Guide on Deciding Betweeen the Bull Terrier and the Japanese Chin.

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Bull Terrier Versus Japanese Chin: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Bull Terrier and the Japanese Chin? 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 Bull Terrier and the Japanese Chin 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 Bull Terrier and the Japanese Chin.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Bull Terrier and the Japanese Chin 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 Bull Terrier and for the Japanese Chin. 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 Bull Terrier and the Japanese Chin.

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

Bull Terrier versus Japanese Chin: Overview

A very important difference between the Bull Terrier and the Japanese Chin is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Bull Terrier is a small-sized dog while the Japanese Chin is a tiny-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Bull Terrier belongs to the Terrier Dogs group. Terrier Dogs were originally bred to go underground to hunt rodents and other small wild animals (vermin). Terriers come in a wide range of sizes and shapes, but all terriers are energetic, highly intelligent, and territorial. Terries also have the tendency to escape. They require a securely fenced yard.

On the other hand, the Japanese Chin 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.

Bull Terrier versus Japanese Chin: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Bull Terrier to the Japanese Chin 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 Bull Terrier and the Japanese Chin

FactorBull TerrierJapanese Chin
Tolerates Cold Weather1/53/5
Does NOT Drool5/55/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl5/53/5
Life Span10 to 15 years10 to 14 years
Tolerates Being Alone2/51/5
Height21 to 22 inches tall at the shoulder8 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder
Good For Novice Owners3/54/5
Does NOT Shed3/53/5
Weight35 to 75 pounds4 to 9 pounds
Adapts Well To Apartment Living4/55/5
Tolerates Hot Weather4/52/5
Dog Friendly4/53/5
General Health4/53/5
Intelligence4/53/5
Does NOT chew on things2/52/5
Low Prey Drive2/53/5
NOT Rambunctious2/54/5
Easygoing1/53/5
Affectionate With Family5/53/5
Kid-Friendly5/53/5
Friendly Toward Strangers5/54/5
Easy To Groom5/53/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight1/53/5
Easy To Train5/53/5
Tendency NOT to Wander1/55/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor1/55/5
Minimal Exercise Needs1/54/5
Potential For Playfulness5/54/5
Average Lifespan12.5 years12.0 years
Average Price$1800$2110
Price Range$1300 – $2000$1800 – $2425
Temperament Score91.6 percent100.0 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Congenital Deafness
  • Kidney Disease
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination, minimum age 3 years
  • Gangliosidosis (GM2)
  • Patellar Luxation
    • Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds)6662

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Bull Terrier 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 Japanese Chin. 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 Bull Terrier is 80 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Japanese Chin is 84 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Japanese Chin is a better pet than the Bull Terrier. So, you should get the Japanese Chin!

    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 Bull Terrier and the Japanese Chin so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Bull Terrier and the Japanese Chin

    Below is a list of where the Bull Terrier and the Japanese Chin are most different:

    • Bull Terriers have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects. However, Japanese Chins do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
    • Bull Terriers do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful. However, Japanese Chins do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful.
    • Bull Terriers require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise. However, Japanese Chins have low exercise needs.

    The Similarities Between the Bull Terrier and the Japanese Chin

    The Bull Terrier and the Japanese Chin are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Bull Terrier and the Japanese Chin are most similar:

    • Both the Bull Terrier and the Japanese Chin do not have the tendency to drool.
    • Both the Bull Terrier and the Japanese Chin do not like to be left alone.
    • Both the Bull Terrier and the Japanese Chin adapt well to apartment living.
    • Both the Bull Terrier and the Japanese Chin get along well with other dogs.
    • Both the Bull Terrier and the Japanese Chin are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
    • Both the Bull Terrier and the Japanese Chin are highly intelligent.
    • Both the Bull Terrier and the Japanese Chin are prone to nip and chew at things.
    • Both the Bull Terrier and the Japanese Chin have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
    • Both the Bull Terrier and the Japanese Chin are very friendly towards strangers.
    • Both the Bull Terrier and the Japanese Chin are very playful.

    Size Comparison of Bull Terrier versus Japanese Chin

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Bull Terrier and the Japanese Chin.

    Bull Terriers weigh 35 to 75 pounds when fully grown. Bull Terriers are 21 to 22 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Japanese Chins weigh 4 to 9 pounds when fully grown. Japanese Chins are 8 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Bull Terrier versus Japanese Chin

    The lifespan of Bull Terriers is between 10 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Bull Terriers is 12.5 years.

    The lifespan of Japanese Chins is between 10 to 14 years. The average lifespan of Japanese Chins is 12.0 years.

    Bull Terriers live longer than Japanese Chins.

