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

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Pekingese Versus Tibetan Mastiff: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Pekingese and the Tibetan Mastiff 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 Pekingese and for the Tibetan Mastiff. 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 Pekingese and the Tibetan Mastiff.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Pekingese or the Tibetan Mastiff.

Pekingese versus Tibetan Mastiff

Pekingese versus Tibetan Mastiff: Overview

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

Furthermore, 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.

On the other hand, the Tibetan Mastiff 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.

Pekingese versus Tibetan Mastiff: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Pekingese to the Tibetan Mastiff 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 Pekingese and the Tibetan Mastiff

Factor Pekingese Tibetan Mastiff
Tolerates Hot Weather 1/5 2/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 4/5
Easy To Groom 1/5 4/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 5/5 4/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 10 to 14 years
Easygoing 4/5 1/5
Kid-Friendly 2/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 2/5 5/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 2/5
General Health 2/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 4/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 4/5 4/5
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 1/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 2/5
Easy To Train 3/5 1/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 1/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 3/5
Potential For Playfulness 3/5 5/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 1/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 2/5 4/5
Intelligence 4/5 5/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 4/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 1/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 3/5
Height 6 to 9 inches tall at the shoulder 2 feet to 2 feet, 2 inches tall at the shoulder
Weight 7 to 14 pounds 75 to 160 pounds
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 12.0 years
Average Price $1930 $3190
Price Range $1288 – $2500 $1500 – $3000
Temperament Score 93.3 percent 52.9 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests No Data
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 86 135

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Pekingese 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 Tibetan Mastiff. 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 Pekingese is 77 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Tibetan Mastiff is 77 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Tibetan Mastiff is not better or worse than the Pekingese. So, you can get the Tibetan Mastiff or 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 Pekingese and the Tibetan Mastiff so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Pekingese and the Tibetan Mastiff

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

  • Pekingeses require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom. However, Tibetan Mastiffs are very easy to groom.
  • Pekingeses are not very sensitive to their enviroment. They can tolerate noisy environments. They are also not very sensitive to the tone of your voice, firm or gentle. However, Tibetan Mastiffs 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.
  • Pekingeses do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly. However, Tibetan Mastiffs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Pekingeses do not get along well with other dogs. However, Tibetan Mastiffs get along well with other dogs.
  • Pekingeses are good for new dog owners. However, Tibetan Mastiffs are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Pekingeses adapt well to apartment living. However, Tibetan Mastiffs do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • The Similarities Between the Pekingese and the Tibetan Mastiff

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

  • Both the Pekingese and the Tibetan Mastiff cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • Both the Pekingese and the Tibetan Mastiff do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Pekingese and the Tibetan Mastiff do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful.
  • Both the Pekingese and the Tibetan Mastiff are not very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Pekingese and the Tibetan Mastiff have the tendency to develop certain health problems.
  • Both the Pekingese and the Tibetan Mastiff have low exercise needs.
  • Both the Pekingese and the Tibetan Mastiff can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Pekingese and the Tibetan Mastiff are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Pekingese and the Tibetan Mastiff are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Pekingese versus Tibetan Mastiff

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

    Pekingeses weigh 7 to 14 pounds when fully grown. Pekingeses are 6 to 9 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Tibetan Mastiffs weigh 75 to 160 pounds when fully grown. Tibetan Mastiffs are 2 feet to 2 feet, 2 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Pekingese versus Tibetan Mastiff

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

    The lifespan of Tibetan Mastiffs is between 10 to 14 years. The average lifespan of Tibetan Mastiffs is 12.0 years.

    Pekingeses live longer than Tibetan Mastiffs.

    Temperament of the Pekingese Versus the Tibetan Mastiff

    The Pekingese has a better temperament than the Tibetan Mastiff.

    This is because the temperament score for the Pekingese is 93.3 percent while the temperament score for the Tibetan Mastiff is 52.9 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 93.3 percent, the Pekingese has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 52.9 percent, the Tibetan Mastiff has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Pekingese and the Tibetan Mastiff by measuring the temperaments of 15 Pekingeses and 17 Tibetan Mastiffs.

    Price of Pekingese versus Price of Tibetan Mastiff

    The average price of the Pekingese puppy is $1930. The price of the Pekingese typically ranges from $1288 – $2500. However, the price of a Pekingese can be as low as $700 and as high as $7500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 138 Pekingese puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Tibetan Mastiff puppy is $3190. The price of the Tibetan Mastiff typically ranges from $1500 – $3000. However, the price of the Tibetan Mastiff can be as low as $1000 and as high as $8000. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 18 Tibetan Mastiff puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Tibetan Mastiff is more expensive than the Pekingese.

    Pekingese Tibetan Mastiff
    Average Price $1930 $3190
    Price Range $1288 to $2500 $1500 to $3000

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

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

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Tibetan Mastiffs

    A breakdown of the prices of Tibetan Mastiffs

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Pekingese puppy or the Tibetan Mastiff 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 Pekingese versus Adopting the Tibetan Mastiff

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Pekingeses and many Tibetan Mastiffs 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 Pekingese named Leo that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Pekingeses like Leo on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Pekingeses, Tibetan Mastiffs are also available for adoption. For example, Darwin & Raven is a Male Tibetan Mastiff that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Tibetan Mastiffs like Darwin & Raven that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

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

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

    Also, Pj is an adorable Male Tibetan Mastiff on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

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

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

    The Popularity of Pekingese versus Popularity of Tibetan Mastiff

    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 Pekingese and the Tibetan Mastiff over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Pekingese is more popular with dog owners than the Tibetan Mastiff. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Pekingese is 86 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Tibetan Mastiff is 135 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Pekingese

    Popularity of Pekingese

    Popularity of Tibetan Mastiff

    Popularity of Tibetan Mastiff

    Year Pekingese Popularity Rank Tibetan Mastiff Popularity Rank
    2013 77 132
    2014 82 135
    2015 80 133
    2016 93 135
    2017 88 153
    2018 92 131
    2019 83 128
    2020 95 140

    Tolerates Being Alone: Pekingese versus Tibetan Mastiff

    Pekingeses can be left alone only for a short time.

