Is the Australian Terrier Better than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier as a Pet? Our Answer.

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Australian Terrier Versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Australian Terrier 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 Australian Terrier 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 Australian Terrier 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 Australian Terrier or the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

Australian Terrier versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier: Overview

Both the Australian Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier are similar in size. The Australian Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier are both tiny-sized dogs.

Furthermore, both the Australian Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier are Terrier Dogs. This means both the Australian Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier 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.

Australian Terrier versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Australian Terrier 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 Australian Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier

FactorAustralian TerrierDandie Dinmont Terrier
Does NOT Shed5/53/5
Does NOT Drool5/55/5
Does NOT chew on things5/53/5
Height10 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder8 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder
Life Span12 to 15 years12 to 15 years
Weight14 to 16 pounds18 to 24 pounds
Easygoing4/53/5
Tolerates Being Alone2/52/5
Dog Friendly2/53/5
Good For Novice Owners3/54/5
Tolerates Cold Weather3/53/5
Kid-Friendly3/54/5
Friendly Toward Strangers3/53/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight3/52/5
Easy To Train3/52/5
Tolerates Hot Weather4/53/5
Affectionate With Family4/55/5
Intelligence4/53/5
Tendency NOT to Wander2/53/5
Minimal Exercise Needs2/54/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living5/54/5
Easy To Groom5/52/5
General Health5/53/5
Low Prey Drive1/52/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl1/54/5
NOT Rambunctious1/53/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor1/53/5
Potential For Playfulness5/54/5
Average Lifespan13.5 years13.5 years
Average Price$1250No Data
Price Range$1050 – $1500No Data
Temperament Score82.4 percent71.4 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Eye Examination
  • Patellar Luxation
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination
    • Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds)3462

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Australian Terrier 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 Australian Terrier is 81 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 Australian Terrier is a better pet than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier. So, you should get the Australian 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 Australian Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Australian Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Below is a list of where the Australian Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier are most different:

    • Australian Terriers are very easy to groom. However, Dandie Dinmont Terriers require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
    • Australian Terriers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl. However, Dandie Dinmont Terriers are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.

    The Similarities Between the Australian Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier

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

    • Both the Australian Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier do not have the tendency to drool.
    • Both the Australian Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier are not very sensitive to their enviroment. They can tolerate noisy environments. They are also not very sensitive to the tone of your voice, firm or gentle.
    • Both the Australian Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier do not like to be left alone.
    • Both the Australian Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier do not get along well with other dogs.
    • Both the Australian Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier can tolerate hot weather.
    • Both the Australian Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
    • Both the Australian Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier are highly intelligent.
    • Both the Australian Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
    • Both the Australian Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier adapt well to apartment living.
    • Both the Australian Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
    • Both the Australian Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier are very playful.

    Size Comparison of Australian Terrier versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Australian Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

    Australian Terriers weigh 14 to 16 pounds when fully grown. Australian Terriers are 10 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder 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 Australian Terrier versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier

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

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

    Temperament of the Australian Terrier Versus the Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    The Australian Terrier has a better temperament than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

    This is because the temperament score for the Australian Terrier is 82.4 percent while the temperament score for the Dandie Dinmont Terrier is 71.4 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 82.4 percent, the Australian Terrier 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 Australian Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier by measuring the temperaments of 17 Australian Terriers and 7 Dandie Dinmont Terriers.

    The Intelligence of the Australian Terrier versus the Intelligence of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    `
    Australian Terrier Dandie Dinmont Terrier
    Intelligence Rank 34 out of 130 dog breeds 62 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 15 To 25 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 Australian Terrier has an obedience intelligence rank of 34 out of 130 dog breeds. The Australian Terrier belongs to the `Above Average Working Dogs` category. This means that Australian Terriers tend to learn new commands after 15 to 25 repetitions.

    The Dandie Dinmont Terrier has an obedience intelligence rank of 62 out of 130 dog breeds. The Dandie Dinmont Terrier belongs to the `Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Dandie Dinmont Terriers tend to learn new commands after 40 to 80 repetitions!.

    The Australian Terrier is more intelligent than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

    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.

    Health Problems of Australian Terrier 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 Australian Terrier 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 Australian Terrier is prone to more genetic health problems than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

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

    3 health tests are recommended for Australian Terrier while 2 tests are recommended for the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Australian Terriers and in Dandie Dinmont Terriers.

    Australian Terrier Health Problems

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

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Eye Examination
  • Patellar Luxation

    • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Australian Terriers 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: Australian Terrier versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Australian Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Do Australian Terriers shed more than Dandie Dinmont Terriers?

    Australian Terriers do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers shed moderately.

    Which one drools more, the Australian Terrier or the Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Australian Terriers 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 Australian Terrier or the Dandie Dinmont Terrier?

    Australian Terriers are very easy to groom.

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

    Does the Australian Terrier Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier?

    Australian 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.

    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 Australian Terriers Bark and Howl? What about Dandie Dinmont Terriers?

    Australian Terriers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

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

    Can Australian Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Dandie Dinmont Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Australian Terriers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Australian Terrier vs. Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Australian Terriers 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 Australian Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Dandie Dinmont Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Australian Terriers can tolerate hot weather.

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

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Australian Terrier or the Dandie Dinmont Terrier?

    Australian Terriers do not get along well with other dogs.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Are Australian Terriers good family dogs? What about Dandie Dinmont Terriers?

    Australian Terriers 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 Australian Terriers and Dandie Dinmont Terriers?

    Australian Terriers 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 Australian Terrier Easier to Train than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier?

    Australian Terriers are fairly easy to train.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers are not easy to train.

    Is the Australian Terrier Better for Apartment Owners than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier?

    Australian Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Australian Terrier or the Dandie Dinmont Terrier?

    Australian Terriers are OK for new dog owners.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers are very good for new dog owners.

    Conclusion: Australian Terrier 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 Australian Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier better suits you and your family.