Is the Coton de Tulear Better than the Finnish Spitz as a Pet? Answer…

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Coton de Tulear Versus Finnish Spitz: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Coton de Tulear and the Finnish Spitz? Well, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will provide you a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Coton de Tulear and the Finnish Spitz 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 Coton de Tulear and the Finnish Spitz.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Coton de Tulear and the Finnish Spitz 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 Coton de Tulear and for the Finnish Spitz. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Coton de Tulear and the Finnish Spitz.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Coton de Tulear or the Finnish Spitz

Coton de Tulear versus Finnish Spitz: Overview

A very important difference between the Coton de Tulear and the Finnish Spitz is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Coton de Tulear is a tiny-sized dog while the Finnish Spitz is a medium-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Coton de Tulear 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.

On the other hand, the Finnish Spitz belongs to the Sporting Dogs group. Sporting Dogs were bred to help hunters catch and retrieve feathered game. Some sporting dog breeds such as Retrievers, which were built for swimming, were bred to hunt waterfowl in water. Whereas sporting dog breeds like setters, spaniels, and pointing breeds were bred to hunt quail, pheasant, and other game birds nest on grasslands. Many Sporting Group breeds have thick, water-repellent coats that protect them from harsh hunting conditions.

Coton de Tulear versus Finnish Spitz: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Coton de Tulear to the Finnish Spitz 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.

Factor Coton de Tulear Finnish Spitz
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 1/5
Does NOT Shed 5/5 2/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Low Prey Drive 5/5 3/5
Life Span 14 to 16 years 12 to 15 years
Easy To Groom 2/5 2/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 4/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 3/5 5/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 3/5
Easy To Train 3/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 1/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 3/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 3/5
Easygoing 1/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 5/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 5/5 3/5
General Health 5/5 4/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 5/5
Height 8 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder 15 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder
Weight 8 to 13 pounds 20 to 35 pounds
Average Lifespan 15.0 years 13.5 years
Average Price $2060 $900
Price Range $1745 – $2500 $600 – $1100
Temperament Score 72.7 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Exam
  • Eye Examination
  • Patellar Luxation
  • No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 74 179

    *Data from dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (the American Temperament Test Society)

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Coton de Tulear 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 Finnish Spitz. 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 a Coton de Tulear is 94 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Finnish Spitz is 77 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Coton de Tulear is a better pet than the Finnish Spitz. So, you should get the Coton de Tulear!

    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 Coton de Tulear and the Finnish Spitz so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Coton de Tulear and the Finnish Spitz

    Below is a list of where the Coton de Tulear and the Finnish Spitz are most different:

  • Coton de Tulears do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies. However, Finnish Spitzs shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Coton de Tulears are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl. However, Finnish Spitzs are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • The Similarities Between the Coton de Tulear and the Finnish Spitz

    The Coton de Tulear and the Finnish Spitz are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Coton de Tulear and the Finnish Spitz are most similar:

  • Both the Coton de Tulear and the Finnish Spitz do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Coton de Tulear and the Finnish Spitz do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Coton de Tulear and the Finnish Spitz require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Both the Coton de Tulear and the Finnish Spitz are good for new dog owners.
  • Both the Coton de Tulear and the Finnish Spitz are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Coton de Tulear and the Finnish Spitz are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Coton de Tulear and the Finnish Spitz get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Coton de Tulear and the Finnish Spitz get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Coton de Tulear and the Finnish Spitz are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Coton de Tulear and the Finnish Spitz are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Coton de Tulear versus Finnish Spitz

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Coton de Tulear and the Finnish Spitz.

    Coton de Tulears weigh 8 to 13 pounds when fully grown. Coton de Tulears are 8 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Finnish Spitzs weigh 20 to 35 pounds when fully grown. Finnish Spitzs are 15 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Price of Coton de Tulear versus Price of Finnish Spitz

    The average price of the Coton de Tulear puppy is $2060. The price of the Coton de Tulear typically ranges from $1745 – $2500. However, the price of a Coton de Tulear can be as low as $1000 and as high as $3200. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 127 Coton de Tulear puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Finnish Spitz puppy is $900. The price of the Finnish Spitz typically ranges from $600 – $1100. However, the price of a Finnish Spitz can be as low as $500 and as high as $1500. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 3 Finnish Spitz puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Coton de Tulear is more expensive than the Finnish Spitz.

