Breed Comparison: Chinook Versus Italian Greyhound

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Chinook Versus Italian Greyhound: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Chinook and the Italian Greyhound 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 Italian Greyhound. 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 Italian Greyhound.

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 Italian Greyhound.

Chinook versus Italian Greyhound

Chinook versus Italian Greyhound: Overview

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

Chinook versus Italian Greyhound: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Chinook to the Italian Greyhound 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 Italian Greyhound

Factor Chinook Italian Greyhound
Good For Novice Owners 1/5 5/5
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 1/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 14 to 15 years
Easy To Groom 2/5 5/5
Low Prey Drive 4/5 1/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 3/5
Height 21 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder 13 to 15 inches tall at the shoulder
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 4/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 2/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 4/5 5/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 4/5
General Health 4/5 3/5
Easy To Train 4/5 3/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 4/5
Easygoing 1/5 1/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 5/5 1/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 1/5 4/5
Intelligence 5/5 3/5
Weight 55 to 70 pounds 6 to 15 pounds
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 14.5 years
Price Range No Data $1500 – $2250
Average Price No Data $1930
Temperament Score 77.8 percent 81.5 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Clear By Parentage
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Eye Examination at 36 months, recommend annual testing to age 10
  • Hip Dysplasia/Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 177 70

    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 Italian Greyhound. 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 Italian Greyhound is 82 out of 125.

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

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Chinook and the Italian Greyhound

    Below is a list of where the Chinook and the Italian Greyhound are most different:

  • Chinooks are not the best dogs for new dog owners. However, Italian Greyhounds are good for new dog owners.
  • Chinooks require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom. However, Italian Greyhounds are very easy to groom.
  • Chinooks have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets. However, Italian Greyhounds have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Chinooks can tolerate cold weather. However, Italian Greyhounds cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
  • Chinooks shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies. However, Italian Greyhounds do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
  • The Similarities Between the Chinook and the Italian Greyhound

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

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

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Chinook and the Italian Greyhound.

    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, Italian Greyhounds weigh 6 to 15 pounds when fully grown. Italian Greyhounds are 13 to 15 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Chinook versus Italian Greyhound

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

    The lifespan of Italian Greyhounds is between 14 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Italian Greyhounds is 14.5 years.

    Italian Greyhounds live longer than Chinooks.

    Temperament of the Italian Greyhound Versus the Chinook

    The Italian Greyhound has a better temperament than the Chinook.

    This is because the temperament score for the Italian Greyhound is 81.5 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 81.5 percent, the Italian Greyhound has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Chinook and the Italian Greyhound by measuring the temperaments of 9 Chinooks and 54 Italian Greyhounds.

    The Popularity of Chinook versus Popularity of Italian Greyhound

    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 Italian Greyhound over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Italian Greyhound is more popular with dog owners than the Chinook. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Italian Greyhound is 70 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 Italian Greyhound

    Popularity of Italian Greyhound

    Year Chinook Popularity Rank Italian Greyhound Popularity Rank
    2013 156 66
    2014 171 74
    2015 177 71
    2016 175 72
    2017 179 74
    2018 190 73
    2019 184 67
    2020 186 69

    Health Problems of Chinook versus Health Problems of Italian Greyhound

    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 Italian Greyhound 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 Italian Greyhound is prone to more genetic health problems than the Chinook.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Italian Greyhound than for the Chinook.

    3 health tests are recommended for Chinook while 4 tests are recommended for the Italian Greyhound.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Chinooks and in Italian Greyhounds.

    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.

    Italian Greyhound Health Problems

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

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Eye Examination at 36 months, recommend annual testing to age 10
  • Hip Dysplasia/Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Italian Greyhounds here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Chinooks and Italian Greyhounds

    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 Italian Greyhound Breed is Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems.

    This is because the Italian Greyhound ranks 3 out of 32 dog breeds for Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 96 Italian Greyhounds, 4 of them had Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems.

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

  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems: Rank 3 out of 32 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 30 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 58 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 62 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in Chinook and in Italian Greyhound and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Chinook and the Italian Greyhound:

    Disease Chinook Rank Italian Greyhound Rank
    Patella problems 5 out of 145 dog breeds 62 out of 145 dog breeds
    Hips problems 63 out of 198 dog breeds Not Common
    Eyes problems 82 out of 182 dog breeds 30 out of 182 dog breeds
    Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems Not Common 3 out of 32 dog breeds
    Thyroid problems Not Common 58 out of 115 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 Italian Greyhound

    Chinooks do not like to be left alone.

