Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Harrier Versus Japanese Chin: Introduction
- Harrier versus Japanese Chin: Overview
- Harrier versus Japanese Chin: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Harrier and the Japanese Chin
- The Similarities Between the Harrier and the Japanese Chin
- Size (Weight and Height) of Harrier versus Japanese Chin
- Lifespan of Harrier versus Japanese Chin
- The Popularity of Harrier versus Popularity of Japanese Chin
- Health Problems of Harrier versus Health Problems of Japanese Chin
- Tolerates Being Alone: Harrier versus Japanese Chin
- Do Harriers shed more than Japanese Chins?
- Which one drools more, the Harrier or the Japanese Chin
- Which is Easier to Groom, the Harrier or the Japanese Chin?
- Does the Harrier Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Japanese Chin?
- Do Harriers Bark and Howl? What about Japanese Chins?
- Can Harriers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Japanese Chins Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Wanderlust Potential: Harrier vs. Japanese Chin
- Can Harriers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Japanese Chins Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Harrier or the Japanese Chin?
- Are Harriers good family dogs? What about Japanese Chins?
- How Kid-friendly are Harriers and Japanese Chins?
- Is the Harrier Easier to Train than the Japanese Chin?
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Harrier
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Japanese Chin
- Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You
- Conclusion: Harrier versus Japanese Chin. Which One is a Better Pet?
Harrier Versus Japanese Chin: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Harrier and the Japanese Chin? 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 Harrier 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 Harrier and the Japanese Chin.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Harrier 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 Harrier 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 with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Harrier 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 Harrier or the Japanese Chin.
Harrier versus Japanese Chin: Overview
A very important difference between the Harrier and the Japanese Chin is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Harrier is a medium-sized dog while the Japanese Chin is a tiny-sized dog.
Furthermore, the Harrier 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 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.
Harrier versus Japanese Chin: Comparison Table
The table below compares the Harrier 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.
Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Harrier and the Japanese Chin
| Factor | Harrier | Japanese Chin |
|---|---|---|
| Adapts Well To Apartment Living | 1/5 | 5/5 |
| Does NOT Drool | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Life Span | 10 to 12 years | 10 to 14 years |
| Height | 19 to 21 inches tall at the shoulder | 8 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder |
| Easygoing | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Easy To Train | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Good For Novice Owners | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Tolerates Being Alone | 3/5 | 1/5 |
| Tolerates Cold Weather | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Does NOT Shed | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Does NOT chew on things | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| Tolerates Hot Weather | 4/5 | 2/5 |
| Affectionate With Family | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Intelligence | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Low Prey Drive | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Does NOT Bark or Howl | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Calmness/ Low Vigor | 2/5 | 5/5 |
| Weight | 45 to 60 pounds | 4 to 9 pounds |
| Kid-Friendly | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Dog Friendly | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Friendly Toward Strangers | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Easy To Groom | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| General Health | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Tendency NOT to Wander | 1/5 | 5/5 |
| NOT Rambunctious | 1/5 | 4/5 |
| Minimal Exercise Needs | 1/5 | 4/5 |
| Potential For Playfulness | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Average Lifespan | 11.0 years | 12.0 years |
| Price Range | No Data | $1500 – $2100 |
| Average Price | No Data | $1930 |
| Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests |
|
|
| Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds | 183 | 102 |
Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Harrier 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 the Harrier is 81 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Japanese Chin is 84 out of 125.
Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Japanese Chin is a better pet than the Harrier. 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 Harrier and the Japanese Chin so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.
The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Harrier and the Japanese Chin
Below is a list of where the Harrier and the Japanese Chin are most different:
The Similarities Between the Harrier and the Japanese Chin
The Harrier and the Japanese Chin are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Harrier and the Japanese Chin are most similar:
Size (Weight and Height) of Harrier versus Japanese Chin
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Harrier and the Japanese Chin.
Harriers weigh 45 to 60 pounds when fully grown. Harriers are 19 to 21 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.
Lifespan of Harrier versus Japanese Chin
The lifespan of Harriers is between 10 to 12 years. The average lifespan of Harriers is 11.0 years.
The lifespan of Japanese Chins is between 10 to 14 years. The average lifespan of Japanese Chins is 12.0 years.
Japanese Chins live longer than Harriers.
The Popularity of Harrier 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 Harrier 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 Harrier. 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 Harrier is 183 out of about 200 dog breeds.
Popularity of Harrier
Popularity of Japanese Chin
| Year | Harrier Popularity Rank | Japanese Chin Popularity Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 173 | 87 |
| 2014 | 181 | 93 |
| 2015 | 183 | 97 |
| 2016 | 186 | 108 |
| 2017 | 183 | 108 |
| 2018 | 189 | 104 |
| 2019 | 186 | 108 |
| 2020 | 190 | 111 |
Health Problems of Harrier versus Health Problems of Japanese Chin
Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.
Both the Harrier 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 more genetic health problems than the Harrier.
This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Japanese Chin than for the Harrier.
