Animal experiments on chronic heart failure play an extremely important role in the process of clinical research，and the establishment of an animal model of chronic heart failure conforming to the syndrome type is very important for the success of the experiment.The animal models of heart failure prepared by scholars vary according to pathogenesis and research purpose.This paper summarizes different preparation methods of traditional Chinese and western medicine for small animal models of chronic heart failure and provides objective technical support for the treatment of heart failure with traditional Chinese medicine.