Last Updated: Jun 15, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Australian Shepherd Versus Akita Chow: Introduction
- Australian Shepherd versus Akita Chow: Overview
- Australian Shepherd versus Akita Chow: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Australian Shepherd and the Akita Chow
- The Similarities Between the Australian Shepherd and the Akita Chow
- Size Comparison of the Australian Shepherd versus Akita Chow
- Lifespan of Australian Shepherd versus Akita Chow
- Tolerates Being Alone: Australian Shepherd versus Akita Chow
- Do Australian Shepherds shed more than Akita Chows?
- Which is Easier to Groom, the Australian Shepherd or the Akita Chow?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Australian Shepherd or the Akita Chow?
- Are Australian Shepherds good family dogs? What about Akita Chows?
- Is the Australian Shepherd Easier to Train than the Akita Chow?
- Which one drools more, the Australian Shepherd or the Akita Chow
- How Kid-friendly are Australian Shepherds and Akita Chows?
- Does the Australian Shepherd Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Akita Chow?
- Do Australian Shepherds Bark and Howl? What about Akita Chows?
- Can Australian Shepherds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Akita Chows Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Wanderlust Potential: Australian Shepherd vs. Akita Chow
- Can Australian Shepherds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Akita Chows Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Australian Shepherd Versus Other Dog Breeds
- Conclusion: Australian Shepherd versus Akita Chow. Which One is a Better Pet?
Australian Shepherd Versus Akita Chow: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Australian Shepherd and the Akita Chow? 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 Australian Shepherd and the Akita Chow 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 Australian Shepherd and the Akita Chow.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Australian Shepherd and the Akita Chow 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 Australian Shepherd and for the Akita Chow. 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 Australian Shepherd and the Akita Chow.
Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Australian Shepherd or the Akita Chow.
Australian Shepherd versus Akita Chow: Overview
A very important difference between the Australian Shepherd and the Akita Chow is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Australian Shepherd is a medium-sized dog while the Akita Chow is a large-sized dog.
Furthermore, the Australian 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.
On the other hand, the Akita Chow belongs to the Mixed Breed Dogs group. Mixed Breed Dogs are not purebred dogs.
Australian Shepherd versus Akita Chow: Comparison Table
The table below compares the Australian Shepherd to the Akita Chow 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 Australian Shepherd and the Akita Chow
| Factor | Australian Shepherd | Akita Chow |
|---|---|---|
| Adapts Well To Apartment Living | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Does NOT Drool | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Easy To Groom | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| Life Span | 12 to 15 years | 10 to 12 years |
| Height | 18 to 23 inches tall at the shoulder | 23 to 25 inches |
| Good For Novice Owners | 2/5 | 1/5 |
| Tolerates Being Alone | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| General Health | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| Friendly Toward Strangers | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| Does NOT Shed | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| Tolerates Cold Weather | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Tolerates Hot Weather | 4/5 | 2/5 |
| Kid-Friendly | 4/5 | 1/5 |
| Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| Does NOT chew on things | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Low Prey Drive | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| Does NOT Bark or Howl | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Calmness/ Low Vigor | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| Weight | 40 to 65 pounds | 88 to 145 pounds |
| Easygoing | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Affectionate With Family | 5/5 | 1/5 |
| Dog Friendly | 5/5 | 1/5 |
| Easy To Train | 5/5 | 2/5 |
| Intelligence | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Tendency NOT to Wander | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| NOT Rambunctious | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Minimal Exercise Needs | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Potential For Playfulness | 5/5 | 2/5 |
| Average Lifespan | 13.5 years | 11.0 years |
| Average Price | $1180 | No Data |
| Price Range | $800 – $1500 | No Data |
| Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests |
|
No Data |
*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 Australian Shepherd 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 Akita Chow. 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 Australian Shepherd is 70 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Akita Chow is 55 out of 125.
Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Australian Shepherd is a better pet than the Akita Chow. So, you should get a Australian Shepherd!
