A Detailed Comparison of the Alaskan Klee Kai and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

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Alaskan Klee Kai Versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Alaskan Klee Kai and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier? 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 Alaskan Klee Kai and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier 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 Alaskan Klee Kai and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Alaskan Klee Kai and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier 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 Alaskan Klee Kai and for the Dandie Dinmont Terrier. 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 Alaskan Klee Kai and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Alaskan Klee Kai or the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

Alaskan Klee Kai versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier: Overview

A very important difference between the Alaskan Klee Kai and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Alaskan Klee Kai is a small-sized dog while the Dandie Dinmont Terrier is a tiny-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Alaskan Klee Kai 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 Dandie Dinmont Terrier belongs to the Terrier Dogs group. Terrier Dogs were originally bred to go underground to hunt rodents and other small wild animals (vermin). Terriers come in a wide range of sizes and shapes, but all terriers are energetic, highly intelligent, and territorial. Terries also have the tendency to escape. They require a securely fenced yard.

Alaskan Klee Kai versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Alaskan Klee Kai to the Dandie Dinmont Terrier 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 Alaskan Klee Kai and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier

Factor Alaskan Klee Kai Dandie Dinmont Terrier
Weight 10 to 15 pounds 18 to 24 pounds
Life Span 12 to 16 years 12 to 15 years
Height 13 to 17 inches 8 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 4/5
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 2/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 2/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 2/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 3/5
Does NOT Drool 4/5 5/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 4/5 2/5
Does NOT chew on things 4/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 4/5 3/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 3/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 3/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 4/5
Easygoing 2/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 4/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 2/5 3/5
Easy To Groom 4/5 2/5
General Health 4/5 3/5
Easy To Train 4/5 2/5
Intelligence 4/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 2/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 4/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 4/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 5/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 2/5
Average Lifespan 14.0 years 13.5 years
Average Price $2760 No Data
Price Range $2500 – $3200 No Data
Temperament Score 50.0 percent 71.4 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • FACTOR VII Deficiency DNA test
  • Patellar Luxation
  • PennGen
  • VetGen
    		•
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination
    		•

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Alaskan Klee Kai 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 Dandie Dinmont Terrier. 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 Alaskan Klee Kai is 75 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Dandie Dinmont Terrier is 80 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Dandie Dinmont Terrier is a better pet than the Alaskan Klee Kai. So, you should get the Dandie Dinmont Terrier!

    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 Alaskan Klee Kai and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Similarities Between the Alaskan Klee Kai and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    The Alaskan Klee Kai and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Alaskan Klee Kai and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier are most similar:

    • Both the Alaskan Klee Kai and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier do not like to be left alone.
    • Both the Alaskan Klee Kai and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
    • Both the Alaskan Klee Kai and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier do not get along well with other dogs.
    • Both the Alaskan Klee Kai and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier are not very friendly towards strangers.
    • Both the Alaskan Klee Kai and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier do not have the tendency to drool.
    • Both the Alaskan Klee Kai and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier are not prone to nip and chew at things.
    • Both the Alaskan Klee Kai and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful.
    • Both the Alaskan Klee Kai and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier 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 Alaskan Klee Kai and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
    • Both the Alaskan Klee Kai and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
    • Both the Alaskan Klee Kai and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
    • Both the Alaskan Klee Kai and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier are highly intelligent.
    • Both the Alaskan Klee Kai and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
    • Both the Alaskan Klee Kai and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
    • Both the Alaskan Klee Kai and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier are very playful.
    • Both the Alaskan Klee Kai and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Size Comparison of Alaskan Klee Kai versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Alaskan Klee Kai and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

    Alaskan Klee Kais weigh 10 to 15 pounds when fully grown. Alaskan Klee Kais are 13 to 17 inches when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Dandie Dinmont Terriers weigh 18 to 24 pounds when fully grown. Dandie Dinmont Terriers are 8 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Alaskan Klee Kai versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    The lifespan of Alaskan Klee Kais is between 12 to 16 years. The average lifespan of Alaskan Klee Kais is 14.0 years.

    The lifespan of Dandie Dinmont Terriers is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Dandie Dinmont Terriers is 13.5 years.

    Alaskan Klee Kais live longer than Dandie Dinmont Terriers.

    Temperament of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier Versus the Alaskan Klee Kai

    The Dandie Dinmont Terrier has a better temperament than the Alaskan Klee Kai.

    This is because the temperament score for the Dandie Dinmont Terrier is 71.4 percent while the temperament score for the Alaskan Klee Kai is 50.0 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 50.0 percent, the Alaskan Klee Kai has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 71.4 percent, the Dandie Dinmont Terrier has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Alaskan Klee Kai and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier by measuring the temperaments of 2 Alaskan Klee Kais and 7 Dandie Dinmont Terriers.

    Health Problems of Alaskan Klee Kai versus Health Problems of Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    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 Alaskan Klee Kai and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier 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 Alaskan Klee Kai is prone to more genetic health problems than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Alaskan Klee Kai than for the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

    7 health tests are recommended for Alaskan Klee Kai while 2 tests are recommended for the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Alaskan Klee Kais and in Dandie Dinmont Terriers.

    Alaskan Klee Kai Health Problems

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

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • FACTOR VII Deficiency DNA test
  • Patellar Luxation
  • PennGen
  • VetGen

    • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Alaskan Klee Kais here.

    Dandie Dinmont Terrier Health Problems

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

  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination

    • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Dandie Dinmont Terriers here.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Alaskan Klee Kai versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Alaskan Klee Kais do not like to be left alone.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Do Alaskan Klee Kais shed more than Dandie Dinmont Terriers?

    Alaskan Klee Kais shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers shed moderately.

    Which one drools more, the Alaskan Klee Kai or the Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Alaskan Klee Kais do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Alaskan Klee Kai or the Dandie Dinmont Terrier?

    Alaskan Klee Kais are very easy to groom.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Does the Alaskan Klee Kai Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier?

    Alaskan Klee Kais 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.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers 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 Alaskan Klee Kais Bark and Howl? What about Dandie Dinmont Terriers?

    Alaskan Klee Kais bark and howl, but not very much.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Can Alaskan Klee Kais Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Dandie Dinmont Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Alaskan Klee Kais can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Alaskan Klee Kai vs. Dandie Dinmont Terrier

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

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

    Can Alaskan Klee Kais Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Dandie Dinmont Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Alaskan Klee Kais cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Alaskan Klee Kai or the Dandie Dinmont Terrier?

    Alaskan Klee Kais do not get along well with other dogs.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Are Alaskan Klee Kais good family dogs? What about Dandie Dinmont Terriers?

    Alaskan Klee Kais are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Alaskan Klee Kais and Dandie Dinmont Terriers?

    Alaskan Klee Kais get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the Alaskan Klee Kai Easier to Train than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier?

    Alaskan Klee Kais are very easy to train.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers are not easy to train.

    Is the Alaskan Klee Kai Better for Apartment Owners than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier?

    Alaskan Klee Kais adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Alaskan Klee Kai or the Dandie Dinmont Terrier?

    Alaskan Klee Kais are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers are very good for new dog owners.

    Conclusion: Alaskan Klee Kai versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier. 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 Alaskan Klee Kai and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier better suits you and your family.