    Coton de Tulear Finnish Spitz
    Average Price $2060 $900
    Price Range $1745 to $2500 $600 to $1100

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Coton de Tulear and Finnish Spitz. For different price points, the charts show how many Coton de Tulear puppies or how many Finnish Spitz puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Coton de Tulears. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Coton de Tulears. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Finnish Spitzs

    A breakdown of the prices of Finnish Spitzs

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Coton de Tulear puppy or the Finnish Spitz 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 from 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 one of those puppy mills that mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

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

    The Popularity of Coton de Tulear versus Popularity of Finnish Spitz

    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 Coton de Tulear and the Finnish Spitz over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Coton de Tulear is more popular with dog owners than the Finnish Spitz. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Coton de Tulear is 74 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Finnish Spitz is 179 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Coton de Tulear

    Popularity of Coton de Tulear

    Popularity of Finnish Spitz

    Popularity of Finnish Spitz

    Year Coton de Tulear Popularity Rank Finnish Spitz Popularity Rank
    2014 31.0 174
    2015 85.0 178
    2016 80.0 179
    2017 81.0 177
    2018 81.0 184
    2019 81.0 183
    2020 80.0 187
    2013 no data 170

    Tolerates Being Alone: Coton de Tulear versus Finnish Spitz

    Coton de Tulears do not like to be left alone.

    Finnish Spitzs do not like to be left alone.

    Do Coton de Tulears shed more than Finnish Spitzs?

    Coton de Tulears do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Finnish Spitzs shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which one drools more, the Coton de Tulear or the Finnish Spitz

    Coton de Tulears do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Finnish Spitzs do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Does the Coton de Tulear Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Finnish Spitz?

    Coton de Tulears 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.

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

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Coton de Tulear or the Finnish Spitz?

    Coton de Tulears require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

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

    Do Coton de Tulears Bark and Howl? What about Finnish Spitzs?

    Coton de Tulears are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

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

    Can Coton de Tulears Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Finnish Spitzs Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Coton de Tulears can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Finnish Spitzs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Can Coton de Tulears Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Finnish Spitzs Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Coton de Tulears can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Finnish Spitzs can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Is the Coton de Tulear Easier to Train than the Finnish Spitz?

    Coton de Tulears are fairly easy to train.

    Finnish Spitzs are fairly easy to train.

    Wanderlust Potential: Coton de Tulear vs. Finnish Spitz

    Coton de Tulears have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Finnish Spitzs have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Coton de Tulear or the Finnish Spitz?

    Coton de Tulears are very good for new dog owners.

    Finnish Spitzs are OK for new dog owners.

    Is the Coton de Tulear Better for Apartment Owners than the Finnish Spitz?

    Coton de Tulears adapt very well to apartment living.

    Finnish Spitzs adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Are Coton de Tulears good family dogs? What about Finnish Spitzs?

    Coton de Tulears are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Finnish Spitzs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Coton de Tulears and Finnish Spitzs?

    Coton de Tulears get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Finnish Spitzs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Coton de Tulear or the Finnish Spitz?

    Coton de Tulears get along very well with other dogs.

    Finnish Spitzs get along very well with other dogs.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Coton de Tulear

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Coton de Tulear 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 Coton de Tulear:

  • Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (78 percent match with Coton de Tulear). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Spitz vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
  • Cavachon (78 percent match with Coton de Tulear). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Spitz vs Cavachon.
  • Shichon (78 percent match with Coton de Tulear). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Spitz vs Shichon.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Finnish Spitz

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

  • Bearded Collie (78 percent match with Finnish Spitz). Here is our comparison of the Coton de Tulear vs Bearded Collie.
  • West Highland White Terrier (79 percent match with Finnish Spitz). Here is our comparison of the Coton de Tulear vs West Highland White Terrier.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Coton de Tulear and how the Finnish Spitz compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Coton de Tulear and of the Finnish Spitz to other breeds:

    Coton de Tulear Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Coton de Tulear versus King Shepherd     Coton de Tulear versus Portuguese Water Dog     Coton de Tulear versus Chow Chow     Coton de Tulear versus American Water Spaniel     Coton de Tulear versus Basenji     Coton de Tulear versus Pomsky     Coton de Tulear versus Jack Russell Terrier     Coton de Tulear versus Great Dane     Coton de Tulear versus Pomsky     Coton de Tulear versus Bedlington Terrier     

    Finnish Spitz Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Finnish Spitz versus Japanese Chin     Finnish Spitz versus American Bulldog     Finnish Spitz versus Australian Terrier     Finnish Spitz versus Welsh Terrier     Finnish Spitz versus Standard Schnauzer     Finnish Spitz versus Pembroke Welsh Corgi     Finnish Spitz versus Pyrenean Mastiff     Finnish Spitz versus Shihpoo     Finnish Spitz versus Norwegian Lundehund     Finnish Spitz versus Field Spaniel     

    Conclusion: Coton de Tulear versus Finnish Spitz. 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 Coton de Tulear and the Finnish Spitz better suits you and your family.