Best Dog Brush for Chows: Top Picks for Thick Double Coats

Best dog brush for chows has to conquer one of the densest coats in the dog world: a thick double coat crowned by that famous lion-like mane. Chows shed heavily and mat fast behind the ears and in the mane, so a proper undercoat rake, a reaching slicker, and a steel comb together keep this magnificent coat healthy and tangle-free.

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By Laura Simmons

How to Choose the Best Dog Brush for Chows

A Chow Chow’s double coat is exceptionally dense, with a coarse outer coat over a woolly undercoat and a heavy mane, so the best dog brush for chows must reach deep and clear packed hair. Weigh four things: an undercoat rake for the density, a slicker for the mane, an essential comb, and a mat plan for friction zones.

An Undercoat Rake for the Density

The Chow’s woolly undercoat is thick and packs down quickly, so an undercoat rake is the cornerstone tool. Its rounded pins reach beneath the coarse outer coat to pull loose undercoat that slickers merely skim, easing the heavy seasonal shedding this breed is known for.

Work in the direction of growth with patient strokes, since the coat is deep and dense. During spring and fall coat blows, the rake removes an astonishing amount of undercoat, which is what keeps the coat healthy and your home far less coated in fur.

A Slicker for the Mane and Coat

A slicker brush with long, fine pins lifts loose hair and separates the dense mane and body coat, reaching through to the skin. For a Chow’s deep coat, longer pins matter, since short ones barely penetrate that thick ruff around the neck and shoulders.

Brush the mane in sections, lifting and working from the skin outward so you do not just smooth the surface. The slicker handles tangles and loose fur across the body, and it is essential for keeping that signature mane full, clean, and mat-free.

The Essential Steel Comb

A metal comb is the check step that proves your brushing reached the skin, and on a Chow it is indispensable around the ears, mane, and hindquarters. If the comb catches, you have found a tangle hiding beneath the dense outer coat.

Behind the ears especially, mats form quickly and silently on this breed. Running a comb through the friction zones after brushing catches these early, so you can clear a small tangle before it becomes a tight mat that needs a groomer.

A Mat Plan for Friction Zones

Even with regular brushing, Chows develop mats behind the ears, in the armpits, and around the tail and hindquarters. A dematting comb with rounded blades opens these knots gently, a few strands at a time, when they appear.

For tight mats packed against the skin, see a groomer rather than forcing any tool through. And never shave a Chow’s double coat to solve matting, since shaving damages the coat and removes the insulation that protects this breed in heat and cold.

Top Picks: Best Dog Brush for Chows

These picks build a complete kit for a dense double coat and heavy mane: rakes, slickers, combs, and a deshedding tool. The table compares type and best use, then each review below helps you match the best dog brush for chows to the density, shedding, and mats this breed brings.

Safari Undercoat Rake

The Safari rake is the foundation of Chow grooming, its rounded pins reaching the woolly undercoat to pull loose fluff that other brushes miss. It clears the packed undercoat that drives this breed’s heavy shedding, keeping the coat healthy and balanced.

It targets undercoat rather than the mane’s surface or tangles, so it works alongside a slicker and comb. During coat blows, though, it removes more loose hair per stroke than any brush, making it arguably the best dog brush for chows to start with.

Chris Christensen Big G Slicker

The Big G’s long, fine pins on a wide pad reach deep into a Chow’s dense mane and body coat, lifting loose hair and separating the thick ruff. For a full-coated Chow, it detangles and fluffs the mane to a professional standard.

It is a premium tool and the large pad is clumsy for tight spots, and it is not self-cleaning. For the mane and body of a big, dense-coated dog, though, its reach and quality are hard to beat.

Andis Steel Greyhound Comb

This affordable steel comb is the essential check for a Chow, its rounded teeth reaching the skin behind the ears and through the mane to reveal hidden tangles. Passing it through confirms your brushing actually got to the base of that dense coat.

It cannot clear undercoat like a rake or detangle a wide area like a slicker, so it partners with them. As the tool that verifies your work and catches mats early in friction zones, though, it is indispensable for the breed.

FURminator deShedding Tool

For heavy seasonal blows, the FURminator’s fine edge reaches loose undercoat and removes it quickly, cutting down the mountains of fur a Chow drops. Used on a large, long-hair setting, it makes shedding season far more manageable.

Use a light hand and do not overwork one spot, since the edge can trim some coat if pressed too hard. Reserve it for shedding season alongside your rake, and never use it as a shortcut to shaving the double coat.

GoPets Dematting Comb

When mats appear behind the ears or in the armpits, the GoPets comb’s rounded serrated blades open them a few strands at a time, with skin-safe tips. It clears the knots a slicker glides over on a dense, friction-prone coat.

It demands a gentle hand, and tight, pelted mats still need a groomer. For the everyday mats that form in a Chow’s friction zones, though, it handles them safely before they tighten into something worse.

Safari Pin Brush

A pin brush finishes the mane and longer coat, fluffing and smoothing after the rake and slicker have done the heavy work. The Safari pin brush’s rounded pins give that full, tidy mane look without pulling the coat.

It is a finishing tool, not a deshedder or dematter, so it complements the rest of the kit. For adding a soft, polished finish to a Chow’s magnificent ruff, though, it is a pleasant and affordable final step.

Frequently Asked Questions

Chow owners ask the same questions about grooming such a dense coat. These answers about the best dog brush for chows cover frequency, shaving, the mane, and shedding season.

How often should I brush a Chow Chow?

Brush thoroughly three to four times a week, and daily during spring and fall coat blows. The dense double coat mats quickly if neglected, especially behind the ears and in the mane, so frequent, deep brushing with a comb-check is essential.

Should I ever shave my Chow?

No, except on veterinary advice for a medical reason. Shaving a Chow’s double coat can cause patchy regrowth and strips the insulation that keeps the dog cool in summer and warm in winter. Deshed to manage heat and shedding instead of shaving.

How do I keep the mane from matting?

Brush the mane in sections with a slicker, working from the skin outward, then comb through to catch hidden knots. Pay extra attention behind the ears, where mats form fastest, and brush more often during shedding season when loose hair packs in.

Why does my Chow shed so much?

Chows have a thick woolly undercoat that sheds heavily year-round and blows out seasonally in spring and fall. An undercoat rake and deshedding tool remove this loose undercoat at the source, which controls the shedding far better than surface brushing alone.

Final Thoughts

The best dog brush for chows is really a kit built for density: an undercoat rake as the foundation, a long-pinned slicker for the mane and body, a steel comb to check to the skin, and a dematting tool for the friction zones. Brush several times a week, step it up during coat blows, watch behind the ears, and never shave the double coat. With the right tools and a steady routine, your Chow’s thick coat and glorious mane stay healthy, full, and mat-free.