Is the Plott Better than the Pyrenean Shepherd as a Pet? Answer…

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Plott Versus Pyrenean Shepherd: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Plott and the Pyrenean Shepherd? 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 Plott and the Pyrenean Shepherd 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 Plott and the Pyrenean Shepherd.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Plott and the Pyrenean Shepherd 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 Plott and for the Pyrenean Shepherd. 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 Plott and the Pyrenean Shepherd.

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

Plott versus Pyrenean Shepherd: Overview

A very important difference between the Plott and the Pyrenean Shepherd is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Plott is a medium-sized dog while the Pyrenean Shepherd is a small-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Plott 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 Pyrenean Shepherd belongs to the Herding Dogs group. Herding Dogs were bred for moving livestock, including sheep, cattle, and even reindeer. Herding dogs work closely with their human shepherds, and their natural intelligence and responsiveness make them highly trainable. They have high levels of energy, which needs to be channeled properly to prevent destructive behavior. Herding breeds are protective of their people and property and make excellent watchdogs. Their intelligence, agility, and activity level make them well suited to dog sports.

Plott versus Pyrenean Shepherd: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Plott to the Pyrenean Shepherd 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 Plott and the Pyrenean Shepherd

Factor Plott Pyrenean Shepherd
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 5/5
Good For Novice Owners 1/5 2/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 5/5 1/5
Life Span 12 to 14 years 15 to 17 years
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 1/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 2/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 4/5 3/5
Height 20 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder 15 to 21 inches tall at the shoulder
Kid-Friendly 3/5 5/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 2/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 3/5
Intelligence 3/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
Potential For Playfulness 3/5 5/5
Easygoing 2/5 2/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 4/5 5/5
Easy To Train 4/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 2/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 2/5 1/5
Weight 40 to 75 pounds 25 to 30 pounds
Dog Friendly 5/5 2/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 3/5
General Health 5/5 2/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 1/5 4/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 1/5
Average Lifespan 13.0 years 16.0 years
Average Price $600 No Data
Price Range $480 – $700 No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests No Data
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 161 178

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Plott 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 Pyrenean Shepherd. 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 Plott is 74 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Pyrenean Shepherd is 72 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Plott is a better pet than the Pyrenean Shepherd. So, you should get the Plott!

    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 Plott and the Pyrenean Shepherd so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Plott and the Pyrenean Shepherd

    Below is a list of where the Plott and the Pyrenean Shepherd are most different:

  • Plotts do not adapt well to apartment living. However, Pyrenean Shepherds adapt well to apartment living.
  • Plotts are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl. However, Pyrenean Shepherds are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Plotts get along well with other dogs. However, Pyrenean Shepherds do not get along well with other dogs.
  • Plotts are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds However, Pyrenean Shepherds have the tendency to develop certain health problems.
  • Plotts have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects. However, Pyrenean Shepherds do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
  • The Similarities Between the Plott and the Pyrenean Shepherd

    The Plott and the Pyrenean Shepherd are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Plott and the Pyrenean Shepherd are most similar:

  • Both the Plott and the Pyrenean Shepherd are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Both the Plott and the Pyrenean Shepherd do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Plott and the Pyrenean Shepherd do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Plott and the Pyrenean Shepherd do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Plott and the Pyrenean Shepherd are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
  • Both the Plott and the Pyrenean Shepherd can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Plott and the Pyrenean Shepherd are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Plott and the Pyrenean Shepherd have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Plott and the Pyrenean Shepherd do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • Both the Plott and the Pyrenean Shepherd have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Plott and the Pyrenean Shepherd require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Plott versus Pyrenean Shepherd

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Plott and the Pyrenean Shepherd.

    Plotts weigh 40 to 75 pounds when fully grown. Plotts are 20 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Pyrenean Shepherds weigh 25 to 30 pounds when fully grown. Pyrenean Shepherds are 15 to 21 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Plott versus Pyrenean Shepherd

    The lifespan of Plotts is between 12 to 14 years. The average lifespan of Plotts is 13.0 years.

    The lifespan of Pyrenean Shepherds is between 15 to 17 years. The average lifespan of Pyrenean Shepherds is 16.0 years.

    Pyrenean Shepherds live longer than Plotts.

    Adopting the Plott versus Adopting the Pyrenean Shepherd

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Plotts and many Pyrenean Shepherds 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 Plott named Diesel that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Plotts like Diesel on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Plotts, Pyrenean Shepherds are also available for adoption. For example, Boone is a Male Pyrenean Shepherd that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Pyrenean Shepherds like Boone that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Plott and the Pyrenean Shepherd can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

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

    You can find more Plotts and Pyrenean Shepherds that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Popularity of Plott versus Popularity of Pyrenean Shepherd

    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 Plott and the Pyrenean Shepherd over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Plott is more popular with dog owners than the Pyrenean Shepherd. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Plott is 161 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Pyrenean Shepherd is 178 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Plott

    Popularity of Plott

    Popularity of Pyrenean Shepherd

    Popularity of Pyrenean Shepherd

    Year Plott Popularity Rank Pyrenean Shepherd Popularity Rank
    2013 149 169
    2014 154 178
    2015 149 176
    2016 158 176
    2017 166 180
    2018 171 181
    2019 177 182
    2020 167 182

    Tolerates Being Alone: Plott versus Pyrenean Shepherd

    Plotts do not like to be left alone.

