Differences and Similarities between the Chinook and the Finnish Lapphund.

Chinook versus Finnish Lapphund

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Chinook Versus Finnish Lapphund: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Chinook 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 Chinook 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 Chinook and the Finnish Lapphund.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Chinook 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 Chinook 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 Chinook 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 Chinook or the Finnish Lapphund

Chinook versus Finnish Lapphund: Overview

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

Furthermore, the Chinook 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.

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.

Chinook versus Finnish Lapphund: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Chinook 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 Chinook Finnish Lapphund
Good For Novice Owners 1/5 4/5
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 2/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 12 to 15 years
Easy To Groom 2/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 4/5 2/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 2/5
Height 21 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder 17 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 2/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 2/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 4/5 4/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 4/5
General Health 4/5 4/5
Easy To Train 4/5 5/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 5/5
Easygoing 1/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 5/5 5/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 1/5 3/5
Intelligence 5/5 5/5
Weight 55 to 70 pounds 33 to 53 pounds
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 13.5 years
Price Range No Data No Data
Average Price No Data No Data
Temperament Score 77.8 percent 62.5 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Clear By Parentage
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 177 168

    *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 Chinook 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 Chinook 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 Chinook is a better pet than the Finnish Lapphund. So, you should get the Chinook!

    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 Chinook 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 Chinook and the Finnish Lapphund

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

  • Chinooks are not the best dogs for new dog owners. However, Finnish Lapphunds are good for new dog owners.
  • The Similarities Between the Chinook and the Finnish Lapphund

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

  • Both the Chinook and the Finnish Lapphund do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Chinook and the Finnish Lapphund do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Chinook and the Finnish Lapphund are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Chinook and the Finnish Lapphund adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Chinook and the Finnish Lapphund are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Chinook and the Finnish Lapphund are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Chinook and the Finnish Lapphund are very easy to train.
  • Both the Chinook and the Finnish Lapphund are very playful.
  • Both the Chinook 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 Chinook and the Finnish Lapphund can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Chinook and the Finnish Lapphund are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Chinook and the Finnish Lapphund get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Chinook and the Finnish Lapphund get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Chinook and the Finnish Lapphund are highly intelligent.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Chinook versus Finnish Lapphund

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

    Chinooks weigh 55 to 70 pounds when fully grown. Chinooks are 21 to 27 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 Chinook Versus the Finnish Lapphund

    The Chinook has a better temperament than the Finnish Lapphund.

    This is because the temperament score for the Chinook is 77.8 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 77.8 percent, the Chinook 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 Chinook and the Finnish Lapphund by measuring the temperaments of 9 Chinooks and 8 Finnish Lapphunds.

    The Popularity of Chinook 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 Chinook and the Finnish Lapphund over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Finnish Lapphund is more popular with dog owners than the Chinook. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Finnish Lapphund is 168 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Chinook is 177 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Chinook

    Popularity of Chinook

    Popularity of Finnish Lapphund

    Popularity of Finnish Lapphund

    Year Chinook Popularity Rank Finnish Lapphund Popularity Rank
    2013 156 171
    2014 171 173
    2015 177 169
    2016 175 173
    2017 179 173
    2018 190 161
    2019 184 165
    2020 186 165

    Health Problems of Chinook 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 Chinook 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 Finnish Lapphund is prone to more genetic health problems than the Chinook.

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

    3 health tests are recommended for Chinook while 6 tests are recommended for the Finnish Lapphund.

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

    Chinook Health Problems

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

  • Clear By Parentage
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Chinooks 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 Chinooks 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 Chinook Breed is Patella problems.

    This is because the Chinook ranks 5 out of 145 dog breeds for Patella problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 52 Chinooks, 5 of them had Patella problems.

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

  • Patella problems: Rank 5 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 63 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 82 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 Chinook and in Finnish Lapphund and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Chinook and the Finnish Lapphund:

    Disease Chinook Rank Finnish Lapphund Rank
    Patella problems 5 out of 145 dog breeds 74 out of 145 dog breeds
    Hips problems 63 out of 198 dog breeds 119 out of 198 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 82 out of 182 dog breeds 90 out of 182 dog breeds
    Elbow problems Not Common 86 out of 144 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.

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

    Chinooks are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Finnish Lapphunds are very good for new dog owners.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Chinook versus Finnish Lapphund

    Chinooks do not like to be left alone.

    Finnish Lapphunds do not like to be left alone.

    Which one drools more, the Chinook or the Finnish Lapphund

    Chinooks do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Finnish Lapphunds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Chinook or the Finnish Lapphund?

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

    Finnish Lapphunds are very easy to groom.

    Does the Chinook Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Finnish Lapphund?

    Chinooks 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.

    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 Chinooks Bark and Howl? What about Finnish Lapphunds?

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

    Finnish Lapphunds bark and howl, but not very much.

    Wanderlust Potential: Chinook vs. Finnish Lapphund

    Chinooks 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.

    Is the Chinook Better for Apartment Owners than the Finnish Lapphund?

    Chinooks adapt very well to apartment living.

    Finnish Lapphunds adapt very well to apartment living.

    Can Chinooks Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Finnish Lapphunds Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Chinooks can tolerate hot weather.

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

    Is the Chinook Easier to Train than the Finnish Lapphund?

    Chinooks are very easy to train.

    Finnish Lapphunds are very easy to train.

    Can Chinooks Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Finnish Lapphunds Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Chinooks can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Finnish Lapphunds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Are Chinooks good family dogs? What about Finnish Lapphunds?

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

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

    How Kid-friendly are Chinooks and Finnish Lapphunds?

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

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

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

    Chinooks get along very well with other dogs.

    Finnish Lapphunds get along very well with other dogs.

    Do Chinooks shed more than Finnish Lapphunds?

    Chinooks shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Finnish Lapphunds shed moderately.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Chinook

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Chinook 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 Chinook:

  • Keeshond (76 percent match with Chinook). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Lapphund vs Keeshond.
  • King Shepherd (75 percent match with Chinook). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Lapphund vs King Shepherd.
  • 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 Chinook vs American Eskimo Dog.
  • Bearded Collie (80 percent match with Finnish Lapphund). Here is our comparison of the Chinook vs Bearded Collie.
  • English Cocker Spaniel (79 percent match with Finnish Lapphund). Here is our comparison of the Chinook vs English Cocker Spaniel.
  • Jack Russell Terrier (80 percent match with Finnish Lapphund). Here is our comparison of the Chinook vs Jack Russell Terrier.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Chinook Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Chinook versus German Shorthaired Pointer     Chinook versus Catahoula Leopard Dog     Chinook versus Giant Schnauzer     Chinook versus Yorkipoo     Chinook versus Cavachon     Chinook versus Lhasapoo     Chinook versus Norwich Terrier     Chinook versus Estrela Mountain Dog     Chinook versus Catahoula Bulldog     Chinook versus Toy Poodle     

    Finnish Lapphund Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Finnish Lapphund versus Irish Wolfhound     Finnish Lapphund versus Shetland Sheepdog     Finnish Lapphund versus German Longhaired Pointer     Finnish Lapphund versus Mastiff     Finnish Lapphund versus Border Collie     Finnish Lapphund versus American Water Spaniel     Finnish Lapphund versus Yorkshire Terrier     Finnish Lapphund versus Papipoo     Finnish Lapphund versus Shihpoo     Finnish Lapphund versus Sussex Spaniel     

    Conclusion: Chinook 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 Chinook and the Finnish Lapphund better suits you and your family.