A Detailed Comparison of the Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Japanese Chin.

Entlebucher Mountain Dog versus Japanese Chin

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Entlebucher Mountain Dog Versus Japanese Chin: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Japanese Chin? 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 Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Japanese Chin 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 Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Japanese Chin.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Japanese Chin 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 Entlebucher Mountain Dog and for the Japanese Chin. 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 Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Japanese Chin.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Entlebucher Mountain Dog or the Japanese Chin

Entlebucher Mountain Dog versus Japanese Chin

Entlebucher Mountain Dog versus Japanese Chin: Overview

A very important difference between the Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Japanese Chin is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Entlebucher Mountain Dog is a medium-sized dog while the Japanese Chin is a tiny-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Entlebucher Mountain Dog 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 Japanese Chin 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.

Entlebucher Mountain Dog versus Japanese Chin: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Entlebucher Mountain Dog to the Japanese Chin 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 Entlebucher Mountain Dog Japanese Chin
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 5/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 10 to 13 years 10 to 14 years
Height 16 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder 8 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 4/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 2/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 4/5
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 1/5
Dog Friendly 3/5 3/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 3/5
General Health 3/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 3/5
Easy To Train 3/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 5/5
Easygoing 2/5 3/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 3/5
Intelligence 4/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 2/5 2/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 2/5 5/5
Weight 45 to 65 pounds 4 to 9 pounds
Affectionate With Family 5/5 3/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 3/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 1/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 4/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 4/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 4/5
Average Lifespan 11.5 years 12.0 years
Average Price $2020 $1930
Price Range $920 – $2500 $1500 – $2100
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination, minimum age 3 years
  • Gangliosidosis (GM2)
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 157 102

    *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 Entlebucher Mountain Dog 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 Japanese Chin. 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 Entlebucher Mountain Dog is 72 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Japanese Chin is 84 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Japanese Chin is a better pet than the Entlebucher Mountain Dog. So, you should get the Japanese Chin!

    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 Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Japanese Chin so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    Entlebucher Mountain Dog versus Japanese Chin

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Japanese Chin

    Below is a list of where the Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Japanese Chin are most different:

  • Entlebucher Mountain Dogs do not adapt well to apartment living. However, Japanese Chins adapt well to apartment living.
  • Entlebucher Mountain Dogs do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful. However, Japanese Chins do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful.
  • Entlebucher Mountain Dogs have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy. However, Japanese Chins have low energy levels. They do not require a lot exercise time.
  • Entlebucher Mountain Dogs require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise. However, Japanese Chins have low exercise needs.
  • The Similarities Between the Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Japanese Chin

    The Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Japanese Chin are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Japanese Chin are most similar:

  • Both the Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Japanese Chin do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Japanese Chin cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • Both the Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Japanese Chin are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
  • Both the Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Japanese Chin can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Japanese Chin are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Japanese Chin are prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Japanese Chin have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Japanese Chin are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Entlebucher Mountain Dog versus Japanese Chin

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Japanese Chin.

    Entlebucher Mountain Dogs weigh 45 to 65 pounds when fully grown. Entlebucher Mountain Dogs are 16 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

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

    Price of Entlebucher Mountain Dog versus Price of Japanese Chin

    The average price of the Entlebucher Mountain Dog puppy is $2020. The price of the Entlebucher Mountain Dog typically ranges from $920 – $2500. However, the price of a Entlebucher Mountain Dog can be as low as $890 and as high as $3500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 11 Entlebucher Mountain Dog puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Japanese Chin puppy is $1930. The price of the Japanese Chin typically ranges from $1500 – $2100. However, the price of a Japanese Chin can be as low as $600 and as high as $4800. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 71 Japanese Chin puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Entlebucher Mountain Dog is more expensive than the Japanese Chin.

