Quick answer
Brittany or Chow Chow - which fits most households better?
The Brittany, if you want a trainable, sociable dog that's easy around kids and other dogs. The Chow Chow suits someone who wants a calmer, more independent dog and doesn't mind heavy coat care.
Brittany Spaniel or Chow Chow? On paper they differ most on grooming need, and on the scales Chow Chow is the heavier at 45–70 lbs. Here is how the two compare on everything that shapes an ordinary week.
This is for someone already down to Brittany Spaniel and Chow Chow and deciding between them. For this pair the decision usually turns on grooming need and trainability, so those are covered first and in most detail. Anyone choosing from a flat has a clear answer here: Chow Chow rates 4/5 against 3/5. The focus throughout is on daily consequences rather than breed background.
Between Brittany Spaniel and Chow Chow, grooming need is what separates them, and Brittany Spaniel is the lower-effort dog of the two to keep.
Choose Brittany Spaniel if this is your first dog, you do not want a standing grooming appointment and shedding is a problem in your house.
Choose Chow Chow if you are in a flat or a smaller home, your walking routine is modest and the dog will be alone during the working day.
| Feature | brittany | chow chow | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size class | medium | medium | Equal |
| Weight | 30–40 lbs | 45–70 lbs | Equal |
| Height | 17–20 in | 17–20 in | Equal |
| Lifespan | 12–15 years | 9–15 years | brittany |
| Exercise need | High (4/5) | Low (2/5) | chow chow |
| Grooming need | Low (2/5) | Very high (5/5) | brittany |
| Shedding | Moderate (3/5) | High (4/5) | brittany |
| Energy level | High (4/5) | Low (2/5) | Equal |
| Barking | Low (2/5) | Moderate (3/5) | brittany |
| Apartment suitability | Moderate (3/5) | High (4/5) | chow chow |
| Good for first-time owners | High (4/5) | Low (2/5) | brittany |
| Tolerates being alone | Low (2/5) | Moderate (3/5) | chow chow |
| Trainability | Very high (5/5) | Low (2/5) | brittany |
| Good with kids | Very high (5/5) | Moderate (3/5) | brittany |
| Good with other dogs | Very high (5/5) | Low (2/5) | brittany |
| Friendly to strangers | High (4/5) | Low (2/5) | brittany |
| Cost level | Moderate (3/5) | High (4/5) | brittany |
| Coat | Medium, wavy coat | Thick double coat | Equal |
| Origin | France | China | Equal |
| Typical monthly cost | $90–$180 | $120–$250 | Equal |
| Typical first-year cost | $1,300–$2,500 | $1,600–$3,000 | Equal |
The Brittany stands 17-20 inches and weighs 30-40 lbs - a lean, sporting build. The Chow Chow matches that height range but can weigh up to 70 lbs, nearly double the Brittany's upper weight, with a thick double coat that makes it look even bulkier than the scale says. Standing side by side, the Chow reads as the much heavier-set dog despite similar height.
The Brittany was built to hunt and its 4/5 exercise rating shows it - daily running or field work keeps it satisfied. The Chow Chow's exercise need sits at a low 2/5; short walks are typically enough. Anyone expecting the Chow to match a Brittany's pace on a long run will be disappointed - this is a dog that prefers to observe rather than sprint.
This is not a close comparison. The Brittany needs only light, occasional brushing (2/5), while the Chow Chow's thick double coat demands very high grooming effort (5/5) - regular brushing multiple times a week to prevent matting. Shedding follows the same pattern: moderate for the Brittany (3/5), heavy for the Chow (4/5). If coat maintenance is a dealbreaker, the Chow asks a lot more of you.
The Chow Chow rates higher for apartment suitability (4/5 vs 3/5) and tolerates being left alone slightly better (3/5 vs 2/5), which tracks with its lower exercise needs. It does bark more, though - a moderate 3/5 against the Brittany's low 2/5. Thin walls and a vocal Chow are not always a good match, even if the space itself works fine for a low-activity dog.
