Pomeranian versus Chinook. Final Verdict on Which one is a Better Pet.

Last Updated: Apr 12, 2022

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Pomeranian Versus Chinook: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Pomeranian and the Chinook 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 Pomeranian and for the Chinook. 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 Pomeranian and the Chinook.

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

Pomeranian versus Chinook

Pomeranian versus Chinook: Overview

A very important difference between the Pomeranian and the Chinook is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Pomeranian is a tiny-sized dog while the Chinook is a large-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Pomeranian 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 Chinook 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.

Pomeranian versus Chinook: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Pomeranian to the Chinook 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 Pomeranian and the Chinook

FactorPomeranianChinook
Tolerates Being Alone1/51/5
Does NOT Drool5/55/5
Tendency NOT to Wander5/54/5
Life Span12 to 16 years12 to 15 years
Tolerates Hot Weather2/54/5
Kid-Friendly2/55/5
Dog Friendly2/55/5
Easy To Groom2/52/5
Does NOT chew on things4/53/5
Low Prey Drive4/54/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor4/53/5
Minimal Exercise Needs4/53/5
Friendly Toward Strangers3/54/5
General Health3/54/5
NOT Rambunctious3/53/5
Potential For Playfulness3/54/5
Weight3 to 7 pounds55 to 70 pounds
Adapts Well To Apartment Living4/54/5
Good For Novice Owners4/51/5
Easygoing2/51/5
Tolerates Cold Weather4/55/5
Does NOT Shed2/51/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight2/53/5
Easy To Train4/54/5
Intelligence4/55/5
Affectionate With Family5/55/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl1/54/5
Height7 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder21 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder
Average Lifespan14.0 years13.5 years
Average Price$2150No Data
Price Range$1500 – $2500No Data
Temperament Score77.8 percent77.8 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Clear By Parentage
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds22176

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Pomeranian 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 Chinook. 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 Pomeranian is 79 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Chinook is 87 out of 125.

    Despite the higher Better-Pet score of the Chinook, we still believe that the Pomeranian is a better pet than the Chinook.

    This is because Pomeranians are much cuter but you cannot put a score on cuteness. If you could put a score on cuteness, then the Pomeranian will come out on top.

    Also, we are biased in favor of the Pomeranian :-). We are for the Pomeranian. So get a Pomeranian!

    Pomeranian versus Chinook

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Pomeranian and the Chinook

    Below is a list of where the Pomeranian and the Chinook are most different:

  • Pomeranians do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly. However, Chinooks get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Pomeranians do not get along well with other dogs. However, Chinooks get along well with other dogs.
  • Pomeranians are good for new dog owners. However, Chinooks are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Pomeranians are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl. However, Chinooks are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • The Similarities Between the Pomeranian and the Chinook

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

  • Both the Pomeranian and the Chinook do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Chinook do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Chinook do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Chinook require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Chinook are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Chinook have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Chinook do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Chinook have low exercise needs.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Chinook adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Chinook 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 Pomeranian and the Chinook can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Chinook shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Chinook gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Chinook are very easy to train.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Chinook are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Chinook are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Size Comparison of the Pomeranian versus Chinook

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Pomeranian and the Chinook.

    The Pomeranian weighs 3 to 7 pounds when fully grown. The Pomeranian is 7 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, the Chinook weighs 55 to 70 pounds when fully grown. The Chinook is 21 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Size of Pomeranian versus Size of Chinook

    Lifespan of Pomeranian versus Chinook

    The lifespan of the Pomeranian is between 12 to 16 years. The average lifespan of the Pomeranian is 14.0 years.

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

    The Pomeranian live longer than the Chinook.

    Pomeranian versus Chinook

    Temperament of the Chinook Versus the Pomeranian

    The Pomeranian has the same temperament score as the Chinook.

    This is because the temperament score for the Pomeranian is 77.8 percent while the temperament score for the Chinook is 77.8 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 77.8 percent, the Pomeranian has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 77.8 percent, the Chinook has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Pomeranian and the Chinook by measuring the temperaments of 36 Pomeranians and 9 Chinooks.

