Is the Akita Chow Better than the Berger Picard as a Pet? Our Answer.

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Akita Chow Versus Berger Picard: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Akita Chow and the Berger Picard? 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 Akita Chow and the Berger Picard 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 Akita Chow and the Berger Picard.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Akita Chow and the Berger Picard 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 Akita Chow and for the Berger Picard. 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 Akita Chow and the Berger Picard.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Akita Chow or the Berger Picard.

Akita Chow versus Berger Picard: Overview

Both the Akita Chow and the Berger Picard are similar in size. The Akita Chow and the Berger Picard are both large-sized dogs.

Furthermore, the Akita Chow belongs to the Mixed Breed Dogs group. Mixed Breed Dogs are not purebred dogs.

On the other hand, the Berger Picard 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.

Akita Chow versus Berger Picard: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Akita Chow to the Berger Picard 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 Akita Chow and the Berger Picard

Factor Akita Chow Berger Picard
Good For Novice Owners 1/5 4/5
Affectionate With Family 1/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 1/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 1/5 3/5
Easy To Groom 1/5 5/5
Life Span 10 to 12 years 13 to 14 years
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 2/5 3/5
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 2/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 2/5
General Health 2/5 5/5
Easy To Train 2/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 4/5
Potential For Playfulness 2/5 5/5
Height 23 to 25 inches 1 foot, 9 inches to 2 feet, 1 inch tall at the sho
Does NOT Drool 3/5 5/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 4/5
Easygoing 2/5 1/5
Does NOT Shed 2/5 2/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 3/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 2/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 2/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 1/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 5/5 4/5
Weight 88 to 145 pounds 50 to 70 pounds
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 13.5 years
Price Range No Data $2400 – $2800
Average Price No Data $2600
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests No Data
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination (min age 24 months effective 9/1/17)
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Akita Chow 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 Berger Picard. 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 Akita Chow is 55 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Berger Picard is 86 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Berger Picard is a better pet than the Akita Chow. So, you should get the Berger Picard!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Akita Chow and the Berger Picard so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Akita Chow and the Berger Picard

    Below is a list of where the Akita Chow and the Berger Picard are most different:

    • Akita Chows are not the best dogs for new dog owners. However, Berger Picards are good for new dog owners.
    • Akita Chows are not affectionate with family. They are not good family dogs. However, Berger Picards are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
    • Akita Chows do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly. However, Berger Picards get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
    • Akita Chows require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom. However, Berger Picards are very easy to groom.
    • Akita Chows have the tendency to develop certain health problems. However, Berger Picards are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
    • Akita Chows not very playful. However, Berger Picards are very playful.

    The Similarities Between the Akita Chow and the Berger Picard

    The Akita Chow and the Berger Picard are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Akita Chow and the Berger Picard are most similar:

    • Both the Akita Chow and the Berger Picard do not adapt well to apartment living.
    • Both the Akita Chow and the Berger Picard do not like to be left alone.
    • Both the Akita Chow and the Berger Picard cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
    • Both the Akita Chow and the Berger Picard are not very friendly towards strangers.
    • Both the Akita Chow and the Berger Picard are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
    • Both the Akita Chow and the Berger Picard 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 Akita Chow and the Berger Picard shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
    • Both the Akita Chow and the Berger Picard gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
    • Both the Akita Chow and the Berger Picard are highly intelligent.
    • Both the Akita Chow and the Berger Picard have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
    • Both the Akita Chow and the Berger Picard have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
    • Both the Akita Chow and the Berger Picard do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
    • Both the Akita Chow and the Berger Picard require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
    • Both the Akita Chow and the Berger Picard can tolerate cold weather.

    Size Comparison of Akita Chow versus Berger Picard

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Akita Chow and the Berger Picard.

    Akita Chows weigh 88 to 145 pounds when fully grown. Akita Chows are 23 to 25 inches when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Berger Picards weigh 50 to 70 pounds when fully grown. Berger Picards are 1 foot, 9 inches to 2 feet, 1 inch tall at the sho when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Akita Chow versus Berger Picard

    The lifespan of Akita Chows is between 10 to 12 years . The average lifespan of Akita Chows is 11.0 years.

    The lifespan of Berger Picards is between 13 to 14 years. The average lifespan of Berger Picards is 13.5 years.

    Berger Picards live longer than Akita Chows.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Akita Chow versus Berger Picard

    Akita Chows do not like to be left alone.

    Berger Picards can be left alone only for a short time.

    Do Akita Chows shed more than Berger Picards?

    Akita Chows shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Berger Picards shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which one drools more, the Akita Chow or the Berger Picard

    Akita Chows drool moderately.

    Berger Picards do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Akita Chow or the Berger Picard?

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

    Berger Picards are very easy to groom.

    Does the Akita Chow Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Berger Picard?

    Akita Chows 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.

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

    Do Akita Chows Bark and Howl? What about Berger Picards?

    Akita Chows are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Berger Picards are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Can Akita Chows Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Berger Picards Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Akita Chows can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Berger Picards can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Akita Chow vs. Berger Picard

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

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

    Can Akita Chows Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Berger Picards Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Akita Chows cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Berger Picards can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Akita Chow or the Berger Picard?

    Akita Chows do not get along well with other dogs.

    Berger Picards get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Are Akita Chows good family dogs? What about Berger Picards?

    Akita Chows are not affectionate with family. They are not good family dogs.

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    Berger Picards are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Akita Chows and Berger Picards?

    Akita Chows do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.

    Berger Picards get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the Akita Chow Easier to Train than the Berger Picard?

    Akita Chows are not easy to train.

    Berger Picards are very easy to train.

    Is the Akita Chow Better for Apartment Owners than the Berger Picard?

    Akita Chows do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Berger Picards adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Akita Chow or the Berger Picard?

    Akita Chows are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Berger Picards are very good for new dog owners.

    Conclusion: Akita Chow versus Berger Picard. 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 Akita Chow and the Berger Picard better suits you and your family.