Differences and Similarities between the Chinese Crested and the Finnish Lapphund.

Chinese Crested versus Finnish Lapphund

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Chinese Crested Versus Finnish Lapphund: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Chinese Crested and the Finnish Lapphund? Well, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will provide you a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Chinese Crested and the Finnish Lapphund 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 Chinese Crested and the Finnish Lapphund.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Chinese Crested and the Finnish Lapphund 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 Chinese Crested and for the Finnish Lapphund. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Chinese Crested and the Finnish Lapphund.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Chinese Crested or the Finnish Lapphund

Chinese Crested versus Finnish Lapphund

Chinese Crested versus Finnish Lapphund: Overview

A very important difference between the Chinese Crested and the Finnish Lapphund is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Chinese Crested is a small-sized dog while the Finnish Lapphund is a medium-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Chinese Crested 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 Finnish Lapphund 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.

Chinese Crested versus Finnish Lapphund: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Chinese Crested to the Finnish Lapphund 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.

Factor Chinese Crested Finnish Lapphund
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 1/5 5/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 5/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 5/5 1/5
Life Span 10 to 14 years 12 to 15 years
Height 11 to 13 inches tall at the shoulder 17 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder
Does NOT Shed 4/5 3/5
Easy To Groom 2/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 4/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 4/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 4/5 2/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 4/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 2/5
Intelligence 3/5 5/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 2/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 3/5
Potential For Playfulness 3/5 5/5
Affectionate With Family 4/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 5/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 4/5
Easy To Train 4/5 5/5
Does NOT chew on things 2/5 2/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 4/5
Easygoing 1/5 2/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
General Health 5/5 4/5
Weight Up to 12 pounds 33 to 53 pounds
Average Lifespan 12.0 years 13.5 years
Average Price $1430 No Data
Price Range $1000 – $1600 No Data
Temperament Score 76.5 percent 62.5 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Congenital Deafness
  • Eye Examination- Yearly Exams Recommended
  • Hip Dysplasia/Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • prcd-PRA DNA Test
  • Primary Lens Luxation
  • RCD3-PRA DNA Test
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 75 168

    *Data from dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (the American Temperament Test Society)

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Chinese Crested 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 Finnish Lapphund. 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 a Chinese Crested is 87 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Finnish Lapphund is 84 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Chinese Crested is a better pet than the Finnish Lapphund. So, you should get the Chinese Crested!

    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 Chinese Crested and the Finnish Lapphund so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Chinese Crested and the Finnish Lapphund

    Below is a list of where the Chinese Crested and the Finnish Lapphund are most different:

  • Chinese Cresteds cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold. However, Finnish Lapphunds can tolerate cold weather.
  • Chinese Cresteds do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them. However, Finnish Lapphunds have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Chinese Cresteds do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful. However, Finnish Lapphunds do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • Chinese Cresteds have low energy levels. They do not require a lot exercise time. However, Finnish Lapphunds have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • The Similarities Between the Chinese Crested and the Finnish Lapphund

    The Chinese Crested and the Finnish Lapphund are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Chinese Crested and the Finnish Lapphund are most similar:

  • Both the Chinese Crested and the Finnish Lapphund do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Chinese Crested and the Finnish Lapphund do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Chinese Crested and the Finnish Lapphund do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Chinese Crested and the Finnish Lapphund are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Chinese Crested and the Finnish Lapphund get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Chinese Crested and the Finnish Lapphund are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Chinese Crested and the Finnish Lapphund are very easy to train.
  • Both the Chinese Crested and the Finnish Lapphund are prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Chinese Crested and the Finnish Lapphund adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Chinese Crested and the Finnish Lapphund 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 Chinese Crested and the Finnish Lapphund get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Chinese Crested and the Finnish Lapphund are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Chinese Crested versus Finnish Lapphund

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Chinese Crested and the Finnish Lapphund.

    Chinese Cresteds weigh Up to 12 pounds when fully grown. Chinese Cresteds are 11 to 13 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Finnish Lapphunds weigh 33 to 53 pounds when fully grown. Finnish Lapphunds are 17 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Temperament of the Finnish Lapphund Versus the Chinese Crested

    The Chinese Crested has a better temperament than the Finnish Lapphund.

