Chinese Shar-Pei vs Chow Chow

A Chinese Shar-Pei
Photo: Johannes Maximilian
A Chow Chow
Photo: Gabrielle Costa lbrto

Side by side

Chinese Shar-Pei
Chow Chow
Adult weight
20–27 kg (45–60 lb)1
20–32 kg (45–70 lb) (breed club figure)2
Lifespan
Median 10.6 years3
Median 12.1 years3
Fully grown
11 months, both sexes4
Group
Pinschers & molossoids5
Spitz & primitive6
Coat
Short coat5
Double coat or short coat6
Shedding
Sheds through the year
Moults most as the seasons change
Grooming
A brush once a week
Exercise
A moderate amount
Health
Inward-rolling eyelid (far more likely); Outward-drooping eyelid (far more likely)7
Inward-rolling eyelid (far more likely); Skin melanoma (far more likely)7,8
Class
Watchdog
Watchdog

Which suits you

Lifespan
In UK vet records the Chow Chow lives longer: a median of 12.1 years, against 10.6 for the Chinese Shar-Pei.
Shedding
Their coats shed differently: the Chinese Shar-Pei sheds through the year, the Chow Chow moults most as the seasons change.
Temperament
They differ most on intelligence (Chinese Shar-Pei: learns readily, likes games; Chow Chow: easy-going, simple routines).
Alike
They are much the same size as adults, about 24 kg (52 lb) for the Chinese Shar-Pei and 26 kg (58 lb) for the Chow Chow.
Alike
Both are rated the same on affection: likes its own space.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Chinese Shar-Pei
Pinschers & molossoids · Medium

The Shar-Pei is calm and self-possessed. It is devoted to its own family and reserved, often aloof, with strangers.

Chow Chow
Spitz & primitive · Medium

In temperament it is reserved and independent: devoted to its own household, aloof with strangers and seldom demonstrative. It is often compared to a cat for its cleanliness and self-possession.

The Chinese Shar-Pei page →The Chow Chow page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Chinese Shar-Pei
Chow Chow
Activity
Happy with modest walks
Happy with modest walks
Intelligence
Differs
Learns readily, likes games
Easy-going, simple routines
Handler demand
Needs an experienced owner
Needs an experienced owner
With people
Chinese Shar-Pei
Chow Chow
Affection
Likes its own space
Likes its own space
Loyalty
Sticks close to its people
Sticks close to its people
Independence
Decides for itself
Decides for itself
Around the home
Chinese Shar-Pei
Chow Chow
Sensitivity
Average
Average
Voice
Quiet
Quiet
Prey drive
Chases; needs managing
Chases; needs managing
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour9. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home10,11.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
Both grow to much the same adult weight, about 25 kg.
Chinese Shar-Pei
Chow Chow
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More comparisons

Compare the Chinese Shar-Pei with
Chow Chow vs SamoyedChow Chow vs Tibetan MastiffChow Chow vs Shiba InuChinese Shar-Pei vs Standard SchnauzerAlaskan Malamute vs Chow ChowAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·