Which is Better between the Dachshund and the Pekingese? A Very Detailed Review.

Dachshund versus Pekingese

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Dachshund Versus Pekingese: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Dachshund and the Pekingese 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 Dachshund and for the Pekingese. 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 Dachshund and the Pekingese.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Dachshund or the Pekingese

Dachshund versus Pekingese

Dachshund versus Pekingese: Overview

Both the Dachshund and the Pekingese are similar in size. The Dachshund and the Pekingese are both tiny-sized dogs.

Furthermore, the Dachshund belongs to the Hound Dogs group. Hound Dogs were bred to pursue and hunt warm-blooded animals. Hounds hunt by using their good sight or their good sense of smell. Dogs that belong to the Hound Group have strong prey drives and often will stop at nothing to catch what they are pursuing.

On the other hand, the Pekingese 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.

Dachshund versus Pekingese: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Dachshund to the Pekingese 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 Dachshund Pekingese
Tolerates Cold Weather 1/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 1/5 2/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 12 to 15 years
Weight 16 to 32 pounds 7 to 14 pounds
General Health 2/5 2/5
Easy To Train 2/5 3/5
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 1/5
Dog Friendly 3/5 2/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 2/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 1/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 4/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 5/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 4/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 4/5
Easygoing 2/5 4/5
Affectionate With Family 4/5 5/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 2/5 3/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 3/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 2/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 1/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 1/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 1/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 1/5 3/5
Height 8 inches to 9 inches tall at the shoulder 6 to 9 inches tall at the shoulder
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 13.5 years
Average Price $1730 $1930
Price Range $1000 – $2000 $1288 – $2500
Temperament Score 69.4 percent 93.3 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Congenital Deafness
  • Eye Examination
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy
  • No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 11 86
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 49 73

    *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 Dachshund 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 Pekingese. 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 Dachshund is 69 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Pekingese is 77 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Pekingese is a better pet than the Dachshund. So, you should get the Pekingese!

    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 Dachshund and the Pekingese so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    Dachshund versus Pekingese

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Dachshund and the Pekingese

    Below is a list of where the Dachshund and the Pekingese are most different:

  • Dachshunds cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold. However, Pekingeses can tolerate cold weather.
  • Dachshunds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly. However, Pekingeses do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.
  • The Similarities Between the Dachshund and the Pekingese

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

  • Both the Dachshund and the Pekingese are not very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Dachshund and the Pekingese do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Dachshund and the Pekingese have the tendency to develop certain health problems.
  • Both the Dachshund and the Pekingese are not easy to train.
  • Both the Dachshund and the Pekingese are good for new dog owners.
  • Both the Dachshund and the Pekingese are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Dachshund and the Pekingese are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Dachshund and the Pekingese are prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Dachshund and the Pekingese are very playful.
  • Both the Dachshund and the Pekingese adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Dachshund and the Pekingese have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Dachshund and the Pekingese are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Dachshund versus Pekingese

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Dachshund and the Pekingese.

    Dachshunds weigh 16 to 32 pounds when fully grown. Dachshunds are 8 inches to 9 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Pekingeses weigh 7 to 14 pounds when fully grown. Pekingeses are 6 to 9 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Temperament of the Pekingese Versus the Dachshund

    The Pekingese has a better temperament than the Dachshund.

    This is because the temperament score for the Pekingese is 93.3 percent while the temperament score for the Dachshund is 69.4 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 they 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 69.4 percent, the Dachshund has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 93.3 percent, the Pekingese has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Dachshund and the Pekingese by measuring the temperaments of 49 Dachshunds and 15 Pekingeses.

    Price of Dachshund versus Price of Pekingese

    The average price of the Dachshund puppy is $1730. The price of the Dachshund typically ranges from $1000 – $2000. However, the price of a Dachshund can be as low as $200 and as high as $24000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 698 Dachshund puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Pekingese puppy is $1930. The price of the Pekingese typically ranges from $1288 – $2500. However, the price of a Pekingese can be as low as $700 and as high as $7500. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 138 Pekingese puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Pekingese is more expensive than the Dachshund.

    Dachshund Pekingese
    Average Price $1730 $1930
    Price Range $1000 to $2000 $1288 to $2500

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Dachshund and Pekingese. For different price points, the charts show how many Dachshund puppies or how many Pekingese puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

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

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Pekingeses

    A breakdown of the prices of Pekingeses

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Dachshund puppy or the Pekingese 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.

