Guide on Deciding Betweeen the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the Portuguese Water Dog.

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Appenzeller Sennenhunde Versus Portuguese Water Dog: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the Portuguese Water Dog? 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 Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the Portuguese Water Dog 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 Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the Portuguese Water Dog.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the Portuguese Water Dog 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 Appenzeller Sennenhunde and for the Portuguese Water Dog. 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 Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the Portuguese Water Dog.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Appenzeller Sennenhunde or the Portuguese Water Dog.

Appenzeller Sennenhunde versus Portuguese Water Dog: Overview

Both the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the Portuguese Water Dog are similar in size. The Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the Portuguese Water Dog are both medium-sized dogs.

Furthermore, the Appenzeller Sennenhunde 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.

On the other hand, the Portuguese Water Dog 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.

Appenzeller Sennenhunde versus Portuguese Water Dog: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Appenzeller Sennenhunde to the Portuguese Water Dog 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 Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the Portuguese Water Dog

Factor Appenzeller Sennenhunde Portuguese Water Dog
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 4/5
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 2/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Height 19 to 22 inches tall at the shoulder 1 foot, 5 inches to 1 foot, 11 inches tall at the
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 3/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 3/5
Easygoing 3/5 2/5
Dog Friendly 3/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 5/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 3/5
General Health 4/5 4/5
Easy To Train 4/5 4/5
Intelligence 4/5 5/5
NOT Rambunctious 2/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 2/5 3/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 5/5
Weight 48 to 55 pounds 35 to 60 pounds
Tolerates Cold Weather 5/5 4/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 2/5
Does NOT chew on things 1/5 1/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 1/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 1/5
Life Span 9 to 12 years 10 to 14 years
Average Lifespan 10.5 years 12.0 years
Price Range No Data $2500 – $3300
Average Price No Data $2860
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests No Data
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- recommend annual exams until age 10
  • GM1 GANGLIOSIDOSIS
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Juvenile Dilated Cardiomyopathy – Univ of Pennsylvania –
  • NYU
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • Sebaceous Adenitis
    		•

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Appenzeller Sennenhunde 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 Portuguese Water Dog. 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 Appenzeller Sennenhunde is 77 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Portuguese Water Dog is 84 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Portuguese Water Dog is a better pet than the Appenzeller Sennenhunde. So, you should get the Portuguese Water Dog!

    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 Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the Portuguese Water Dog so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the Portuguese Water Dog

    Below is a list of where the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the Portuguese Water Dog are most different:

    • Appenzeller Sennenhundes do not adapt well to apartment living. However, Portuguese Water Dogs adapt well to apartment living.
    • Appenzeller Sennenhundes are very easy to groom. However, Portuguese Water Dogs require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.

    The Similarities Between the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the Portuguese Water Dog

    The Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the Portuguese Water Dog are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the Portuguese Water Dog are most similar:

    • Both the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the Portuguese Water Dog do not like to be left alone.
    • Both the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the Portuguese Water Dog do not have the tendency to drool.
    • Both the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the Portuguese Water Dog are not very friendly towards strangers.
    • Both the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the Portuguese Water Dog can tolerate hot weather.
    • Both the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the Portuguese Water Dog are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
    • Both the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the Portuguese Water Dog are very easy to train.
    • Both the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the Portuguese Water Dog are highly intelligent.
    • Both the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the Portuguese Water Dog have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
    • Both the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the Portuguese Water Dog do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
    • Both the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the Portuguese Water Dog are very playful.
    • Both the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the Portuguese Water Dog can tolerate cold weather.
    • Both the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the Portuguese Water Dog are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
    • Both the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the Portuguese Water Dog get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
    • Both the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the Portuguese Water Dog are prone to nip and chew at things.
    • Both the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the Portuguese Water Dog require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.

    Size Comparison of Appenzeller Sennenhunde versus Portuguese Water Dog

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the Portuguese Water Dog.

    Appenzeller Sennenhundes weigh 48 to 55 pounds when fully grown. Appenzeller Sennenhundes are 19 to 22 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Portuguese Water Dogs weigh 35 to 60 pounds when fully grown. Portuguese Water Dogs are 1 foot, 5 inches to 1 foot, 11 inches tall at the when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Appenzeller Sennenhunde versus Portuguese Water Dog

    The lifespan of Appenzeller Sennenhundes is between 9 to 12 years. The average lifespan of Appenzeller Sennenhundes is 10.5 years.

    The lifespan of Portuguese Water Dogs is between 10 to 14 years. The average lifespan of Portuguese Water Dogs is 12.0 years.

    Portuguese Water Dogs live longer than Appenzeller Sennenhundes.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Appenzeller Sennenhunde versus Portuguese Water Dog

    Appenzeller Sennenhundes do not like to be left alone.

    Portuguese Water Dogs do not like to be left alone.

    Do Appenzeller Sennenhundes shed more than Portuguese Water Dogs?

    Appenzeller Sennenhundes shed moderately.

    Portuguese Water Dogs do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Which one drools more, the Appenzeller Sennenhunde or the Portuguese Water Dog

    Appenzeller Sennenhundes do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Portuguese Water Dogs do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Appenzeller Sennenhunde or the Portuguese Water Dog?

    Appenzeller Sennenhundes are very easy to groom.

    Portuguese Water Dogs require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Does the Appenzeller Sennenhunde Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Portuguese Water Dog?

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

    Portuguese Water Dogs have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Do Appenzeller Sennenhundes Bark and Howl? What about Portuguese Water Dogs?

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

    Portuguese Water Dogs bark and howl, but not very much.

    Can Appenzeller Sennenhundes Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Portuguese Water Dogs Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Appenzeller Sennenhundes can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Portuguese Water Dogs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Appenzeller Sennenhunde vs. Portuguese Water Dog

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

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

    Can Appenzeller Sennenhundes Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Portuguese Water Dogs Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Appenzeller Sennenhundes can tolerate hot weather.

    Portuguese Water Dogs can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Appenzeller Sennenhunde or the Portuguese Water Dog?

    Appenzeller Sennenhundes get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Portuguese Water Dogs get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Appenzeller Sennenhundes good family dogs? What about Portuguese Water Dogs?

    Appenzeller Sennenhundes are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Portuguese Water Dogs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Appenzeller Sennenhundes and Portuguese Water Dogs?

    Appenzeller Sennenhundes get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Portuguese Water Dogs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the Appenzeller Sennenhunde Easier to Train than the Portuguese Water Dog?

    Appenzeller Sennenhundes are very easy to train.

    Portuguese Water Dogs are very easy to train.

    Is the Appenzeller Sennenhunde Better for Apartment Owners than the Portuguese Water Dog?

    Appenzeller Sennenhundes do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Portuguese Water Dogs adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Appenzeller Sennenhunde or the Portuguese Water Dog?

    Appenzeller Sennenhundes are OK for new dog owners.

    Portuguese Water Dogs are OK for new dog owners.

    Conclusion: Appenzeller Sennenhunde versus Portuguese Water Dog. 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 Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the Portuguese Water Dog better suits you and your family.