Breed Comparison: Dalmatian Versus Lakeland Terrier

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Dalmatian versus Lakeland Terrier

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Dalmatian Versus Lakeland Terrier: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Dalmatian and the Lakeland 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 Dalmatian and for the Lakeland 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 Dalmatian and the Lakeland Terrier.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Dalmatian or the Lakeland Terrier

Dalmatian versus Lakeland Terrier

Dalmatian versus Lakeland Terrier: Overview

A very important difference between the Dalmatian and the Lakeland Terrier is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Dalmatian is a medium-sized dog while the Lakeland Terrier is a small-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Dalmatian 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 Lakeland 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.

Dalmatian versus Lakeland Terrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Dalmatian to the Lakeland 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 Dalmatian Lakeland Terrier
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 13 to 16 years 12 to 15 years
Height 19 to 24 inches tall at the shoulder 13 to 14 inches tall at the shoulder
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 2/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 4/5 5/5
Low Prey Drive 4/5 2/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 2/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 3/5
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 3/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 3/5
Easygoing 2/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 4/5 4/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 3/5
General Health 4/5 5/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 3/5
Easy To Train 4/5 2/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 2/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 4/5
Weight 48 to 55 pounds 15 to 17 pounds
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 1/5 4/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 2/5
Average Lifespan 14.5 years 13.5 years
Average Price $1410 $1810
Price Range $1000 – $1800 $1600 – $2325
Temperament Score 83.3 percent 75.0 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Congenital Deafness
  • Hip Dysplasia
    		•  No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 60 142
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 39 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 Dalmatian 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 Lakeland 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 Dalmatian is 80 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Lakeland Terrier is 81 out of 125.

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

    Dalmatian versus Lakeland Terrier

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Dalmatian and the Lakeland Terrier

    Below is a list of where the Dalmatian and the Lakeland Terrier are most different:

  • Dalmatians shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies. However, Lakeland Terriers do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
  • Dalmatians are very easy to groom. However, Lakeland Terriers require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.

    • The Similarities Between the Dalmatian and the Lakeland Terrier

    The Dalmatian and the Lakeland Terrier are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Dalmatian and the Lakeland Terrier are most similar:

  • Both the Dalmatian and the Lakeland Terrier do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Dalmatian and the Lakeland Terrier are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Dalmatian and the Lakeland 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 Dalmatian and the Lakeland Terrier can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Dalmatian and the Lakeland Terrier get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Dalmatian and the Lakeland Terrier get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Dalmatian and the Lakeland Terrier are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Dalmatian and the Lakeland Terrier gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Dalmatian and the Lakeland Terrier are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Dalmatian and the Lakeland Terrier have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the Dalmatian and the Lakeland Terrier do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • Both the Dalmatian and the Lakeland Terrier are very playful.
  • Both the Dalmatian and the Lakeland Terrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Dalmatian and the Lakeland Terrier have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Dalmatian and the Lakeland Terrier require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.

    • Size (Weight and Height) of Dalmatian versus Lakeland Terrier

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Dalmatian and the Lakeland Terrier.

    Dalmatians weigh 48 to 55 pounds when fully grown. Dalmatians are 19 to 24 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Lakeland Terriers weigh 15 to 17 pounds when fully grown. Lakeland Terriers are 13 to 14 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Temperament of the Dalmatian Versus the Lakeland Terrier

    The Dalmatian has a better temperament than the Lakeland Terrier.

    This is because the temperament score for the Dalmatian is 83.3 percent while the temperament score for the Lakeland Terrier is 75.0 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 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 83.3 percent, the Dalmatian has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 75.0 percent, the Lakeland Terrier has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Dalmatian and the Lakeland Terrier by measuring the temperaments of 359 Dalmatians and 8 Lakeland Terriers.

    Price of Dalmatian versus Price of Lakeland Terrier

    The average price of the Dalmatian puppy is $1410. The price of the Dalmatian typically ranges from $1000 – $1800. However, the price of a Dalmatian can be as low as $250 and as high as $2600. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 233 Dalmatian puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Lakeland Terrier puppy is $1810. The price of the Lakeland Terrier typically ranges from $1600 – $2325. However, the price of a Lakeland Terrier can be as low as $1000 and as high as $2550. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 11 Lakeland Terrier puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Lakeland Terrier is more expensive than the Dalmatian.

    Dalmatian Lakeland Terrier
    Average Price $1410 $1810
    Price Range $1000 to $1800 $1600 to $2325

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Dalmatian and Lakeland Terrier. For different price points, the charts show how many Dalmatian puppies or how many Lakeland Terrier puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Dalmatians. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Dalmatians. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Lakeland Terriers

    A breakdown of the prices of Lakeland Terriers

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Dalmatian puppy or the Lakeland Terrier puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

    Nevertheless, when looking from a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from one of those puppy mills that mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    Dalmatian versus Lakeland Terrier

    Adopting the Dalmatian versus Adopting the Lakeland Terrier

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Dalmatians and many Lakeland Terriers are currently available for adoption.

