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

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Newfoundland Versus Pekingese: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Newfoundland 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 Newfoundland 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 Newfoundland 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 Newfoundland or the Pekingese.

Newfoundland versus Pekingese

Newfoundland versus Pekingese: Overview

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

Furthermore, the Newfoundland 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.

Newfoundland versus Pekingese: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Newfoundland 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 Newfoundland and the Pekingese

Factor Newfoundland Pekingese
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 5/5
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 3/5
General Health 1/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 5/5 5/5
Weight 100 to 150 pounds 7 to 14 pounds
Tolerates Hot Weather 2/5 1/5
Easy To Groom 2/5 1/5
Height 2 feet, 1 inch to 2 feet, 5 inches tall at the sho 6 to 9 inches tall at the shoulder
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 4/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 4/5
Easygoing 2/5 4/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 2/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 3/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 1/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 3/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 5/5 4/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 2/5
Does NOT Shed 1/5 2/5
Does NOT Drool 1/5 5/5
Easy To Train 5/5 3/5
Life Span 8 to 10 years 12 to 15 years
Average Lifespan 9.0 years 13.5 years
Average Price $2160 $1930
Price Range $1875 – $2500 $1288 – $2500
Temperament Score 87.5 percent 93.3 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Cystinuria
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • OFA Website
  • No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 37 86
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 34 73

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Newfoundland 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 Newfoundland is 73 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 Newfoundland. 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 Newfoundland and the Pekingese so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    Newfoundland versus Pekingese

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Newfoundland and the Pekingese

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

  • Newfoundlands do not adapt well to apartment living. However, Pekingeses adapt well to apartment living.
  • Newfoundlands get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly. However, Pekingeses do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.
  • Newfoundlands have a very high tendency to drool. However, Pekingeses do not have the tendency to drool.
  • The Similarities Between the Newfoundland and the Pekingese

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

  • Both the Newfoundland and the Pekingese have the tendency to develop certain health problems.
  • Both the Newfoundland and the Pekingese do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful.
  • Both the Newfoundland and the Pekingese cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • Both the Newfoundland and the Pekingese require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Both the Newfoundland and the Pekingese gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Newfoundland and the Pekingese are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Newfoundland and the Pekingese have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Newfoundland and the Pekingese are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Newfoundland and the Pekingese are very playful.
  • Both the Newfoundland and the Pekingese can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Newfoundland and the Pekingese are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Newfoundland and the Pekingese shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Newfoundland versus Pekingese

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

    Newfoundlands weigh 100 to 150 pounds when fully grown. Newfoundlands are 2 feet, 1 inch to 2 feet, 5 inches tall at the sho 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 Newfoundland versus Pekingese

    The lifespan of Newfoundlands is between 8 to 10 years. The average lifespan of Newfoundlands is 9.0 years.

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

    Pekingeses live longer than Newfoundlands.

    Newfoundland versus Pekingese

    Temperament of the Newfoundland Versus the Pekingese

    The Pekingese has a better temperament than the Newfoundland.

    This is because the temperament score for the Pekingese is 93.3 percent while the temperament score for the Newfoundland is 87.5 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 87.5 percent, the Newfoundland has an above-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 Newfoundland and the Pekingese by measuring the temperaments of 176 Newfoundlands and 15 Pekingeses.

    Price of Newfoundland versus Price of Pekingese

    The average price of the Newfoundland puppy is $2160. The price of the Newfoundland typically ranges from $1875 – $2500. However, the price of a Newfoundland can be as low as $350 and as high as $4000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 204 Newfoundland 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 Newfoundland is more expensive than the Pekingese.

    Newfoundland Pekingese
    Average Price $2160 $1930
    Price Range $1875 to $2500 $1288 to $2500

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

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Newfoundlands. 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 Newfoundland 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.

    Newfoundland versus Pekingese

    Adopting the Newfoundland versus Adopting the Pekingese

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Newfoundlands 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 Newfoundland named Roy that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Newfoundlands like Roy on pefinder.com.

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

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

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

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

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

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

    The Intelligence of the Newfoundland versus the Intelligence of the Pekingese

    Newfoundland Pekingese
    Intelligence Rank 34 out of 130 dog breeds 73 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 15 To 25 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 Newfoundland has an obedience intelligence rank of 34 out of 130 dog breeds. The Newfoundland belongs to the `Above Average Working Dogs` category. This means that Newfoundlands tend to learn new commands after 15 to 25 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 Newfoundland 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.

