Is the Chihuahua Better than the Bouvier des Flandres as a Pet? Answer…

Last Updated: Mar 21, 2022

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Chihuahua Versus Bouvier des Flandres: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Chihuahua and the Bouvier des Flandres? 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 Bouvier des Flandres 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 Bouvier des Flandres.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Chihuahua and the Bouvier des Flandres 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 Bouvier des Flandres. 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 Bouvier des Flandres.

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 Bouvier des Flandres.

Read on.

Chihuahua versus Bouvier des Flandres

Chihuahua versus Bouvier des Flandres: Overview

A very important difference between the Chihuahua and the Bouvier des Flandres is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Chihuahua is a tiny-sized dog while the Bouvier des Flandres 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 Bouvier des Flandres belongs to the Herding Dogs group. Herding Dogs were bred for moving livestock, including sheep, cattle, and even reindeer. Herding dogs work closely with their human shepherds, and their natural intelligence and responsiveness make them highly trainable. They have high levels of energy, which needs to be channeled properly to prevent destructive behavior. Herding breeds are protective of their people and property and make excellent watchdogs. Their intelligence, agility, and activity level make them well suited to dog sports.

Chihuahua versus Bouvier des Flandres: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Chihuahua to the Bouvier des Flandres 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 Bouvier des Flandres

FactorChihuahuaBouvier des Flandres
Tolerates Being Alone1/52/5
Tolerates Cold Weather1/54/5
Does NOT Drool5/55/5
Minimal Exercise Needs5/52/5
Life Span10 to 18 years10 to 12 years
Tolerates Hot Weather2/52/5
Dog Friendly2/52/5
Friendly Toward Strangers2/52/5
Does NOT Shed4/55/5
General Health2/53/5
Tendency NOT to Wander4/54/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor4/51/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight3/52/5
Does NOT chew on things3/54/5
Low Prey Drive3/54/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl3/52/5
NOT Rambunctious3/52/5
Weight3 to 6 pounds70 to 100 pounds
Good For Novice Owners4/52/5
Easy To Train4/55/5
Intelligence4/54/5
Potential For Playfulness4/54/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living5/53/5
Easygoing1/52/5
Affectionate With Family5/55/5
Kid-Friendly5/55/5
Easy To Groom5/52/5
Height6 inches to 9 inches tall at the shoulder23 to 26 inches tall at the shoulder
Average Lifespan14.0 years11.0 years
Average Price$1820$1870
Price Range$850 – $2500$1595 – $2200
Temperament Score69.6 percent85.4 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination. Minimum age 18 months. The ABdFC recommends testing be repeated every two years until at least 8 years of age.
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds3087
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds)6729

    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 Bouvier des Flandres. 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 Bouvier des Flandres is 78 out of 125.

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

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Chihuahua and the Bouvier des Flandres

    Below is a list of where the Chihuahua and the Bouvier des Flandres are most different:

  • Chihuahuas cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold. However, Bouvier des Flandress can tolerate cold weather.
  • Chihuahuas have low exercise needs. However, Bouvier des Flandress require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Chihuahuas do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful. However, Bouvier des Flandress do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • Chihuahuas are very easy to groom. However, Bouvier des Flandress require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • The Similarities Between the Chihuahua and the Bouvier des Flandres

    The Chihuahua and the Bouvier des Flandres are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Chihuahua and the Bouvier des Flandres are most similar:

  • Both the Chihuahua and the Bouvier des Flandres do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Bouvier des Flandres do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Bouvier des Flandres cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Bouvier des Flandres do not get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Bouvier des Flandres are not very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Bouvier des Flandres do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Bouvier des Flandres have the tendency to develop certain health problems.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Bouvier des Flandres do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Bouvier des Flandres are very easy to train.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Bouvier des Flandres are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Bouvier des Flandres are very playful.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Bouvier des Flandres 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.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Bouvier des Flandres are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Bouvier des Flandres get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Chihuahua versus Bouvier des Flandres

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Chihuahua and the Bouvier des Flandres.

    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, Bouvier des Flandress weigh 70 to 100 pounds when fully grown. Bouvier des Flandress are 23 to 26 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Chihuahua versus Bouvier des Flandres

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

    The lifespan of Bouvier des Flandress is between 10 to 12 years. The average lifespan of Bouvier des Flandress is 11.0 years.

    Chihuahuas live longer than Bouvier des Flandress.

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

    Temperament of the Chihuahua Versus the Bouvier des Flandres

    The Bouvier des Flandres has a better temperament than the Chihuahua.

