A Detailed Comparison of the Chinook and the Keeshond.

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Chinook Versus Keeshond: Introduction

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

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

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 Keeshond.

Chinook versus Keeshond

Chinook versus Keeshond: Overview

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

The table below compares the Chinook to the Keeshond 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 Keeshond

Factor Chinook Keeshond
Good For Novice Owners 1/5 4/5
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 3/5
Low Prey Drive 4/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 4/5
Height 21 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder 1 foot, 4 inches to 1 foot, 7 inches tall at the s
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 2/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 3/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 4/5 4/5
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 4/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 5/5
Easygoing 1/5 1/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 5/5 5/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 1/5 1/5
Intelligence 5/5 4/5
Weight 55 to 70 pounds 35 to 45 pounds
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 13.5 years
Price Range No Data $1250 – $1850
Average Price No Data $1680
Temperament Score 77.8 percent 81.6 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Clear By Parentage
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 177 89

    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 Keeshond. 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 Keeshond is 83 out of 125.

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

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Chinook and the Keeshond

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

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

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

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

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

    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, Keeshonds weigh 35 to 45 pounds when fully grown. Keeshonds are 1 foot, 4 inches to 1 foot, 7 inches tall at the s when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Chinook versus Keeshond

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

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

    Temperament of the Chinook Versus the Keeshond

    The Keeshond has a better temperament than the Chinook.

    This is because the temperament score for the Keeshond is 81.6 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 81.6 percent, the Keeshond has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Chinook and the Keeshond by measuring the temperaments of 9 Chinooks and 87 Keeshonds.

    The Popularity of Chinook versus Popularity of Keeshond

    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 Keeshond over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Keeshond is more popular with dog owners than the Chinook. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Keeshond is 89 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 Keeshond

    Popularity of Keeshond

    Year Chinook Popularity Rank Keeshond Popularity Rank
    2013 156 86
    2014 171 87
    2015 177 84
    2016 175 92
    2017 179 87
    2018 190 95
    2019 184 88
    2020 186 96

    Health Problems of Chinook versus Health Problems of Keeshond

    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 Keeshond 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 Keeshond is prone to more genetic health problems than the Chinook.

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

    3 health tests are recommended for Chinook while 4 tests are recommended for the Keeshond.

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

    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.

    Keeshond Health Problems

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

  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Keeshonds here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Chinooks and Keeshonds

    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 Keeshond Breed is Primary Hyperparathyroidism problems.

    This is because the Keeshond ranks 1 out of 1 dog breeds for Primary Hyperparathyroidism problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 457 Keeshonds, 10 of them had Primary Hyperparathyroidism problems.

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

  • Primary Hyperparathyroidism problems: Rank 1 out of 1 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 47 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 47 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 63 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 107 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 146 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in Chinook and in Keeshond and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Chinook and the Keeshond:

    Disease Chinook Rank Keeshond Rank
    Patella problems 5 out of 145 dog breeds 63 out of 145 dog breeds
    Hips problems 63 out of 198 dog breeds 146 out of 198 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 82 out of 182 dog breeds 107 out of 182 dog breeds
    Primary Hyperparathyroidism problems Not Common 1 out of 1 dog breeds
    Elbow problems Not Common 47 out of 144 dog breeds
    Thyroid problems Not Common 47 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 Keeshond

    Chinooks do not like to be left alone.

    Keeshonds do not like to be left alone.

    Do Chinooks shed more than Keeshonds?

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

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

    Which one drools more, the Chinook or the Keeshond

    Chinooks do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Keeshonds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Chinook or the Keeshond?

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

    Keeshonds are moderately easy to groom.

    Does the Chinook Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Keeshond?

    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.

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

    Do Chinooks Bark and Howl? What about Keeshonds?

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

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

    Can Chinooks Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Keeshonds Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Chinooks can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Keeshonds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Chinook vs. Keeshond

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

    Keeshonds 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 Keeshonds Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Chinooks can tolerate hot weather.

    Keeshonds can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

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

    Chinooks get along very well with other dogs.

    Keeshonds get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Chinooks good family dogs? What about Keeshonds?

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

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

    How Kid-friendly are Chinooks and Keeshonds?

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

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

    Is the Chinook Easier to Train than the Keeshond?

    Chinooks are very easy to train.

    Keeshonds are very easy to train.

    Is the Chinook Better for Apartment Owners than the Keeshond?

    Chinooks adapt very well to apartment living.

    Keeshonds adapt very well to apartment living.

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

    Chinooks are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Keeshonds 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:

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

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

  • American Eskimo Dog (82 percent match with Keeshond). Here is our comparison of the Chinook vs American Eskimo Dog.
  • Collie (84 percent match with Keeshond). Here is our comparison of the Chinook vs Collie.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Chinook Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Chinook versus Finnish Lapphund     Chinook versus Pyredoodle     Chinook versus Basset Fauve de Bretagne     Chinook versus Sealyham Terrier     Chinook versus Australian Terrier     Chinook versus Chow Chow     Chinook versus Rottweiler     Chinook versus Sealyham Terrier     Chinook versus Shetland Sheepdog     Chinook versus Lhasapoo     Chinook versus Saint Bernard     Chinook versus Dogo Argentino     Chinook versus Irish Terrier     Chinook versus Brussels Griffon     Chinook versus Mudi     Chinook versus Japanese Chin     Chinook versus Belgian Sheepdog     Chinook versus American Staffordshire Terrier     Chinook versus Belgian Malinois     Chinook versus Labrador Retriever     Chinook versus Chinese Shar-Pei     Chinook versus Silky Terrier     Chinook versus Maltese     Chinook versus Rottweiler     Chinook versus Chesapeake Bay Retriever     

    Keeshond Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Keeshond versus Appenzeller Sennenhunde     Keeshond versus Caucasian Shepherd Dog     Keeshond versus Bordoodle     Keeshond versus Lhasa Apso     Keeshond versus Basenji     Keeshond versus Bernese Mountain Dog     Keeshond versus Akita Chow     Keeshond versus Lhasapoo     Keeshond versus Welsh Springer Spaniel     Keeshond versus Chinese Crested     Keeshond versus Lhasapoo     Keeshond versus Papipoo     Keeshond versus Goldador     Keeshond versus Labrador Retriever     Keeshond versus Standard Schnauzer     Keeshond versus German Shepherd Dog     Keeshond versus Dalmatian     Keeshond versus Labradoodle     Keeshond versus Pyrenean Mastiff     Keeshond versus Golden Cocker Retriever     Keeshond versus Bergamasco Sheepdog     Keeshond versus Kai Ken     Keeshond versus Ibizan Hound     Keeshond versus Sealyham Terrier     Keeshond versus Harrier     

    Conclusion: Chinook versus Keeshond. 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 Keeshond better suits you and your family.