Is the Chinook Better than the Pomeranian as a Pet? Answer…

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Chinook Versus Pomeranian: Introduction

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

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

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 Pomeranian.

Chinook versus Pomeranian

Chinook versus Pomeranian: Overview

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

The table below compares the Chinook to the Pomeranian 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 Pomeranian

Factor Chinook Pomeranian
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 16 years
Easy To Groom 2/5 2/5
Low Prey Drive 4/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 1/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 5/5
Height 21 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder 7 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 2/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 4/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 4/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 4/5 4/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 3/5
General Health 4/5 3/5
Easy To Train 4/5 4/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 3/5
Easygoing 1/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 5/5 4/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 2/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 2/5
Does NOT Shed 1/5 2/5
Intelligence 5/5 4/5
Weight 55 to 70 pounds 3 to 7 pounds
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 14.0 years
Price Range No Data $1500 – $2500
Average Price No Data $2150
Temperament Score 77.8 percent 77.8 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Clear By Parentage
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 177 21

    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 Pomeranian. 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 Pomeranian is 79 out of 125.

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

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Chinook and the Pomeranian

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

  • Chinooks are not the best dogs for new dog owners. However, Pomeranians are good for new dog owners.
  • Chinooks are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl. However, Pomeranians are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Chinooks get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly. However, Pomeranians do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.
  • Chinooks get along well with other dogs. However, Pomeranians do not get along well with other dogs.
  • The Similarities Between the Chinook and the Pomeranian

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

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

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

    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, Pomeranians weigh 3 to 7 pounds when fully grown. Pomeranians are 7 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Chinook versus Pomeranian

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

    The lifespan of Pomeranians is between 12 to 16 years. The average lifespan of Pomeranians is 14.0 years.

    Pomeranians live longer than Chinooks.

    Temperament of the Pomeranian Versus the Chinook

    The Chinook has the same temperament score as the Pomeranian.

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

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Chinook and the Pomeranian by measuring the temperaments of 9 Chinooks and 36 Pomeranians.

    The Popularity of Chinook versus Popularity of Pomeranian

    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 Pomeranian over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Pomeranian is more popular with dog owners than the Chinook. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Pomeranian is 21 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 Pomeranian

    Popularity of Pomeranian

    Year Chinook Popularity Rank Pomeranian Popularity Rank
    2013 156 19
    2014 171 20
    2015 177 21
    2016 175 22
    2017 179 22
    2018 190 23
    2019 184 24
    2020 186 23

    Health Problems of Chinook versus Health Problems of Pomeranian

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

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

    3 health tests are recommended for Chinook while 6 tests are recommended for the Pomeranian.

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

    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.

    Pomeranian Health Problems

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

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Pomeranians here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Chinooks and Pomeranians

    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 Pomeranian Breed is Patella problems.

    This is because the Pomeranian ranks 1 out of 145 dog breeds for Patella problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 1542 Pomeranians, 456 of them had Patella problems.

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

  • Patella problems: Rank 1 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 49 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 75 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 89 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 171 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in Chinook and in Pomeranian and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Chinook and the Pomeranian:

    Disease Chinook Rank Pomeranian Rank
    Patella problems 5 out of 145 dog breeds 1 out of 145 dog breeds
    Hips problems 63 out of 198 dog breeds 75 out of 198 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 82 out of 182 dog breeds 171 out of 182 dog breeds
    Congenital Cardiac problems Not Common 49 out of 159 dog breeds
    Thyroid problems Not Common 89 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 Pomeranian

    Chinooks do not like to be left alone.

    Pomeranians do not like to be left alone.

    Do Chinooks shed more than Pomeranians?

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

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

    Which one drools more, the Chinook or the Pomeranian

    Chinooks do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Pomeranians do have a very low tendency to drool.

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

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

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

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

    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.

    Pomeranians 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.

    Do Chinooks Bark and Howl? What about Pomeranians?

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

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

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

    Chinooks can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Pomeranians can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Chinook vs. Pomeranian

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

    Pomeranians 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 Pomeranians Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Chinooks can tolerate hot weather.

    Pomeranians cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

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

    Chinooks get along very well with other dogs.

    Pomeranians do not get along well with other dogs.

    Are Chinooks good family dogs? What about Pomeranians?

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

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

    How Kid-friendly are Chinooks and Pomeranians?

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

    Pomeranians do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.

    Is the Chinook Easier to Train than the Pomeranian?

    Chinooks are very easy to train.

    Pomeranians are very easy to train.

    Is the Chinook Better for Apartment Owners than the Pomeranian?

    Chinooks adapt very well to apartment living.

    Pomeranians adapt very well to apartment living.

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

    Chinooks are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

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

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

  • Pomapoo (81 percent match with Pomeranian). Here is our comparison of the Chinook vs Pomapoo.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Chinook Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Chinook versus Labradoodle     Chinook versus English Cocker Spaniel     Chinook versus Curly-Coated Retriever     Chinook versus King Shepherd     Chinook versus Manchester Terrier     Chinook versus French Spaniel     Chinook versus Plott     Chinook versus Tibetan Spaniel     Chinook versus Bull Terrier     Chinook versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier     Chinook versus Chinese Shar-Pei     Chinook versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier     Chinook versus Alaskan Malamute     Chinook versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier     Chinook versus Valley Bulldog     Chinook versus Finnish Lapphund     Chinook versus Pomchi     Chinook versus Swedish Vallhund     Chinook versus Doberman Pinscher     Chinook versus Border Collie     Chinook versus Bichon Frise     Chinook versus Peek A Poo     Chinook versus Stabyhoun     Chinook versus Catahoula Bulldog     Chinook versus Goldendoodle     

    Pomeranian Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Pomeranian versus Airedale Terrier     Pomeranian versus Hovawart     Pomeranian versus Afghan Hound     Pomeranian versus Bouvier des Flandres     Pomeranian versus Rottweiler     Pomeranian versus Dalmatian     Pomeranian versus American Foxhound     Pomeranian versus King Shepherd     Pomeranian versus Toy Fox Terrier     Pomeranian versus Miniature Pinscher     Pomeranian versus Tibetan Mastiff     Pomeranian versus Schnoodle     Pomeranian versus Pyrenean Shepherd     Pomeranian versus Bullmastiff     Pomeranian versus Pharaoh Hound     Pomeranian versus Staffordshire Bull Terrier     Pomeranian versus Cesky Terrier     Pomeranian versus Cardigan Welsh Corgi     Pomeranian versus Catahoula Bulldog     Pomeranian versus Airedale Terrier     Pomeranian versus Goldador     Pomeranian versus English Toy Spaniel     Pomeranian versus German Shorthaired Pointer     Pomeranian versus Pyrenean Mastiff     Pomeranian versus Portuguese Water Dog     

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