EASY CARE ROUTINES
A chin is a small, unique little character with a few special needs for their care. We’ve outlined a few of our routines below that when combined with a high quality diet, daily exercise and socialization, make it easy to keep our chin in top physical and mental health. For socialization we always recommend puppy classes with basic obedience and then whatever you enjoy doing together!
START THIS EASY CARE ROUTINE ON DAY 1
CONTINUE IT FOR THE LIFETIME OF YOUR CHIN
We do the steps quickly, adjusting the routine for each of our chin as required. They quickly become accustomed to the handling and as they age, and extra steps may be needed, they are not stressed. Our vet also thanks us as we have well behaved chin!
DAILY - 2 minutes max (We aim for daily but if we miss a day we don't worry!)
After breakfast:
- Run a soft pin brush over them quickly to remove loose hair and check that their little bottoms are clean. Chin do shed and we find that this is the best way to catch loose fur before it gets over everything.
- Rub a little DOG TOOTHPASTE, never human toothpaste, over their teeth with your finger, ours prefer VANILLA AND POULTRY FLAVORED.
- Wipe their little faces with a damp cloth if needed (we feed a balanced raw diet that they always seem to get on their foreheads as they lick their bowls clean).
- Give a little snuggle, especially if its a puppy so the daily routine is enjoyable and ends on a good note!
TIP - keep a small bag with a pin brush, their toothpaste and unscented wet wipes where you keep their food so this becomes an easy, quick daily habit like brushing your own teeth!
WEEKLY - 15 minutes max
Decide a set time so you don’t forget, for us it is Saturday mornings. After breakfast:
- Put them on a grooming table, we prefer the smaller circular lazy Susan type that sit on our table and is easily moved around if needed, but any table or flat surface will work.
- Spray lightly with your favorite detangling spray and run a soft pin brush over them quickly, check that their little bottoms are clean while you brush their hind end.
- Spray and comb their ear fringe to remove any small knots.
- Trim their nails if necessary, don’t forget to check front and back dewclaws as well if your chin has them.
- Either wipe their teeth with their toothpaste on your finger or use a dental wipe (gauze).
- Wipe their little faces with a damp cloth.
- Apply EYE ENVY TEAR STAIN REMOVING POWDER, with a small makeup brush, into folds over the nose and below the eyes to prevent moisture developing bacteria. If your chin has tear stains use the solution first, then the powder for a few days to remove the stains, then you can go to once a week with just the powder.
- Dab a little moisturizing balm on their nose. If your chin has a DRY NOSE (HYPER KERATOSIS) you may need to do this daily for a few days, then go to weekly once it remains hydrated.
- Look in their ears, they should be clean, dry and have no smell, you should not have to do anything to them.
Chin like to play with their paws like a cat, make sure their nails, as well as those of their playmates, are short to prevent eye injuries.
MONTHLY - 45 minutes max
Decide a set time so you don’t forget, for us it is the first Saturday of the month.
- We will do either the weekly routine above or give them a full groom (bath).
- Trim the hair around their bottoms and the boys bellies for cleanliness.
- Weigh them - chin drop and gain weight quickly which can go unnoticed when they have their full coats. TIP - an inexpensive infant scale works well!
Monthly weighing keeps their “weight health” top of mind for you and allows you to make adjustments to their diet in a timely fashion. NEVER LET YOUR CHIN BECOME OBESE, obesity is a silent killer of a chin as it hinders their breathing, stresses their hearts and their small frames are overburdened by extra weight.
ANNUALLY
Visit your veterinarian for a check up, even if vaccines are not due - we vaccinate or have titers done every 3 years.
Have your veterinarian:
- Listen carefully to their heart and check their eyes, if any abnormalities schedule a cardiologist and/or ophthalmologist exam for further diagnosis.
- Do a physical exam including careful inspection of their teeth.
- Discuss flea/tick prevention for your area.
CONTINUE IT FOR THE LIFETIME OF YOUR CHIN
We do the steps quickly, adjusting the routine for each of our chin as required. They quickly become accustomed to the handling and as they age, and extra steps may be needed, they are not stressed. Our vet also thanks us as we have well behaved chin!
DAILY - 2 minutes max (We aim for daily but if we miss a day we don't worry!)
After breakfast:
- Run a soft pin brush over them quickly to remove loose hair and check that their little bottoms are clean. Chin do shed and we find that this is the best way to catch loose fur before it gets over everything.
- Rub a little DOG TOOTHPASTE, never human toothpaste, over their teeth with your finger, ours prefer VANILLA AND POULTRY FLAVORED.
- Wipe their little faces with a damp cloth if needed (we feed a balanced raw diet that they always seem to get on their foreheads as they lick their bowls clean).
- Give a little snuggle, especially if its a puppy so the daily routine is enjoyable and ends on a good note!
TIP - keep a small bag with a pin brush, their toothpaste and unscented wet wipes where you keep their food so this becomes an easy, quick daily habit like brushing your own teeth!
WEEKLY - 15 minutes max
Decide a set time so you don’t forget, for us it is Saturday mornings. After breakfast:
- Put them on a grooming table, we prefer the smaller circular lazy Susan type that sit on our table and is easily moved around if needed, but any table or flat surface will work.
- Spray lightly with your favorite detangling spray and run a soft pin brush over them quickly, check that their little bottoms are clean while you brush their hind end.
- Spray and comb their ear fringe to remove any small knots.
- Trim their nails if necessary, don’t forget to check front and back dewclaws as well if your chin has them.
- Either wipe their teeth with their toothpaste on your finger or use a dental wipe (gauze).
- Wipe their little faces with a damp cloth.
- Apply EYE ENVY TEAR STAIN REMOVING POWDER, with a small makeup brush, into folds over the nose and below the eyes to prevent moisture developing bacteria. If your chin has tear stains use the solution first, then the powder for a few days to remove the stains, then you can go to once a week with just the powder.
- Dab a little moisturizing balm on their nose. If your chin has a DRY NOSE (HYPER KERATOSIS) you may need to do this daily for a few days, then go to weekly once it remains hydrated.
- Look in their ears, they should be clean, dry and have no smell, you should not have to do anything to them.
Chin like to play with their paws like a cat, make sure their nails, as well as those of their playmates, are short to prevent eye injuries.
MONTHLY - 45 minutes max
Decide a set time so you don’t forget, for us it is the first Saturday of the month.
- We will do either the weekly routine above or give them a full groom (bath).
- Trim the hair around their bottoms and the boys bellies for cleanliness.
- Weigh them - chin drop and gain weight quickly which can go unnoticed when they have their full coats. TIP - an inexpensive infant scale works well!
Monthly weighing keeps their “weight health” top of mind for you and allows you to make adjustments to their diet in a timely fashion. NEVER LET YOUR CHIN BECOME OBESE, obesity is a silent killer of a chin as it hinders their breathing, stresses their hearts and their small frames are overburdened by extra weight.
ANNUALLY
Visit your veterinarian for a check up, even if vaccines are not due - we vaccinate or have titers done every 3 years.
Have your veterinarian:
- Listen carefully to their heart and check their eyes, if any abnormalities schedule a cardiologist and/or ophthalmologist exam for further diagnosis.
- Do a physical exam including careful inspection of their teeth.
- Discuss flea/tick prevention for your area.
