A Detailed Comparison of the Chinook and the Finnish Spitz.

by

Quick Links: Table of Contents

Chinook Versus Finnish Spitz: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Chinook and the Finnish Spitz 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 Spitz. 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 Spitz.

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 Spitz

Chinook versus Finnish Spitz: Overview

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

Chinook versus Finnish Spitz: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Chinook to the Finnish Spitz 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 Spitz
Good For Novice Owners 1/5 3/5
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 1/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 12 to 15 years
Easy To Groom 2/5 2/5
Low Prey Drive 4/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 1/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 2/5
Height 21 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder 15 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 1/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 4/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 3/5
General Health 4/5 4/5
Easy To Train 4/5 3/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 5/5
Easygoing 1/5 3/5
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 2/5
Intelligence 5/5 4/5
Weight 55 to 70 pounds 20 to 35 pounds
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 13.5 years
Price Range No Data $600 – $1100
Average Price No Data $900
Temperament Score 77.8 percent 72.7 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Clear By Parentage
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
    		•  No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 177 179

    *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 Spitz. 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 Spitz is 77 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Chinook is a better pet than the Finnish Spitz. 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 Spitz 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 Spitz

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

  • Chinooks are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl. However, Finnish Spitzs are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    • The Similarities Between the Chinook and the Finnish Spitz

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

  • Both the Chinook and the Finnish Spitz do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Chinook and the Finnish Spitz do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Chinook and the Finnish Spitz require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Both the Chinook and the Finnish Spitz have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Chinook and the Finnish Spitz adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Chinook and the Finnish Spitz can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Chinook and the Finnish Spitz are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Chinook and the Finnish Spitz are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Chinook and the Finnish Spitz are very easy to train.
  • Both the Chinook and the Finnish Spitz are very playful.
  • Both the Chinook and the Finnish Spitz can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Chinook and the Finnish Spitz are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Chinook and the Finnish Spitz get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Chinook and the Finnish Spitz get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Chinook and the Finnish Spitz shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Chinook and the Finnish Spitz are highly intelligent.

    • Size (Weight and Height) of Chinook versus Finnish Spitz

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

    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 Spitzs weigh 20 to 35 pounds when fully grown. Finnish Spitzs are 15 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Temperament of the Chinook Versus the Finnish Spitz

    The Chinook has a better temperament than the Finnish Spitz.

    This is because the temperament score for the Chinook is 77.8 percent while the temperament score for the Finnish Spitz is 72.7 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 72.7 percent, the Finnish Spitz has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Chinook and the Finnish Spitz by measuring the temperaments of 9 Chinooks and 11 Finnish Spitzs.

    The Popularity of Chinook versus Popularity of Finnish Spitz

    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 Spitz over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Chinook is more popular with dog owners than the Finnish Spitz. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Chinook is 177 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Finnish Spitz is 179 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Chinook

    Popularity of Chinook

    Popularity of Finnish Spitz

    Popularity of Finnish Spitz

    Year Chinook Popularity Rank Finnish Spitz Popularity Rank
    2013 156 170
    2014 171 174
    2015 177 178
    2016 175 179
    2017 179 177
    2018 190 184
    2019 184 183
    2020 186 187

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

    Chinooks are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Finnish Spitzs are OK for new dog owners.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Chinook versus Finnish Spitz

    Chinooks do not like to be left alone.

    Finnish Spitzs do not like to be left alone.

    Which one drools more, the Chinook or the Finnish Spitz

    Chinooks do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Finnish Spitzs do have a very low tendency to drool.

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

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

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

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

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

    Do Chinooks Bark and Howl? What about Finnish Spitzs?

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

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

    Wanderlust Potential: Chinook vs. Finnish Spitz

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

    Finnish Spitzs 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 Spitz?

    Chinooks adapt very well to apartment living.

    Finnish Spitzs adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Can Chinooks Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Finnish Spitzs Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Chinooks can tolerate hot weather.

    Finnish Spitzs can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Is the Chinook Easier to Train than the Finnish Spitz?

    Chinooks are very easy to train.

    Finnish Spitzs are fairly easy to train.

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

    Chinooks can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Finnish Spitzs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Are Chinooks good family dogs? What about Finnish Spitzs?

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

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

    How Kid-friendly are Chinooks and Finnish Spitzs?

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

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

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

    Chinooks get along very well with other dogs.

    Finnish Spitzs get along very well with other dogs.

    Do Chinooks shed more than Finnish Spitzs?

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

    Finnish Spitzs shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    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 Spitz vs Keeshond.
  • King Shepherd (75 percent match with Chinook). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Spitz vs King Shepherd.

    • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Finnish Spitz

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

  • Bearded Collie (78 percent match with Finnish Spitz). Here is our comparison of the Chinook vs Bearded Collie.
  • West Highland White Terrier (79 percent match with Finnish Spitz). Here is our comparison of the Chinook vs West Highland White Terrier.

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Chinook Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Chinook versus Shihpoo     Chinook versus Havanese     Chinook versus Bearded Collie     Chinook versus Clumber Spaniel     Chinook versus French Bulldog     Chinook versus American Eskimo Dog     Chinook versus Estrela Mountain Dog     Chinook versus Chinese Crested     Chinook versus Flat-Coated Retriever     Chinook versus Bich Poo     

    Finnish Spitz Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Finnish Spitz versus Samoyed     Finnish Spitz versus Chinook     Finnish Spitz versus Rhodesian Ridgeback     Finnish Spitz versus German Longhaired Pointer     Finnish Spitz versus Tibetan Terrier     Finnish Spitz versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier     Finnish Spitz versus Bich Poo     Finnish Spitz versus Irish Water Spaniel     Finnish Spitz versus German Longhaired Pointer     Finnish Spitz versus Pyrenean Shepherd     

    Conclusion: Chinook versus Finnish Spitz. 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 Spitz better suits you and your family.