose coat is removed. When finished, there should be little, if any, fur still being removed with a firm slicker brush. Double-check the work with a comb and your hands.

Go over the entire body, feeling for any inconsistencies in the density levels of the coat. If an area seems moist to the touch or fuller than the rest of the coat, rework the area with the appropriate tool.

Mats, tangles and excessive coat are easily trapped in the following areas: behind the ears, around the ruff, the thigh area, the undercarriage and the tail. Give extra attention to these areas before finishing the groom.

Carding the Coat

If a dog has an abundance of loose undercoat, card the areas with a carding tool. Common tools can be a fine stripping knife, undercoat rake, a pumice stone, or a #40 blade held between your fingers.

Any carding tool should be pulled over the body, working in the direction of the coat growth. This will remove the soft, downy undercoat, allowing the guard coat to conform more closely to the natural outline of the body. It will also aid in the removal of loose, shedding coat, a seasonal problem for many dog owners.

Trimming the Feet & Hocks

Trim the pads with a close blade ranging, from a #15 to a #40. Use a very light touch to clean the pads of long hair. If there is long fur between the toes, back brush the fur so it stands up on top of and away from the foot. With thinning shears, trim the excess to create a neat and very natural looking foot.

Tidy the outside edge of the foot, if needed, with small detailing shears. If the hocks have longer coat, trim lightly with thinning shears to show a neat, clean area. A #4F blade, used carefully in reverse, works well for trimming the tops of the feet and the hocks on some dogs, like in this case on your Japanese Chin.

Detail Finish

Edge the ears lightly with thinning shears to neaten and keep a natural look. Hand pluck any long wispy, flyaway hair from around the ears. Removal of whiskers on the muzzle is optional based on client preference.

Finish with a fine mist of coat polish on the body coat for added shine. Application of bows and mild cologne is optional.

Suggested Tools & Equipment

• Nail Trimmers
• Styptic Powder
• Ear Cleaning Solution
• Cotton Balls
• Clippers
• #40 and #15 Blades for Pads
• #4F for Feet & Hocks (optional)
• Slicker Brush
• Greyhound Comb
• Rubber Curry
• Carding Tool
• De-Shedding Tools
• Small Detailing Shears
• Thinning Shears

Breed Facts & Characteristics

Country of Origin: China

Height at Shoulders: 8″-11″

Coat Length/Type: Combination/Silky

Color: All shades of red or tan with white, black and white, or black and white with tan points.

Correct grooming procedure: Bathe and Brush Out/Minor Trimming

Common pet grooming practices: Bathe & Brush Out/Minor Trimming

The Goal here is: Coat of Japanese Chin should be mat free, shiny, light and airy. The coat should bounce and float with the dog as it moves.