The Brittany's trainability sits at the top of the scale (5/5) and it's rated a strong first dog (4/5). The Chow Chow scores low on both fronts - 2/5 for trainability and 2/5 for first-time owners - consistent with its independent, dignified temperament. This is a breed that respects consistency and firm handling more than it responds to eager repetition.
Around kids, other dogs, and strangers, the Brittany scores near the top across the board: 5/5, 5/5, and 4/5 respectively. The Chow Chow scores lower on every one of those measures - 3/5 with kids, 2/5 with other dogs, 2/5 with strangers - a reserved, loyal-to-its-own-people breed rather than an outgoing one. Households that host a lot of people or other dogs will find the Brittany the easier fit.
Lifespans overlap at the top end but the Chow's range starts lower - 9-15 years against the Brittany's 12-15. Both breeds carry a documented risk for hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and bloat. The Chow's list runs longer beyond that, adding entropion, thyroid disease, cataracts, glaucoma, diabetes, and even stomach cancer - worth discussing with a vet before committing.
Expect $90-180 a month for the Brittany against $120-250 for the Chow Chow, and $1,300-2,500 versus $1,600-3,000 across the first year. The overall cost rating backs that up - moderate (3/5) for the Brittany, high (4/5) for the Chow - driven largely by that grooming-heavy coat and its longer list of health risks.
Brittany Spaniel weighs 30–40 lbs and lives 12–15 years; Chow Chow weighs 45–70 lbs and lives 9–15 years. The two diverge most on grooming need, trainability and good with other dogs and 5 other rated axes. Almost every rated axis separates them at least slightly. The table below marks a winner only where one breed is genuinely easier for a typical owner; size and origin are facts rather than merits and stay level. Ratings come from one source applied to both breeds, so they are meaningful against each other rather than as absolute scores.
Yes, notably. The Chow can weigh up to 70 lbs versus the Brittany's 30-40 lb range, even though both stand roughly 17-20 inches tall.
The Chow Chow, by a clear margin - it rates a high 4/5 for shedding and a very high 5/5 for grooming need, driven by its thick double coat. The Brittany sits at 3/5 shedding and just 2/5 grooming need.
Not really - it rates only 2/5 for first-time owners and 2/5 for trainability. The Brittany is the far easier starter breed, rating 4/5 and 5/5 on those same measures.
The Chow Chow rates higher for apartment suitability (4/5 vs 3/5) thanks to its lower exercise needs, though it also barks more (3/5 vs 2/5). The Brittany's high exercise need is the bigger practical hurdle in a small space.
The Chow Chow. Monthly costs run $120-250 versus $90-180 for the Brittany, and first-year costs run $1,600-3,000 versus $1,300-2,500 - largely down to grooming and a longer list of health risks.
Yes - both carry a risk for hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and bloat. The Chow's list is longer overall, adding eye conditions like entropion, glaucoma, and cataracts, plus thyroid disease and diabetes.
Its 5/5 grooming rating means multiple sessions a week are realistic to keep the double coat from matting, especially during seasonal blowouts - well beyond the occasional brushing a Brittany needs.
The Brittany, if you want a trainable, sociable dog that's easy around kids and other dogs. The Chow Chow suits someone who wants a calmer, more independent dog and doesn't mind heavy coat care.
About $30-70 more - $120-250 versus the Brittany's $90-180 - with the gap widening to roughly $300-500 over the first year.
No. The Chow rates a low 2/5 for exercise need against the Brittany's high 4/5 - short walks suit the Chow, while the Brittany wants a real daily outlet.
The Brittany's range (12-15 years) sits entirely above the low end of the Chow Chow's (9-15 years), though both can reach 15.
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Health information here is general and is not veterinary advice. If your dog shows pain, sudden behaviour change, or worsening symptoms, consult a licensed veterinarian.
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