    Dachshund versus Pekingese

    Adopting the Dachshund versus Adopting the Pekingese

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Dachshunds and many Pekingeses 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 Dachshund named Oscar that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Dachshunds like Oscar on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Dachshunds, Pekingeses are also available for adoption. For example, Roy is a Male Pekingese that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Pekingeses like Roy that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Dachshund and the Pekingese can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Chunker is the name of another Dachshund (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    Also Jordan, an adorable Male Pekingese on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    Dachshunds and Pekingeses are always available for adoption. Images from petfinder.com

    You can find more Dachshunds and Pekingeses that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Dachshund versus the Intelligence of the Pekingese

    Dachshund Pekingese
    Intelligence Rank 49 out of 130 dog breeds 73 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After 80 To 100 Repetitions Or More!

    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 Dachshund has an obedience intelligence rank of 49 out of 130 dog breeds. The Dachshund belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Dachshunds tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.

    The Pekingese has an obedience intelligence rank of 73 out of 130 dog breeds. The Pekingese belongs to the `Lowest Degree of Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Pekingeses tend to learn new commands after 80 to 100 repetitions or more!.

    The Dachshund is more intelligent than the Pekingese.

    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.

    Dachshund versus Pekingese

    The Popularity of Dachshund versus Popularity of Pekingese

    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 Dachshund and the Pekingese over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Dachshund is more popular with dog owners than the Pekingese. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Dachshund is 11 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Pekingese is 86 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Dachshund

    Popularity of Dachshund

    Popularity of Pekingese

    Popularity of Pekingese

    Year Dachshund Popularity Rank Pekingese Popularity Rank
    2013 10 77
    2014 11 82
    2015 13 80
    2016 13 93
    2017 13 88
    2018 12 92
    2019 11 83
    2020 10 95

    Can Dachshunds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Pekingeses Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Dachshunds cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Pekingeses can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Which one drools more, the Dachshund or the Pekingese

    Dachshunds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Pekingeses do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Is the Dachshund Easier to Train than the Pekingese?

    Dachshunds are not easy to train.

    Pekingeses are fairly easy to train.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Dachshund versus Pekingese

    Dachshunds can be left alone only for a short time.

    Pekingeses can be left alone only for a short time.

    Can Dachshunds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Pekingeses Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

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

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Dachshund or the Pekingese?

    Dachshunds get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Pekingeses do not get along well with other dogs.

    Do Dachshunds shed more than Pekingeses?

    Dachshunds shed moderately.

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

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Dachshund or the Pekingese?

    Dachshunds are moderately easy to groom.

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

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Dachshund or the Pekingese?

    Dachshunds are very good for new dog owners.

    Pekingeses are very good for new dog owners.

    Are Dachshunds good family dogs? What about Pekingeses?

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

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

    Is the Dachshund Better for Apartment Owners than the Pekingese?

    Dachshunds adapt very well to apartment living.

    Pekingeses adapt very well to apartment living.

    How Kid-friendly are Dachshunds and Pekingeses?

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

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

    Does the Dachshund Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Pekingese?

    Dachshunds 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.

    Pekingeses 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 Dachshunds Bark and Howl? What about Pekingeses?

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

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

    Wanderlust Potential: Dachshund vs. Pekingese

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

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

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Dachshund

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

  • Dandie Dinmont Terrier (71 percent match with Dachshund). Here is our comparison of the Pekingese vs Dandie Dinmont Terrier.
  • Lhasa Apso (71 percent match with Dachshund). Here is our comparison of the Pekingese vs Lhasa Apso.
  • Manchester Terrier (75 percent match with Dachshund). Here is our comparison of the Pekingese vs Manchester Terrier.
  • Miniature Pinscher (72 percent match with Dachshund). Here is our comparison of the Pekingese vs Miniature Pinscher.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Pekingese

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

  • Dandie Dinmont Terrier (72 percent match with Pekingese). Here is our comparison of the Dachshund vs Dandie Dinmont Terrier.
  • Mal Shi (72 percent match with Pekingese). Here is our comparison of the Dachshund vs Mal Shi.
  • Pomeranian (72 percent match with Pekingese). Here is our comparison of the Dachshund vs Pomeranian.
  • Pomsky (72 percent match with Pekingese). Here is our comparison of the Dachshund vs Pomsky.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Dachshund Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Dachshund versus Miniature Schnauzer     Dachshund versus Miniature Pinscher     Dachshund versus Vizsla     Dachshund versus Weimaraner     Dachshund versus Japanese Spitz     Dachshund versus Bolognese     Dachshund versus Newfoundland     Dachshund versus Pointer     Dachshund versus Pomsky     Dachshund versus Maltese     

    Pekingese Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Pekingese versus Glen of Imaal Terrier     Pekingese versus Boston Terrier     Pekingese versus Australian Shepherd     Pekingese versus Shetland Sheepdog     Pekingese versus Papillon     Pekingese versus Bulldog     Pekingese versus Black Russian Terrier     Pekingese versus Beagle     Pekingese versus Portuguese Water Dog     Pekingese versus Chinook     

    Conclusion: Dachshund versus Pekingese. 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 Dachshund and the Pekingese better suits you and your family.