Chow Chow or Mastiff (English Mastiff)? On paper they differ most on grooming need, and on the scales Mastiff (English Mastiff) is the heavier at 120–250 lbs. Here is how the two compare on everything that shapes an ordinary week.
This is for someone already down to Chow Chow and Mastiff (English Mastiff) and deciding between them. For this pair the decision usually turns on grooming need and apartment suitability, 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. It is written for the decision rather than the breed history.
Between Chow Chow and Mastiff (English Mastiff), grooming need is what separates them, and Mastiff (English Mastiff) is the lower-effort dog of the two to keep.
Choose Chow Chow if you are in a flat or a smaller home, a smaller dog suits your car, your home or your back and you want a dog that is more watchful with visitors.
Choose Mastiff (English Mastiff) if you do not want a standing grooming appointment, shedding is a problem in your house and there are young children at home.
| Feature | chow chow | mastiff | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size class | medium | giant | Equal |
| Weight | 45–70 lbs | 120–250 lbs | Equal |
| Height | 17–20 in | 27–32 in | Equal |
| Lifespan | 9–15 years | 9–11 years | chow chow |
| Exercise need | Low (2/5) | Low (2/5) | Equal |
| Grooming need | Very high (5/5) | Low (2/5) | mastiff |
| Shedding | High (4/5) | Moderate (3/5) | mastiff |
| Energy level | Low (2/5) | Low (2/5) | Equal |
| Barking | Moderate (3/5) | Very low (1/5) | mastiff |
| Apartment suitability | High (4/5) | Low (2/5) | chow chow |
| Good for first-time owners | Low (2/5) | Low (2/5) | Equal |
| Tolerates being alone | Moderate (3/5) | Moderate (3/5) | Equal |
| Trainability | Low (2/5) | Moderate (3/5) | mastiff |
| Good with kids | Moderate (3/5) | Very high (5/5) | mastiff |
| Good with other dogs | Low (2/5) | Moderate (3/5) | mastiff |
| Friendly to strangers | Low (2/5) | Moderate (3/5) | mastiff |
| Cost level | High (4/5) | Very high (5/5) | chow chow |
| Coat | Thick double coat | Short, dense | Equal |
| Origin | China | England | Equal |
| Typical monthly cost | $120–$250 | $150–$350 | Equal |
| Typical first-year cost | $1,600–$3,000 | $2,200–$4,500 | Equal |
This is a genuine giant-breed matchup on one side. A Mastiff can weigh anywhere from 120 to 250 pounds and stand 27 to 32 inches - potentially three to five times a Chow Chow's 45-70 pound frame. Chow height tops out at 20 inches; a Mastiff's shoulder alone can clear that. If you've never lived with a dog this large, the daily logistics are worth thinking through before coat or temperament questions come up.
Unusually, these two line up almost exactly - both rate low (2/5) for exercise need and low (2/5) for energy level. Neither breed is built for high-mileage activity; both are content with modest daily movement. This is one of the few measures in this comparison where the giant breed doesn't demand more from you.
The Chow is the far higher-maintenance coat here: very high (5/5) grooming need against the Mastiff's low (2/5), and higher shedding too (4/5 vs 3/5). A Mastiff's short, dense coat is genuinely easier to manage despite the dog's much larger surface area - proof that size and grooming demand don't automatically move together.
The Chow actually outperforms the Mastiff for apartment living - high (4/5) versus low (2/5) - which tracks with the size difference alone. Barking favors the Mastiff, though, at a very low (1/5) compared to the Chow's moderate (3/5). A Mastiff is quiet but needs the room; a Chow is more vocal but fits into less space.
Neither breed is rated ideal for a first-time owner - both score low (2/5) - though the Mastiff edges ahead on trainability, moderate (3/5) against the Chow's low (2/5). The Mastiff's gentle, calm, loyal temperament tends to cooperate more readily than the Chow's independent streak, even if its size raises the stakes of getting training right.
The Mastiff rates very high (5/5) with kids against the Chow's moderate (3/5), and edges ahead with other dogs and strangers too (3/5 vs 2/5 on both). Despite its size, the Mastiff's gentle and protective nature tends to read as more family-friendly on paper than the Chow's more reserved temperament.
The Chow lives longer on average - 9 to 15 years against a shorter 9 to 11 for the Mastiff, a common tradeoff with giant breeds. The two share hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia and bloat risk. The Mastiff's list then runs into more serious territory - cancer, bone cancer, dilated cardiomyopathy and heart disease - largely a function of its size and growth rate.
The Mastiff is the pricier dog to keep by a real margin - $150-$350 monthly against $120-$250 for the Chow, and $2,200-$4,500 in year one versus $1,600-$3,000. Food volume alone explains a lot of this; a dog that can weigh 250 pounds eats accordingly, and vet costs tend to scale with size too.
Chow Chow weighs 45–70 lbs and lives 9–15 years; Mastiff (English Mastiff) weighs 120–250 lbs and lives 9–11 years. The two diverge most on grooming need, apartment suitability and barking and 1 other rated axes. They are level on tolerates being alone, energy level and exercise need, so those cannot decide it. In the table, a "winner" means easier for an ordinary household — not better. Size, coat and origin are recorded without a verdict. Because both breeds are scored the same way, the gaps are reliable even where the absolute numbers are rough.
Substantially - a Mastiff can weigh 120 to 250 lbs against the Chow's 45-70 lbs, putting it in the giant size class versus the Chow's medium.
Neither, really - both rate low (2/5) for exercise need, a rare point of agreement between two very differently sized breeds.
The Mastiff, rated very low (1/5) for barking against the Chow's moderate (3/5).
The Mastiff, clearly - low (2/5) grooming need versus the Chow's very high (5/5), despite the Mastiff's much larger size.
The Mastiff, by a wide margin - $150-$350 monthly and $2,200-$4,500 in the first year, against $120-$250 and $1,600-$3,000 for the Chow.
The Chow Chow, at 9-15 years, against the Mastiff's shorter 9-11 year range - typical of the size difference between them.
Hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia and bloat appear on both lists. The Mastiff's list also includes cancer, bone cancer and heart disease, risks that scale with its size.
It depends on space and budget more than temperament here. The Mastiff is better with kids and costs more to keep; the Chow fits smaller apartments and a tighter budget but needs more grooming time and patience in training.
A real one - $150-$350 for a Mastiff versus $120-$250 for a Chow Chow, driven mostly by the Mastiff's size.
Both are low-exercise breeds, rated 2/5 - an unusual point of overlap given how differently sized they are.
The Chow Chow, typically 9-15 years, against the Mastiff's 9-11 - giant breeds generally trade size for lifespan.
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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