    These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.

    Below is an adorable Male Dalmatian named Louie that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Dalmatians like Louie on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Dalmatians, Lakeland Terriers are also available for adoption. For example, Remington is a Male Lakeland Terrier that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Lakeland Terriers like Remington that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Dalmatian and the Lakeland Terrier can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Travis is the name of another Dalmatian (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    Also Boo And Bean , an adorable Male Lakeland Terrier on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    Dalmatians and Lakeland Terriers are always available for adoption. Images from petfinder.com

    You can find more Dalmatians and Lakeland Terriers that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Dalmatian versus the Intelligence of the Lakeland Terrier

    Dalmatian Lakeland Terrier
    Intelligence Rank 39 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 Dalmatian has an obedience intelligence rank of 39 out of 130 dog breeds. The Dalmatian belongs to the `Above Average Working Dogs` category. This means that Dalmatians tend to learn new commands after 15 to 25 repetitions.

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

    The Dalmatian is more intelligent than the Lakeland 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.

    Dalmatian versus Lakeland Terrier

    The Popularity of Dalmatian versus Popularity of Lakeland 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 Dalmatian and the Lakeland Terrier over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Dalmatian is more popular with dog owners than the Lakeland Terrier. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Dalmatian is 60 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Lakeland Terrier is 142 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Dalmatian

    Popularity of Dalmatian

    Popularity of Lakeland Terrier

    Popularity of Lakeland Terrier

    Year Dalmatian Popularity Rank Lakeland Terrier Popularity Rank
    2013 64 134
    2014 66 149
    2015 62 141
    2016 62 145
    2017 63 138
    2018 56 147
    2019 59 148
    2020 51 136

    Which one drools more, the Dalmatian or the Lakeland Terrier

    Dalmatians do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Lakeland Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Is the Dalmatian Better for Apartment Owners than the Lakeland Terrier?

    Dalmatians do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Lakeland Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Does the Dalmatian Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Lakeland Terrier?

    Dalmatians 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.

    Lakeland 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 Dalmatians Bark and Howl? What about Lakeland Terriers?

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

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

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Dalmatian or the Lakeland Terrier?

    Dalmatians are OK for new dog owners.

    Lakeland Terriers are OK for new dog owners.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Dalmatian versus Lakeland Terrier

    Dalmatians can be left alone only for a short time.

    Lakeland Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Can Dalmatians Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Lakeland Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Dalmatians can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Lakeland Terriers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Can Dalmatians Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Lakeland Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Dalmatians can tolerate hot weather.

    Lakeland Terriers can tolerate hot weather.

    How Kid-friendly are Dalmatians and Lakeland Terriers?

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

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

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Dalmatian or the Lakeland Terrier?

    Dalmatians get along very well with other dogs.

    Lakeland Terriers get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Is the Dalmatian Easier to Train than the Lakeland Terrier?

    Dalmatians are very easy to train.

    Lakeland Terriers are not easy to train.

    Wanderlust Potential: Dalmatian vs. Lakeland Terrier

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

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

    Are Dalmatians good family dogs? What about Lakeland Terriers?

    Dalmatians are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Lakeland Terriers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Do Dalmatians shed more than Lakeland Terriers?

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

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

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Dalmatian or the Lakeland Terrier?

    Dalmatians are very easy to groom.

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

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Dalmatian

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

  • Berger Picard (78 percent match with Dalmatian). Here is our comparison of the Lakeland Terrier vs Berger Picard.
  • Golden Cocker Retriever (80 percent match with Dalmatian). Here is our comparison of the Lakeland Terrier vs Golden Cocker Retriever.

    • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Lakeland Terrier

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

  • Irish Terrier (79 percent match with Lakeland Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Dalmatian vs Irish Terrier.
  • Barbet (80 percent match with Lakeland Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Dalmatian vs Barbet.

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Dalmatian Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Dalmatian versus Black and Tan Coonhound     Dalmatian versus Basenji     Dalmatian versus German Longhaired Pointer     Dalmatian versus Valley Bulldog     Dalmatian versus Whippet     Dalmatian versus American Pit Bull Terrier     Dalmatian versus American Hairless Terrier     Dalmatian versus Coton de Tulear     Dalmatian versus Aussiedoodle     Dalmatian versus Kooikerhondje     

    Lakeland Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Lakeland Terrier versus Boxerdoodle     Lakeland Terrier versus Harrier     Lakeland Terrier versus Pharaoh Hound     Lakeland Terrier versus Barbet     Lakeland Terrier versus Keeshond     Lakeland Terrier versus Bordoodle     Lakeland Terrier versus Shiba Inu     Lakeland Terrier versus Shichon     Lakeland Terrier versus Estrela Mountain Dog     Lakeland Terrier versus Plott     

    Conclusion: Dalmatian versus Lakeland 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 Dalmatian and the Lakeland Terrier better suits you and your family.