Which is Better between the Chow Chow and the Flat-Coated Retriever? A Very Detailed Review.

Chow Chow versus Flat-Coated Retriever

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Chow Chow Versus Flat-Coated Retriever: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Chow Chow and the Flat-Coated Retriever? Well, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will provide you a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Chow Chow and the Flat-Coated Retriever better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Chow Chow and the Flat-Coated Retriever.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Chow Chow and the Flat-Coated Retriever is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Chow Chow and for the Flat-Coated Retriever. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Chow Chow and the Flat-Coated Retriever.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Chow Chow or the Flat-Coated Retriever

Chow Chow versus Flat-Coated Retriever

Chow Chow versus Flat-Coated Retriever: Overview

A very important difference between the Chow Chow and the Flat-Coated Retriever is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Chow Chow is a large-sized dog while the Flat-Coated Retriever is a medium-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Chow Chow belongs to the Working Dogs group. Working Dogs were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.

On the other hand, the Flat-Coated Retriever belongs to the Sporting Dogs group. Sporting Dogs were bred to help hunters catch and retrieve feathered game. Some sporting dog breeds such as Retrievers, which were built for swimming, were bred to hunt waterfowl in water. Whereas sporting dog breeds like setters, spaniels, and pointing breeds were bred to hunt quail, pheasant, and other game birds nest on grasslands. Many Sporting Group breeds have thick, water-repellent coats that protect them from harsh hunting conditions.

Chow Chow versus Flat-Coated Retriever: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Chow Chow to the Flat-Coated Retriever based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Factor Chow Chow Flat-Coated Retriever
Kid-Friendly 1/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 1/5 5/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 1/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 5/5 3/5
Easy To Groom 1/5 4/5
Intelligence 1/5 5/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 5/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 1/5 5/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 10 to 12 years
Height 17 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder 1 foot, 10 inches to 2 feet tall at the shoulder
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 2/5
Easygoing 4/5 1/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 2/5 4/5
Affectionate With Family 2/5 5/5
General Health 2/5 4/5
Easy To Train 2/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 4/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 4/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 4/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 4/5 1/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 3/5 1/5
Does NOT Drool 3/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 2/5
Weight 40 to 70 pounds 55 to 70 pounds
Tolerates Being Alone 5/5 1/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 5/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 1/5 3/5
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 11.0 years
Average Price $1750 $1350
Price Range $1000 – $2500 $1150 – $1800
Temperament Score 71.7 percent 92.0 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 74 94
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 76 18

    *Data from dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (the American Temperament Test Society)

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Chow Chow in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Flat-Coated Retriever. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for a Chow Chow is 69 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Flat-Coated Retriever is 78 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Flat-Coated Retriever is a better pet than the Chow Chow. So, you should get the Flat-Coated Retriever!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Chow Chow and the Flat-Coated Retriever so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    Chow Chow versus Flat-Coated Retriever

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Chow Chow and the Flat-Coated Retriever

    Below is a list of where the Chow Chow and the Flat-Coated Retriever are most different:

  • Chow Chows do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly. However, Flat-Coated Retrievers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Chow Chows do not get along well with other dogs. However, Flat-Coated Retrievers get along well with other dogs.
  • Chow Chows are not very friendly towards strangers. However, Flat-Coated Retrievers are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Chow Chows require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom. However, Flat-Coated Retrievers are very easy to groom.
  • Chow Chows not very intelligent. However, Flat-Coated Retrievers are highly intelligent.
  • Chow Chows are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl. However, Flat-Coated Retrievers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Chow Chows not very playful. However, Flat-Coated Retrievers are very playful.
  • Chow Chows are not very sensitive to their enviroment. They can tolerate noisy environments. They are also not very sensitive to the tone of your voice, firm or gentle. However, Flat-Coated Retrievers are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
  • Chow Chows are not affectionate with family. They are not good family dogs. However, Flat-Coated Retrievers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Chow Chows have low energy levels. They do not require a lot exercise time. However, Flat-Coated Retrievers have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Chow Chows have low exercise needs. However, Flat-Coated Retrievers require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Chow Chows can be left alone for some time without problems. However, Flat-Coated Retrievers do not like to be left alone.
  • The Similarities Between the Chow Chow and the Flat-Coated Retriever

