Which is Better Between the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the West Highland White Terrier?

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Appenzeller Sennenhunde Versus West Highland White Terrier: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the West Highland White 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 Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the West Highland White 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 Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the West Highland White Terrier.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the West Highland White 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 Appenzeller Sennenhunde and for the West Highland White 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 Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the West Highland White Terrier.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Appenzeller Sennenhunde or the West Highland White Terrier.

Appenzeller Sennenhunde versus West Highland White Terrier: Overview

A very important difference between the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the West Highland White Terrier is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Appenzeller Sennenhunde is a medium-sized dog while the West Highland White Terrier is a small-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Appenzeller Sennenhunde 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 West Highland White 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.

Appenzeller Sennenhunde versus West Highland White Terrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Appenzeller Sennenhunde to the West Highland White 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 Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the West Highland White Terrier

Factor Appenzeller Sennenhunde West Highland White Terrier
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 4/5
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 2/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Height 19 to 22 inches tall at the shoulder 10 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 3/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 4/5
Easygoing 3/5 2/5
Dog Friendly 3/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 2/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 2/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 3/5
General Health 4/5 3/5
Easy To Train 4/5 4/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 2/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 2/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 4/5
Weight 48 to 55 pounds 13 to 22 pounds
Tolerates Cold Weather 5/5 4/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 4/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 1/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 1/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 2/5
Life Span 9 to 12 years 12 to 16 years
Average Lifespan 10.5 years 14.0 years
Price Range No Data $1600 – $2700
Average Price No Data $2220
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests No Data
  • Eye Examination- Recommend annual exams until at least age 8yrs (96mo)
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
    		•

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Appenzeller Sennenhunde 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 West Highland White 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 Appenzeller Sennenhunde is 77 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the West Highland White Terrier is 80 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the West Highland White Terrier is a better pet than the Appenzeller Sennenhunde. So, you should get the West Highland White 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 Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the West Highland White Terrier so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the West Highland White Terrier

    Below is a list of where the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the West Highland White Terrier are most different:

    • Appenzeller Sennenhundes do not adapt well to apartment living. However, West Highland White Terriers adapt well to apartment living.
    • Appenzeller Sennenhundes are prone to nip and chew at things. However, West Highland White Terriers are not prone to nip and chew at things.

    The Similarities Between the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the West Highland White Terrier

    The Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the West Highland White Terrier are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the West Highland White Terrier are most similar:

    • Both the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the West Highland White Terrier do not like to be left alone.
    • Both the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the West Highland White Terrier do not have the tendency to drool.
    • Both the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the West Highland White Terrier are not very friendly towards strangers.
    • Both the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the West Highland White Terrier can tolerate hot weather.
    • Both the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the West Highland White Terrier are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
    • Both the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the West Highland White Terrier are very easy to train.
    • Both the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the West Highland White Terrier are highly intelligent.
    • Both the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the West Highland White Terrier have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
    • Both the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the West Highland White Terrier do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
    • Both the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the West Highland White Terrier are very playful.
    • Both the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the West Highland White Terrier can tolerate cold weather.
    • Both the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the West Highland White Terrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
    • Both the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the West Highland White Terrier get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
    • Both the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the West Highland White Terrier are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
    • Both the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the West Highland White Terrier require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.

    Size Comparison of Appenzeller Sennenhunde versus West Highland White Terrier

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the West Highland White Terrier.

    Appenzeller Sennenhundes weigh 48 to 55 pounds when fully grown. Appenzeller Sennenhundes are 19 to 22 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, West Highland White Terriers weigh 13 to 22 pounds when fully grown. West Highland White Terriers are 10 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Appenzeller Sennenhunde versus West Highland White Terrier

    The lifespan of Appenzeller Sennenhundes is between 9 to 12 years. The average lifespan of Appenzeller Sennenhundes is 10.5 years.

    The lifespan of West Highland White Terriers is between 12 to 16 years. The average lifespan of West Highland White Terriers is 14.0 years.

    West Highland White Terriers live longer than Appenzeller Sennenhundes.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Appenzeller Sennenhunde versus West Highland White Terrier

    Appenzeller Sennenhundes do not like to be left alone.

    West Highland White Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Do Appenzeller Sennenhundes shed more than West Highland White Terriers?

    Appenzeller Sennenhundes shed moderately.

    West Highland White Terriers shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which one drools more, the Appenzeller Sennenhunde or the West Highland White Terrier

    Appenzeller Sennenhundes do have a very low tendency to drool.

    West Highland White Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Appenzeller Sennenhunde or the West Highland White Terrier?

    Appenzeller Sennenhundes are very easy to groom.

    West Highland White Terriers are moderately easy to groom.

    Does the Appenzeller Sennenhunde Have a Higher Prey Drive than the West Highland White Terrier?

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

    West Highland White 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 Appenzeller Sennenhundes Bark and Howl? What about West Highland White Terriers?

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

    West Highland White Terriers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Can Appenzeller Sennenhundes Tolerate Cold Weather? And can West Highland White Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Appenzeller Sennenhundes can very well tolerate cold weather.

    West Highland White Terriers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Appenzeller Sennenhunde vs. West Highland White Terrier

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

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

    Can Appenzeller Sennenhundes Tolerate Hot Weather? Can West Highland White Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Appenzeller Sennenhundes can tolerate hot weather.

    West Highland White Terriers can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Appenzeller Sennenhunde or the West Highland White Terrier?

    Appenzeller Sennenhundes get along fairly well with other dogs.

    West Highland White Terriers get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Appenzeller Sennenhundes good family dogs? What about West Highland White Terriers?

    Appenzeller Sennenhundes are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    West Highland White Terriers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Appenzeller Sennenhundes and West Highland White Terriers?

    Appenzeller Sennenhundes get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    West Highland White Terriers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the Appenzeller Sennenhunde Easier to Train than the West Highland White Terrier?

    Appenzeller Sennenhundes are very easy to train.

    West Highland White Terriers are very easy to train.

    Is the Appenzeller Sennenhunde Better for Apartment Owners than the West Highland White Terrier?

    Appenzeller Sennenhundes do not adapt well to apartment living.

    West Highland White Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Appenzeller Sennenhunde or the West Highland White Terrier?

    Appenzeller Sennenhundes are OK for new dog owners.

    West Highland White Terriers are very good for new dog owners.

    Conclusion: Appenzeller Sennenhunde versus West Highland White 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 Appenzeller Sennenhunde and the West Highland White Terrier better suits you and your family.