A Detailed Comparison of the Chinook and the Golden Retriever.

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Chinook Versus Golden Retriever: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Chinook and the Golden Retriever 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 Golden Retriever. 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 Chinook and the Golden Retriever.

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 Golden Retriever.

Chinook versus Golden Retriever

Chinook versus Golden Retriever: Overview

A very important difference between the Chinook and the Golden Retriever is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Chinook is a large-sized dog while the Golden Retriever 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 Golden Retriever 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 Golden Retriever: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Chinook to the Golden Retriever 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 Chinook and the Golden Retriever

Factor Chinook Golden Retriever
Good For Novice Owners 1/5 3/5
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 1/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 2/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 10 to 12 years
Easy To Groom 2/5 2/5
Low Prey Drive 4/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 4/5
Height 21 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder 21 to 24 inches tall at the shoulder
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 1/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 1/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 4/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 1/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 4/5 2/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 5/5
General Health 4/5 2/5
Easy To Train 4/5 5/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 5/5
Easygoing 1/5 1/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 5/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 1/5 1/5
Intelligence 5/5 5/5
Weight 55 to 70 pounds 55 to 75 pounds
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 11.0 years
Price Range No Data $1500 – $2200
Average Price No Data $1870
Temperament Score 77.8 percent 85.6 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Clear By Parentage
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination (evaluations annually for the dog`s lifetime)
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 177 3

    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 Golden Retriever. 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 Chinook is 87 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Golden Retriever is 73 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Chinook is a better pet than the Golden Retriever. 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 Golden Retriever so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Chinook and the Golden Retriever

    Below is a list of where the Chinook and the Golden Retriever are most different:

  • Chinooks do not have the tendency to drool. However, Golden Retrievers have a very high tendency to drool.
  • The Similarities Between the Chinook and the Golden Retriever

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

  • Both the Chinook and the Golden Retriever do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Chinook and the Golden Retriever require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Both the Chinook and the Golden Retriever have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Chinook and the Golden Retriever are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Chinook and the Golden Retriever do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
  • Both the Chinook and the Golden Retriever can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Chinook and the Golden Retriever are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Chinook and the Golden Retriever are very easy to train.
  • Both the Chinook and the Golden Retriever are very playful.
  • Both the Chinook and the Golden Retriever 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 Golden Retriever are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Chinook and the Golden Retriever get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Chinook and the Golden Retriever get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Chinook and the Golden Retriever shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Chinook and the Golden Retriever are highly intelligent.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Chinook versus Golden Retriever

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Chinook and the Golden Retriever.

    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, Golden Retrievers weigh 55 to 75 pounds when fully grown. Golden Retrievers are 21 to 24 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Chinook versus Golden Retriever

    The lifespan of Chinooks is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Chinooks is 13.5 years.

    The lifespan of Golden Retrievers is between 10 to 12 years. The average lifespan of Golden Retrievers is 11.0 years.

    Chinooks live longer than Golden Retrievers.

    Temperament of the Golden Retriever Versus the Chinook

    The Golden Retriever has a better temperament than the Chinook.

    This is because the temperament score for the Golden Retriever is 85.6 percent while the temperament score for the Chinook is 77.8 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 77.8 percent, the Chinook has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 85.6 percent, the Golden Retriever has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Chinook and the Golden Retriever by measuring the temperaments of 9 Chinooks and 813 Golden Retrievers.

    The Popularity of Chinook versus Popularity of Golden Retriever

    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 Golden Retriever over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Golden Retriever is more popular with dog owners than the Chinook. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Golden Retriever is 3 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 Golden Retriever

    Popularity of Golden Retriever

    Year Chinook Popularity Rank Golden Retriever Popularity Rank
    2013 156 3
    2014 171 3
    2015 177 3
    2016 175 3
    2017 179 3
    2018 190 3
    2019 184 3
    2020 186 4

    Health Problems of Chinook versus Health Problems of Golden Retriever

    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 Chinook and the Golden Retriever 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 Golden Retriever is prone to more genetic health problems than the Chinook.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Golden Retriever than for the Chinook.

    3 health tests are recommended for Chinook while 4 tests are recommended for the Golden Retriever.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Chinooks and in Golden Retrievers.

    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.

    Golden Retriever Health Problems

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

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination (evaluations annually for the dog`s lifetime)
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Golden Retrievers here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Chinooks and Golden Retrievers

    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 Golden Retriever Breed is Ichthyosis problems.

    This is because the Golden Retriever ranks 1 out of 1 dog breeds for Ichthyosis problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 1770 Golden Retrievers, 33 of them had Ichthyosis problems.

