Best brush for a Chow Chow
Chow Chows carry one of the densest double coats of any breed — a harsh, standing-off outer coat over a thick, wool-like undercoat — and that combination is what should decide your choice of brush, not the coat's overall length. A slicker brush and a dedicated undercoat rake, used together, generally do more for a Chow Chow than any single all-purpose brush on its own.
Why one brush is rarely enough
The Chow Chow's outer coat and undercoat behave differently under a brush: the harsh outer layer needs a slicker brush or pin brush to smooth and detangle it, while the dense woolly undercoat underneath needs a rake or de-shedding tool with teeth designed to reach through the top coat and pull loose undercoat hair out without damaging the guard hairs above it.
Using only a slicker brush on a Chow Chow tends to groom the surface while leaving the loose undercoat packed in underneath, which is a common reason owners find their Chow Chow still sheds heavily and mats despite regular surface brushing.
Coat blows and seasonal shedding
Like most double-coated breeds, Chow Chows shed their undercoat heavily during seasonal coat blows, typically in spring and autumn, and this is when a proper undercoat rake earns its keep — daily or near-daily brushing through a coat blow removes a genuinely large volume of loose hair before it ends up around the house or, left unchecked, mats against the skin.
Outside of a coat blow, two to three sessions a week is generally enough to keep a Chow Chow's coat in reasonable order, though a dog kept mainly indoors on a consistent temperature can shed more evenly year-round rather than in sharp seasonal bursts.
Preventing mats before they set in
Mats form most readily behind the ears, under the legs, and around the neck ruff where the coat is thickest and rubs against a collar or harness, so paying particular attention to these areas during a regular brushing session catches early tangles before they tighten into a mat that needs cutting out.
A mat that has already tightened close to the skin is generally better left to a professional groomer than pulled at with scissors at home, since cutting too close risks nicking the skin underneath a coat this dense.
Bathing and drying
A thorough brush-out before bathing, rather than after, makes a real difference for a Chow Chow, since a wet, matted double coat is far harder to work through than a dry, already-detangled one, and mats tend to tighten further once wet. A high-velocity dryer, or at minimum thorough towel-drying followed by a brush-through once mostly dry, helps prevent the undercoat staying damp against the skin.
A coat left to air-dry naturally without any brushing can dry into the exact mats you were trying to avoid, so working through the coat with a brush at intervals while it dries is worth the extra time it takes.
What we stock for this breed
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Ancol Ergo Wooden Handle Slicker Brush
A stainless steel slicker brush on a wooden handle, for short, long, wiry and curly coats
From£6.99
Wahl Competition Series Clipper Blades
High-precision, chrome-plated clipper blades with a rust-resistant finish, available in 17 sizes for every coat type and clipping style.
From£37.99
Ancol Ergo Double Sided Comb
Ancol Ergo Double Sided Comb: a SGL grooming comb for combing the coat
£8.79
Ancol Ergo Soft Bristle Brush
A soft bristle brush for dogs, for gentle grooming around the ears and face
£7.79
Ancol Ergo Grooming Glove
A rubber grooming glove for dogs, for removing loose hair on wet or dry coats
£9.79
Wahl Pet Grooming Scissors with Finger Rest
Stainless steel finishing scissors with ergonomic offset handles — perfect for tidying around eyes, ears, mouth, and paws.
£5.49
Large Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush for Mats and Tangles
A self-cleaning slicker brush with fine, bead-tipped wire pins that gently lift loose undercoat, mats and tangles from short or long-haired pets. A one-click button releases the collected fur for fuss-free cleaning. Cat-ear shaped design.
£18.99
Slicker Brush for Dogs — Detangling & De-shedding
An ergonomic slicker brush with anti-scratch pins that works through tangles and removes dead hair from top and undercoat.
From£9.99
Groom Professional Curved Soft Slicker Brush
A professional-grade curved slicker brush with soft pins, designed to groom delicate and soft-coated pets without discomfort.
From£8.99
Round-Tipped Deshedding Rake Comb
A double-sided undercoat rake with rounded stainless-steel blades that gently cut through mats and remove loose hair. The non-slip ergonomic handle makes deshedding dogs and cats quick and comfortable.
From£8.99
Self-Cleaning Deshedding Slicker Brush
A deshedding grooming tool for dogs and cats that lifts loose undercoat and eases out tangles, with a self-cleaning button that releases the trapped fur in one press.
£25.99
Common questions
- Do Chow Chows need professional grooming?
- Not necessarily, but regular home brushing several times a week is essential given how dense the coat is, and an occasional professional groom can help manage a coat that has been allowed to mat, or during a particularly heavy seasonal shed. Home brushing between visits still matters either way.
- How often should I brush a Chow Chow?
- Two to three times a week outside of a seasonal coat blow, increasing to daily or near-daily during spring and autumn when the undercoat sheds most heavily. Regular brushing prevents the build-up that leads to matting far more easily than occasional deep sessions.
- What is the difference between a slicker brush and an undercoat rake?
- A slicker brush has fine, closely spaced pins that smooth and detangle the top coat, while an undercoat rake has longer teeth designed to reach through the top coat and pull loose, dead undercoat hair out from underneath. Chow Chows generally need both used together.
- Why does my Chow Chow still shed after brushing?
- A slicker brush alone often grooms only the visible top coat, leaving loose undercoat packed in underneath. Adding an undercoat rake to your routine, used after the slicker brush, reaches the dense undercoat directly and tends to noticeably reduce ongoing shedding around the house.
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Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.