Differences and Similarities between the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the German Pinscher.

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Dandie Dinmont Terrier Versus German Pinscher: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the German Pinscher 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 Dandie Dinmont Terrier and for the German Pinscher. 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 Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the German Pinscher.

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

Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus German Pinscher: Overview

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

Furthermore, 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.

On the other hand, the German Pinscher 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.

Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus German Pinscher: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Dandie Dinmont Terrier to the German Pinscher 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 Dandie Dinmont Terrier German Pinscher
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 12 to 14 years
Weight 18 to 24 pounds 25 to 45 pounds
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 3/5
Easy To Groom 2/5 5/5
Easy To Train 2/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 4/5 1/5
Easygoing 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 3/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 4/5
Dog Friendly 3/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 2/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 3/5
General Health 3/5 4/5
Intelligence 3/5 5/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 3/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 4/5 3/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 3/5
Kid-Friendly 4/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 5/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Height 8 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder 17 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 13.0 years
Price Range No Data $1150 – $2688
Average Price No Data $2040
Temperament Score 71.4 percent 91.9 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination
    		•
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • von Willebrand`s Disease
    		•
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 173 135

    *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 Dandie Dinmont 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 German Pinscher. 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 Dandie Dinmont Terrier is 80 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a German Pinscher is 78 out of 125.

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

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the German Pinscher

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

  • Dandie Dinmont Terriers require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom. However, German Pinschers are very easy to groom.
  • Dandie Dinmont Terriers have low exercise needs. However, German Pinschers require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.

    • The Similarities Between the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the German Pinscher

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

  • Both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the German Pinscher do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the German Pinscher do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the German Pinscher are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the German Pinscher adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the German Pinscher are good for new dog owners.
  • Both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the German Pinscher get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the German Pinscher gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the German Pinscher have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the German Pinscher are very playful.
  • Both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the German Pinscher are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

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

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

    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.

    On the other hand, German Pinschers weigh 25 to 45 pounds when fully grown. German Pinschers are 17 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Temperament of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier Versus the German Pinscher

    The German Pinscher has a better temperament than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

    This is because the temperament score for the German Pinscher is 91.9 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 71.4 percent, the Dandie Dinmont Terrier has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 91.9 percent, the German Pinscher has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the German Pinscher by measuring the temperaments of 7 Dandie Dinmont Terriers and 37 German Pinschers.

    The Popularity of Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Popularity of German Pinscher

    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 Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the German Pinscher over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the German Pinscher is more popular with dog owners than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the German Pinscher is 135 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 Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Popularity of Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Popularity of German Pinscher

    Popularity of German Pinscher

    Year Dandie Dinmont Terrier Popularity Rank German Pinscher Popularity Rank
    2013 168 130
    2014 167 141
    2015 172 138
    2016 167 146
    2017 182 136
    2018 176 134
    2019 174 123
    2020 181 139

    Health Problems of Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Health Problems of German Pinscher

    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 Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the German Pinscher 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 German Pinscher is prone to more genetic health problems than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

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

    2 health tests are recommended for Dandie Dinmont Terrier while 4 tests are recommended for the German Pinscher.

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

    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.

    German Pinscher Health Problems

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

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • von Willebrand`s Disease

    • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for German Pinschers here.

    Which one drools more, the Dandie Dinmont Terrier or the German Pinscher

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

    German Pinschers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus German Pinscher

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    German Pinschers can be left alone only for a short time.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Dandie Dinmont Terrier or the German Pinscher?

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

    German Pinschers are very easy to groom.

    Is the Dandie Dinmont Terrier Easier to Train than the German Pinscher?

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers are not easy to train.

    German Pinschers are very easy to train.

    Do Dandie Dinmont Terriers Bark and Howl? What about German Pinschers?

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

    German Pinschers bark and howl, but not very much.

    Can Dandie Dinmont Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can German Pinschers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    German Pinschers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Can Dandie Dinmont Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can German Pinschers Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

    German Pinschers can tolerate hot weather.

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

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers get along fairly well with other dogs.

    German Pinschers do not get along well with other dogs.

    Do Dandie Dinmont Terriers shed more than German Pinschers?

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers shed moderately.

    German Pinschers shed moderately.

    Wanderlust Potential: Dandie Dinmont Terrier vs. German Pinscher

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

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

    Is the Dandie Dinmont Terrier Better for Apartment Owners than the German Pinscher?

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

    German Pinschers adapt moderately well to apartment living.

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

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers are very good for new dog owners.

    German Pinschers are OK for new dog owners.

    How Kid-friendly are Dandie Dinmont Terriers and German Pinschers?

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

    German Pinschers get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.

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

    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.

    German Pinschers 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.

    Are Dandie Dinmont Terriers good family dogs? What about German Pinschers?

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

    German Pinschers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

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

    • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the German Pinscher

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

  • Australian Kelpie (79 percent match with German Pinscher). Here is our comparison of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier vs Australian Kelpie.
  • Belgian Malinois (80 percent match with German Pinscher). Here is our comparison of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier vs Belgian Malinois.
  • German Wirehaired Pointer (83 percent match with German Pinscher). Here is our comparison of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier vs German Wirehaired Pointer.
  • Mudi (79 percent match with German Pinscher). Here is our comparison of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier vs Mudi.

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Dandie Dinmont Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Mal Shi     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Bulldog     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Anatolian Shepherd Dog     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Finnish Spitz     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Harrier     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Chi-Poo     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Weimaraner     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Italian Greyhound     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Cane Corso     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Hovawart     

    German Pinscher Versus Other Dog Breeds

    German Pinscher versus Cardigan Welsh Corgi     German Pinscher versus Dachshund     German Pinscher versus Papillon     German Pinscher versus Estrela Mountain Dog     German Pinscher versus Sloughi     German Pinscher versus Border Terrier     German Pinscher versus Bordoodle     German Pinscher versus Shichon     German Pinscher versus Bullmastiff     German Pinscher versus Wirehaired Pointing Griffon     

    Conclusion: Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus German Pinscher. 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 Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the German Pinscher better suits you and your family.