Chow Chow vs Shiba Inu

A Chow Chow
Photo: Gabrielle Costa lbrto
A Shiba Inu
Photo: Raita Futo from Tokyo, Japan

Side by side

Chow Chow
Shiba Inu
Adult weight
20–32 kg (45–70 lb) (breed club figure)1
Males 8–11 kg (18–24 lb); females 7–9 kg (15–20 lb) (breed club figure)2
Height
No sourced figure
Males 38–41 cm; females 35–38 cm (breed club figure)2
Lifespan
Median 12.1 years3
Median 14.6 years3
Fully grown
11 months, both sexes4
10 months, both sexes4
Group
Spitz & primitive5
Spitz & primitive6
Coat
Double coat or short coat5
Double coat6
Shedding
Moults most as the seasons change
Grooming
A brush once a week
Exercise
A moderate amount
Health
Inward-rolling eyelid (far more likely); Skin melanoma (far more likely)7,8
No sourced figure
Class
Watchdog
Companion

Which suits you

Size
The Chow Chow is far larger: about 26 kg (58 lb) as an adult, against 8.8 kg (19 lb) for the Shiba Inu.
Lifespan
In UK vet records the Shiba Inu lives longer: a median of 14.6 years, against 12.1 for the Chow Chow.
Temperament
They differ most on loyalty (Chow Chow: sticks close to its people; Shiba Inu: bonded to its family) and on intelligence (Chow Chow: easy-going, simple routines; Shiba Inu: learns readily, likes games).
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

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.

Shiba Inu
Spitz & primitive · Small

In temperament the Shiba is alert, bold and independent, and reserved with strangers. It is fastidious and is often said to groom itself like a cat.

The Chow Chow page →The Shiba Inu page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Chow Chow
Shiba Inu
Activity
Differs
Happy with modest walks
A good daily walk and play
Intelligence
Differs
Easy-going, simple routines
Learns readily, likes games
Handler demand
Needs an experienced owner
Needs an experienced owner
With people
Chow Chow
Shiba Inu
Affection
Likes its own space
Likes its own space
Loyalty
Differs
Sticks close to its people
Bonded to its family
Independence
Decides for itself
Decides for itself
Around the home
Chow Chow
Shiba Inu
Sensitivity
Average
Average
Voice
Differs
Quiet
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Differs
Chases; needs managing
Likely to chase small pets
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
The Chow Chow grows to the heavier adult, about 26 kg against the Shiba Inu's 9 kg.
Chow Chow
Shiba Inu
0102030402m4m6m9m12m18m
0102030402m3m4m6m9m12m18m

More comparisons

Compare the Chow Chow with
Akita vs Shiba InuPembroke Welsh Corgi vs Shiba InuNorwegian Buhund vs Shiba InuKishu Ken vs Shiba InuChow Chow vs SamoyedChow Chow vs Tibetan MastiffAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·