    The Chow Chow and the Flat-Coated Retriever are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Chow Chow and the Flat-Coated Retriever are most similar:

  • Both the Chow Chow and the Flat-Coated Retriever are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Both the Chow Chow and the Flat-Coated Retriever have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Chow Chow and the Flat-Coated Retriever gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Chow Chow and the Flat-Coated Retriever can tolerate cold weather.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Chow Chow versus Flat-Coated Retriever

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Chow Chow and the Flat-Coated Retriever.

    Chow Chows weigh 40 to 70 pounds when fully grown. Chow Chows are 17 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Flat-Coated Retrievers weigh 55 to 70 pounds when fully grown. Flat-Coated Retrievers are 1 foot, 10 inches to 2 feet tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Temperament of the Chow Chow Versus the Flat-Coated Retriever

    The Flat-Coated Retriever has a better temperament than the Chow Chow.

    This is because the temperament score for the Flat-Coated Retriever is 92.0 percent while the temperament score for the Chow Chow is 71.7 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and they are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 71.7 percent, the Chow Chow has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 92.0 percent, the Flat-Coated Retriever has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Chow Chow and the Flat-Coated Retriever by measuring the temperaments of 99 Chow Chows and 87 Flat-Coated Retrievers.

    Price of Chow Chow versus Price of Flat-Coated Retriever

    The average price of the Chow Chow puppy is $1750. The price of the Chow Chow typically ranges from $1000 – $2500. However, the price of a Chow Chow can be as low as $400 and as high as $4125. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 156 Chow Chow puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Flat-Coated Retriever puppy is $1350. The price of the Flat-Coated Retriever typically ranges from $1150 – $1800. However, the price of a Flat-Coated Retriever can be as low as $100 and as high as $2500. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 8 Flat-Coated Retriever puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Chow Chow is more expensive than the Flat-Coated Retriever.

    Chow Chow Flat-Coated Retriever
    Average Price $1750 $1350
    Price Range $1000 to $2500 $1150 to $1800

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Chow Chow and Flat-Coated Retriever. For different price points, the charts show how many Chow Chow puppies or how many Flat-Coated Retriever puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Chow Chows. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Chow Chows. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Flat-Coated Retrievers

    A breakdown of the prices of Flat-Coated Retrievers

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Chow Chow puppy or the Flat-Coated Retriever puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

    Nevertheless, when looking from a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from one of those puppy mills that mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    Chow Chow versus Flat-Coated Retriever

    Adopting the Chow Chow versus Adopting the Flat-Coated Retriever

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Chow Chows and many Flat-Coated Retrievers are currently available for adoption.

    These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.

    Below is an adorable Male Chow Chow named King that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Chow Chows like King on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Chow Chows, Flat-Coated Retrievers are also available for adoption. For example, Clarence is a Male Flat-Coated Retriever that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Flat-Coated Retrievers like Clarence that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Chow Chow and the Flat-Coated Retriever can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    King is the name of another Chow Chow (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    Also Palisade, an adorable Male Flat-Coated Retriever on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    Chow Chows and Flat-Coated Retrievers are always available for adoption. Images from petfinder.com

    You can find more Chow Chows and Flat-Coated Retrievers that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Chow Chow versus the Intelligence of the Flat-Coated Retriever

    Chow Chow Flat-Coated Retriever
    Intelligence Rank 76 out of 130 dog breeds 18 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 80 To 100 Repetitions Or More! Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 Repetitions

    Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.

    According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:

  • Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence a dog has because of what the dog was bred for. This type of intelligence comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that were bred for guarding will have high `guarding` instinctive intelligence, while dog breeds that were bred for hunting will what high `hunting` instinctive intelligence. However, you cannot compare the intelligence of dog breeds based on instinctive intelligence because such a comparison will not make sense.
  • Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. It includes learning and benefiting from experience with his environment, solving new problems, and so forth. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. Thus, two dogs can have remarkably different levels of adaptive intelligence even if they are of the same breed.
  • Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Importantly, different dog breeds have different learning abilities. Also, science has shown that some dog breeds can learn faster than some other breeds. This means certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. Dogs with high Working/Obedience Intelligence are smart and easy to train.
  • Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.