The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Australian Shepherd and the Akita Chow
Below is a list of where the Australian Shepherd and the Akita Chow are most different:
The Similarities Between the Australian Shepherd and the Akita Chow
The Australian Shepherd and the Akita Chow are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Australian Shepherd and the Akita Chow are most similar:
Size Comparison of the Australian Shepherd versus Akita Chow
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Australian Shepherd and the Akita Chow.
The Australian Shepherd weighs 40 to 65 pounds when fully grown. The Australian Shepherd is 18 to 23 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.
On the other hand, the Akita Chow weighs 88 to 145 pounds when fully grown. The Akita Chow is 23 to 25 inches when fully grown.
Lifespan of Australian Shepherd versus Akita Chow
The lifespan of the Australian Shepherd is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of the Australian Shepherd is 13.5 years.
The lifespan of the Akita Chow is between 10 to 12 years . The average lifespan of the Akita Chow is 11.0 years.
The Australian Shepherd live longer than the Akita Chow.
Tolerates Being Alone: Australian Shepherd versus Akita Chow
Australian Shepherds do not like to be left alone.
Akita Chows do not like to be left alone.
Do Australian Shepherds shed more than Akita Chows?
Australian Shepherds shed moderately.
Akita Chows shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
Which is Easier to Groom, the Australian Shepherd or the Akita Chow?
Australian Shepherds require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.
Akita Chows require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.
Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Australian Shepherd or the Akita Chow?
Australian Shepherds get along very well with other dogs.
Akita Chows do not get along well with other dogs.
Are Australian Shepherds good family dogs? What about Akita Chows?
Australian Shepherds are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Akita Chows are not affectionate with family. They are not good family dogs.
Is the Australian Shepherd Easier to Train than the Akita Chow?
Australian Shepherds are very easy to train.
Akita Chows are not easy to train.
Which one drools more, the Australian Shepherd or the Akita Chow
Australian Shepherds do have a very low tendency to drool.
Akita Chows drool moderately.
How Kid-friendly are Australian Shepherds and Akita Chows?
Australian Shepherds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Akita Chows do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.
Does the Australian Shepherd Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Akita Chow?
Australian 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.
Akita Chows 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 Australian Shepherds Bark and Howl? What about Akita Chows?
Australian Shepherds are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
Akita Chows are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.
Can Australian Shepherds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Akita Chows Tolerate Cold Weather?
Australian Shepherds can very well tolerate cold weather.
Akita Chows can very well tolerate cold weather.
Wanderlust Potential: Australian Shepherd vs. Akita Chow
Australian Shepherds have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
Akita Chows have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.
Can Australian Shepherds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Akita Chows Tolerate Hot Weather?
Australian Shepherds can tolerate hot weather.
Akita Chows cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
Is the Australian Shepherd Better for Apartment Owners than the Akita Chow?
Australian Shepherds do not adapt well to apartment living.
Akita Chows do not adapt well to apartment living.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Australian Shepherd or the Akita Chow?
Australian Shepherds are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
Akita Chows are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
Australian Shepherd Versus Other Dog Breeds
You may also be interested in how the Australian Shepherd compares to other breeds aside from the Akita Chow. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Australian Shepherd to other breeds:
Australian Shepherd versus Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen Australian Shepherd versus Akita Chow Australian Shepherd versus Irish Setter Australian Shepherd versus Bergamasco Sheepdog Australian Shepherd versus Staffordshire Bull Terrier Australian Shepherd versus Tibetan Mastiff Australian Shepherd versus Boxerdoodle Australian Shepherd versus Australian Cattle Dog Australian Shepherd versus Catahoula Bulldog Australian Shepherd versus Bich Poo Australian Shepherd versus Standard Schnauzer Australian Shepherd versus Flat-Coated Retriever Australian Shepherd versus Finnish Spitz Australian Shepherd versus Airedale Terrier Australian Shepherd versus Coton de Tulear Australian Shepherd versus Golden Cocker Retriever Australian Shepherd versus Lakeland Terrier Australian Shepherd versus Jack Russell Terrier Australian Shepherd versus German Longhaired Pointer
Conclusion: Australian Shepherd versus Akita Chow. 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 Australian Shepherd and the Akita Chow better suits you and your family.