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

  • Ichthyosis problems: Rank 1 out of 1 Dog Breeds
  • Shoulder problems: Rank 11 out of 22 Dog Breeds
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems: Rank 17 out of 32 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 33 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 36 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 39 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Advanced Cardiac problems: Rank 40 out of 71 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 45 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 56 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 56 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 58 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 112 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in Chinook and in Golden Retriever and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Chinook and the Golden Retriever:

    Disease Chinook Rank Golden Retriever Rank
    Patella problems 5 out of 145 dog breeds 112 out of 145 dog breeds
    Hips problems 63 out of 198 dog breeds 45 out of 198 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 82 out of 182 dog breeds 58 out of 182 dog breeds
    Ichthyosis problems Not Common 1 out of 1 dog breeds
    Shoulder problems Not Common 11 out of 22 dog breeds
    Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems Not Common 17 out of 32 dog breeds
    Thyroid problems Not Common 33 out of 115 dog breeds
    Elbow problems Not Common 36 out of 144 dog breeds
    Dentition Database problems Not Common 39 out of 49 dog breeds
    Advanced Cardiac problems Not Common 40 out of 71 dog breeds
    Congenital Cardiac problems Not Common 56 out of 159 dog breeds
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems Not Common 56 out of 70 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: Chinook versus Golden Retriever

    Chinooks do not like to be left alone.

    Golden Retrievers do not like to be left alone.

    Do Chinooks shed more than Golden Retrievers?

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

    Golden Retrievers shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which one drools more, the Chinook or the Golden Retriever

    Chinooks do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Golden Retrievers have a very high tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Chinook or the Golden Retriever?

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

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

    Does the Chinook Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Golden Retriever?

    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.

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

    Do Chinooks Bark and Howl? What about Golden Retrievers?

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

    Golden Retrievers bark and howl, but not very much.

    Can Chinooks Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Golden Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Chinooks can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Golden Retrievers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Chinook vs. Golden Retriever

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

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

    Can Chinooks Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Golden Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Chinooks can tolerate hot weather.

    Golden Retrievers can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Chinook or the Golden Retriever?

    Chinooks get along very well with other dogs.

    Golden Retrievers get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Chinooks good family dogs? What about Golden Retrievers?

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

    Golden Retrievers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Chinooks and Golden Retrievers?

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

    Golden Retrievers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the Chinook Easier to Train than the Golden Retriever?

    Chinooks are very easy to train.

    Golden Retrievers are very easy to train.

    Is the Chinook Better for Apartment Owners than the Golden Retriever?

    Chinooks adapt very well to apartment living.

    Golden Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Chinook or the Golden Retriever?

    Chinooks are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Golden Retrievers are OK for new dog owners.

    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 Golden Retriever vs Keeshond.
  • King Shepherd (75 percent match with Chinook). Here is our comparison of the Golden Retriever vs King Shepherd.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Golden Retriever

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

  • Aussiedoodle (74 percent match with Golden Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Chinook vs Aussiedoodle.
  • Irish Setter (72 percent match with Golden Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Chinook vs Irish Setter.
  • Labrador Retriever (75 percent match with Golden Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Chinook vs Labrador Retriever.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Chinook Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Chinook versus Pembroke Welsh Corgi     Chinook versus Alaskan Malamute     Chinook versus Affenhuahua     Chinook versus Standard Schnauzer     Chinook versus Ibizan Hound     Chinook versus Maltese     Chinook versus English Setter     Chinook versus Australian Cattle Dog     Chinook versus King Shepherd     Chinook versus Lagotto Romagnolo     Chinook versus Ibizan Hound     Chinook versus Australian Cattle Dog     Chinook versus Bernedoodle     Chinook versus Treeing Walker Coonhound     Chinook versus Boerboel     Chinook versus Goldador     Chinook versus Cardigan Welsh Corgi     Chinook versus Belgian Tervuren     Chinook versus Westiepoo     Chinook versus Bearded Collie     Chinook versus Bernedoodle     Chinook versus Miniature Poodle     Chinook versus Basset Hound     Chinook versus Bouvier des Flandres     

    Golden Retriever Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Golden Retriever versus Swedish Vallhund     Golden Retriever versus Scottish Deerhound     Golden Retriever versus Basset Hound     Golden Retriever versus German Wirehaired Pointer     Golden Retriever versus Sloughi     Golden Retriever versus Field Spaniel     Golden Retriever versus Cavalier King Charles Spaniel     Golden Retriever versus Basset Hound     Golden Retriever versus Coton de Tulear     Golden Retriever versus Welsh Springer Spaniel     Golden Retriever versus Morkie     Golden Retriever versus Standard Schnauzer     Golden Retriever versus West Highland White Terrier     Golden Retriever versus Toy Fox Terrier     Golden Retriever versus Entlebucher Mountain Dog     Golden Retriever versus Dogue de Bordeaux     Golden Retriever versus Yorkipoo     Golden Retriever versus Kuvasz     Golden Retriever versus Miniature Poodle     Golden Retriever versus Briard     Golden Retriever versus Irish Terrier     Golden Retriever versus Sussex Spaniel     Golden Retriever versus Pyrenean Mastiff     Golden Retriever versus Mountain Cur     Golden Retriever versus Brittany     

    Conclusion: Chinook versus Golden Retriever. 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 Golden Retriever better suits you and your family.