Chow Chow or French Spaniel? On paper they differ most on exercise 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 Chow Chow and French Spaniel and deciding between them. For this pair the decision usually turns on exercise need and grooming need, 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 2/5. The focus throughout is on daily consequences rather than breed background.
Between Chow Chow and French Spaniel, exercise need is what separates them, and Chow Chow is the lower-effort dog of the two to keep.
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.
Choose French Spaniel if this is your first dog, you do not want a standing grooming appointment and shedding is a problem in your house.
| Feature | chow chow | french spaniel | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size class | medium | medium | Equal |
| Weight | 45–70 lbs | 45–60 lbs | Equal |
| Height | 17–20 in | 21–24 in | Equal |
| Lifespan | 9–15 years | 10–12 years | chow chow |
| Exercise need | Low (2/5) | Very high (5/5) | chow chow |
| Grooming need | Very high (5/5) | Moderate (3/5) | french spaniel |
| Shedding | High (4/5) | Moderate (3/5) | french spaniel |
| Energy level | Low (2/5) | High (4/5) | Equal |
| Barking | Moderate (3/5) | Low (2/5) | french spaniel |
| Apartment suitability | High (4/5) | Low (2/5) | chow chow |
| Good for first-time owners | Low (2/5) | Moderate (3/5) | french spaniel |
| Tolerates being alone | Moderate (3/5) | Low (2/5) | chow chow |
| Trainability | Low (2/5) | High (4/5) | french spaniel |
| Good with kids | Moderate (3/5) | High (4/5) | french spaniel |
| Good with other dogs | Low (2/5) | High (4/5) | french spaniel |
| Friendly to strangers | Low (2/5) | High (4/5) | french spaniel |
| Cost level | High (4/5) | Moderate (3/5) | french spaniel |
| Coat | Thick double coat | Medium, flat and feathered | Equal |
| Origin | China | Various | Equal |
| Typical monthly cost | $120–$250 | $100–$200 | Equal |
| Typical first-year cost | $1,600–$3,000 | $1,400–$2,900 | Equal |
Weight is close, 45-70 lbs for the Chow against 45-60 for the French Spaniel, but height tells a different story. The Chow stands 17-20 inches on a stocky frame, while the French Spaniel reaches 21-24 inches on a longer-legged, rangier build typical of a field spaniel. On paper they're both medium, but the French Spaniel carries its weight over a taller frame.
The French Spaniel rates 5/5 for exercise need, very high, against the Chow's 2/5. This is a working gun dog built for long days in the field, and it shows: a couple of short walks won't come close to satisfying it. The Chow, by contrast, is content with minimal activity. Plan on an hour or more of real activity daily if you bring home a French Spaniel, hikes, retrieving games, or open-field time, not just leash walks.
The Chow demands more coat care across the board, 5/5 grooming and 4/5 shedding versus the French Spaniel's 3/5 and 3/5. The French Spaniel's medium, flat, feathered coat still needs regular brushing to manage the feathering on its legs and ears, but it's a lighter commitment than the Chow's dense double coat. Expect the Chow's brushing sessions several times a week year-round, while the French Spaniel mostly needs its ears and legs checked after outdoor time.
Despite needing more exercise, the French Spaniel is actually the quieter dog, 2/5 for barking against the Chow's 3/5. That doesn't make it apartment-friendly, though: its apartment suitability score is just 2/5, dragged down by its exercise requirements, while the Chow rates 4/5. Alone time also favors the Chow, 3/5 to 2/5. A French Spaniel kept mostly indoors without adequate exercise is more likely to become restless than loud.
The French Spaniel trains at 4/5, well ahead of the Chow's 2/5, and edges it for first-time-owner suitability too, 3/5 versus 2/5. It's described as gentle and sociable, traits that generally translate into a dog that's easier to teach. The Chow's independent, reserved nature means training tends to take longer and require more patience. Both benefit from an owner willing to start early and stay consistent, but the French Spaniel is simply more inclined to cooperate from the outset.
The French Spaniel outscores the Chow with kids (4/5 vs 3/5), other dogs (4/5 vs 2/5), and strangers (4/5 vs 2/5). Its temperament words, gentle, sociable, calm indoors, line up with a dog that settles well in a busy household once its exercise needs are met. The Chow's dignified reserve makes it a less naturally social choice, though it can still do fine with a familiar, settled routine.
The Chow's lifespan tops out higher, 9-15 years against the French Spaniel's 10-12. Health-wise, the French Spaniel's list is short, hip dysplasia, ear infections, epilepsy, acral mutilation syndrome, and eye conditions, and notably includes acral mutilation syndrome, a rare inherited nerve condition specific to a handful of spaniel breeds. The Chow's ten-condition list, including bloat and diabetes, doesn't overlap much beyond hip dysplasia.
Costs run close: $120-$250 monthly for the Chow versus $100-$200 for the French Spaniel, and first-year totals of $1,600-$3,000 against $1,400-$2,900. The Chow's higher cost rating (4/5 vs 3/5) is mostly a grooming story rather than a health or food one. Neither breed carries the kind of specialized vet costs that drive up totals for some other breeds in this comparison set.
Chow Chow weighs 45–70 lbs and lives 9–15 years; French Spaniel weighs 45–60 lbs and lives 10–12 years. The two diverge most on exercise need, grooming need and energy level and 4 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.
A medium-to-large gun dog from France, taller than the Chow at 21-24 inches despite a similar weight range. It's rated gentle, sociable, and calm indoors once its high exercise need, 5/5, is met.
The French Spaniel, rated 5/5 against the Chow's 2/5. This is the sharpest contrast in the comparison and the one most likely to decide which breed fits your routine.
The French Spaniel barks less, rated 2/5 versus the Chow's 3/5, a bit of a surprise given how much more exercise it needs. Quiet doesn't mean low-maintenance here, though.
The Chow is the better fit, rated 4/5 for apartment suitability against the French Spaniel's 2/5. The Spaniel's exercise needs are hard to satisfy without regular outdoor access.
The French Spaniel, at 4/5 versus the Chow's 2/5. It's also rated better for first-time owners, 3/5 to 2/5, though neither is considered a beginner-optimal breed outright.
The French Spaniel's list includes acral mutilation syndrome, a rare inherited nerve disorder, alongside hip dysplasia and epilepsy. The Chow's longer ten-condition list centers on joints, eyes, thyroid, and bloat. Hip dysplasia is the one condition both share.
About $120-$250 a month for the Chow and $100-$200 for the French Spaniel, with first-year costs of $1,600-$3,000 and $1,400-$2,900 respectively.
If you can give a dog several hours of activity a week, the French Spaniel scores better almost everywhere except apartment fit. If you want a low-exercise dog in a smaller space, the Chow is the more practical choice.
$120-$250 for the Chow Chow, $100-$200 for the French Spaniel, a modest gap, mostly grooming-driven.
The French Spaniel needs serious daily activity (5/5); the Chow needs very little (2/5), the widest gap in this comparison.
The Chow's range runs 9-15 years, topping out longer than the French Spaniel's 10-12.
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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