    This is because the temperament score for the Chinese Crested is 76.5 percent while the temperament score for the Finnish Lapphund is 62.5 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 they 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 76.5 percent, the Chinese Crested has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 62.5 percent, the Finnish Lapphund has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Chinese Crested and the Finnish Lapphund by measuring the temperaments of 34 Chinese Cresteds and 8 Finnish Lapphunds.

    The Popularity of Chinese Crested versus Popularity of Finnish Lapphund

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Chinese Crested and the Finnish Lapphund over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Chinese Crested is more popular with dog owners than the Finnish Lapphund. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Chinese Crested is 75 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Finnish Lapphund is 168 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Chinese Crested

    Popularity of Chinese Crested

    Popularity of Finnish Lapphund

    Popularity of Finnish Lapphund

    Year Chinese Crested Popularity Rank Finnish Lapphund Popularity Rank
    2013 68 171
    2014 65 173
    2015 75 169
    2016 77 173
    2017 79 173
    2018 79 161
    2019 80 165
    2020 79 165

    Health Problems of Chinese Crested versus Health Problems of Finnish Lapphund

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

    Both the Chinese Crested and the Finnish Lapphund 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 Chinese Crested is prone to more genetic health problems than the Finnish Lapphund.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Chinese Crested than for the Finnish Lapphund.

    8 health tests are recommended for Chinese Crested while 6 tests are recommended for the Finnish Lapphund.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Chinese Cresteds and in Finnish Lapphunds.

    Chinese Crested Health Problems

    Chinese Cresteds are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Chinese Crested 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 Chinese Crested puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Chinese Crested 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 Chinese Cresteds for:

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Congenital Deafness
  • Eye Examination- Yearly Exams Recommended
  • Hip Dysplasia/Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • prcd-PRA DNA Test
  • Primary Lens Luxation
  • RCD3-PRA DNA Test
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Chinese Cresteds here.

    Finnish Lapphund Health Problems

    Finnish Lapphunds are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Finnish Lapphund 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 Finnish Lapphund puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Finnish Lapphund 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 Finnish Lapphunds for:

  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Finnish Lapphunds here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Chinese Cresteds and Finnish Lapphunds

    Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Chinese Crested Breed is Primary Lens Luxation problems.

    This is because the Chinese Crested ranks 7 out of 17 dog breeds for Primary Lens Luxation problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 1982 Chinese Cresteds, 23 of them had Primary Lens Luxation problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Chinese Cresteds, and how common these diseases are in Chinese Cresteds relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Primary Lens Luxation problems: Rank 7 out of 17 Dog Breeds
  • Baer Hearing Test problems: Rank 12 out of 21 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 53 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 54 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 147 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Finnish Lapphund Breed is Patella problems.

    This is because the Finnish Lapphund ranks 74 out of 145 dog breeds for Patella problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 160 Finnish Lapphunds, 3 of them had Patella problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Finnish Lapphunds, and how common these diseases are in Finnish Lapphunds relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Patella problems: Rank 74 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 86 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 90 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 119 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in Chinese Crested and in Finnish Lapphund and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Chinese Crested and the Finnish Lapphund:

    Disease Chinese Crested Rank Finnish Lapphund Rank
    Primary Lens Luxation problems 7 out of 17 dog breeds Not Common
    Baer Hearing Test problems 12 out of 21 dog breeds Not Common
    Patella problems 53 out of 145 dog breeds 74 out of 145 dog breeds
    Congenital Cardiac problems 54 out of 159 dog breeds Not Common
    Eyes problems 147 out of 182 dog breeds 90 out of 182 dog breeds
    Elbow problems Not Common 86 out of 144 dog breeds
    Hips problems Not Common 119 out of 198 dog breeds

    *To learn more about each of these diseases, go to OFA.org and search for the disease.

    Again, most of these health problems can be prevented through health screening. Responsible breeders screen male and female dog parents for genetic problems. These breeders will only breed dogs that are free of genetic defects. That way, there is little or no chance that their puppies will grow up to have genetic health problems. Always ask a breeder for the list of health tests the breeder screens their dogs for before buying a puppy from such a breeder.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Chinese Crested versus Finnish Lapphund

    Chinese Cresteds do not like to be left alone.