    This is because the temperament score for the Bouvier des Flandres is 85.4 percent while the temperament score for the Chihuahua is 69.6 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 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 69.6 percent, the Chihuahua has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 85.4 percent, the Bouvier des Flandres has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Chihuahua and the Bouvier des Flandres by measuring the temperaments of 46 Chihuahuas and 925 Bouvier des Flandress.

    Price of Chihuahua versus Price of Bouvier des Flandres

    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 Bouvier des Flandres puppy is $1870. The price of the Bouvier des Flandres typically ranges from $1595 – $2200. However, the price of the Bouvier des Flandres can be as low as $300 and as high as $3200. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 143 Bouvier des Flandres puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Bouvier des Flandres is more expensive than the Chihuahua.

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    Chihuahua Bouvier des Flandres
    Average Price $1820 $1870
    Price Range $850 to $2500 $1595 to $2200

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Chihuahua and Bouvier des Flandres. For different price points, the charts show how many Chihuahua puppies or how many Bouvier des Flandres 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 Bouvier des Flandress

    A breakdown of the prices of Bouvier des Flandress

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Chihuahua puppy or the Bouvier des Flandres 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

    The Intelligence of the Chihuahua versus the Intelligence of the Bouvier des Flandres

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    Chihuahua Bouvier des Flandres
    Intelligence Rank 67 out of 130 dog breeds 29 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 40 To 80 Repetitions! Tend To Learn New Commands After 15 To 25 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 Chihuahua has an obedience intelligence rank of 67 out of 130 dog breeds. The Chihuahua belongs to the `Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Chihuahuas tend to learn new commands after 40 to 80 repetitions!.

    The Bouvier des Flandres has an obedience intelligence rank of 29 out of 130 dog breeds. The Bouvier des Flandres belongs to the `Above Average Working Dogs` category. This means that Bouvier des Flandress tend to learn new commands after 15 to 25 repetitions.

    The Bouvier des Flandres is more intelligent than the Chihuahua.

    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 Chihuahua versus Popularity of Bouvier des Flandres

    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 Chihuahua and the Bouvier des Flandres over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Chihuahua is more popular with dog owners than the Bouvier des Flandres. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Chihuahua is 30 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Bouvier des Flandres is 87 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Chihuahua

    Popularity of Chihuahua

    Popularity of Bouvier des Flandres

    Popularity of Bouvier des Flandres

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    Year Chihuahua Popularity Rank Bouvier des Flandres Popularity Rank
    2013 22 82
    2014 24 81
    2015 28 83
    2016 30 83
    2017 32 85
    2018 33 84
    2019 35 92
    2020 34 94
    2021 37 101

    Tolerates Being Alone: Chihuahua versus Bouvier des Flandres

    Chihuahuas do not like to be left alone.

    Bouvier des Flandress do not like to be left alone.

    Do Chihuahuas shed more than Bouvier des Flandress?

    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

    Bouvier des Flandress do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Chihuahua or the Bouvier des Flandres?

    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.

    Bouvier des Flandress require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Chihuahua or the Bouvier des Flandres?

    Chihuahuas do not get along well with other dogs.

    Bouvier des Flandress do not get along well with other dogs.

    Are Chihuahuas good family dogs? What about Bouvier des Flandress?

    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.

    Bouvier des Flandress are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Is the Chihuahua Easier to Train than the Bouvier des Flandres?

    Chihuahuas are very easy to train.

    Bouvier des Flandress are very easy to train.

    Which one drools more, the Chihuahua or the Bouvier des Flandres

    Chihuahuas do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Bouvier des Flandress do have a very low tendency to drool.

    How Kid-friendly are Chihuahuas and Bouvier des Flandress?

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

    Bouvier des Flandress get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Does the Chihuahua Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Bouvier des Flandres?

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

    Bouvier des Flandress 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.

    Do Chihuahuas Bark and Howl? What about Bouvier des Flandress?

    Chihuahuas bark and howl, but not very much.

    Bouvier des Flandress are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Can Chihuahuas Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Bouvier des Flandress Tolerate Cold Weather?

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

    Bouvier des Flandress can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Chihuahua vs. Bouvier des Flandres

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

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

    Can Chihuahuas Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Bouvier des Flandress Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

    Bouvier des Flandress cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Is the Chihuahua Better for Apartment Owners than the Bouvier des Flandres?

    Chihuahuas adapt very well to apartment living.

    Bouvier des Flandress adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Chihuahua or the Bouvier des Flandres?

    Chihuahuas are very good for new dog owners.

    Bouvier des Flandress are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Conclusion: Chihuahua versus Bouvier des Flandres. 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 Bouvier des Flandres better suits you and your family.