Is the Chow Chow Better than the West Highland White Terrier as a Pet? Answer…

Quick Links: Table of Contents

Chow Chow Versus West Highland White Terrier: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Chow Chow and the West Highland White Terrier? 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 Chow Chow and the West Highland White Terrier 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 Chow Chow and the West Highland White Terrier.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Chow Chow and the West Highland White Terrier 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 Chow Chow and for the West Highland White Terrier. 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 Chow Chow and the West Highland White Terrier.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Chow Chow or the West Highland White Terrier.

Chow Chow versus West Highland White Terrier

Chow Chow versus West Highland White Terrier: Overview

A very important difference between the Chow Chow and the West Highland White Terrier is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Chow Chow is a large-sized dog while the West Highland White Terrier is a small-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Chow Chow 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 West Highland White Terrier belongs to the Terrier Dogs group. Terrier Dogs were originally bred to go underground to hunt rodents and other small wild animals (vermin). Terriers come in a wide range of sizes and shapes, but all terriers are energetic, highly intelligent, and territorial. Terries also have the tendency to escape. They require a securely fenced yard.

Chow Chow versus West Highland White Terrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Chow Chow to the West Highland White Terrier 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 Chow Chow and the West Highland White Terrier

Factor Chow Chow West Highland White Terrier
Kid-Friendly 1/5 4/5
Dog Friendly 1/5 5/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 1/5 3/5
Does NOT Shed 5/5 2/5
Easy To Groom 1/5 3/5
Intelligence 1/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 5/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 1/5 4/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 12 to 16 years
Height 17 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder 10 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 4/5
Easygoing 4/5 2/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 2/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 2/5 5/5
General Health 2/5 3/5
Easy To Train 2/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 4/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 4/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 4/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 4/5 2/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 3/5 4/5
Does NOT Drool 3/5 5/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 2/5
Weight 40 to 70 pounds 13 to 22 pounds
Tolerates Being Alone 5/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 5/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 1/5 4/5
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 14.0 years
Average Price $1750 $2220
Price Range $1000 – $2500 $1600 – $2700
Temperament Score 71.7 percent 89.7 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Eye Examination- Recommend annual exams until at least age 8yrs (96mo)
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 74 41
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 76 47

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Chow Chow 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 West Highland White Terrier. 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 Chow Chow is 69 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the West Highland White Terrier is 80 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the West Highland White Terrier is a better pet than the Chow Chow. So, you should get the West Highland White Terrier!

    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 Chow Chow and the West Highland White Terrier so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    Chow Chow versus West Highland White Terrier

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Chow Chow and the West Highland White Terrier

    Below is a list of where the Chow Chow and the West Highland White Terrier are most different:

  • Chow Chows do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly. However, West Highland White Terriers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Chow Chows do not get along well with other dogs. However, West Highland White Terriers get along well with other dogs.
  • Chow Chows do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies. However, West Highland White Terriers shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Chow Chows not very intelligent. However, West Highland White Terriers are highly intelligent.
  • Chow Chows are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl. However, West Highland White Terriers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Chow Chows not very playful. However, West Highland White Terriers are very playful.
  • Chow Chows are not affectionate with family. They are not good family dogs. However, West Highland White Terriers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Chow Chows can be left alone for some time without problems. However, West Highland White Terriers do not like to be left alone.
  • Chow Chows are prone to nip and chew at things. However, West Highland White Terriers are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • The Similarities Between the Chow Chow and the West Highland White Terrier

    The Chow Chow and the West Highland White Terrier are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Chow Chow and the West Highland White Terrier are most similar:

  • Both the Chow Chow and the West Highland White Terrier cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • Both the Chow Chow and the West Highland White Terrier have the tendency to develop certain health problems.
  • Both the Chow Chow and the West Highland White Terrier do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
  • Both the Chow Chow and the West Highland White Terrier gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Chow Chow and the West Highland White Terrier can tolerate cold weather.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Chow Chow versus West Highland White Terrier

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Chow Chow and the West Highland White Terrier.

