Which is Better between the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog and the Pekingese? A Very Detailed Review.

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Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Versus Pekingese: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog 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 Greater Swiss Mountain Dog 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 with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog 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 Greater Swiss Mountain Dog or the Pekingese.

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog versus Pekingese

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog versus Pekingese: Overview

A very important difference between the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog and the Pekingese is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is a giant-sized dog while the Pekingese is a tiny-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog 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 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.

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog versus Pekingese: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog 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.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog and the Pekingese

Factor Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Pekingese
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 5/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 1/5 1/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 4/5
General Health 2/5 2/5
Height 23 to 28 inches tall at the shoulder 6 to 9 inches tall at the shoulder
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 2/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 2/5
Easy To Train 3/5 3/5
Intelligence 3/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 4/5
Easygoing 2/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 1/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 2/5 5/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 5/5 4/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 2/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 2/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 1/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 4/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 3/5
Life Span 7 to 9 years 12 to 15 years
Weight 85 to 140 pounds 7 to 14 pounds
Average Lifespan 8.0 years 13.5 years
Average Price $2390 $1930
Price Range $1750 – $3000 $1288 – $2500
Temperament Score 82.8 percent 93.3 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination (Effective 7/1/15 the minimum eye exam age to qualify for CHIC is 18 months)
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Shoulders
  • No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 76 86

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Greater Swiss 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 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 the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is 76 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Pekingese is 77 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Pekingese is a better pet than the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog. 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 Greater Swiss Mountain Dog and the Pekingese so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    Greater Swiss Mountain Dog versus Pekingese

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog and the Pekingese

    Below is a list of where the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog and the Pekingese are most different:

  • Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs do not adapt well to apartment living. However, Pekingeses adapt well to apartment living.
  • Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful. However, Pekingeses do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful.
  • Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly. However, Pekingeses do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.
  • Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs get along well with other dogs. However, Pekingeses do not get along well with other dogs.
  • Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are very easy to groom. However, Pekingeses require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy. However, Pekingeses have low energy levels. They do not require a lot exercise time.
  • The Similarities Between the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog and the Pekingese

    The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog and the Pekingese are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog and the Pekingese are most similar:

  • Both the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog and the Pekingese cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • Both the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog and the Pekingese do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog and the Pekingese have the tendency to develop certain health problems.
  • Both the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog and the Pekingese gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog and the Pekingese have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog and the Pekingese are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog and the Pekingese can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog and the Pekingese are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Greater Swiss Mountain Dog versus Pekingese

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog and the Pekingese.

    Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs weigh 85 to 140 pounds when fully grown. Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are 23 to 28 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.

    Lifespan of Greater Swiss Mountain Dog versus Pekingese

    The lifespan of Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs is between 7 to 9 years. The average lifespan of Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs is 8.0 years.

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

    Pekingeses live longer than Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs.

    Temperament of the Pekingese Versus the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

    The Pekingese has a better temperament than the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog.

    This is because the temperament score for the Pekingese is 93.3 percent while the temperament score for the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is 82.8 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 82.8 percent, the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog 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 Greater Swiss Mountain Dog and the Pekingese by measuring the temperaments of 262 Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs and 15 Pekingeses.

    Price of Greater Swiss Mountain Dog versus Price of Pekingese

    The average price of the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog puppy is $2390. The price of the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog typically ranges from $1750 – $3000. However, the price of a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog can be as low as $1000 and as high as $4000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 110 Greater Swiss Mountain Dog 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 the 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 Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is more expensive than the Pekingese.

    Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Pekingese
    Average Price $2390 $1930
    Price Range $1750 to $3000 $1288 to $2500

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

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs. 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 Greater Swiss Mountain Dog 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 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.

    Adopting the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog versus Adopting the Pekingese

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs 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 Greater Swiss Mountain Dog named Bastion Bane that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs like Bastion Bane on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs, Pekingeses are also available for adoption. For example, Rufio is a Male Pekingese that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Pekingeses like Rufio that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog and the Pekingese can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Also, A501168 is an adorable Male Pekingese on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    You can find more Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs and Pekingeses that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Popularity of Greater Swiss Mountain Dog 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 Greater Swiss Mountain Dog and the Pekingese over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is more popular with dog owners than the Pekingese. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is 76 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Pekingese is 86 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

    Popularity of Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

    Popularity of Pekingese

    Popularity of Pekingese

    Year Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Popularity Rank Pekingese Popularity Rank
    2013 74 77
    2014 80 82
    2015 78 80
    2016 78 93
    2017 75 88
    2018 74 92
    2019 73 83
    2020 76 95

    Tolerates Being Alone: Greater Swiss Mountain Dog versus Pekingese

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

    Pekingeses can be left alone only for a short time.

