Differences and Similarities between the Dutch Shepherd and the Papillon.

Dutch Shepherd versus Papillon

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Dutch Shepherd Versus Papillon: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Dutch Shepherd and the Papillon 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 Dutch Shepherd and for the Papillon. 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 Dutch Shepherd and the Papillon.

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

Dutch Shepherd versus Papillon

Dutch Shepherd versus Papillon: Overview

A very important difference between the Dutch Shepherd and the Papillon is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Dutch Shepherd is a medium-sized dog while the Papillon is a tiny-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Dutch Shepherd belongs to the Herding Dogs group. Herding Dogs were bred for moving livestock, including sheep, cattle, and even reindeer. Herding dogs work closely with their human shepherds, and their natural intelligence and responsiveness make them highly trainable. They have high levels of energy, which needs to be channeled properly to prevent destructive behavior. Herding breeds are protective of their people and property and make excellent watchdogs. Their intelligence, agility, and activity level make them well suited to dog sports.

On the other hand, the Papillon 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.

Dutch Shepherd versus Papillon: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Dutch Shepherd to the Papillon 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 Dutch Shepherd Papillon
Life Span 12 to 15 years 12 to 16 years
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 1/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 5/5
Does NOT Drool 4/5 5/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 4/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 4/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 5/5
Height 21 to 25 inches 8 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 3/5 5/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 5/5
Easygoing 3/5 3/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 3/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 2/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 4/5
Affectionate With Family 4/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 4/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 2/5 4/5
General Health 4/5 3/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 2/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 5/5
Easy To Train 5/5 5/5
Weight 50 to 70 pounds 4 to 9 pounds
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 14.0 years
Average Price $1590 $1800
Price Range $900 – $2000 $1400 – $2000
Temperament Score 96.2 percent 82.3 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests No Data
  • Eye Examination- recommend screening every 2 years
  • Patellar Luxation
  • *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 Dutch Shepherd 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 Papillon. 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 Dutch Shepherd is 85 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Papillon is 89 out of 125.

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

    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 Dutch Shepherd and the Papillon so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    Dutch Shepherd versus Papillon

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Dutch Shepherd and the Papillon

    Below is a list of where the Dutch Shepherd and the Papillon are most different:

  • Dutch Shepherds are not very friendly towards strangers. However, Papillons are very friendly towards strangers.
  • The Similarities Between the Dutch Shepherd and the Papillon

    The Dutch Shepherd and the Papillon are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Dutch Shepherd and the Papillon are most similar:

  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Papillon do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Papillon do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Papillon are not prone to gaining weight easily.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Papillon are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Papillon are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Papillon do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Papillon can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Papillon are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Papillon get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Papillon get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Papillon are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Papillon are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Papillon have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Papillon require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Papillon are very playful.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Papillon are very easy to train.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Dutch Shepherd versus Papillon

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Dutch Shepherd and the Papillon.

    Dutch Shepherds weigh 50 to 70 pounds when fully grown. Dutch Shepherds are 21 to 25 inches when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Papillons weigh 4 to 9 pounds when fully grown. Papillons are 8 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Temperament of the Dutch Shepherd Versus the Papillon

    The Dutch Shepherd has a better temperament than the Papillon.

    This is because the temperament score for the Dutch Shepherd is 96.2 percent while the temperament score for the Papillon is 82.3 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 96.2 percent, the Dutch Shepherd has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 82.3 percent, the Papillon has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Dutch Shepherd and the Papillon by measuring the temperaments of 26 Dutch Shepherds and 96 Papillons.

    Price of Dutch Shepherd versus Price of Papillon

    The average price of the Dutch Shepherd puppy is $1590. The price of the Dutch Shepherd typically ranges from $900 – $2000. However, the price of a Dutch Shepherd can be as low as $100 and as high as $5000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 116 Dutch Shepherd puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Papillon puppy is $1800. The price of the Papillon typically ranges from $1400 – $2000. However, the price of a Papillon can be as low as $700 and as high as $3500. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 108 Papillon puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Papillon is more expensive than the Dutch Shepherd.

    Dutch Shepherd Papillon
    Average Price $1590 $1800
    Price Range $900 to $2000 $1400 to $2000

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

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

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Papillons

    A breakdown of the prices of Papillons

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Dutch Shepherd puppy or the Papillon 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.

