Why the Great Dane is Better than the Chinook as a Pet

Last Updated: Jun 17, 2022

Quick Links: Table of Contents

Great Dane Versus Chinook: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Great Dane 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 Great Dane 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 Great Dane 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 Great Dane or the Chinook.

Great Dane versus Chinook

Great Dane versus Chinook: Overview

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

Furthermore, both the Great Dane and the Chinook are Working Dogs. This means both the Great Dane and the Chinook 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.

Great Dane versus Chinook: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Great Dane 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 Great Dane and the Chinook

FactorGreat DaneChinook
Adapts Well To Apartment Living1/54/5
Good For Novice Owners1/51/5
Tolerates Being Alone1/51/5
Weight100 to 200 pounds55 to 70 pounds
Tolerates Cold Weather2/55/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight4/53/5
Does NOT chew on things4/53/5
Height26 to 34 inches tall at the shoulder21 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder
Tolerates Hot Weather3/54/5
Intelligence3/55/5
Low Prey Drive3/54/5
Tendency NOT to Wander3/54/5
Does NOT Drool2/55/5
General Health4/54/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl2/54/5
Easygoing1/51/5
Affectionate With Family5/55/5
Kid-Friendly5/55/5
Dog Friendly5/55/5
Friendly Toward Strangers5/54/5
Does NOT Shed1/51/5
Easy To Groom5/52/5
Easy To Train5/54/5
NOT Rambunctious1/53/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor1/53/5
Minimal Exercise Needs1/53/5
Potential For Playfulness5/54/5
Life Span7 to 10 years12 to 15 years
Average Lifespan8.5 years13.5 years
Average Price$1560No Data
Price Range$1000 – $2000No Data
Temperament Score81.5 percent77.8 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Clear By Parentage
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds15176
    *Data from AKC.org (The American Kennel Club),dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (The American Temperament Test Society)

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Great Dane 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 Great Dane is 73 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 Great Dane is a better pet than the Chinook.

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

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

    Great Dane versus Chinook

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Great Dane and the Chinook

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

  • Great Danes do not adapt well to apartment living. However, Chinooks adapt well to apartment living.
  • Great Danes cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold. However, Chinooks can tolerate cold weather.
  • Great Danes have a very high tendency to drool. However, Chinooks do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Great Danes are very easy to groom. However, Chinooks require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • The Similarities Between the Great Dane and the Chinook

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

  • Both the Great Dane and the Chinook are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Chinook do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Chinook are not prone to gaining weight easily.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Chinook are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Chinook are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Great Dane 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 Great Dane and the Chinook are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Chinook get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Chinook get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Chinook are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Chinook shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Chinook are very easy to train.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Chinook are very playful.
  • Size Comparison of the Great Dane versus Chinook

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

    The Great Dane weighs 100 to 200 pounds when fully grown. The Great Dane is 26 to 34 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 Great Dane versus Size of Chinook

    Lifespan of Great Dane versus Chinook

    The lifespan of the Great Dane is between 7 to 10 years. The average lifespan of the Great Dane is 8.5 years.

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

    The Chinook live longer than the Great Dane.

    Great Dane versus Chinook

    Temperament of the Great Dane Versus the Chinook

    The Great Dane has a better temperament than the Chinook.

    This is because the temperament score for the Great Dane is 81.5 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 81.5 percent, the Great Dane 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 Great Dane and the Chinook by measuring the temperaments of 314 Great Danes and 9 Chinooks.

    Great Dane versus Chinook

    The Popularity of Great Dane 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 Great Dane and the Chinook over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Great Dane is more popular with dog owners than the Chinook. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Great Dane is 15 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Chinook is 176 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Great Dane

    Popularity of Great Dane

    Popularity of Chinook

    Popularity of Chinook

    Year Great Dane Popularity Rank Chinook Popularity Rank
    2013 16 156
    2014 15 171
    2015 15 177
    2016 14 175
    2017 14 179
    2018 16 190
    2019 17 184
    2020 15 186
    2021 17 172

    Health Problems of Great Dane 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 Great Dane 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 Great Dane is prone to more genetic health problems than the Chinook.

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

    4 health tests are recommended for Great Dane while 3 tests are recommended for the Chinook.

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

    Great Dane Health Problems

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

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia

  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Great Danes 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 Great Danes 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 Great Dane Breed is Shoulder problems.

    This is because the Great Dane ranks 4 out of 22 dog breeds for Shoulder problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 183 Great Danes, 10 of them had Shoulder problems.

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

  • Shoulder problems: Rank 4 out of 22 Dog Breeds
  • Advanced Cardiac problems: Rank 33 out of 71 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 35 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 40 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 42 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 59 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 75 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 92 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 130 out of 145 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 Great Dane and in Chinook and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Great Dane and the Chinook:

    Disease Great Dane Rank Chinook Rank
    Shoulder problems 4 out of 22 dog breeds Not Common
    Advanced Cardiac problems 33 out of 71 dog breeds Not Common
    Dentition Database problems 35 out of 49 dog breeds Not Common
    Congenital Cardiac problems 40 out of 159 dog breeds Not Common
    Thyroid problems 42 out of 115 dog breeds Not Common
    Eyes problems 59 out of 182 dog breeds 82 out of 182 dog breeds
    Elbow problems 75 out of 144 dog breeds Not Common
    Hips problems 92 out of 198 dog breeds 63 out of 198 dog breeds
    Patella problems 130 out of 145 dog breeds 5 out of 145 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: Great Dane versus Chinook

    Great Danes do not like to be left alone.

    Chinooks do not like to be left alone.

    Do Great Danes shed more than Chinooks?

    Great Danes 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 Great Dane or the Chinook?

    Great Danes are 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 Great Dane or the Chinook?

    Great Danes get along very well with other dogs.

    Chinooks get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Great Danes good family dogs? What about Chinooks?

    Great Danes are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

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

    Is the Great Dane Easier to Train than the Chinook?

    Great Danes are very easy to train.

    Chinooks are very easy to train.

    Which one drools more, the Great Dane or the Chinook

    Great Danes have a very high tendency to drool.

    Chinooks do have a very low tendency to drool.

    How Kid-friendly are Great Danes and Chinooks?

    Great Danes get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

    Does the Great Dane Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Chinook?

    Great Danes have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and 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 Great Danes Bark and Howl? What about Chinooks?

    Great Danes 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 Great Danes Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Chinooks Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Great Danes cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Chinooks can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Great Dane vs. Chinook

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

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

    Can Great Danes Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Chinooks Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Great Danes can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Chinooks can tolerate hot weather.

    Is the Great Dane Better for Apartment Owners than the Chinook?

    Great Danes do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Chinooks adapt very well to apartment living.

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

    Great Danes are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Chinooks are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Great Dane Versus Other Dog Breeds

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

    Great Dane versus Kuvasz     Great Dane versus Pembroke Welsh Corgi     Great Dane versus Braque du Bourbonnais     Great Dane versus Borzoi     Great Dane versus Staffordshire Bull Terrier     Great Dane versus Goldendoodle     Great Dane versus Goldador     Great Dane versus Caucasian Shepherd Dog     Great Dane versus Dalmatian     Great Dane versus American Hairless Terrier     Great Dane versus Fila Brasileiro     Great Dane versus Bullmastiff     Great Dane versus Golden Retriever     Great Dane versus Rottweiler     Great Dane versus Hovawart     Great Dane versus Bulldog     Great Dane versus Valley Bulldog     Great Dane versus Toy Fox Terrier     Great Dane versus Ibizan Hound     

    Conclusion: Great Dane 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 Great Dane and the Chinook better suits you and your family.