    Chow Chows weigh 40 to 70 pounds when fully grown. Chow Chows are 17 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, West Highland White Terriers weigh 13 to 22 pounds when fully grown. West Highland White Terriers are 10 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Chow Chow versus West Highland White Terrier

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

    The lifespan of West Highland White Terriers is between 12 to 16 years. The average lifespan of West Highland White Terriers is 14.0 years.

    West Highland White Terriers live longer than Chow Chows.

    Chow Chow versus West Highland White Terrier

    Temperament of the West Highland White Terrier Versus the Chow Chow

    The West Highland White Terrier has a better temperament than the Chow Chow.

    This is because the temperament score for the West Highland White Terrier is 89.7 percent while the temperament score for the Chow Chow is 71.7 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and 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 71.7 percent, the Chow Chow has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 89.7 percent, the West Highland White Terrier has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Chow Chow and the West Highland White Terrier by measuring the temperaments of 99 Chow Chows and 68 West Highland White Terriers.

    Price of Chow Chow versus Price of West Highland White Terrier

    The average price of the Chow Chow puppy is $1750. The price of the Chow Chow typically ranges from $1000 – $2500. However, the price of a Chow Chow can be as low as $400 and as high as $4125. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 156 Chow Chow puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the West Highland White Terrier puppy is $2220. The price of the West Highland White Terrier typically ranges from $1600 – $2700. However, the price of the West Highland White Terrier can be as low as $600 and as high as $3999. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 103 West Highland White Terrier puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The West Highland White Terrier is more expensive than the Chow Chow.

    Chow Chow West Highland White Terrier
    Average Price $1750 $2220
    Price Range $1000 to $2500 $1600 to $2700

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Chow Chow and West Highland White Terrier. For different price points, the charts show how many Chow Chow puppies or how many West Highland White Terrier puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Chow Chows. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Chow Chows. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of West Highland White Terriers

    A breakdown of the prices of West Highland White Terriers

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Chow Chow puppy or the West Highland White Terrier puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

    Nevertheless, when looking to buy a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    Chow Chow versus West Highland White Terrier

    Adopting the Chow Chow versus Adopting the West Highland White Terrier

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Chow Chows and many West Highland White Terriers are currently available for adoption.

    These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.

    Below is an adorable Male Chow Chow named A585877 that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Chow Chows like A585877 on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Chow Chows, West Highland White Terriers are also available for adoption. For example, Puddles And Nacho is a Male West Highland White Terrier that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more West Highland White Terriers like Puddles And Nacho that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Chow Chow and the West Highland White Terrier can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Chowder* is the name of another Chow Chow (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    Also, Fritz is an adorable Male West Highland White Terrier on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    Chow Chows and West Highland White Terriers are always available for adoption. Images from petfinder.com

    You can find more Chow Chows and West Highland White Terriers that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Chow Chow versus the Intelligence of the West Highland White Terrier

    Chow Chow West Highland White Terrier
    Intelligence Rank 76 out of 130 dog breeds 47 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 80 To 100 Repetitions Or More! Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions

    Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.

    According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:

  • Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence a dog has because of what the dog was bred for. This type of intelligence comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that were bred for guarding will have high `guarding` instinctive intelligence, while dog breeds that were bred for hunting will what high `hunting` instinctive intelligence. However, you cannot compare the intelligence of dog breeds based on instinctive intelligence because such a comparison will not make sense.
  • Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. It includes learning and benefiting from experience with his environment, solving new problems, and so forth. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. Thus, two dogs can have remarkably different levels of adaptive intelligence even if they are of the same breed.
  • Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Importantly, different dog breeds have different learning abilities. Also, science has shown that some dog breeds can learn faster than some other breeds. This means certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. Dogs with high Working/Obedience Intelligence are smart and easy to train.
  • Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.

    This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.

    To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.

    Prof. Coren found that the Chow Chow has an obedience intelligence rank of 76 out of 130 dog breeds. The Chow Chow belongs to the `Lowest Degree of Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Chow Chows tend to learn new commands after 80 to 100 repetitions or more!.

    The West Highland White Terrier has an obedience intelligence rank of 47 out of 130 dog breeds. The West Highland White Terrier belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that West Highland White Terriers tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.

