Which is Better Between the Barbet and the Shichon?

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Barbet Versus Shichon: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Barbet and the Shichon 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 Barbet and for the Shichon. 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 Barbet and the Shichon.

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

Barbet versus Shichon: Overview

A very important difference between the Barbet and the Shichon is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Barbet is a medium-sized dog while the Shichon is a small-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Barbet belongs to the Sporting Dogs group. Sporting Dogs were bred to help hunters catch and retrieve feathered game. Some sporting dog breeds such as Retrievers, which were built for swimming, were bred to hunt waterfowl in water. Whereas sporting dog breeds like setters, spaniels, and pointing breeds were bred to hunt quail, pheasant, and other game birds nest on grasslands. Many Sporting Group breeds have thick, water-repellent coats that protect them from harsh hunting conditions.

On the other hand, the Shichon belongs to the Mixed Breed Dogs group. Mixed Breed Dogs are not purebred dogs.

Barbet versus Shichon: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Barbet to the Shichon 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 Barbet and the Shichon

Factor Barbet Shichon
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 1/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 1/5 4/5
Life Span 13 to 15 years 12 to 18 years
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 4/5 5/5
Does NOT chew on things 4/5 5/5
Height 20 to 25 inches tall at the shoulder 9 to 12 inches
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 3/5 5/5
Easygoing 3/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 5/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 5/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 4/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 3/5
Weight 37 to 62 pounds 9 to 15 pounds
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 2/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 2/5
Kid-Friendly 4/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 4/5
General Health 4/5 4/5
Easy To Train 4/5 3/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 5/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 2/5
Average Lifespan 14.0 years 15.0 years
Price Range No Data $1200 – $2000
Average Price No Data $1610
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • AKC or UKC DNA Profile
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- minimum age 12 months, recommend CAER eye exam prior to onset of breeding and then periodically thereafter
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
    		•  No Data

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Barbet 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 Shichon. 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 Barbet is 82 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Shichon is 95 out of 125.

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

    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 Barbet and the Shichon so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Barbet and the Shichon

    Below is a list of where the Barbet and the Shichon are most different:

    • Barbets require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom. However, Shichons are very easy to groom.

    The Similarities Between the Barbet and the Shichon

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

    • Both the Barbet and the Shichon do not like to be left alone.
    • Both the Barbet and the Shichon do not have the tendency to drool.
    • Both the Barbet and the Shichon do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
    • Both the Barbet and the Shichon are not prone to nip and chew at things.
    • Both the Barbet and the Shichon get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
    • Both the Barbet and the Shichon get along well with other dogs.
    • Both the Barbet and the Shichon are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
    • Both the Barbet and the Shichon are very easy to train.
    • Both the Barbet and the Shichon are highly intelligent.
    • Both the Barbet and the Shichon are very playful.
    • Both the Barbet and the Shichon are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
    • Both the Barbet and the Shichon have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.

    Size Comparison of Barbet versus Shichon

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Barbet and the Shichon.

    Barbets weigh 37 to 62 pounds when fully grown. Barbets are 20 to 25 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Shichons weigh 9 to 15 pounds when fully grown. Shichons are 9 to 12 inches when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Barbet versus Shichon

    The lifespan of Barbets is between 13 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Barbets is 14.0 years.

    The lifespan of Shichons is between 12 to 18 years. The average lifespan of Shichons is 15.0 years.

    Shichons live longer than Barbets.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Barbet versus Shichon

    Barbets do not like to be left alone.

    Shichons do not like to be left alone.

    Do Barbets shed more than Shichons?

    Barbets do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Shichons do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Which one drools more, the Barbet or the Shichon

    Barbets do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Shichons do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Barbet or the Shichon?

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

    Shichons are very easy to groom.

    Does the Barbet Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Shichon?

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

    Shichons 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 Barbets Bark and Howl? What about Shichons?

    Barbets bark and howl, but not very much.

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

    Can Barbets Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Shichons Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Barbets can very well tolerate cold weather.

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

    Wanderlust Potential: Barbet vs. Shichon

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

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

    Can Barbets Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Shichons Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Barbets can tolerate hot weather.

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

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Barbet or the Shichon?

    Barbets get along very well with other dogs.

    Shichons get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Barbets good family dogs? What about Shichons?

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

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

    How Kid-friendly are Barbets and Shichons?

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

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

    Is the Barbet Easier to Train than the Shichon?

    Barbets are very easy to train.

    Shichons are fairly easy to train.

    Is the Barbet Better for Apartment Owners than the Shichon?

    Barbets adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Shichons adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Barbet or the Shichon?

    Barbets are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Shichons are very good for new dog owners.

    Conclusion: Barbet versus Shichon. 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 Barbet and the Shichon better suits you and your family.