Behavior
Griffon or Chow Chow, which fits better?
The Griffon suits first-time owners and lower grooming tolerance. Choose the Chow if you don't mind a serious brushing routine and an independent, dignified personality that won't be won over easily.
Brussels Griffon vs Chow Chow: Which Suits Your Home?
Brussels Griffon 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 Brussels Griffon and Chow Chow and deciding between them. For this pair the decision usually turns on grooming need and shedding, so those are covered first and in most detail. Anyone choosing from a flat has a clear answer here: Brussels Griffon rates 5/5 against 4/5. There is no origin story here — only what changes about your week.
Quick verdict
Between Brussels Griffon and Chow Chow, grooming need is what separates them, and Brussels Griffon is the lower-effort dog of the two to keep.
Choose brussels griffon if...
Choose Brussels Griffon if you are in a flat or a smaller home, this is your first dog and you do not want a standing grooming appointment.
Choose chow chow if...
Choose Chow Chow if the dog will be alone during the working day and you want a dog that is more watchful with visitors.
Head-to-head comparison
| Feature | brussels griffon | chow chow | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size class | small | medium | Equal |
| Weight | 8–12 lbs | 45–70 lbs | Equal |
| Height | 7–10 in | 17–20 in | Equal |
| Lifespan | 12–15 years | 9–15 years | brussels griffon |
| Exercise need | Low (2/5) | Low (2/5) | Equal |
| Grooming need | Moderate (3/5) | Very high (5/5) | brussels griffon |
| Shedding | Low (2/5) | High (4/5) | brussels griffon |
| Energy level | Moderate (3/5) | Low (2/5) | Equal |
| Barking | Moderate (3/5) | Moderate (3/5) | Equal |
| Apartment suitability | Very high (5/5) | High (4/5) | brussels griffon |
| Good for first-time owners | Moderate (3/5) | Low (2/5) | brussels griffon |
| Tolerates being alone | Low (2/5) | Moderate (3/5) | chow chow |
| Trainability | Moderate (3/5) | Low (2/5) | brussels griffon |
| Good with kids | Moderate (3/5) | Moderate (3/5) | Equal |
| Good with other dogs | Moderate (3/5) | Low (2/5) | brussels griffon |
| Friendly to strangers | Moderate (3/5) | Low (2/5) | brussels griffon |
| Cost level | Moderate (3/5) | High (4/5) | brussels griffon |
| Coat | Rough or smooth | Thick double coat | Equal |
| Origin | Various | China | Equal |
| Typical monthly cost | $80–$150 | $120–$250 | Equal |
| Typical first-year cost | $1,100–$2,300 | $1,600–$3,000 | Equal |
Deep dive
Size and build
The Chow Chow is a genuinely different animal in scale, 45 to 70 pounds and 17 to 20 inches tall, against the Griffon's 8 to 12 pounds and 7 to 10 inches. That's up to six times the body weight, packed into the Chow's famously dense, lion-maned frame. It's a breed that reads as even bigger than its numbers suggest once its full coat fills in.
Energy and exercise
Exercise needs tie at a low 2 out of 5 for both breeds, which surprises people given the Chow's size, this is not a high-mileage dog despite its bulk. Energy level is listed as moderate for the Griffon and low for the Chow, reinforcing that the Chow is actually the more laid-back of the two day to day, closer to a couch companion than a working dog.
Grooming and shedding
This is where the Chow Chow's demands become obvious: grooming rates a very high 5 out of 5 against the Griffon's moderate 3, and shedding follows the same pattern, high (4/5) versus low (2/5). The Chow's thick double coat needs serious, regular brushing to stay manageable, especially during seasonal blowouts when the undercoat sheds in earnest.
Apartment living, noise and time alone
Both breeds handle apartment living reasonably well, the Griffon rates 5 out of 5, the Chow 4, and barking ties at moderate for each, so noise complaints aren't the deciding issue between them. The Chow actually tolerates alone time slightly better, 3 out of 5 against the Griffon's 2, despite its larger size and bulk.
Training and owner experience
The Griffon is the easier breed for a new owner across the board: 3 out of 5 for first-time suitability against the Chow's 2, and 3 out of 5 for trainability against the Chow's 2. The Chow's independent, dignified temperament, evident in its own descriptor list, translates into a dog that works with you rather than for you.