    The West Highland White Terrier is more intelligent than the Chow Chow.

    However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.

    The Popularity of Chow Chow versus Popularity of West Highland White Terrier

    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 Chow Chow and the West Highland White Terrier over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the West Highland White Terrier is more popular with dog owners than the Chow Chow. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the West Highland White Terrier is 41 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Chow Chow is 74 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Chow Chow

    Popularity of Chow Chow

    Popularity of West Highland White Terrier

    Popularity of West Highland White Terrier

    Year Chow Chow Popularity Rank West Highland White Terrier Popularity Rank
    2013 70 36
    2014 70 38
    2015 73 41
    2016 74 41
    2017 76 42
    2018 75 42
    2019 77 44
    2020 84 44

    Health Problems of Chow Chow versus Health Problems of West Highland White Terrier

    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 Chow Chow and the West Highland White Terrier 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 Chow Chow is prone to more genetic health problems than the West Highland White Terrier.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Chow Chow than for the West Highland White Terrier.

    6 health tests are recommended for Chow Chow while 3 tests are recommended for the West Highland White Terrier.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Chow Chows and in West Highland White Terriers.

    Chow Chow Health Problems

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

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Chow Chows here.

    West Highland White Terrier Health Problems

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

  • Eye Examination- Recommend annual exams until at least age 8yrs (96mo)
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for West Highland White Terriers here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Chow Chows and West Highland White Terriers

    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 Chow Chow Breed is Elbow problems.

    This is because the Chow Chow ranks 1 out of 144 dog breeds for Elbow problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 1393 Chow Chows, 693 of them had Elbow problems.

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

  • Elbow problems: Rank 1 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 3 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 15 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 36 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 88 out of 115 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 West Highland White Terrier Breed is Craniomandibular Osteopathy problems.

    This is because the West Highland White Terrier ranks 1 out of 2 dog breeds for Craniomandibular Osteopathy problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 102 West Highland White Terriers, 2 of them had Craniomandibular Osteopathy problems.

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

  • Craniomandibular Osteopathy problems: Rank 1 out of 2 Dog Breeds
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes problems: Rank 12 out of 40 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 24 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 52 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 105 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in Chow Chow and in West Highland White Terrier and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Chow Chow and the West Highland White Terrier:

    Disease Chow Chow Rank West Highland White Terrier Rank
    Elbow problems 1 out of 144 dog breeds Not Common
    Eyes problems 3 out of 182 dog breeds 24 out of 182 dog breeds
    Patella problems 15 out of 145 dog breeds 52 out of 145 dog breeds
    Hips problems 36 out of 198 dog breeds 105 out of 198 dog breeds
    Thyroid problems 88 out of 115 dog breeds Not Common
    Craniomandibular Osteopathy problems Not Common 1 out of 2 dog breeds
    Legg-Calve-Perthes problems Not Common 12 out of 40 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: Chow Chow versus West Highland White Terrier

    Chow Chows can be left alone for some time without problems.

    West Highland White Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Do Chow Chows shed more than West Highland White Terriers?

    Chow Chows do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    West Highland White Terriers shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which one drools more, the Chow Chow or the West Highland White Terrier

    Chow Chows drool moderately.

    West Highland White Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Chow Chow or the West Highland White Terrier?

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

    West Highland White Terriers are moderately easy to groom.

    Does the Chow Chow Have a Higher Prey Drive than the West Highland White Terrier?

    Chow Chows 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.

    West Highland White Terriers 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 Chow Chows Bark and Howl? What about West Highland White Terriers?

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

    West Highland White Terriers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Can Chow Chows Tolerate Cold Weather? And can West Highland White Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Chow Chows can very well tolerate cold weather.

    West Highland White Terriers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Chow Chow vs. West Highland White Terrier

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

    West Highland White Terriers have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Chow Chows Tolerate Hot Weather? Can West Highland White Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Chow Chows cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    West Highland White Terriers can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Chow Chow or the West Highland White Terrier?

    Chow Chows do not get along well with other dogs.

    West Highland White Terriers get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Chow Chows good family dogs? What about West Highland White Terriers?