    This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.

    To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.

    Prof. Coren found that the Chow Chow has an obedience intelligence rank of 76 out of 130 dog breeds. The Chow Chow belongs to the `Lowest Degree of Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Chow Chows tend to learn new commands after 80 to 100 repetitions or more!.

    The Flat-Coated Retriever has an obedience intelligence rank of 18 out of 130 dog breeds. The Flat-Coated Retriever belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category. This means that Flat-Coated Retrievers tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.

    The Flat-Coated Retriever is more intelligent than the Chow Chow.

    However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.

    The Popularity of Chow Chow versus Popularity of Flat-Coated Retriever

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Chow Chow and the Flat-Coated Retriever over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Chow Chow is more popular with dog owners than the Flat-Coated Retriever. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Chow Chow is 74 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Flat-Coated Retriever is 94 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Chow Chow

    Popularity of Chow Chow

    Popularity of Flat-Coated Retriever

    Popularity of Flat-Coated Retriever

    Year Chow Chow Popularity Rank Flat-Coated Retriever Popularity Rank
    2013 70 94
    2014 70 92
    2015 73 86
    2016 74 89
    2017 76 96
    2018 75 91
    2019 77 104
    2020 84 102

    Health Problems of Chow Chow versus Health Problems of Flat-Coated Retriever

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. Therefore, there is nothing like a perfect puppy.

    Both the Chow Chow and the Flat-Coated Retriever are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Chow Chow is prone to more genetic health problems than the Flat-Coated Retriever.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Chow Chow than for the Flat-Coated Retriever.

    6 health tests are recommended for Chow Chow while 3 tests are recommended for the Flat-Coated Retriever.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Chow Chows and in Flat-Coated Retrievers.

    Chow Chow Health Problems

    Chow Chows are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Chow Chow puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Chow Chow puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Chow Chow breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Chow Chows for:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Chow Chows here.

    Flat-Coated Retriever Health Problems

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Flat-Coated Retriever puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Flat-Coated Retriever puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Flat-Coated Retriever breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Flat-Coated Retrievers for:

  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Flat-Coated Retrievers here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Chow Chows and Flat-Coated Retrievers

    Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Chow Chow Breed is Elbow problems.

    This is because the Chow Chow ranks 1 out of 144 dog breeds for Elbow problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 1393 Chow Chows, 693 of them had Elbow problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Chow Chows, and how common these diseases are in Chow Chows relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Elbow problems: Rank 1 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 3 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 15 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 36 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 88 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Flat-Coated Retriever Breed is Thyroid problems.

    This is because the Flat-Coated Retriever ranks 28 out of 115 dog breeds for Thyroid problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 241 Flat-Coated Retrievers, 14 of them had Thyroid problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Flat-Coated Retrievers, and how common these diseases are in Flat-Coated Retrievers relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Thyroid problems: Rank 28 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 85 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 129 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 129 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 172 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in Chow Chow and in Flat-Coated Retriever and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Chow Chow and the Flat-Coated Retriever:

    Disease Chow Chow Rank Flat-Coated Retriever Rank
    Elbow problems 1 out of 144 dog breeds 129 out of 144 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 3 out of 182 dog breeds 129 out of 182 dog breeds
    Patella problems 15 out of 145 dog breeds 85 out of 145 dog breeds
    Hips problems 36 out of 198 dog breeds 172 out of 198 dog breeds
    Thyroid problems 88 out of 115 dog breeds 28 out of 115 dog breeds

    *To learn more about each of these diseases, go to OFA.org and search for the disease.

