Last Updated: Mar 21, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Chihuahua Versus Chow Chow: Introduction
- Chihuahua versus Chow Chow: Overview
- Chihuahua versus Chow Chow: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Chihuahua and the Chow Chow
- The Similarities Between the Chihuahua and the Chow Chow
- Size (Weight and Height) of Chihuahua versus Chow Chow
- Lifespan of Chihuahua versus Chow Chow
- Temperament of the Chihuahua Versus the Chow Chow
- Price of Chihuahua versus Price of Chow Chow
- The Intelligence of the Chihuahua versus the Intelligence of the Chow Chow
- The Popularity of Chihuahua versus Popularity of Chow Chow
- Tolerates Being Alone: Chihuahua versus Chow Chow
- Do Chihuahuas shed more than Chow Chows?
- Which is Easier to Groom, the Chihuahua or the Chow Chow?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Chihuahua or the Chow Chow?
- Are Chihuahuas good family dogs? What about Chow Chows?
- Is the Chihuahua Easier to Train than the Chow Chow?
- Which one drools more, the Chihuahua or the Chow Chow
- How Kid-friendly are Chihuahuas and Chow Chows?
- Does the Chihuahua Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Chow Chow?
- Do Chihuahuas Bark and Howl? What about Chow Chows?
- Can Chihuahuas Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Chow Chows Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Wanderlust Potential: Chihuahua vs. Chow Chow
- Can Chihuahuas Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Chow Chows Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Conclusion: Chihuahua versus Chow Chow. Which One is a Better Pet?
Chihuahua Versus Chow Chow: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Chihuahua and the Chow Chow? 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 Chow Chow 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 Chow Chow.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Chihuahua and the Chow Chow 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 Chow Chow. 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 Chow Chow.
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 Chow Chow.
Read on.
Chihuahua versus Chow Chow: Overview
A very important difference between the Chihuahua and the Chow Chow is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Chihuahua is a tiny-sized dog while the Chow Chow 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 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.
Chihuahua versus Chow Chow: Comparison Table
The table below compares the Chihuahua to the Chow Chow 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 Chow Chow
| Factor | Chihuahua | Chow Chow |
|---|---|---|
| Tolerates Being Alone | 1/5 | 5/5 |
| Tolerates Cold Weather | 1/5 | 5/5 |
| Does NOT Drool | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Minimal Exercise Needs | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Life Span | 10 to 18 years | 12 to 15 years |
| Tolerates Hot Weather | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| Dog Friendly | 2/5 | 1/5 |
| Friendly Toward Strangers | 2/5 | 1/5 |
| Does NOT Shed | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| General Health | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| Tendency NOT to Wander | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Calmness/ Low Vigor | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| Does NOT chew on things | 3/5 | 1/5 |
| Low Prey Drive | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Does NOT Bark or Howl | 3/5 | 5/5 |
| NOT Rambunctious | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Weight | 3 to 6 pounds | 40 to 70 pounds |
| Good For Novice Owners | 4/5 | 2/5 |
| Easy To Train | 4/5 | 2/5 |
| Intelligence | 4/5 | 1/5 |
| Potential For Playfulness | 4/5 | 1/5 |
| Adapts Well To Apartment Living | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Easygoing | 1/5 | 4/5 |
| Affectionate With Family | 5/5 | 2/5 |
| Kid-Friendly | 5/5 | 1/5 |
| Easy To Groom | 5/5 | 1/5 |
| Height | 6 inches to 9 inches tall at the shoulder | 17 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder |
| Average Lifespan | 14.0 years | 13.5 years |
| Average Price | $1820 | $1610 |
| Price Range | $850 – $2500 | $950 – $2000 |
| Temperament Score | 69.6 percent | 71.7 percent |
| Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests | ||
| Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds | 30 | 75 |
| Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) | 67 | 76 |
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 Chow Chow. 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 Chow Chow is 69 out of 125.
Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Chihuahua is a better pet than the Chow Chow. So, you should get a Chihuahua!
The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Chihuahua and the Chow Chow
Below is a list of where the Chihuahua and the Chow Chow are most different:
The Similarities Between the Chihuahua and the Chow Chow
The Chihuahua and the Chow Chow are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Chihuahua and the Chow Chow are most similar:
Size (Weight and Height) of Chihuahua versus Chow Chow
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Chihuahua and the Chow Chow.
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, Chow Chows weigh 40 to 70 pounds when fully grown. Chow Chows are 17 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.