    Pyrenean Shepherds do not like to be left alone.

    Do Plotts shed more than Pyrenean Shepherds?

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

    Pyrenean Shepherds shed moderately.

    Which one drools more, the Plott or the Pyrenean Shepherd

    Plotts do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Pyrenean Shepherds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Plott or the Pyrenean Shepherd?

    Plotts are very easy to groom.

    Pyrenean Shepherds are moderately easy to groom.

    Does the Plott Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Pyrenean Shepherd?

    Plotts 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.

    Pyrenean Shepherds 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 Plotts Bark and Howl? What about Pyrenean Shepherds?

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

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

    Can Plotts Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Pyrenean Shepherds Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Plotts cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Pyrenean Shepherds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Plott vs. Pyrenean Shepherd

    Plotts have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

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

    Can Plotts Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Pyrenean Shepherds Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Plotts can tolerate hot weather.

    Pyrenean Shepherds can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Plott or the Pyrenean Shepherd?

    Plotts get along very well with other dogs.

    Pyrenean Shepherds do not get along well with other dogs.

    Are Plotts good family dogs? What about Pyrenean Shepherds?

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

    Pyrenean Shepherds are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Plotts and Pyrenean Shepherds?

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

    Pyrenean Shepherds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the Plott Easier to Train than the Pyrenean Shepherd?

    Plotts are very easy to train.

    Pyrenean Shepherds are not easy to train.

    Is the Plott Better for Apartment Owners than the Pyrenean Shepherd?

    Plotts do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Pyrenean Shepherds adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Plott or the Pyrenean Shepherd?

    Plotts are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Pyrenean Shepherds are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Plott

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

  • Patterdale Terrier (77 percent match with Plott). Here is our comparison of the Pyrenean Shepherd vs Patterdale Terrier.
  • Rhodesian Ridgeback (77 percent match with Plott). Here is our comparison of the Pyrenean Shepherd vs Rhodesian Ridgeback.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Pyrenean Shepherd

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

  • Cairn Terrier (73 percent match with Pyrenean Shepherd). Here is our comparison of the Plott vs Cairn Terrier.
  • Lakeland Terrier (73 percent match with Pyrenean Shepherd). Here is our comparison of the Plott vs Lakeland Terrier.
  • Pomsky (73 percent match with Pyrenean Shepherd). Here is our comparison of the Plott vs Pomsky.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Plott Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Plott versus Entlebucher Mountain Dog     Plott versus German Pinscher     Plott versus Pyrenean Mastiff     Plott versus Shihpoo     Plott versus French Bulldog     Plott versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier     Plott versus French Spaniel     Plott versus Fila Brasileiro     Plott versus Chow Chow     Plott versus Biewer Terrier     Plott versus Biewer Terrier     Plott versus English Setter     Plott versus Maremma Sheepdog     Plott versus Icelandic Sheepdog     Plott versus Curly-Coated Retriever     Plott versus Sloughi     Plott versus Sloughi     Plott versus Shichon     Plott versus Norfolk Terrier     Plott versus English Setter     Plott versus Italian Greyhound     Plott versus Dogo Argentino     Plott versus Pyrenean Shepherd     Plott versus Borzoi     Plott versus Australian Shepherd     

    Pyrenean Shepherd Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Pyrenean Shepherd versus Brittany     Pyrenean Shepherd versus French Spaniel     Pyrenean Shepherd versus Harrier     Pyrenean Shepherd versus Cesky Terrier     Pyrenean Shepherd versus Australian Cattle Dog     Pyrenean Shepherd versus Norwich Terrier     Pyrenean Shepherd versus Dogo Argentino     Pyrenean Shepherd versus Bernese Mountain Dog     Pyrenean Shepherd versus Belgian Sheepdog     Pyrenean Shepherd versus Belgian Tervuren     Pyrenean Shepherd versus Australian Cattle Dog     Pyrenean Shepherd versus Bullmastiff     Pyrenean Shepherd versus Kai Ken     Pyrenean Shepherd versus Frenchton     Pyrenean Shepherd versus Siberian Husky     Pyrenean Shepherd versus Shiloh Shepherd     Pyrenean Shepherd versus Carolina Dog     Pyrenean Shepherd versus Cocker Spaniel     Pyrenean Shepherd versus Affenpinscher     Pyrenean Shepherd versus Irish Terrier     Pyrenean Shepherd versus Komondor     Pyrenean Shepherd versus Siberian Husky     Pyrenean Shepherd versus Sussex Spaniel     Pyrenean Shepherd versus Patterdale Terrier     Pyrenean Shepherd versus Fila Brasileiro     

    Conclusion: Plott versus Pyrenean Shepherd. 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 Plott and the Pyrenean Shepherd better suits you and your family.