Guide on Deciding Betweeen the Bolognese and the Kooikerhondje.

by

Quick Links: Table of Contents

Bolognese Versus Kooikerhondje: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Bolognese and the Kooikerhondje 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 Bolognese and for the Kooikerhondje. 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 Bolognese and the Kooikerhondje.

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

Bolognese versus Kooikerhondje: Overview

A very important difference between the Bolognese and the Kooikerhondje is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Bolognese is a tiny-sized dog while the Kooikerhondje is a medium-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Bolognese 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 Kooikerhondje 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.

Bolognese versus Kooikerhondje: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Bolognese to the Kooikerhondje 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 Bolognese and the Kooikerhondje

Factor Bolognese Kooikerhondje
Does NOT Shed 5/5 3/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 1/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 5/5 3/5
Life Span 12 to 14 years 12 to 14 years
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 2/5 4/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 3/5 4/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 2/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 1/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 4/5
Easygoing 1/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 3/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 2/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 5/5 2/5
General Health 5/5 5/5
Easy To Train 5/5 1/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 3/5
Weight 8 to 14 pounds 20 to 25 pounds
Height 9 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder 14 to 16 inches tall at the shoulder
Average Lifespan 13.0 years 13.0 years
Average Price $2030 No Data
Price Range $1888 – $2162 No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests No Data No Data

Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Bolognese 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 Kooikerhondje. 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 Bolognese is 85 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Kooikerhondje is 70 out of 125.

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

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

The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Bolognese and the Kooikerhondje

Below is a list of where the Bolognese and the Kooikerhondje are most different:

  • Bologneses get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly. However, Kooikerhondjes do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.
  • Bologneses get along well with other dogs. However, Kooikerhondjes do not get along well with other dogs.
  • Bologneses are very friendly towards strangers. However, Kooikerhondjes are not very friendly towards strangers.
  • Bologneses are very easy to train. However, Kooikerhondjes are not easy to train.

The Similarities Between the Bolognese and the Kooikerhondje

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

  • Both the Bolognese and the Kooikerhondje do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Bolognese and the Kooikerhondje require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Both the Bolognese and the Kooikerhondje do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Bolognese and the Kooikerhondje are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Bolognese and the Kooikerhondje are prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Bolognese and the Kooikerhondje are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Bolognese and the Kooikerhondje require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Bolognese and the Kooikerhondje adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Bolognese and the Kooikerhondje 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 Bolognese and the Kooikerhondje are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds

Size Comparison of Bolognese versus Kooikerhondje

Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Bolognese and the Kooikerhondje.

Bologneses weigh 8 to 14 pounds when fully grown. Bologneses are 9 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

On the other hand, Kooikerhondjes weigh 20 to 25 pounds when fully grown. Kooikerhondjes are 14 to 16 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

Lifespan of Bolognese versus Kooikerhondje

The lifespan of Bologneses is between 12 to 14 years. The average lifespan of Bologneses is 13.0 years.

The lifespan of Kooikerhondjes is between 12 to 14 years. The average lifespan of Kooikerhondjes is 13.0 years.

Tolerates Being Alone: Bolognese versus Kooikerhondje

Bologneses do not like to be left alone.

Kooikerhondjes do not like to be left alone.

Do Bologneses shed more than Kooikerhondjes?

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

Kooikerhondjes shed moderately.

Which one drools more, the Bolognese or the Kooikerhondje

Bologneses do have a very low tendency to drool.

Kooikerhondjes do have a very low tendency to drool.

Which is Easier to Groom, the Bolognese or the Kooikerhondje?

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

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

Does the Bolognese Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Kooikerhondje?

Bologneses 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.

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

Do Bologneses Bark and Howl? What about Kooikerhondjes?

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

Kooikerhondjes bark and howl, but not very much.

Can Bologneses Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Kooikerhondjes Tolerate Cold Weather?

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

Kooikerhondjes can very well tolerate cold weather.

Wanderlust Potential: Bolognese vs. Kooikerhondje

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

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

Can Bologneses Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Kooikerhondjes Tolerate Hot Weather?

Bologneses can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

Kooikerhondjes can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Bolognese or the Kooikerhondje?

Bologneses get along very well with other dogs.

Kooikerhondjes do not get along well with other dogs.

Are Bologneses good family dogs? What about Kooikerhondjes?

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

Kooikerhondjes are good family dogs. They are affectionate with family.

How Kid-friendly are Bologneses and Kooikerhondjes?

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

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

Is the Bolognese Easier to Train than the Kooikerhondje?

Bologneses are very easy to train.

Kooikerhondjes are not easy to train.

Is the Bolognese Better for Apartment Owners than the Kooikerhondje?

Bologneses adapt very well to apartment living.

Kooikerhondjes adapt very well to apartment living.

Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Bolognese or the Kooikerhondje?

Bologneses are OK for new dog owners.

Kooikerhondjes are OK for new dog owners.

Conclusion: Bolognese versus Kooikerhondje. 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 Bolognese and the Kooikerhondje better suits you and your family.