Lifespan of Chihuahua versus Chow Chow
The lifespan of Chihuahuas is between 10 to 18 years. The average lifespan of Chihuahuas is 14.0 years.
The lifespan of Chow Chows is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Chow Chows is 13.5 years.
Chihuahuas live longer than Chow Chows.
Go to this article to learn more about Chihuahua lifespan and how long Chihuahua live.
Temperament of the Chihuahua Versus the Chow Chow
The Chow Chow has a better temperament than the Chihuahua.
This is because the temperament score for the Chow Chow is 71.7 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 71.7 percent, the Chow Chow has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.
The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Chihuahua and the Chow Chow by measuring the temperaments of 46 Chihuahuas and 99 Chow Chows.
Price of Chihuahua versus Price of Chow Chow
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 Chow Chow puppy is $1610. The price of the Chow Chow typically ranges from $950 – $2000. However, the price of the Chow Chow can be as low as $200 and as high as $5000. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 269 Chow Chow puppies listed for sale from various sources.
The Chihuahua is more expensive than the Chow Chow.
`| Chihuahua | Chow Chow | |
|---|---|---|
| Average Price | $1820 | $1610 |
| Price Range | $850 to $2500 | $950 to $2000 |
The charts below show the price distribution for the Chihuahua and Chow Chow. For different price points, the charts show how many Chihuahua puppies or how many Chow Chow 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 Chow Chows
Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Chihuahua puppy or the Chow Chow 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 Chow Chow
`| Chihuahua | Chow Chow | |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence Rank | 67 out of 130 dog breeds | 76 out of 130 dog breeds |
| Trainability | Tend To Learn New Commands After 40 To 80 Repetitions! | Tend To Learn New Commands After 80 To 100 Repetitions Or More! |
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: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 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 Chihuahua 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 Chihuahua versus Popularity of Chow Chow
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 Chow Chow over the years.
Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Chihuahua is more popular with dog owners than the Chow Chow. 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 Chow Chow is 75 out of about 200 dog breeds.
Popularity of Chihuahua
Popularity of Chow Chow
| Year | Chihuahua Popularity Rank | Chow Chow Popularity Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 22 | 70 |
| 2014 | 24 | 70 |
| 2015 | 28 | 73 |
| 2016 | 30 | 74 |
| 2017 | 32 | 76 |
| 2018 | 33 | 75 |
| 2019 | 35 | 77 |
| 2020 | 34 | 84 |
| 2021 | 37 | 80 |
Tolerates Being Alone: Chihuahua versus Chow Chow
Chihuahuas do not like to be left alone.
Chow Chows can be left alone for some time without problems.
Do Chihuahuas shed more than Chow Chows?
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
Chow Chows do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
Which is Easier to Groom, the Chihuahua or the Chow Chow?
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.
Chow Chows require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.
Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Chihuahua or the Chow Chow?
Chihuahuas do not get along well with other dogs.
Chow Chows do not get along well with other dogs.
Are Chihuahuas good family dogs? What about Chow Chows?
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.
Chow Chows are not affectionate with family. They are not good family dogs.
Is the Chihuahua Easier to Train than the Chow Chow?
Chihuahuas are very easy to train.
Chow Chows are not easy to train.
Which one drools more, the Chihuahua or the Chow Chow
Chihuahuas do have a very low tendency to drool.
Chow Chows drool moderately.
How Kid-friendly are Chihuahuas and Chow Chows?
Chihuahuas get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Chow Chows do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.
Does the Chihuahua Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Chow Chow?
Chihuahuas have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.
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.
Do Chihuahuas Bark and Howl? What about Chow Chows?
Chihuahuas bark and howl, but not very much.
Chow Chows are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.
Can Chihuahuas Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Chow Chows Tolerate Cold Weather?
Chihuahuas cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
Chow Chows can very well tolerate cold weather.
Wanderlust Potential: Chihuahua vs. Chow Chow
Chihuahuas do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
Chow Chows 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 Chow Chows Tolerate Hot Weather?
Chihuahuas cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
Chow Chows cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
Is the Chihuahua Better for Apartment Owners than the Chow Chow?
Chihuahuas adapt very well to apartment living.
Chow Chows adapt moderately well to apartment living.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Chihuahua or the Chow Chow?
Chihuahuas are very good for new dog owners.
Chow Chows are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
Conclusion: Chihuahua versus Chow Chow. 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 Chow Chow better suits you and your family.