    Do Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs shed more than Pekingeses?

    Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs shed moderately.

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

    Which one drools more, the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog or the Pekingese

    Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Pekingeses do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog or the Pekingese?

    Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are very easy to groom.

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

    Does the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Pekingese?

    Greater Swiss 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.

    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 Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs Bark and Howl? What about Pekingeses?

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

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

    Can Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Pekingeses Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Pekingeses can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs. Pekingese

    Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get 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.

    Can Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Pekingeses Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

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

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog or the Pekingese?

    Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs get along very well with other dogs.

    Pekingeses do not get along well with other dogs.

    Are Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs good family dogs? What about Pekingeses?

    Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

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

    How Kid-friendly are Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs and Pekingeses?

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

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

    Is the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Easier to Train than the Pekingese?

    Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are fairly easy to train.

    Pekingeses are fairly easy to train.

    Is the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Better for Apartment Owners than the Pekingese?

    Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Pekingeses adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog or the Pekingese?

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

    Pekingeses are very good for new dog owners.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

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

  • Bracco Italiano (75 percent match with Greater Swiss Mountain Dog). Here is our comparison of the Pekingese vs Bracco Italiano.
  • Entlebucher Mountain Dog (78 percent match with Greater Swiss Mountain Dog). Here is our comparison of the Pekingese vs Entlebucher Mountain Dog.
  • 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 Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Dandie Dinmont Terrier.
  • Mal Shi (72 percent match with Pekingese). Here is our comparison of the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Mal Shi.
  • Pomeranian (72 percent match with Pekingese). Here is our comparison of the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Pomeranian.
  • Pomsky (72 percent match with Pekingese). Here is our comparison of the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Pomsky.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Greater Swiss Mountain Dog versus Puggle     Greater Swiss Mountain Dog versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier     Greater Swiss Mountain Dog versus Braque du Bourbonnais     Greater Swiss Mountain Dog versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier     Greater Swiss Mountain Dog versus Sheepadoodle     Greater Swiss Mountain Dog versus Beaglier     Greater Swiss Mountain Dog versus Carolina Dog     Greater Swiss Mountain Dog versus Miniature Pinscher     Greater Swiss Mountain Dog versus Dutch Shepherd     Greater Swiss Mountain Dog versus Yorkshire Terrier     Greater Swiss Mountain Dog versus American Pit Bull Terrier     Greater Swiss Mountain Dog versus Dalmatian     Greater Swiss Mountain Dog versus Berger Picard     Greater Swiss Mountain Dog versus Bergamasco Sheepdog     Greater Swiss Mountain Dog versus Italian Greyhound     Greater Swiss Mountain Dog versus Tibetan Terrier     Greater Swiss Mountain Dog versus Briard     Greater Swiss Mountain Dog versus Icelandic Sheepdog     Greater Swiss Mountain Dog versus Irish Wolfhound     Greater Swiss Mountain Dog versus Cane Corso     Greater Swiss Mountain Dog versus Australian Terrier     Greater Swiss Mountain Dog versus Briard     Greater Swiss Mountain Dog versus Whippet     Greater Swiss Mountain Dog versus Mastiff     Greater Swiss Mountain Dog versus Pug     

    Pekingese Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Pekingese versus Bolognese     Pekingese versus Welsh Terrier     Pekingese versus Silky Terrier     Pekingese versus Newfoundland     Pekingese versus Dogo Argentino     Pekingese versus Great Pyrenees     Pekingese versus Cavapoo     Pekingese versus Pyredoodle     Pekingese versus Cairn Terrier     Pekingese versus Great Dane     Pekingese versus Border Terrier     Pekingese versus Bulldog     Pekingese versus Aussiedoodle     Pekingese versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier     Pekingese versus Bouvier des Flandres     Pekingese versus Sheepadoodle     Pekingese versus Tibetan Mastiff     Pekingese versus Azawakh     Pekingese versus Toy Fox Terrier     Pekingese versus Pyrenean Shepherd     Pekingese versus Maltese     Pekingese versus Jack Russell Terrier     Pekingese versus Scottish Terrier     Pekingese versus Finnish Spitz     

    Conclusion: Greater Swiss Mountain Dog 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 Greater Swiss Mountain Dog and the Pekingese better suits you and your family.