Which is Better between the Chihuahua and the Newfoundland? A Very Detailed Review.

Last Updated: Mar 22, 2022

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Chihuahua Versus Newfoundland: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Chihuahua and the Newfoundland 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 Newfoundland. 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 Newfoundland.

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 Newfoundland.

Read on.

Chihuahua versus Newfoundland

Chihuahua versus Newfoundland: Overview

A very important difference between the Chihuahua and the Newfoundland is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Chihuahua is a tiny-sized dog while the Newfoundland is a giant-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 Newfoundland 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 Newfoundland: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Chihuahua to the Newfoundland 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 Newfoundland

FactorChihuahuaNewfoundland
Tolerates Being Alone1/51/5
Tolerates Cold Weather1/55/5
Does NOT Drool5/51/5
Minimal Exercise Needs5/53/5
Life Span10 to 18 years8 to 10 years
Tolerates Hot Weather2/52/5
Dog Friendly2/54/5
Friendly Toward Strangers2/54/5
Does NOT Shed4/51/5
General Health2/51/5
Tendency NOT to Wander4/53/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor4/55/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight3/52/5
Does NOT chew on things3/53/5
Low Prey Drive3/52/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl3/52/5
NOT Rambunctious3/53/5
Weight3 to 6 pounds100 to 150 pounds
Good For Novice Owners4/53/5
Easy To Train4/55/5
Intelligence4/54/5
Potential For Playfulness4/54/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living5/51/5
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 shoulder2 feet, 1 inch to 2 feet, 5 inches tall at the sho
Average Lifespan14.0 years9.0 years
Average Price$1820$2160
Price Range$850 – $2500$1875 – $2500
Temperament Score69.6 percent87.5 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Cystinuria
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • OFA Website
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds3038
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds)6734

    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 Newfoundland. 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 Newfoundland is 73 out of 125.

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

    Chihuahua versus Newfoundland

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Chihuahua and the Newfoundland

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

  • Chihuahuas cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold. However, Newfoundlands can tolerate cold weather.
  • Chihuahuas do not have the tendency to drool. However, Newfoundlands have a very high tendency to drool.
  • Chihuahuas do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies. However, Newfoundlands shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Chihuahuas adapt well to apartment living. However, Newfoundlands do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Chihuahuas are very easy to groom. However, Newfoundlands require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • The Similarities Between the Chihuahua and the Newfoundland

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

  • Both the Chihuahua and the Newfoundland do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Newfoundland cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Newfoundland have the tendency to develop certain health problems.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Newfoundland 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 Newfoundland do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Newfoundland are good for new dog owners.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Newfoundland are very easy to train.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Newfoundland are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Newfoundland are very playful.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Newfoundland 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 Newfoundland are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Newfoundland get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Chihuahua versus Newfoundland

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

    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, Newfoundlands weigh 100 to 150 pounds when fully grown. Newfoundlands are 2 feet, 1 inch to 2 feet, 5 inches tall at the sho when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Chihuahua versus Newfoundland

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

    The lifespan of Newfoundlands is between 8 to 10 years. The average lifespan of Newfoundlands is 9.0 years.

    Chihuahuas live longer than Newfoundlands.

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

    Chihuahua versus Newfoundland

    Temperament of the Chihuahua Versus the Newfoundland

    The Newfoundland has a better temperament than the Chihuahua.

    This is because the temperament score for the Newfoundland is 87.5 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 87.5 percent, the Newfoundland has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Chihuahua and the Newfoundland by measuring the temperaments of 46 Chihuahuas and 176 Newfoundlands.

    Price of Chihuahua versus Price of Newfoundland

    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 Newfoundland puppy is $2160. The price of the Newfoundland typically ranges from $1875 – $2500. However, the price of the Newfoundland can be as low as $350 and as high as $4000. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 204 Newfoundland puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Newfoundland is more expensive than the Chihuahua.

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    Chihuahua Newfoundland
    Average Price $1820 $2160
    Price Range $850 to $2500 $1875 to $2500

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Chihuahua and Newfoundland. For different price points, the charts show how many Chihuahua puppies or how many Newfoundland 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 Newfoundlands

    A breakdown of the prices of Newfoundlands

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

    Chihuahua versus Newfoundland

    The Intelligence of the Chihuahua versus the Intelligence of the Newfoundland

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    Chihuahua Newfoundland
    Intelligence Rank 67 out of 130 dog breeds 34 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 Newfoundland has an obedience intelligence rank of 34 out of 130 dog breeds. The Newfoundland belongs to the `Above Average Working Dogs` category. This means that Newfoundlands tend to learn new commands after 15 to 25 repetitions.

    The Newfoundland 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 Newfoundland

    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 Newfoundland over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Chihuahua is more popular with dog owners than the Newfoundland. 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 Newfoundland is 38 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Chihuahua

    Popularity of Chihuahua

    Popularity of Newfoundland

    Popularity of Newfoundland

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    Year Chihuahua Popularity Rank Newfoundland Popularity Rank
    2013 22 37
    2014 24 37
    2015 28 37
    2016 30 35
    2017 32 36
    2018 33 40
    2019 35 40
    2020 34 41
    2021 37 45

    Tolerates Being Alone: Chihuahua versus Newfoundland

    Chihuahuas do not like to be left alone.

    Newfoundlands do not like to be left alone.

    Do Chihuahuas shed more than Newfoundlands?

    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

    Newfoundlands shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Chihuahua or the Newfoundland?

    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.

    Newfoundlands require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

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

    Chihuahuas do not get along well with other dogs.

    Newfoundlands get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Chihuahuas good family dogs? What about Newfoundlands?

    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.

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

    Is the Chihuahua Easier to Train than the Newfoundland?

    Chihuahuas are very easy to train.

    Newfoundlands are very easy to train.

    Which one drools more, the Chihuahua or the Newfoundland

    Chihuahuas do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Newfoundlands have a very high tendency to drool.

    How Kid-friendly are Chihuahuas and Newfoundlands?

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

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

    Does the Chihuahua Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Newfoundland?

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

    Newfoundlands 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 Newfoundlands?

    Chihuahuas bark and howl, but not very much.

    Newfoundlands are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Can Chihuahuas Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Newfoundlands Tolerate Cold Weather?

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

    Newfoundlands can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Chihuahua vs. Newfoundland

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

    Newfoundlands have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Chihuahuas Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Newfoundlands Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

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

    Is the Chihuahua Better for Apartment Owners than the Newfoundland?

    Chihuahuas adapt very well to apartment living.

    Newfoundlands do not adapt well to apartment living.

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

    Chihuahuas are very good for new dog owners.

    Newfoundlands are OK for new dog owners.

    Conclusion: Chihuahua versus Newfoundland. 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 Newfoundland better suits you and your family.