    The Popularity of Newfoundland 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 Newfoundland and the Pekingese over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Newfoundland is more popular with dog owners than the Pekingese. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Newfoundland is 37 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Pekingese is 86 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Newfoundland

    Popularity of Newfoundland

    Popularity of Pekingese

    Popularity of Pekingese

    Year Newfoundland Popularity Rank Pekingese Popularity Rank
    2013 37 77
    2014 37 82
    2015 37 80
    2016 35 93
    2017 36 88
    2018 40 92
    2019 40 83
    2020 41 95

    Tolerates Being Alone: Newfoundland versus Pekingese

    Newfoundlands do not like to be left alone.

    Pekingeses can be left alone only for a short time.

    Do Newfoundlands shed more than Pekingeses?

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

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

    Which one drools more, the Newfoundland or the Pekingese

    Newfoundlands have a very high tendency to drool.

    Pekingeses do have a very low tendency to drool.

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

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

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

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

    Newfoundlands 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 Newfoundlands Bark and Howl? What about Pekingeses?

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

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

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

    Newfoundlands can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Pekingeses can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Newfoundland vs. Pekingese

    Newfoundlands 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 Newfoundlands Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Pekingeses Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Newfoundlands 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 Newfoundland or the Pekingese?

    Newfoundlands get along very well with other dogs.

    Pekingeses do not get along well with other dogs.

    Are Newfoundlands good family dogs? What about Pekingeses?

    Newfoundlands 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 Newfoundlands and Pekingeses?

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

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

    Is the Newfoundland Easier to Train than the Pekingese?

    Newfoundlands are very easy to train.

    Pekingeses are fairly easy to train.

    Is the Newfoundland Better for Apartment Owners than the Pekingese?

    Newfoundlands do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Pekingeses adapt very well to apartment living.

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

    Newfoundlands are OK for new dog owners.

    Pekingeses are very good for new dog owners.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Newfoundland

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

  • Golden Retriever (71 percent match with Newfoundland). Here is our comparison of the Pekingese vs Golden Retriever.
  • Saint Bernard (68 percent match with Newfoundland). Here is our comparison of the Pekingese vs Saint Bernard.
  • Bernese Mountain Dog (79 percent match with Newfoundland). Here is our comparison of the Pekingese vs Bernese 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 Newfoundland vs Dandie Dinmont Terrier.
  • Mal Shi (72 percent match with Pekingese). Here is our comparison of the Newfoundland vs Mal Shi.
  • Pomeranian (72 percent match with Pekingese). Here is our comparison of the Newfoundland vs Pomeranian.
  • Pomsky (72 percent match with Pekingese). Here is our comparison of the Newfoundland vs Pomsky.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Newfoundland Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Newfoundland versus Irish Setter     Newfoundland versus Papipoo     Newfoundland versus Tibetan Mastiff     Newfoundland versus Canaan Dog     Newfoundland versus Norwegian Lundehund     Newfoundland versus Manchester Terrier     Newfoundland versus Afador     Newfoundland versus Basset Fauve de Bretagne     Newfoundland versus Tibetan Mastiff     Newfoundland versus Polish Lowland Sheepdog     Newfoundland versus Puggle     Newfoundland versus Keeshond     Newfoundland versus Aussiedoodle     Newfoundland versus Karelian Bear Dog     Newfoundland versus Weimaraner     Newfoundland versus Bernedoodle     Newfoundland versus Berger Picard     Newfoundland versus Cardigan Welsh Corgi     Newfoundland versus Pointer     Newfoundland versus Cavalier King Charles Spaniel     Newfoundland versus Wirehaired Pointing Griffon     Newfoundland versus Westiepoo     Newfoundland versus Great Pyrenees     Newfoundland versus Caucasian Shepherd Dog     Newfoundland versus Miniature Schnauzer     

    Pekingese Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Pekingese versus Akita Chow     Pekingese versus Black Russian Terrier     Pekingese versus Peek A Poo     Pekingese versus Frenchton     Pekingese versus Keeshond     Pekingese versus Norwegian Lundehund     Pekingese versus Tibetan Mastiff     Pekingese versus Akita     Pekingese versus Lakeland Terrier     Pekingese versus Silky Terrier     Pekingese versus Shih Tzu     Pekingese versus English Toy Spaniel     Pekingese versus Cockapoo     Pekingese versus Pyrenean Mastiff     Pekingese versus Maltese     Pekingese versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier     Pekingese versus Briard     Pekingese versus Great Pyrenees     Pekingese versus Westiepoo     Pekingese versus Beagle     Pekingese versus Pembroke Welsh Corgi     Pekingese versus Afador     Pekingese versus English Toy Spaniel     Pekingese versus German Wirehaired Pointer     Pekingese versus Vizsla     

    Conclusion: Newfoundland 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 Newfoundland and the Pekingese better suits you and your family.