    Tibetan Mastiffs do not like to be left alone.

    Do Pekingeses shed more than Tibetan Mastiffs?

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

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

    Which one drools more, the Pekingese or the Tibetan Mastiff

    Pekingeses do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Tibetan Mastiffs do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Pekingese or the Tibetan Mastiff?

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

    Tibetan Mastiffs are very easy to groom.

    Does the Pekingese Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Tibetan Mastiff?

    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.

    Tibetan Mastiffs have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Do Pekingeses Bark and Howl? What about Tibetan Mastiffs?

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

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

    Can Pekingeses Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Tibetan Mastiffs Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Pekingeses can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Tibetan Mastiffs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Pekingese vs. Tibetan Mastiff

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

    Tibetan Mastiffs have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Pekingeses Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Tibetan Mastiffs Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

    Tibetan Mastiffs cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Pekingese or the Tibetan Mastiff?

    Pekingeses do not get along well with other dogs.

    Tibetan Mastiffs get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Pekingeses good family dogs? What about Tibetan Mastiffs?

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

    Tibetan Mastiffs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Pekingeses and Tibetan Mastiffs?

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

    Tibetan Mastiffs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the Pekingese Easier to Train than the Tibetan Mastiff?

    Pekingeses are fairly easy to train.

    Tibetan Mastiffs are not easy to train.

    Is the Pekingese Better for Apartment Owners than the Tibetan Mastiff?

    Pekingeses adapt very well to apartment living.

    Tibetan Mastiffs do not adapt well to apartment living.

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

    Pekingeses are very good for new dog owners.

    Tibetan Mastiffs are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    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 Tibetan Mastiff vs Dandie Dinmont Terrier.
  • Mal Shi (72 percent match with Pekingese). Here is our comparison of the Tibetan Mastiff vs Mal Shi.
  • Pomeranian (72 percent match with Pekingese). Here is our comparison of the Tibetan Mastiff vs Pomeranian.
  • Pomsky (72 percent match with Pekingese). Here is our comparison of the Tibetan Mastiff vs Pomsky.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Tibetan Mastiff

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

  • Bernedoodle (71 percent match with Tibetan Mastiff). Here is our comparison of the Pekingese vs Bernedoodle.
  • Greater Swiss Mountain Dog (70 percent match with Tibetan Mastiff). Here is our comparison of the Pekingese vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dog.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Pekingese Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Pekingese versus Sealyham Terrier     Pekingese versus Basset Hound     Pekingese versus French Bulldog     Pekingese versus Norwich Terrier     Pekingese versus Pembroke Welsh Corgi     Pekingese versus Black Mouth Cur     Pekingese versus Finnish Spitz     Pekingese versus Papillon     Pekingese versus Norwich Terrier     Pekingese versus Boxer     Pekingese versus Komondor     Pekingese versus Samoyed     Pekingese versus Black Russian Terrier     Pekingese versus Dachshund     Pekingese versus Swedish Vallhund     Pekingese versus Scottish Terrier     Pekingese versus Morkie     Pekingese versus Shih Tzu     Pekingese versus Labradoodle     Pekingese versus Standard Schnauzer     Pekingese versus Appenzeller Sennenhunde     Pekingese versus Boston Terrier     Pekingese versus Alaskan Klee Kai     Pekingese versus Italian Greyhound     Pekingese versus Alaskan Klee Kai     

    Tibetan Mastiff Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Tibetan Mastiff versus Briard     Tibetan Mastiff versus Saint Bernard     Tibetan Mastiff versus Cocker Spaniel     Tibetan Mastiff versus Shiloh Shepherd     Tibetan Mastiff versus Maltese     Tibetan Mastiff versus Catahoula Leopard Dog     Tibetan Mastiff versus Norwich Terrier     Tibetan Mastiff versus Greyhound     Tibetan Mastiff versus Bulldog     Tibetan Mastiff versus Norfolk Terrier     Tibetan Mastiff versus Spinone Italiano     Tibetan Mastiff versus Great Dane     Tibetan Mastiff versus Komondor     Tibetan Mastiff versus Standard Schnauzer     Tibetan Mastiff versus Irish Setter     Tibetan Mastiff versus Mal Shi     Tibetan Mastiff versus Cavachon     Tibetan Mastiff versus Schnoodle     Tibetan Mastiff versus Affenpinscher     Tibetan Mastiff versus Belgian Sheepdog     Tibetan Mastiff versus Gordon Setter     Tibetan Mastiff versus Dogo Argentino     Tibetan Mastiff versus Saluki     Tibetan Mastiff versus Xoloitzcuintli     Tibetan Mastiff versus Catahoula Bulldog     

    Conclusion: Pekingese versus Tibetan Mastiff. 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 Pekingese and the Tibetan Mastiff better suits you and your family.