    Finnish Lapphunds do not like to be left alone.

    Can Chinese Cresteds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Finnish Lapphunds Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Chinese Cresteds cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Finnish Lapphunds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Which one drools more, the Chinese Crested or the Finnish Lapphund

    Chinese Cresteds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Finnish Lapphunds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Wanderlust Potential: Chinese Crested vs. Finnish Lapphund

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

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

    Do Chinese Cresteds shed more than Finnish Lapphunds?

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

    Finnish Lapphunds shed moderately.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Chinese Crested or the Finnish Lapphund?

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

    Finnish Lapphunds are very easy to groom.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Chinese Crested or the Finnish Lapphund?

    Chinese Cresteds are OK for new dog owners.

    Finnish Lapphunds are very good for new dog owners.

    Can Chinese Cresteds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Finnish Lapphunds Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Chinese Cresteds can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Finnish Lapphunds cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Does the Chinese Crested Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Finnish Lapphund?

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

    Finnish Lapphunds 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.

    Do Chinese Cresteds Bark and Howl? What about Finnish Lapphunds?

    Chinese Cresteds bark and howl, but not very much.

    Finnish Lapphunds bark and howl, but not very much.

    Are Chinese Cresteds good family dogs? What about Finnish Lapphunds?

    Chinese Cresteds are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Finnish Lapphunds are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Chinese Crested or the Finnish Lapphund?

    Chinese Cresteds get along very well with other dogs.

    Finnish Lapphunds get along very well with other dogs.

    Is the Chinese Crested Easier to Train than the Finnish Lapphund?

    Chinese Cresteds are very easy to train.

    Finnish Lapphunds are very easy to train.

    Is the Chinese Crested Better for Apartment Owners than the Finnish Lapphund?

    Chinese Cresteds adapt very well to apartment living.

    Finnish Lapphunds adapt very well to apartment living.

    How Kid-friendly are Chinese Cresteds and Finnish Lapphunds?

    Chinese Cresteds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Finnish Lapphunds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Chinese Crested

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Chinese Crested that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Chinese Crested:

  • Bolognese (75 percent match with Chinese Crested). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Lapphund vs Bolognese.
  • Japanese Chin (75 percent match with Chinese Crested). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Lapphund vs Japanese Chin.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Finnish Lapphund

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Finnish Lapphund that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Finnish Lapphund:

  • American Eskimo Dog (79 percent match with Finnish Lapphund). Here is our comparison of the Chinese Crested vs American Eskimo Dog.
  • Bearded Collie (80 percent match with Finnish Lapphund). Here is our comparison of the Chinese Crested vs Bearded Collie.
  • English Cocker Spaniel (79 percent match with Finnish Lapphund). Here is our comparison of the Chinese Crested vs English Cocker Spaniel.
  • Jack Russell Terrier (80 percent match with Finnish Lapphund). Here is our comparison of the Chinese Crested vs Jack Russell Terrier.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Chinese Crested and how the Finnish Lapphund compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Chinese Crested and of the Finnish Lapphund to other breeds:

    Chinese Crested Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Chinese Crested versus Mountain Cur     Chinese Crested versus Papillon     Chinese Crested versus West Highland White Terrier     Chinese Crested versus Dachshund     Chinese Crested versus Havanese     Chinese Crested versus Bernedoodle     Chinese Crested versus Newfoundland     Chinese Crested versus American Eskimo Dog     Chinese Crested versus Lhasapoo     Chinese Crested versus Kerry Blue Terrier     

    Finnish Lapphund Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Finnish Lapphund versus Central Asian Shepherd Dog     Finnish Lapphund versus Plott     Finnish Lapphund versus Patterdale Terrier     Finnish Lapphund versus Bouvier des Flandres     Finnish Lapphund versus Cockalier     Finnish Lapphund versus Norwegian Buhund     Finnish Lapphund versus English Springer Spaniel     Finnish Lapphund versus Finnish Spitz     Finnish Lapphund versus Basset Hound     Finnish Lapphund versus Bloodhound     

    Conclusion: Chinese Crested versus Finnish Lapphund. 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 Chinese Crested and the Finnish Lapphund better suits you and your family.