    Again, most of these health problems can be prevented through health screening. Responsible breeders screen male and female dog parents for genetic problems. These breeders will only breed dogs that are free of genetic defects. That way, there is little or no chance that their puppies will grow up to have genetic health problems. Always ask a breeder for the list of health tests the breeder screens their dogs for before buying a puppy from such a breeder.

    How Kid-friendly are Chow Chows and Flat-Coated Retrievers?

    Chow Chows do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.

    Flat-Coated Retrievers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Chow Chow or the Flat-Coated Retriever?

    Chow Chows do not get along well with other dogs.

    Flat-Coated Retrievers get along very well with other dogs.

    Do Chow Chows shed more than Flat-Coated Retrievers?

    Chow Chows do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Flat-Coated Retrievers shed moderately.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Chow Chow or the Flat-Coated Retriever?

    Chow Chows require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are very easy to groom.

    Do Chow Chows Bark and Howl? What about Flat-Coated Retrievers?

    Chow Chows are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Chow Chow or the Flat-Coated Retriever?

    Chow Chows are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Can Chow Chows Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Flat-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Chow Chows cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Flat-Coated Retrievers can tolerate hot weather.

    Are Chow Chows good family dogs? What about Flat-Coated Retrievers?

    Chow Chows are not affectionate with family. They are not good family dogs.

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Is the Chow Chow Easier to Train than the Flat-Coated Retriever?

    Chow Chows are not easy to train.

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are very easy to train.

    Does the Chow Chow Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Flat-Coated Retriever?

    Chow Chows have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Flat-Coated Retrievers have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Wanderlust Potential: Chow Chow vs. Flat-Coated Retriever

    Chow Chows do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

    Flat-Coated Retrievers have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Is the Chow Chow Better for Apartment Owners than the Flat-Coated Retriever?

    Chow Chows adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Flat-Coated Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which one drools more, the Chow Chow or the Flat-Coated Retriever

    Chow Chows drool moderately.

    Flat-Coated Retrievers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Chow Chow versus Flat-Coated Retriever

    Chow Chows can be left alone for some time without problems.

    Flat-Coated Retrievers do not like to be left alone.

    Can Chow Chows Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Flat-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Chow Chows can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Flat-Coated Retrievers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Chow Chow

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Chow Chow that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Chow Chow:

  • Anatolian Shepherd Dog (61 percent match with Chow Chow). Here is our comparison of the Flat-Coated Retriever vs Anatolian Shepherd Dog.
  • Caucasian Shepherd Dog (65 percent match with Chow Chow). Here is our comparison of the Flat-Coated Retriever vs Caucasian Shepherd Dog.
  • Chinese Shar-Pei (63 percent match with Chow Chow). Here is our comparison of the Flat-Coated Retriever vs Chinese Shar-Pei.
  • Akita Chow (62 percent match with Chow Chow). Here is our comparison of the Flat-Coated Retriever vs Akita Chow.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Flat-Coated Retriever

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Flat-Coated Retriever that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Flat-Coated Retriever:

  • Wirehaired Pointing Griffon (81 percent match with Flat-Coated Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Chow Chow vs Wirehaired Pointing Griffon.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Chow Chow and how the Flat-Coated Retriever compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Chow Chow and of the Flat-Coated Retriever to other breeds:

    Chow Chow Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Chow Chow versus German Longhaired Pointer     Chow Chow versus Chinook     Chow Chow versus Norwich Terrier     Chow Chow versus Scottish Deerhound     Chow Chow versus Border Collie     Chow Chow versus Norwich Terrier     Chow Chow versus Curly-Coated Retriever     Chow Chow versus Korean Jindo Dog     Chow Chow versus Irish Setter     Chow Chow versus Saint Bernard     

    Flat-Coated Retriever Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Flat-Coated Retriever versus German Longhaired Pointer     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Cavachon     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Staffordshire Bull Terrier     Flat-Coated Retriever versus French Bulldog     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Cardigan Welsh Corgi     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Weimaraner     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Australian Kelpie     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Basset Hound     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Irish Water Spaniel     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Mal Shi     

    Conclusion: Chow Chow versus Flat-Coated Retriever. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Chow Chow and the Flat-Coated Retriever better suits you and your family.