    Italian Greyhounds do not like to be left alone.

    Do Chinooks shed more than Italian Greyhounds?

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

    Italian Greyhounds do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Which one drools more, the Chinook or the Italian Greyhound

    Chinooks do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Italian Greyhounds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Chinook or the Italian Greyhound?

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

    Italian Greyhounds are very easy to groom.

    Does the Chinook Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Italian Greyhound?

    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.

    Italian Greyhounds 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 Italian Greyhounds?

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

    Italian Greyhounds bark and howl, but not very much.

    Can Chinooks Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Italian Greyhounds Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Chinooks can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Italian Greyhounds cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Wanderlust Potential: Chinook vs. Italian Greyhound

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

    Italian Greyhounds have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Chinooks Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Italian Greyhounds Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Chinooks can tolerate hot weather.

    Italian Greyhounds can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Chinook or the Italian Greyhound?

    Chinooks get along very well with other dogs.

    Italian Greyhounds get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Chinooks good family dogs? What about Italian Greyhounds?

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

    Italian Greyhounds are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Chinooks and Italian Greyhounds?

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

    Italian Greyhounds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the Chinook Easier to Train than the Italian Greyhound?

    Chinooks are very easy to train.

    Italian Greyhounds are fairly easy to train.

    Is the Chinook Better for Apartment Owners than the Italian Greyhound?

    Chinooks adapt very well to apartment living.

    Italian Greyhounds adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Chinook or the Italian Greyhound?

    Chinooks are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Italian Greyhounds are very good 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 Italian Greyhound vs Keeshond.
  • King Shepherd (75 percent match with Chinook). Here is our comparison of the Italian Greyhound vs King Shepherd.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Italian Greyhound

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

  • Whippet (78 percent match with Italian Greyhound). Here is our comparison of the Chinook vs Whippet.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Chinook Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Chinook versus Schnoodle     Chinook versus Bernese Mountain Dog     Chinook versus Akita     Chinook versus Doberman Pinscher     Chinook versus Pomeranian     Chinook versus Stabyhoun     Chinook versus Akita     Chinook versus Kerry Blue Terrier     Chinook versus Dachshund     Chinook versus German Longhaired Pointer     Chinook versus Swedish Vallhund     Chinook versus Shetland Sheepdog     Chinook versus Giant Schnauzer     Chinook versus Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever     Chinook versus Keeshond     Chinook versus American Bulldog     Chinook versus Entlebucher Mountain Dog     Chinook versus Newfoundland     Chinook versus Wirehaired Pointing Griffon     Chinook versus Azawakh     Chinook versus Field Spaniel     Chinook versus Borzoi     Chinook versus Rhodesian Ridgeback     Chinook versus Saint Bernard     Chinook versus German Pinscher     

    Italian Greyhound Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Italian Greyhound versus Bouvier des Flandres     Italian Greyhound versus Boerboel     Italian Greyhound versus Yorkipoo     Italian Greyhound versus Mastiff     Italian Greyhound versus Bracco Italiano     Italian Greyhound versus Whoodle     Italian Greyhound versus German Wirehaired Pointer     Italian Greyhound versus Black and Tan Coonhound     Italian Greyhound versus Brussels Griffon     Italian Greyhound versus Dachshund     Italian Greyhound versus Shetland Sheepdog     Italian Greyhound versus Silky Terrier     Italian Greyhound versus Irish Water Spaniel     Italian Greyhound versus Standard Schnauzer     Italian Greyhound versus Fila Brasileiro     Italian Greyhound versus Sloughi     Italian Greyhound versus Dogo Argentino     Italian Greyhound versus Catahoula Bulldog     Italian Greyhound versus Tibetan Mastiff     Italian Greyhound versus Irish Water Spaniel     Italian Greyhound versus Greater Swiss Mountain Dog     Italian Greyhound versus Bolognese     Italian Greyhound versus Tibetan Terrier     Italian Greyhound versus Catahoula Leopard Dog     Italian Greyhound versus Central Asian Shepherd Dog     

    Conclusion: Chinook versus Italian Greyhound. 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 Italian Greyhound better suits you and your family.