Differences and Similarities between the Boxer and the Chinese Crested.

Last Updated: Jun 16, 2022

Quick Links: Table of Contents

Boxer Versus Chinese Crested: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Boxer and the Chinese Crested 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 Boxer and for the Chinese Crested. 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 Boxer and the Chinese Crested.

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

Boxer versus Chinese Crested

Boxer versus Chinese Crested: Overview

A very important difference between the Boxer and the Chinese Crested is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Boxer is a medium-sized dog while the Chinese Crested is a small-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Boxer 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.

On the other hand, the Chinese Crested 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.

Boxer versus Chinese Crested: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Boxer to the Chinese Crested 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 Boxer and the Chinese Crested

FactorBoxerChinese Crested
Tolerates Being Alone1/51/5
Tolerates Hot Weather1/53/5
Life Span10 to 12 years10 to 14 years
Tolerates Cold Weather2/51/5
Does NOT Drool4/55/5
General Health2/55/5
Does NOT chew on things4/52/5
Height21 to 25 inches at the shoulder11 to 13 inches tall at the shoulder
Good For Novice Owners3/53/5
Dog Friendly3/54/5
Low Prey Drive3/53/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl3/53/5
Tendency NOT to Wander3/55/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living4/55/5
Easygoing2/51/5
Kid-Friendly4/55/5
Friendly Toward Strangers4/54/5
Does NOT Shed2/54/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight2/54/5
Easy To Train4/54/5
Intelligence4/53/5
Affectionate With Family5/54/5
Easy To Groom5/52/5
NOT Rambunctious1/54/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor1/55/5
Minimal Exercise Needs1/54/5
Potential For Playfulness5/53/5
Weight60 to 70 pounds5 to 12 pounds
Average Lifespan11.0 years12.0 years
Average Price$1530$1420
Price Range$1000 – $1800$800 – $1800
Temperament Score83.9 percent76.5 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health TestsNo Data
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Congenital Deafness
  • Eye Examination- Yearly Exams Recommended
  • Hip Dysplasia/Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • prcd-PRA DNA Test
  • Primary Lens Luxation
  • RCD3-PRA DNA Test
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds1175
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds)4861
    *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 Boxer 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 Chinese Crested. 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 Boxer is 73 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Chinese Crested is 87 out of 125.

    Despite the higher Better-Pet score of the Chinese Crested, we still believe that the Boxer is a better pet than the Chinese Crested.

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

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

    Boxer versus Chinese Crested

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Boxer and the Chinese Crested

    Below is a list of where the Boxer and the Chinese Crested are most different:

  • Boxers have the tendency to develop certain health problems. However, Chinese Cresteds are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Boxers are very easy to groom. However, Chinese Cresteds require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Boxers have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy. However, Chinese Cresteds have low energy levels. They do not require a lot exercise time.
  • Boxers do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful. However, Chinese Cresteds do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful.
  • Boxers require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise. However, Chinese Cresteds have low exercise needs.
  • The Similarities Between the Boxer and the Chinese Crested

    The Boxer and the Chinese Crested are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Boxer and the Chinese Crested are most similar:

  • Both the Boxer and the Chinese Crested do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Boxer and the Chinese Crested cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
  • Both the Boxer and the Chinese Crested do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Boxer and the Chinese Crested adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Boxer and the Chinese Crested 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 Boxer and the Chinese Crested get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Boxer and the Chinese Crested are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Boxer and the Chinese Crested are very easy to train.
  • Both the Boxer and the Chinese Crested are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Boxer and the Chinese Crested are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Size Comparison of the Boxer versus Chinese Crested

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Boxer and the Chinese Crested.

    The Boxer weighs 60 to 70 pounds when fully grown. The Boxer is 21 to 25 inches at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, the Chinese Crested weighs 5 to 12 pounds when fully grown. The Chinese Crested is 11 to 13 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Size of Boxer versus Size of Chinese Crested

    Appearance (Colors) of the Boxer and the Chinese Crested

    Boxer Colors

    The Boxer comes in the following beautiful primary colors:

    • White / Cream
    • Brindle
    • Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
    • Black
    • Bicolor
    • Brown / Chocolate
    • Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)
    • Red / Chestnut / Orange

    The Boxer comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:

    • Black
    • White / Cream
    • Brown / Chocolate
    • Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
    • Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)
    • Brindle

    Chinese Crested Colors

    The Chinese Crested comes in the following beautiful primary colors:

    • White / Cream
    • Gray / Blue / Silver
    • Brown / Chocolate
    • Golden
    • Apricot / Beige
    • Black
    • Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)

    The Chinese Crested comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:

    • White / Cream
    • Brown / Chocolate
    • Gray / Blue / Silver
    • Black

    Lifespan of Boxer versus Chinese Crested

    The lifespan of the Boxer is between 10 to 12 years. The average lifespan of the Boxer is 11.0 years.

    The lifespan of the Chinese Crested is between 10 to 14 years. The average lifespan of the Chinese Crested is 12.0 years.

    The Chinese Crested live longer than the Boxer.

    Boxer versus Chinese Crested

    Temperament of the Boxer Versus the Chinese Crested

    The Boxer has a better temperament than the Chinese Crested.

    This is because the temperament score for the Boxer is 83.9 percent while the temperament score for the Chinese Crested is 76.5 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 83.9 percent, the Boxer has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 76.5 percent, the Chinese Crested has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Boxer and the Chinese Crested by measuring the temperaments of 472 Boxers and 34 Chinese Cresteds.