    Dutch Shepherd versus Papillon

    Adopting the Dutch Shepherd versus Adopting the Papillon

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Dutch Shepherds and many Papillons 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 Dutch Shepherd named Saber that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Dutch Shepherds like Saber on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Dutch Shepherds, Papillons are also available for adoption. For example, Ranger is a Male Papillon that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Papillons like Ranger that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Dutch Shepherd and the Papillon can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Mercy – Located In Connecticut is the name of another Dutch Shepherd (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    Also Tavi, an adorable Male Papillon on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    Dutch Shepherds and Papillons are always available for adoption. Images from petfinder.com

    You can find more Dutch Shepherds and Papillons that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    Dutch Shepherd versus Papillon

    Tolerates Being Alone: Dutch Shepherd versus Papillon

    Dutch Shepherds do not like to be left alone.

    Papillons do not like to be left alone.

    Which one drools more, the Dutch Shepherd or the Papillon

    Dutch Shepherds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Papillons do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Do Dutch Shepherds Bark and Howl? What about Papillons?

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

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

    Wanderlust Potential: Dutch Shepherd vs. Papillon

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

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

    Is the Dutch Shepherd Better for Apartment Owners than the Papillon?

    Dutch Shepherds adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Papillons adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Dutch Shepherd or the Papillon?

    Dutch Shepherds are OK for new dog owners.

    Papillons are very good for new dog owners.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Dutch Shepherd or the Papillon?

    Dutch Shepherds are moderately easy to groom.

    Papillons are moderately easy to groom.

    Does the Dutch Shepherd Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Papillon?

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

    Papillons 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.

    Can Dutch Shepherds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Papillons Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Dutch Shepherds can very well tolerate cold weather.

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

    Can Dutch Shepherds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Papillons Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Dutch Shepherds can tolerate hot weather.

    Papillons can tolerate hot weather.

    Are Dutch Shepherds good family dogs? What about Papillons?

    Dutch Shepherds are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

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

    How Kid-friendly are Dutch Shepherds and Papillons?

    Dutch Shepherds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Papillons get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Dutch Shepherd or the Papillon?

    Dutch Shepherds get along very well with other dogs.

    Papillons get along very well with other dogs.

    Do Dutch Shepherds shed more than Papillons?

    Dutch Shepherds shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

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

    Is the Dutch Shepherd Easier to Train than the Papillon?

    Dutch Shepherds are very easy to train.

    Papillons are very easy to train.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Dutch Shepherd

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

  • French Spaniel (80 percent match with Dutch Shepherd). Here is our comparison of the Papillon vs French Spaniel.
  • Japanese Spitz (79 percent match with Dutch Shepherd). Here is our comparison of the Papillon vs Japanese Spitz.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Papillon

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

  • Bichon Frise (78 percent match with Papillon). Here is our comparison of the Dutch Shepherd vs Bichon Frise.
  • Cavachon (78 percent match with Papillon). Here is our comparison of the Dutch Shepherd vs Cavachon.
  • Havanese (79 percent match with Papillon). Here is our comparison of the Dutch Shepherd vs Havanese.
  • Papipoo (86 percent match with Papillon). Here is our comparison of the Dutch Shepherd vs Papipoo.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Dutch Shepherd Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Dutch Shepherd versus Shiloh Shepherd     Dutch Shepherd versus Kishu Ken     Dutch Shepherd versus West Highland White Terrier     Dutch Shepherd versus Akbash     Dutch Shepherd versus Boxerdoodle     Dutch Shepherd versus Ibizan Hound     Dutch Shepherd versus Pomsky     Dutch Shepherd versus Airedale Terrier     Dutch Shepherd versus Alaskan Klee Kai     Dutch Shepherd versus Bergamasco Sheepdog     

    Papillon Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Papillon versus Biewer Terrier     Papillon versus German Shorthaired Pointer     Papillon versus Manchester Terrier     Papillon versus Great Dane     Papillon versus Bloodhound     Papillon versus English Setter     Papillon versus Chorkie     Papillon versus Chinese Crested     Papillon versus Maltese     Papillon versus Norwegian Lundehund     

    Conclusion: Dutch Shepherd versus Papillon. 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 Dutch Shepherd and the Papillon better suits you and your family.