How often should I brush a Chow Chow?

A few times a week normally, increasing to closer to daily during a coat blow in spring and autumn when a much larger volume of undercoat comes loose. A de-shedding tool built for double coats generally works better than a standard brush during these periods.

Is a Chow Chow a good choice for someone who hates hair around the house?

Probably not the best fit, given how heavily they shed, particularly during the biannual coat blow. A breed known for lighter or less frequent shedding would likely suit that preference better than a Chow Chow.

Do Chow Chows need professional grooming?

Many owners manage a Chow Chow's coat with regular home brushing alone, but a professional groom during the heaviest shedding periods can help remove loose undercoat more thoroughly, particularly if home brushing is not keeping up with the volume.

Do Chow Chows shed a lot?

Yes, Chow Chows shed a considerable amount. Their dense double coat sheds year-round at a moderate level, with two more intense "coat blow" periods a year, usually spring and autumn, when a much larger volume of the undercoat comes out over a few weeks.

Why the Chow Chow coat sheds so heavily

A Chow Chow's coat is genuinely dense, made up of a thick, woolly undercoat beneath a harsher, longer outer layer, and that combination is what makes the breed look so distinctively fluffy and also what produces such a large volume of loose hair during a coat blow.

The twice-yearly shed is a natural response to changing daylight and temperature, clearing out the old undercoat to make way for a new one suited to the coming season. It is entirely normal, if dramatic, rather than a sign of anything wrong with the dog.

What actually helps manage it

Regular brushing, several times a week normally and closer to daily during a coat blow, is the single most effective thing an owner can do, since it removes loose undercoat before it ends up on floors and furniture instead. A proper de-shedding tool designed for a double coat does more here than a standard slicker brush.

Bathing occasionally with a shampoo suited to the coat, followed by thorough drying and brushing, can help loosen and remove dead undercoat during the heaviest shedding periods, though it is not something to do too often outside of that, since it can dry out the skin.

What brushing alone will not fix

No amount of grooming stops a Chow Chow shedding entirely; the coat blow is a normal biological process, and the goal of grooming is to manage where the hair ends up rather than to prevent it happening. Expect visible loose hair around a coat-blow period regardless of how well you keep on top of brushing.

A sudden change in shedding pattern, bald patches, or skin that looks sore or irritated underneath the coat is different from normal seasonal shedding and is worth a vet check, since it can point to a skin condition rather than the usual coat cycle.

Choosing the right tools for a coat like this

A slicker brush alone tends to skim the top coat without reaching the dense undercoat underneath, which is where most of the loose hair during a coat blow actually sits. A dedicated undercoat rake or de-shedding comb, used gently and regularly, does a far more thorough job on a Chow Chow specifically.

Working through the coat in sections, rather than a few quick strokes over the whole dog, makes it easier to spot mats forming before they become a bigger job, particularly around the ears, under the legs and around the collar where friction builds up fastest.

A dog that finds brushing uncomfortable or tries to move away throughout should be checked over, since matted or pulled fur can genuinely hurt, and a Chow Chow's dense coat is more prone to matting than a shorter-coated breed if grooming falls behind.

Kit for this breed

Things we stock that owners commonly reach for here. Nothing on this page depends on you buying one.

Microfibre Pet Drying Robe

A super-absorbent microfibre drying robe that soaks up the wet fast after baths, swims and walks.

From£10.99

Absorbent Microfibre Dog Drying Robe

A super-absorbent microfibre drying robe with a handy front pocket to dry your dog off fast.

From£13.99

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

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Common questions

How often should I brush a Chow Chow?: A few times a week normally, increasing to closer to daily during a coat blow in spring and autumn when a much larger volume of undercoat comes loose. A de-shedding tool built for double coats generally works better than a standard brush during these periods.
Is a Chow Chow a good choice for someone who hates hair around the house?: Probably not the best fit, given how heavily they shed, particularly during the biannual coat blow. A breed known for lighter or less frequent shedding would likely suit that preference better than a Chow Chow.
Do Chow Chows need professional grooming?: Many owners manage a Chow Chow's coat with regular home brushing alone, but a professional groom during the heaviest shedding periods can help remove loose undercoat more thoroughly, particularly if home brushing is not keeping up with the volume.
My Chow Chow has bald patches — is that normal shedding?: No, normal seasonal shedding does not usually produce true bald patches. That is worth a vet check, since it can point to a skin condition, parasites or another underlying issue rather than the usual coat blow.

Sources

Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.

PDSA — Pet Health Hub

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.