    Temperament of the Japanese Chin Versus the Bull Terrier

    The Japanese Chin has a better temperament than the Bull Terrier.

    This is because the temperament score for the Japanese Chin is 100.0 percent while the temperament score for the Bull Terrier is 91.6 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 91.6 percent, the Bull Terrier has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 100.0 percent, the Japanese Chin has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Bull Terrier and the Japanese Chin by measuring the temperaments of 83 Bull Terriers and 5 Japanese Chins.

    Price of Bull Terrier versus Price of Japanese Chin

    The average price of the Bull Terrier puppy is $1800. The price of the Bull Terrier typically ranges from $1300 – $2000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 131 Bull Terrier puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Japanese Chin puppy is $2110. The price of the Japanese Chin typically ranges from $1800 – $2425. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 32 Japanese Chin puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Japanese Chin is more expensive than the Bull Terrier.

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Bull Terrier and Japanese Chin. For different price points, the charts show how many Bull Terrier puppies or how many Japanese Chin puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Bull Terriers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Bull Terriers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Japanese Chins

    A breakdown of the prices of Japanese Chins

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Bull Terrier puppy or the Japanese Chin 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.

    The Intelligence of the Bull Terrier versus the Intelligence of the Japanese Chin

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    Bull Terrier Japanese Chin
    Intelligence Rank 66 out of 130 dog breeds 62 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 40 To 80 Repetitions! Tend To Learn New Commands After 40 To 80 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 Bull Terrier has an obedience intelligence rank of 66 out of 130 dog breeds. The Bull Terrier belongs to the `Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Bull Terriers tend to learn new commands after 40 to 80 repetitions!.

    The Japanese Chin has an obedience intelligence rank of 62 out of 130 dog breeds. The Japanese Chin belongs to the `Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Japanese Chins tend to learn new commands after 40 to 80 repetitions!.

    The Japanese Chin is more intelligent than the Bull Terrier.

    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.

    Health Problems of Bull Terrier versus Health Problems of Japanese Chin

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.

    Both the Bull Terrier and the Japanese Chin are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Japanese Chin is prone to the same number of genetic health problems as the Bull Terrier.

    4 health tests are recommended for Bull Terrier while 4 tests are recommended for the Japanese Chin.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Bull Terriers and in Japanese Chins.

    Bull Terrier Health Problems

    Bull Terriers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Bull Terrier puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Bull Terrier puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Bull Terrier breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Bull Terriers for:

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Congenital Deafness
  • Kidney Disease
  • Patellar Luxation

    • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Bull Terriers here.

    Japanese Chin Health Problems

    Japanese Chins are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Japanese Chin puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Japanese Chin puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Japanese Chin breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Japanese Chins for:

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination, minimum age 3 years
  • Gangliosidosis (GM2)
  • Patellar Luxation

    • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Japanese Chins here.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Bull Terrier versus Japanese Chin

    Bull Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Japanese Chins do not like to be left alone.

    Do Bull Terriers shed more than Japanese Chins?

    Bull Terriers shed moderately.

    Japanese Chins shed moderately.

    Which one drools more, the Bull Terrier or the Japanese Chin

    Bull Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Japanese Chins do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Bull Terrier or the Japanese Chin?

    Bull Terriers are very easy to groom.

    Japanese Chins are moderately easy to groom.

    Does the Bull Terrier Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Japanese Chin?

    Bull Terriers 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.

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

    Do Bull Terriers Bark and Howl? What about Japanese Chins?

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

    Japanese Chins bark and howl, but not very much.

    Can Bull Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Japanese Chins Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Bull Terriers cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Japanese Chins can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Bull Terrier vs. Japanese Chin

    Bull Terriers have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

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

    Can Bull Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Japanese Chins Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Bull Terriers can tolerate hot weather.

    Japanese Chins cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Bull Terrier or the Japanese Chin?

    Bull Terriers get along very well with other dogs.

    Japanese Chins get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Are Bull Terriers good family dogs? What about Japanese Chins?

    Bull Terriers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Japanese Chins are good family dogs. They are affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Bull Terriers and Japanese Chins?

    Bull Terriers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Japanese Chins get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.

    Is the Bull Terrier Easier to Train than the Japanese Chin?

    Bull Terriers are very easy to train.

    Japanese Chins are fairly easy to train.

    Is the Bull Terrier Better for Apartment Owners than the Japanese Chin?

    Bull Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Japanese Chins adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Bull Terrier or the Japanese Chin?

    Bull Terriers are OK for new dog owners.

    Japanese Chins are very good for new dog owners.

    Conclusion: Bull Terrier versus Japanese Chin. 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 Bull Terrier and the Japanese Chin better suits you and your family.