2 health tests are recommended for Harrier while 4 tests are recommended for the Japanese Chin.
Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Harriers and in Japanese Chins.
Harrier Health Problems
Harriers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Harrier 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 Harrier puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Harrier 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 Harriers for:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Harriers 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:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Japanese Chins here.
More Discussions on Health Problems in Harriers 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 Harrier Breed is Hips problems.
This is because the Harrier ranks 76 out of 198 dog breeds for Hips problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 375 Harriers, 58 of them had Hips problems.
The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Harriers, and how common these diseases are in Harriers relative to other dog breeds, are given below:
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:
The table below lists the common health problems in Harrier and in Japanese Chin and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Harrier and the Japanese Chin:
| Disease | Harrier Rank | Japanese Chin Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Hips problems | 76 out of 198 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 |
| Patella problems | Not Common | 7 out of 145 dog breeds |
| Eyes problems | Not Common | 13 out of 182 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.
Tolerates Being Alone: Harrier versus Japanese Chin
Harriers can be left alone only for a short time.
Japanese Chins do not like to be left alone.
Do Harriers shed more than Japanese Chins?
Harriers shed moderately.
Japanese Chins shed moderately.
Which one drools more, the Harrier or the Japanese Chin
Harriers do have a very low tendency to drool.
Japanese Chins do have a very low tendency to drool.
Which is Easier to Groom, the Harrier or the Japanese Chin?
Harriers are very easy to groom.
Japanese Chins are moderately easy to groom.
Does the Harrier Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Japanese Chin?
Harriers 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.
Do Harriers Bark and Howl? What about Japanese Chins?
Harriers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
Japanese Chins bark and howl, but not very much.
Can Harriers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Japanese Chins Tolerate Cold Weather?
Harriers can moderately tolerate cold weather.
Japanese Chins can moderately tolerate cold weather.
Wanderlust Potential: Harrier vs. Japanese Chin
Harriers have a high tendency to wander. They are easily 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 Harriers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Japanese Chins Tolerate Hot Weather?
Harriers can tolerate hot weather.
Japanese Chins cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Harrier or the Japanese Chin?
Harriers get along very well with other dogs.
Japanese Chins get along fairly well with other dogs.
Are Harriers good family dogs? What about Japanese Chins?
Harriers 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 Harriers and Japanese Chins?
Harriers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Japanese Chins get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.
Is the Harrier Easier to Train than the Japanese Chin?
Harriers are not easy to train.
Japanese Chins are fairly easy to train.
Is the Harrier Better for Apartment Owners than the Japanese Chin?
Harriers do not adapt well to apartment living.
Japanese Chins adapt very well to apartment living.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Harrier or the Japanese Chin?
Harriers are OK for new dog owners.
Japanese Chins are very good for new dog owners.
Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Harrier
Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Harrier 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 Harrier:
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:
Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You
You may also be interested in how the Harrier and how the Japanese Chin compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Harrier and of the Japanese Chin to other breeds:
Harrier Versus Other Dog Breeds
Harrier versus English Toy Spaniel Harrier versus Rottweiler Harrier versus Border Terrier Harrier versus Cavapoo Harrier versus Papillon Harrier versus Maltipoo Harrier versus Chinook Harrier versus Cardigan Welsh Corgi Harrier versus Icelandic Sheepdog Harrier versus Polish Lowland Sheepdog Harrier versus Komondor Harrier versus Kooikerhondje Harrier versus Goldador Harrier versus Mudi Harrier versus American Water Spaniel Harrier versus German Longhaired Pointer Harrier versus Sloughi Harrier versus Welsh Terrier Harrier versus Briard Harrier versus Mudi Harrier versus Lakeland Terrier Harrier versus Basset Fauve de Bretagne Harrier versus Hovawart Harrier versus Kerry Blue Terrier Harrier versus Collie
Japanese Chin Versus Other Dog Breeds
Japanese Chin versus German Shorthaired Pointer Japanese Chin versus Golden Cocker Retriever Japanese Chin versus Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen Japanese Chin versus Skye Terrier Japanese Chin versus Treeing Tennessee Brindle Japanese Chin versus Puli Japanese Chin versus American Staffordshire Terrier Japanese Chin versus Belgian Malinois Japanese Chin versus American Pit Bull Terrier Japanese Chin versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Japanese Chin versus Karelian Bear Dog Japanese Chin versus Affenhuahua Japanese Chin versus Bordoodle Japanese Chin versus Yorkshire Terrier Japanese Chin versus Borzoi Japanese Chin versus American Eskimo Dog Japanese Chin versus Chinese Shar-Pei Japanese Chin versus Boxer Japanese Chin versus Catahoula Bulldog Japanese Chin versus Norwich Terrier Japanese Chin versus Pug Japanese Chin versus American Staffordshire Terrier Japanese Chin versus Lhasa Apso Japanese Chin versus Briard Japanese Chin versus Border Terrier
Conclusion: Harrier 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 Harrier and the Japanese Chin better suits you and your family.