    Pomeranian versus Chinook

    The Popularity of Pomeranian versus Popularity of Chinook

    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 Pomeranian and the Chinook over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Pomeranian is more popular with dog owners than the Chinook. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Pomeranian is 22 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Chinook is 176 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Pomeranian

    Popularity of Pomeranian

    Popularity of Chinook

    Popularity of Chinook

    Year Pomeranian Popularity Rank Chinook Popularity Rank
    2013 19 156
    2014 20 171
    2015 21 177
    2016 22 175
    2017 22 179
    2018 23 190
    2019 24 184
    2020 23 186
    2021 24 172

    Health Problems of Pomeranian versus Health Problems of Chinook

    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 Pomeranian and the Chinook 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 Pomeranian is prone to more genetic health problems than the Chinook.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Pomeranian than for the Chinook.

    6 health tests are recommended for Pomeranian while 3 tests are recommended for the Chinook.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Pomeranians and in Chinooks.

    Pomeranian Health Problems

    Pomeranians are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Pomeranian 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 Pomeranian puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Pomeranian 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 Pomeranians for:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation

  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Pomeranians here.

    Chinook Health Problems

    Chinooks are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Chinook 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 Chinook puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Chinook 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 Chinooks for:

  • Clear By Parentage
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia

  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Chinooks here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Pomeranians and Chinooks

    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 Pomeranian Breed is Patella problems.

    This is because the Pomeranian ranks 1 out of 145 dog breeds for Patella problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 1542 Pomeranians, 456 of them had Patella problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Pomeranians, and how common these diseases are in Pomeranians relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Patella problems: Rank 1 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 49 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 75 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 89 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 171 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • 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 Chinook Breed is Patella problems.

    This is because the Chinook ranks 5 out of 145 dog breeds for Patella problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 52 Chinooks, 5 of them had Patella problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Chinooks, and how common these diseases are in Chinooks relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Patella problems: Rank 5 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 63 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 82 out of 182 Dog Breeds

  • The table below lists the common health problems in Pomeranian and in Chinook and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Pomeranian and the Chinook:

    Disease Pomeranian Rank Chinook Rank
    Patella problems 1 out of 145 dog breeds 5 out of 145 dog breeds
    Congenital Cardiac problems 49 out of 159 dog breeds Not Common
    Hips problems 75 out of 198 dog breeds 63 out of 198 dog breeds
    Thyroid problems 89 out of 115 dog breeds Not Common
    Eyes problems 171 out of 182 dog breeds 82 out of 182 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: Pomeranian versus Chinook

    Pomeranians do not like to be left alone.

    Chinooks do not like to be left alone.

    Do Pomeranians shed more than Chinooks?

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

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

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Pomeranian or the Chinook?

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

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

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Pomeranian or the Chinook?

    Pomeranians do not get along well with other dogs.

    Chinooks get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Pomeranians good family dogs? What about Chinooks?

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

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

    Is the Pomeranian Easier to Train than the Chinook?

    Pomeranians are very easy to train.

    Chinooks are very easy to train.

    Which one drools more, the Pomeranian or the Chinook

    Pomeranians do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Chinooks do have a very low tendency to drool.

    How Kid-friendly are Pomeranians and Chinooks?

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

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

    Does the Pomeranian Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Chinook?

    Pomeranians have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Chinooks have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Do Pomeranians Bark and Howl? What about Chinooks?

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

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

    Can Pomeranians Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Chinooks Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Pomeranians can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Chinooks can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Pomeranian vs. Chinook

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

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

    Can Pomeranians Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Chinooks Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

    Chinooks can tolerate hot weather.

    Is the Pomeranian Better for Apartment Owners than the Chinook?

    Pomeranians adapt very well to apartment living.

    Chinooks adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Pomeranian or the Chinook?

    Pomeranians are very good for new dog owners.

    Chinooks are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Pomeranian Versus Other Dog Breeds

    You may also be interested in how the Pomeranian compares to other breeds aside from the Chinook. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Pomeranian to other breeds:

    Pomeranian versus English Cocker Spaniel     Pomeranian versus Kooikerhondje     Pomeranian versus Brittany     Pomeranian versus Shih Tzu     Pomeranian versus Welsh Terrier     Pomeranian versus Australian Cattle Dog     Pomeranian versus Swedish Vallhund     Pomeranian versus Mastiff     Pomeranian versus Keeshond     Pomeranian versus Staffordshire Bull Terrier     Pomeranian versus Finnish Lapphund     Pomeranian versus Norwegian Lundehund     Pomeranian versus Afghan Hound     Pomeranian versus Carolina Dog     Pomeranian versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier     

    Conclusion: Pomeranian versus Chinook. 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 Pomeranian and the Chinook better suits you and your family.