    Chow Chows are not affectionate with family. They are not good family dogs.

    1

    West Highland White Terriers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Chow Chows and West Highland White Terriers?

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

    West Highland White Terriers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the Chow Chow Easier to Train than the West Highland White Terrier?

    Chow Chows are not easy to train.

    West Highland White Terriers are very easy to train.

    Is the Chow Chow Better for Apartment Owners than the West Highland White Terrier?

    Chow Chows adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    West Highland White Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Chow Chow or the West Highland White Terrier?

    Chow Chows are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    West Highland White Terriers are very good for new dog owners.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Chow Chow

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

  • Anatolian Shepherd Dog (61 percent match with Chow Chow). Here is our comparison of the West Highland White Terrier vs Anatolian Shepherd Dog.
  • Caucasian Shepherd Dog (65 percent match with Chow Chow). Here is our comparison of the West Highland White Terrier vs Caucasian Shepherd Dog.
  • Chinese Shar-Pei (63 percent match with Chow Chow). Here is our comparison of the West Highland White Terrier vs Chinese Shar-Pei.
  • Akita Chow (62 percent match with Chow Chow). Here is our comparison of the West Highland White Terrier vs Akita Chow.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the West Highland White Terrier

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the West Highland White Terrier 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 West Highland White Terrier:

  • Bearded Collie (82 percent match with West Highland White Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Chow Chow vs Bearded Collie.
  • Cardigan Welsh Corgi (84 percent match with West Highland White Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Chow Chow vs Cardigan Welsh Corgi.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Chow Chow and how the West Highland White Terrier compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Chow Chow and of the West Highland White Terrier to other breeds:

    Chow Chow Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Chow Chow versus Tibetan Terrier     Chow Chow versus Bull Terrier     Chow Chow versus Bloodhound     Chow Chow versus German Longhaired Pointer     Chow Chow versus Australian Cattle Dog     Chow Chow versus Italian Greyhound     Chow Chow versus Glen of Imaal Terrier     Chow Chow versus Berger Picard     Chow Chow versus American Hairless Terrier     Chow Chow versus Samoyed     Chow Chow versus Xoloitzcuintli     Chow Chow versus Norwegian Buhund     Chow Chow versus Portuguese Pointer     Chow Chow versus Miniature Schnauzer     Chow Chow versus Lowchen     Chow Chow versus Basset Hound     Chow Chow versus Lowchen     Chow Chow versus Akita Chow     Chow Chow versus Patterdale Terrier     Chow Chow versus American Bulldog     Chow Chow versus Bracco Italiano     Chow Chow versus Miniature Pinscher     Chow Chow versus Greyhound     Chow Chow versus Collie     Chow Chow versus Stabyhoun     

    West Highland White Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    West Highland White Terrier versus Pyrenean Mastiff     West Highland White Terrier versus Shiba Inu     West Highland White Terrier versus Labrador Retriever     West Highland White Terrier versus Boxer     West Highland White Terrier versus German Shepherd Dog     West Highland White Terrier versus Miniature Poodle     West Highland White Terrier versus Skye Terrier     West Highland White Terrier versus Bracco Italiano     West Highland White Terrier versus American Pit Bull Terrier     West Highland White Terrier versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier     West Highland White Terrier versus Border Collie     West Highland White Terrier versus Shih Tzu     West Highland White Terrier versus Lagotto Romagnolo     West Highland White Terrier versus Kishu Ken     West Highland White Terrier versus Fila Brasileiro     West Highland White Terrier versus Xoloitzcuintli     West Highland White Terrier versus Siberian Husky     West Highland White Terrier versus Cockalier     West Highland White Terrier versus Korean Jindo Dog     West Highland White Terrier versus Irish Water Spaniel     West Highland White Terrier versus Samoyed     West Highland White Terrier versus French Bulldog     West Highland White Terrier versus Mountain Cur     West Highland White Terrier versus Puggle     West Highland White Terrier versus Westiepoo     

    Conclusion: Chow Chow versus West Highland White Terrier. 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 Chow Chow and the West Highland White Terrier better suits you and your family.