    Entlebucher Mountain Dog Japanese Chin
    Average Price $2020 $1930
    Price Range $920 to $2500 $1500 to $2100

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Entlebucher Mountain Dog and Japanese Chin. For different price points, the charts show how many Entlebucher Mountain Dog puppies or how many Japanese Chin puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Entlebucher Mountain Dogs. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Entlebucher Mountain Dogs. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Japanese Chins

    A breakdown of the prices of Japanese Chins

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Entlebucher Mountain Dog puppy or the Japanese Chin 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 Entlebucher Mountain Dog versus Popularity of Japanese Chin

    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 Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Japanese Chin over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Japanese Chin is more popular with dog owners than the Entlebucher Mountain Dog. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Japanese Chin is 102 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Entlebucher Mountain Dog is 157 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Entlebucher Mountain Dog

    Popularity of Entlebucher Mountain Dog

    Popularity of Japanese Chin

    Popularity of Japanese Chin

    Year Entlebucher Mountain Dog Popularity Rank Japanese Chin Popularity Rank
    2013 155 87
    2014 153 93
    2015 159 97
    2016 161 108
    2017 152 108
    2018 157 104
    2019 167 108
    2020 152 111

    Health Problems of Entlebucher Mountain Dog versus Health Problems of Japanese Chin

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. Therefore, there is nothing like a perfect puppy.

    Both the Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Japanese Chin 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 Japanese Chin is prone to the same number of genetic health problems as the Entlebucher Mountain Dog.

    4 health tests are recommended for Entlebucher Mountain Dog while 4 tests are recommended for the Japanese Chin.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Entlebucher Mountain Dogs and in Japanese Chins.

    Entlebucher Mountain Dog Health Problems

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

  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Entlebucher Mountain Dogs here.

    Japanese Chin Health Problems

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

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination, minimum age 3 years
  • Gangliosidosis (GM2)
  • Patellar Luxation
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Japanese Chins here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Entlebucher Mountain Dogs and Japanese Chins

    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 Entlebucher Mountain Dog Breed is Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems.

    This is because the Entlebucher Mountain Dog ranks 4 out of 32 dog breeds for Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 77 Entlebucher Mountain Dogs, 2 of them had Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems.

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

  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems: Rank 4 out of 32 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 7 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 43 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 66 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 120 out of 144 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 Japanese Chin Breed is Advanced Cardiac problems.

    This is because the Japanese Chin ranks 1 out of 71 dog breeds for Advanced Cardiac problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 50 Japanese Chins, 5 of them had Advanced Cardiac problems.

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

  • Advanced Cardiac problems: Rank 1 out of 71 Dog Breeds
  • Gm2-Gangliosidosis problems: Rank 1 out of 2 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 7 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 13 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 44 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in Entlebucher Mountain Dog and in Japanese Chin and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Japanese Chin:

    Disease Entlebucher Mountain Dog Rank Japanese Chin Rank
    Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems 4 out of 32 dog breeds Not Common
    Eyes problems 7 out of 182 dog breeds 13 out of 182 dog breeds
    Patella problems 43 out of 145 dog breeds 7 out of 145 dog breeds
    Hips problems 66 out of 198 dog breeds Not Common
    Elbow problems 120 out of 144 dog breeds Not Common
    Advanced Cardiac problems Not Common 1 out of 71 dog breeds
    Gm2-Gangliosidosis problems Not Common 1 out of 2 dog breeds
    Congenital Cardiac problems Not Common 44 out of 159 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.

    Is the Entlebucher Mountain Dog Better for Apartment Owners than the Japanese Chin?

    Entlebucher Mountain Dogs do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Japanese Chins adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which one drools more, the Entlebucher Mountain Dog or the Japanese Chin

    Entlebucher Mountain Dogs do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Japanese Chins do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Entlebucher Mountain Dog or the Japanese Chin?

    Entlebucher Mountain Dogs are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Japanese Chins are very good for new dog owners.

