A Detailed Comparison of the Chihuahua and the Mountain Cur.

Last Updated: Mar 22, 2022

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Chihuahua Versus Mountain Cur: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Chihuahua and the Mountain Cur? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Chihuahua and the Mountain Cur 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 Chihuahua and the Mountain Cur.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Chihuahua and the Mountain Cur 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 Chihuahua and for the Mountain Cur. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Chihuahua and the Mountain Cur.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Chihuahua or the Mountain Cur.

Read on.

Chihuahua versus Mountain Cur: Overview

A very important difference between the Chihuahua and the Mountain Cur is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Chihuahua is a tiny-sized dog while the Mountain Cur is a large-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Chihuahua belongs to the Companion Dogs group. Companion Dogs were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.

On the other hand, the Mountain Cur 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.

Chihuahua versus Mountain Cur: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Chihuahua to the Mountain Cur 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.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Chihuahua and the Mountain Cur

FactorChihuahuaMountain Cur
Tolerates Being Alone1/52/5
Tolerates Cold Weather1/54/5
Does NOT Drool5/55/5
Minimal Exercise Needs5/51/5
Life Span10 to 18 years10 to 16 years
Tolerates Hot Weather2/54/5
Dog Friendly2/53/5
Friendly Toward Strangers2/52/5
Does NOT Shed4/54/5
General Health2/55/5
Tendency NOT to Wander4/52/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor4/52/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight3/55/5
Does NOT chew on things3/54/5
Low Prey Drive3/51/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl3/53/5
NOT Rambunctious3/52/5
Weight3 to 6 pounds30 to 60 pounds
Good For Novice Owners4/51/5
Easy To Train4/52/5
Intelligence4/54/5
Potential For Playfulness4/54/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living5/51/5
Easygoing1/53/5
Affectionate With Family5/54/5
Kid-Friendly5/54/5
Easy To Groom5/54/5
Height6 inches to 9 inches tall at the shoulder16 to 26 inches
Average Lifespan14.0 years13.0 years
Average Price$1820$470
Price Range$850 – $2500$250 – $800
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Patellar Luxation
  • No Data

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Chihuahua 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 Mountain Cur. 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 the Chihuahua is 84 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Mountain Cur is 76 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Chihuahua is a better pet than the Mountain Cur. So, you should get a Chihuahua!

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Chihuahua and the Mountain Cur

    Below is a list of where the Chihuahua and the Mountain Cur are most different:

  • Chihuahuas cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold. However, Mountain Curs can tolerate cold weather.
  • Chihuahuas have low exercise needs. However, Mountain Curs require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Chihuahuas have the tendency to develop certain health problems. However, Mountain Curs are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Chihuahuas are good for new dog owners. However, Mountain Curs are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Chihuahuas adapt well to apartment living. However, Mountain Curs do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • The Similarities Between the Chihuahua and the Mountain Cur

    The Chihuahua and the Mountain Cur are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Chihuahua and the Mountain Cur are most similar:

  • Both the Chihuahua and the Mountain Cur do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Mountain Cur do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Mountain Cur do not get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Mountain Cur are not very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Mountain Cur do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Mountain Cur are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Mountain Cur are very playful.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Mountain Cur are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Mountain Cur get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Mountain Cur are very easy to groom.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Chihuahua versus Mountain Cur

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Chihuahua and the Mountain Cur.

    Chihuahuas weigh 3 to 6 pounds when fully grown. Chihuahuas are 6 inches to 9 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Mountain Curs weigh 30 to 60 pounds when fully grown. Mountain Curs are 16 to 26 inches when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Chihuahua versus Mountain Cur

    The lifespan of Chihuahuas is between 10 to 18 years. The average lifespan of Chihuahuas is 14.0 years.

    The lifespan of Mountain Curs is between 10 to 16 years. The average lifespan of Mountain Curs is 13.0 years.

    Chihuahuas live longer than Mountain Curs.

    Go to this article to learn more about Chihuahua lifespan and how long Chihuahua live.

    Price of Chihuahua versus Price of Mountain Cur

    The average price of the Chihuahua puppy is $1820. The price of the Chihuahua typically ranges from $850 – $2500. However, the price of a Chihuahua can be as low as $100 and as high as $15500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 1980 Chihuahua puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Mountain Cur puppy is $470. The price of the Mountain Cur typically ranges from $250 – $800. However, the price of the Mountain Cur can be as low as $100 and as high as $1000. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 61 Mountain Cur puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Chihuahua is more expensive than the Mountain Cur.

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    Chihuahua Mountain Cur
    Average Price $1820 $470
    Price Range $850 to $2500 $250 to $800

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Chihuahua and Mountain Cur. For different price points, the charts show how many Chihuahua puppies or how many Mountain Cur puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

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

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Mountain Curs

    A breakdown of the prices of Mountain Curs

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Chihuahua puppy or the Mountain Cur 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 to buy 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 a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

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

    Go to this article to learn more about Chihuahua cost and price.

    Check out our list of best Chihuahua breeders here

    Tolerates Being Alone: Chihuahua versus Mountain Cur

    Chihuahuas do not like to be left alone.

    Mountain Curs do not like to be left alone.

    Do Chihuahuas shed more than Mountain Curs?

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

    Check out our articles to learn more on how to minimize shedding in Chihuahuas, and on how to groom a Chihuahua

    Mountain Curs do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Chihuahua or the Mountain Cur?

    Chihuahuas are very easy to groom.

    To learn more about how to properly groom a Chihuahua, check out our article on how to groom a Chihuahua.

    Learn more on how to take care of a Chihuahua here.

    Mountain Curs are very easy to groom.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Chihuahua or the Mountain Cur?

    Chihuahuas do not get along well with other dogs.

    Mountain Curs get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Are Chihuahuas good family dogs? What about Mountain Curs?

    Chihuahuas are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Chihuahua make a good addition to a family. They love kids and kids love them.

    Learn about Chihuahua temperament here.

    Mountain Curs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Is the Chihuahua Easier to Train than the Mountain Cur?

    Chihuahuas are very easy to train.

    Mountain Curs are not easy to train.

    Which one drools more, the Chihuahua or the Mountain Cur

    Chihuahuas do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Mountain Curs do have a very low tendency to drool.

    How Kid-friendly are Chihuahuas and Mountain Curs?

    Chihuahuas get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Mountain Curs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Does the Chihuahua Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Mountain Cur?

    Chihuahuas have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Mountain Curs have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Do Chihuahuas Bark and Howl? What about Mountain Curs?

    Chihuahuas bark and howl, but not very much.

    Mountain Curs bark and howl, but not very much.

    Can Chihuahuas Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Mountain Curs Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Chihuahuas cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Mountain Curs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Chihuahua vs. Mountain Cur

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

    Mountain Curs have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Chihuahuas Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Mountain Curs Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Chihuahuas cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Mountain Curs can tolerate hot weather.

    Is the Chihuahua Better for Apartment Owners than the Mountain Cur?

    Chihuahuas adapt very well to apartment living.

    Mountain Curs do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Chihuahua or the Mountain Cur?

    Chihuahuas are very good for new dog owners.

    Mountain Curs are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Conclusion: Chihuahua versus Mountain Cur. 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 Chihuahua and the Mountain Cur better suits you and your family.