Is the Chinese Crested Better than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier as a Pet? Answer…

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Chinese Crested Versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Chinese Crested and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier? Well, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will provide you a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Chinese Crested 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 Chinese Crested and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Chinese Crested 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 Chinese Crested 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 more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Chinese Crested 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 Chinese Crested or the Dandie Dinmont Terrier

Chinese Crested versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier: Overview

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

Furthermore, 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.

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.

Chinese Crested versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Chinese Crested 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.

Factor Chinese Crested Dandie Dinmont Terrier
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 1/5 3/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 5/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 5/5 3/5
Life Span 10 to 14 years 12 to 15 years
Height 11 to 13 inches tall at the shoulder 8 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder
Does NOT Shed 4/5 3/5
Easy To Groom 2/5 2/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 4/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 4/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 4/5 4/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 4/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 3/5
Intelligence 3/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 2/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 4/5
Potential For Playfulness 3/5 4/5
Affectionate With Family 4/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 3/5
Easy To Train 4/5 2/5
Does NOT chew on things 2/5 3/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 4/5
Easygoing 1/5 3/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 4/5
General Health 5/5 3/5
Weight Up to 12 pounds 18 to 24 pounds
Average Lifespan 12.0 years 13.5 years
Average Price $1430 No Data
Price Range $1000 – $1600 No Data
Temperament Score 76.5 percent 71.4 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • 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
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 75 173
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 61 62

    *Data from 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 Chinese Crested 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 a Chinese Crested is 87 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Dandie Dinmont Terrier is 80 out of 125.

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

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

    The Similarities Between the Chinese Crested and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier

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

  • Both the Chinese Crested and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Chinese Crested and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Chinese Crested and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Chinese Crested and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Both the Chinese Crested and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier have low energy levels. They do not require a lot exercise time.
  • Both the Chinese Crested and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier have low exercise needs.
  • Both the Chinese Crested and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Chinese Crested and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Chinese Crested and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Chinese Crested and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier are prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Chinese Crested and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Chinese Crested and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Chinese Crested versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier

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

    Chinese Cresteds weigh Up to 12 pounds when fully grown. Chinese Cresteds are 11 to 13 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.

    Temperament of the Chinese Crested Versus the Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    The Chinese Crested has a better temperament than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

    This is because the temperament score for the Chinese Crested is 76.5 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 they 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 76.5 percent, the Chinese Crested 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 Chinese Crested and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier by measuring the temperaments of 34 Chinese Cresteds and 7 Dandie Dinmont Terriers.

    The Intelligence of the Chinese Crested versus the Intelligence of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Chinese Crested Dandie Dinmont Terrier
    Intelligence Rank 61 out of 130 dog breeds 62 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 40 To 80 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 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 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 Chinese Crested 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.

    The Popularity of Chinese Crested versus Popularity of Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    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 Chinese Crested and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Chinese Crested is more popular with dog owners than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Chinese Crested is 75 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier is 173 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Chinese Crested

    Popularity of Chinese Crested

    Popularity of Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Popularity of Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Year Chinese Crested Popularity Rank Dandie Dinmont Terrier Popularity Rank
    2013 68 168
    2014 65 167
    2015 75 172
    2016 77 167
    2017 79 182
    2018 79 176
    2019 80 174
    2020 79 181

    Health Problems of Chinese Crested versus Health Problems of Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. Therefore, there is nothing like a perfect puppy.

    Both the Chinese Crested 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 Chinese Crested is prone to more genetic health problems than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

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

    8 health tests are recommended for Chinese Crested while 2 tests are recommended for the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

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

    Chinese Crested Health Problems

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

  • 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
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Chinese Cresteds 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: Chinese Crested versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Chinese Cresteds do not like to be left alone.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Can Chinese Cresteds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Dandie Dinmont Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?

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

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Which one drools more, the Chinese Crested or the Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Chinese Cresteds do have a very low tendency to drool.

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

    Wanderlust Potential: Chinese Crested vs. Dandie Dinmont Terrier

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

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

    Do Chinese Cresteds shed more than Dandie Dinmont Terriers?

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

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers shed moderately.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Chinese Crested or the Dandie Dinmont Terrier?

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

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

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

    Chinese Cresteds are OK for new dog owners.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers are very good for new dog owners.

    Can Chinese Cresteds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Dandie Dinmont Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

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

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

    Chinese Cresteds have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and 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 Chinese Cresteds Bark and Howl? What about Dandie Dinmont Terriers?

    Chinese Cresteds bark and howl, but not very much.

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

    Are Chinese Cresteds good family dogs? What about Dandie Dinmont Terriers?

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

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

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

    Chinese Cresteds get along very well with other dogs.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Is the Chinese Crested Easier to Train than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier?

    Chinese Cresteds are very easy to train.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers are not easy to train.

    Is the Chinese Crested Better for Apartment Owners than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier?

    Chinese Cresteds adapt very well to apartment living.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

    How Kid-friendly are Chinese Cresteds and Dandie Dinmont Terriers?

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

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

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Chinese Crested

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Chinese Crested that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Chinese Crested:

  • Bolognese (75 percent match with Chinese Crested). Here is our comparison of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier vs Bolognese.
  • Japanese Chin (75 percent match with Chinese Crested). Here is our comparison of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier vs Japanese Chin.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Dandie Dinmont Terrier that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Dandie Dinmont Terrier:

  • Cavapoo (79 percent match with Dandie Dinmont Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Chinese Crested vs Cavapoo.
  • Shih Tzu (79 percent match with Dandie Dinmont Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Chinese Crested vs Shih Tzu.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Chinese Crested and how the Dandie Dinmont Terrier compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Chinese Crested and of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier to other breeds:

    Chinese Crested Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Chinese Crested versus Samoyed     Chinese Crested versus Shiloh Shepherd     Chinese Crested versus Boxer     Chinese Crested versus German Shorthaired Pointer     Chinese Crested versus Pomeranian     Chinese Crested versus Australian Terrier     Chinese Crested versus Tibetan Terrier     Chinese Crested versus Whippet     Chinese Crested versus Pomchi     Chinese Crested versus Braque du Bourbonnais     

    Dandie Dinmont Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Puli     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Yorkipoo     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus French Bulldog     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Giant Schnauzer     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Irish Setter     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Maltipoo     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Mountain Cur     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Chinook     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Norfolk Terrier     

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