    Can Entlebucher Mountain Dogs Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Japanese Chins Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Entlebucher Mountain Dogs cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Japanese Chins cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Entlebucher Mountain Dog versus Japanese Chin

    Entlebucher Mountain Dogs can be left alone only for a short time.

    Japanese Chins do not like to be left alone.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Entlebucher Mountain Dog or the Japanese Chin?

    Entlebucher Mountain Dogs get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Japanese Chins get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Do Entlebucher Mountain Dogs shed more than Japanese Chins?

    Entlebucher Mountain Dogs shed moderately.

    Japanese Chins shed moderately.

    Is the Entlebucher Mountain Dog Easier to Train than the Japanese Chin?

    Entlebucher Mountain Dogs are fairly easy to train.

    Japanese Chins are fairly easy to train.

    Wanderlust Potential: Entlebucher Mountain Dog vs. Japanese Chin

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

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

    Can Entlebucher Mountain Dogs Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Japanese Chins Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Entlebucher Mountain Dogs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Japanese Chins can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Does the Entlebucher Mountain Dog Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Japanese Chin?

    Entlebucher Mountain Dogs 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.

    Japanese Chins have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Are Entlebucher Mountain Dogs good family dogs? What about Japanese Chins?

    Entlebucher Mountain Dogs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Japanese Chins are good family dogs. They are affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Entlebucher Mountain Dogs and Japanese Chins?

    Entlebucher Mountain Dogs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Entlebucher Mountain Dog or the Japanese Chin?

    Entlebucher Mountain Dogs are very easy to groom.

    Japanese Chins are moderately easy to groom.

    Do Entlebucher Mountain Dogs Bark and Howl? What about Japanese Chins?

    Entlebucher Mountain Dogs are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Japanese Chins bark and howl, but not very much.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Entlebucher Mountain Dog

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Entlebucher Mountain Dog 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 Entlebucher Mountain Dog:

  • Black Mouth Cur (81 percent match with Entlebucher Mountain Dog). Here is our comparison of the Japanese Chin vs Black Mouth Cur.
  • Bluetick Coonhound (80 percent match with Entlebucher Mountain Dog). Here is our comparison of the Japanese Chin vs Bluetick Coonhound.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Japanese Chin

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

  • Pomapoo (77 percent match with Japanese Chin). Here is our comparison of the Entlebucher Mountain Dog vs Pomapoo.
  • Peek A Poo (79 percent match with Japanese Chin). Here is our comparison of the Entlebucher Mountain Dog vs Peek A Poo.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Entlebucher Mountain Dog and how the Japanese Chin compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Entlebucher Mountain Dog and of the Japanese Chin to other breeds:

    Entlebucher Mountain Dog Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Entlebucher Mountain Dog versus Shetland Sheepdog     Entlebucher Mountain Dog versus Saint Bernard     Entlebucher Mountain Dog versus Catahoula Leopard Dog     Entlebucher Mountain Dog versus American Eskimo Dog     Entlebucher Mountain Dog versus Doberman Pinscher     Entlebucher Mountain Dog versus Maltese     Entlebucher Mountain Dog versus American Water Spaniel     Entlebucher Mountain Dog versus French Spaniel     Entlebucher Mountain Dog versus Pomapoo     Entlebucher Mountain Dog versus Portuguese Pointer     

    Japanese Chin Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Japanese Chin versus German Pinscher     Japanese Chin versus Border Collie     Japanese Chin versus Kerry Blue Terrier     Japanese Chin versus English Springer Spaniel     Japanese Chin versus Manchester Terrier     Japanese Chin versus Norwegian Buhund     Japanese Chin versus Norfolk Terrier     Japanese Chin versus Bearded Collie     Japanese Chin versus Lhasa Apso     Japanese Chin versus Scottish Deerhound     

    Conclusion: Entlebucher Mountain Dog versus Japanese Chin. 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 Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Japanese Chin better suits you and your family.