Kids, other dogs and visitors
Kids ties at a moderate 3 out of 5 for both breeds. The Griffon scores better with other dogs (3 vs 2) and with strangers (3 vs 2), consistent with the Chow's reserved, independent nature, which tends to make it selective about who it warms up to and slower to accept new people or animals.
Health and lifespan
The Griffon has the lifespan edge on paper, 12 to 15 years against the Chow's wider 9 to 15 range, though a well-bred Chow can match the Griffon at the top end. Hip dysplasia is the one condition both breeds share. The Chow's list is otherwise longer and more serious, including bloat, diabetes, and several eye conditions like glaucoma and cataracts.
Cost to keep
Keeping a Chow costs more: $120 to $250 a month versus $80 to $150 for the Griffon, and $1,600 to $3,000 in the first year against $1,100 to $2,300. Between the grooming demands and the larger body to feed and treat, the Chow is the pricier dog by a clear margin over a full year.
Brussels Griffon vs Chow Chow at a glance
Brussels Griffon weighs 8–12 lbs and lives 12–15 years; Chow Chow weighs 45–70 lbs and lives 9–15 years. The two diverge most on grooming need and shedding. They are level on barking, exercise need and good with kids, so those cannot decide it. Where the table declares a winner it means less work for the owner, nothing more; descriptive rows are left as ties on purpose. The value here is in the differences between the two columns; treat any single score as approximate.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Chow Chow's coat differ from a Griffon's?
Substantially. The Chow rates a very high 5 out of 5 for grooming need against the Griffon's moderate 3, and its shedding is high (4/5) versus the Griffon's low (2/5). The Chow's thick double coat is a real time commitment.
Do Chow Chows need a lot of exercise?
Less than their size suggests, they tie the Griffon at a low 2 out of 5 for exercise need. Despite being a 45-to-70-pound dog, the Chow is not a high-energy breed on a day-to-day basis.
Is a Chow Chow good for a first-time owner?
It rates low, 2 out of 5, against the Griffon's moderate 3. Chow Chows are independent and reserved by temperament, and that combination asks more of a new owner than the Griffon does.
Can a Chow Chow live in an apartment?
Reasonably well, it rates 4 out of 5, just one point behind the Griffon's 5. Its low exercise needs help make that work despite its size and thick coat.
Which is cheaper, the Griffon or the Chow Chow?
The Griffon, by a good margin: $80 to $150 a month versus $120 to $250 for the Chow, and up to $700 less in the first year. Grooming and food costs both favor the smaller breed.
Do the Griffon and Chow Chow share health risks?
Hip dysplasia is the shared item on both lists. Otherwise the Chow carries a longer roster of concerns, including bloat, diabetes, and eye conditions like glaucoma and cataracts, while the Griffon's risks trace mainly to its flat face and spine.
Which breed lives longer?
It's close, the Griffon's range is 12 to 15 years, the Chow's is a wider 9 to 15. A well-bred, well-kept Chow can match the Griffon, but its floor is lower.
Quick answers
View more answersCosts
What's the monthly cost?
$80 to $150 for the Griffon versus $120 to $250 for the Chow, grooming and food both push the Chow's bill higher.
Training
How much exercise do they need?
Both are low-energy, tying at 2 out of 5 despite the size difference between them.
Health
Which breed lives longer?
It's close: Griffon 12 to 15 years, Chow Chow 9 to 15 years.
Related DogBreedCompass guides
- Brussels Griffon breed guide – Readers comparing the two usually want the full profile of Brussels Griffon before deciding.
- Chow Chow breed guide – The same for Chow Chow, so the comparison can be checked against the detail.
- Brussels Griffon vs Dachshund – Dachshund is the closest breed to Brussels Griffon on the measured axes, so it is the natural next comparison.
- Chow Chow vs Chinese Shar-Pei – Chinese Shar-Pei sits closest to Chow Chow, which makes it the alternative worth ruling out.
- What Brussels Griffon costs to keep – Anyone weighing these two is usually also pricing them, and the cost pages carry city-level figures.
- Chow Chow health problems – The health pages set out what each breed is actually screened for.
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Important reminder
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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