A Detailed Comparison of the Chinook and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

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Chinook Versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier: Introduction

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

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

Chinook versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier: Overview

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

Furthermore, the Chinook 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 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.

Chinook versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Chinook 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 Chinook Dandie Dinmont Terrier
Good For Novice Owners 1/5 4/5
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 2/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 12 to 15 years
Easy To Groom 2/5 2/5
Low Prey Drive 4/5 2/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 3/5
Height 21 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder 8 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 2/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 4/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 4/5 4/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 3/5
General Health 4/5 3/5
Easy To Train 4/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 4/5
Easygoing 1/5 3/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 5/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 4/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 3/5
Does NOT Shed 1/5 3/5
Intelligence 5/5 3/5
Weight 55 to 70 pounds 18 to 24 pounds
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 13.5 years
Price Range No Data No Data
Average Price No Data No Data
Temperament Score 77.8 percent 71.4 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Clear By Parentage
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
    		•
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination
    		•
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 177 173

    *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 Chinook 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 Chinook 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 Chinook is a better pet than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier. So, you should get the Chinook!

    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 Chinook 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 Chinook and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier

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

  • Chinooks are not the best dogs for new dog owners. However, Dandie Dinmont Terriers are good for new dog owners.

    • The Similarities Between the Chinook and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier

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

  • Both the Chinook and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Chinook and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Chinook and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Both the Chinook and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Chinook and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
  • Both the Chinook and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Chinook and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Chinook and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Chinook 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 Chinook and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier are very playful.
  • Both the Chinook and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Chinook and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    • Size (Weight and Height) of Chinook versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier

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

    Chinooks weigh 55 to 70 pounds when fully grown. Chinooks are 21 to 27 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 Chinook Versus the Dandie Dinmont Terrier

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

    This is because the temperament score for the Chinook is 77.8 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 77.8 percent, the Chinook 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 Chinook and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier by measuring the temperaments of 9 Chinooks and 7 Dandie Dinmont Terriers.

    The Popularity of Chinook 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 Chinook and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Dandie Dinmont Terrier is more popular with dog owners than the Chinook. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier is 173 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Chinook is 177 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Chinook

    Popularity of Chinook

    Popularity of Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Popularity of Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Year Chinook Popularity Rank Dandie Dinmont Terrier Popularity Rank
    2013 156 168
    2014 171 167
    2015 177 172
    2016 175 167
    2017 179 182
    2018 190 176
    2019 184 174
    2020 186 181

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

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

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

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

    Chinook Health Problems

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

  • Clear By Parentage
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia

    • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Chinooks 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.

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

    Chinooks are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers are very good for new dog owners.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Chinook versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Chinooks do not like to be left alone.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers do not like to be left alone.

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

    Chinooks 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 Chinook or the Dandie Dinmont Terrier?

    Chinooks 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.

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

    Chinooks have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to 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 Chinooks Bark and Howl? What about Dandie Dinmont Terriers?

    Chinooks are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

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

    Wanderlust Potential: Chinook vs. Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Chinooks 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.

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

    Chinooks adapt very well to apartment living.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

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

    Chinooks can tolerate hot weather.

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

    Is the Chinook Easier to Train than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier?

    Chinooks are very easy to train.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers are not easy to train.

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

    Chinooks can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

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

    Chinooks 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 Chinooks and Dandie Dinmont Terriers?

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

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

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

    Chinooks get along very well with other dogs.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Do Chinooks shed more than Dandie Dinmont Terriers?

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

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers shed moderately.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Chinook

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Chinook 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 Chinook:

  • Keeshond (76 percent match with Chinook). Here is our comparison of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier vs Keeshond.
  • King Shepherd (75 percent match with Chinook). Here is our comparison of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier vs King Shepherd.

    • 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 Chinook vs Cavapoo.
  • Shih Tzu (79 percent match with Dandie Dinmont Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Chinook vs Shih Tzu.

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Chinook Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Chinook versus American Eskimo Dog     Chinook versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier     Chinook versus Swedish Vallhund     Chinook versus Morkie     Chinook versus Chihuahua     Chinook versus Canaan Dog     Chinook versus Cockalier     Chinook versus Bluetick Coonhound     Chinook versus Irish Wolfhound     Chinook versus Cavachon     

    Dandie Dinmont Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Clumber Spaniel     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Afghan Hound     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Tibetan Terrier     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Braque du Bourbonnais     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Stabyhoun     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Scottish Terrier     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Bordoodle     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Collie     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Pembroke Welsh Corgi     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Anatolian Shepherd Dog     

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