    Price of Boxer versus Price of Chinese Crested

    The average price of the Boxer puppy is $1530. The price of the Boxer typically ranges from $1000 – $1800. However, the price of a Boxer can be as low as $100 and as high as $5000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 1292 Boxer puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Chinese Crested puppy is $1420. The price of the Chinese Crested typically ranges from $800 – $1800. However, the price of the Chinese Crested can be as low as $500 and as high as $5750. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 233 Chinese Crested puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Boxer is more expensive than the Chinese Crested.

    Boxer Chinese Crested
    Average Price $1530 $1420
    Price Range $1000 to $1800 $800 to $1800

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Boxer and Chinese Crested. For different price points, the charts show how many Boxer puppies or how many Chinese Crested puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

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

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Chinese Cresteds

    A breakdown of the prices of Chinese Cresteds

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Boxer puppy or the Chinese Crested 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.

    Boxer versus Chinese Crested

    Adopting the Boxer versus Adopting the Chinese Crested

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Boxers and many Chinese Cresteds 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 Boxer named Murphy Ii that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Boxers like Murphy Ii on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Boxers, Chinese Cresteds are also available for adoption. For example, Roscoepermanent Foster is a Male Chinese Crested that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Chinese Cresteds like Roscoepermanent Foster that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Boxer and the Chinese Crested can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

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

    Also, Joe Dirt is an adorable Male Chinese Crested on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    Boxers and Chinese Cresteds are always available for adoption. Images and image labels from petfinder.com

    You can find more Boxers and Chinese Cresteds that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Boxer versus the Intelligence of the Chinese Crested

    Boxer Chinese Crested
    Intelligence Rank 48 out of 130 dog breeds 61 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After 40 To 80 Repetitions!

    Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.

    According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:

  • Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence a dog has because of what the dog was bred for. This type of intelligence comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that were bred for guarding will have high `guarding` instinctive intelligence, while dog breeds that were bred for hunting will what high `hunting` instinctive intelligence. However, you cannot compare the intelligence of dog breeds based on instinctive intelligence because such a comparison will not make sense.
  • Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. It includes learning and benefiting from experience with his environment, solving new problems, and so forth. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. Thus, two dogs can have remarkably different levels of adaptive intelligence even if they are of the same breed.
  • Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Importantly, different dog breeds have different learning abilities. Also, science has shown that some dog breeds can learn faster than some other breeds. This means certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. Dogs with high Working/Obedience Intelligence are smart and easy to train.

  • Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.

    This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.

    To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.

    Prof. Coren found that the Boxer has an obedience intelligence rank of 48 out of 130 dog breeds. The Boxer belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Boxers tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.

    The Chinese Crested has an obedience intelligence rank of 61 out of 130 dog breeds. The Chinese Crested belongs to the `Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Chinese Cresteds tend to learn new commands after 40 to 80 repetitions!.

    The Boxer is more intelligent than the Chinese Crested.

    However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.

    The Popularity of Boxer versus Popularity of Chinese Crested

    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 Boxer and the Chinese Crested over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Boxer is more popular with dog owners than the Chinese Crested. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Boxer is 11 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Chinese Crested is 75 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Boxer

    Popularity of Boxer

    Popularity of Chinese Crested

    Popularity of Chinese Crested

    Year Boxer Popularity Rank Chinese Crested Popularity Rank
    2013 7 68
    2014 8 65
    2015 10 75
    2016 10 77
    2017 11 79
    2018 11 79
    2019 14 80
    2020 14 79
    2021 14 77

    Tolerates Being Alone: Boxer versus Chinese Crested

    Boxers do not like to be left alone.

    Chinese Cresteds do not like to be left alone.

    Do Boxers shed more than Chinese Cresteds?

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

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

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Boxer or the Chinese Crested?

    Boxers are very easy to groom.

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

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Boxer or the Chinese Crested?

    Boxers get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Chinese Cresteds get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Boxers good family dogs? What about Chinese Cresteds?

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

    Chinese Cresteds are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Is the Boxer Easier to Train than the Chinese Crested?

    Boxers are very easy to train.

    Chinese Cresteds are very easy to train.

    Which one drools more, the Boxer or the Chinese Crested

    Boxers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Chinese Cresteds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    How Kid-friendly are Boxers and Chinese Cresteds?

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

    Chinese Cresteds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Does the Boxer Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Chinese Crested?

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

    Chinese Cresteds have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Do Boxers Bark and Howl? What about Chinese Cresteds?

    Boxers bark and howl, but not very much.

    Chinese Cresteds bark and howl, but not very much.

    Can Boxers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Chinese Cresteds Tolerate Cold Weather?

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

    Chinese Cresteds cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Wanderlust Potential: Boxer vs. Chinese Crested

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

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

    Can Boxers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Chinese Cresteds Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

    Chinese Cresteds can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Is the Boxer Better for Apartment Owners than the Chinese Crested?

    Boxers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Chinese Cresteds adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Boxer or the Chinese Crested?

    Boxers are OK for new dog owners.

    Chinese Cresteds are OK for new dog owners.

    Boxer Versus Other Dog Breeds

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

    Boxer versus Cairn Terrier     Boxer versus Saint Bernard     Boxer versus Azawakh     Boxer versus Welsh Terrier     Boxer versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier     Boxer versus Tibetan Spaniel     Boxer versus Curly-Coated Retriever     Boxer versus Silky Terrier     Boxer versus Bernese Mountain Dog     Boxer versus Cockapoo     Boxer versus Neapolitan Mastiff     Boxer versus Mastiff     Boxer versus Puggle     Boxer versus Chinese Crested     Boxer versus Mal Shi     Boxer versus Icelandic Sheepdog     

    Conclusion: Boxer versus Chinese Crested. 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 Boxer and the Chinese Crested better suits you and your family.