Differences and Similarities between the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Jack Russell Terrier.

by

Quick Links: Table of Contents

Dandie Dinmont Terrier Versus Jack Russell Terrier: Introduction

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

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

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 Jack Russell Terrier

Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Jack Russell Terrier: Overview

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

Furthermore, both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Jack Russell Terrier are Terrier Dogs. This means both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Jack Russell Terrier were originally bred to go underground to hunt rodents and other small wild animals (vermin). Terriers come in a wide range of sizes and shapes, but all terriers are energetic, highly intelligent, and territorial. Terries also have the tendency to escape. They require a securely fenced yard.

Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Jack Russell Terrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Dandie Dinmont Terrier to the Jack Russell 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 Dandie Dinmont Terrier Jack Russell Terrier
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 10 to 15 years
Weight 18 to 24 pounds 13 to 17 pounds
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 3/5
Easy To Groom 2/5 3/5
Easy To Train 2/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 4/5 1/5
Easygoing 3/5 3/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 3/5 4/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 3/5 5/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 4/5
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 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 1/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 4/5 3/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 2/5
Kid-Friendly 4/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 2/5
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 10 to 15 inches tall at the shoulder
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 12.5 years
Price Range No Data $700 – $1250
Average Price No Data $1100
Temperament Score 71.4 percent 85.5 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination
    		•  No Data
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 62 46

    *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 Jack Russell 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 Dandie Dinmont Terrier is 80 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Jack Russell Terrier is 77 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Dandie Dinmont Terrier is a better pet than the Jack Russell Terrier. 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 Jack Russell Terrier 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 Jack Russell Terrier

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

  • Dandie Dinmont Terriers have low exercise needs. However, Jack Russell Terriers require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.

    • The Similarities Between the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Jack Russell Terrier

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

  • Both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Jack Russell Terrier do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Jack Russell Terrier do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Jack Russell Terrier require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Jack Russell Terrier adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Jack Russell Terrier get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Jack Russell Terrier gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Jack Russell Terrier have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Jack Russell Terrier are very playful.
  • Both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Jack Russell Terrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

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

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

    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, Jack Russell Terriers weigh 13 to 17 pounds when fully grown. Jack Russell Terriers are 10 to 15 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Temperament of the Jack Russell Terrier Versus the Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    The Jack Russell Terrier has a better temperament than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

    This is because the temperament score for the Jack Russell Terrier is 85.5 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 71.4 percent, the Dandie Dinmont Terrier has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 85.5 percent, the Jack Russell Terrier has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Jack Russell Terrier by measuring the temperaments of 7 Dandie Dinmont Terriers and 69 Jack Russell Terriers.

    The Intelligence of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus the Intelligence of the Jack Russell Terrier

    Dandie Dinmont Terrier Jack Russell Terrier
    Intelligence Rank 62 out of 130 dog breeds 46 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 40 To 80 Repetitions! Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 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 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 Jack Russell Terrier has an obedience intelligence rank of 46 out of 130 dog breeds. The Jack Russell Terrier belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Jack Russell Terriers tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.

    The Jack Russell Terrier is more intelligent than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

    However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.

    Which one drools more, the Dandie Dinmont Terrier or the Jack Russell Terrier

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

    Jack Russell Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Jack Russell Terrier

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Jack Russell Terriers can be left alone only for a short time.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Dandie Dinmont Terrier or the Jack Russell Terrier?

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

    Jack Russell Terriers are moderately easy to groom.

    Is the Dandie Dinmont Terrier Easier to Train than the Jack Russell Terrier?

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers are not easy to train.

    Jack Russell Terriers are very easy to train.

    Do Dandie Dinmont Terriers Bark and Howl? What about Jack Russell Terriers?

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

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

    Can Dandie Dinmont Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Jack Russell Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Jack Russell Terriers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Can Dandie Dinmont Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Jack Russell Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

    Jack Russell Terriers can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

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

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Jack Russell Terriers get along very well with other dogs.

    Do Dandie Dinmont Terriers shed more than Jack Russell Terriers?

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers shed moderately.

    Jack Russell Terriers shed moderately.

    Wanderlust Potential: Dandie Dinmont Terrier vs. Jack Russell Terrier

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

    Jack Russell Terriers 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 Jack Russell Terrier?

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Jack Russell Terriers adapt moderately well to apartment living.

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

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers are very good for new dog owners.

    Jack Russell Terriers are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    How Kid-friendly are Dandie Dinmont Terriers and Jack Russell Terriers?

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

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

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

    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.

    Jack Russell 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.

    Are Dandie Dinmont Terriers good family dogs? What about Jack Russell Terriers?

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

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

    • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Jack Russell Terrier

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

  • Airedale Terrier (79 percent match with Jack Russell Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier vs Airedale Terrier.
  • Finnish Lapphund (80 percent match with Jack Russell Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier vs Finnish Lapphund.
  • Welsh Terrier (79 percent match with Jack Russell Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier vs Welsh Terrier.

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Dandie Dinmont Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Chinese Crested     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Spanish Mastiff     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus German Shepherd Dog     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Pembroke Welsh Corgi     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Whoodle     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Finnish Spitz     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Canaan Dog     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Gordon Setter     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Giant Schnauzer     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Border Collie     

    Jack Russell Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Jack Russell Terrier versus Mountain Cur     Jack Russell Terrier versus Carolina Dog     Jack Russell Terrier versus Mastiff     Jack Russell Terrier versus German Pinscher     Jack Russell Terrier versus Welsh Springer Spaniel     Jack Russell Terrier versus Treeing Tennessee Brindle     Jack Russell Terrier versus German Longhaired Pointer     Jack Russell Terrier versus Kai Ken     Jack Russell Terrier versus Weimaraner     Jack Russell Terrier versus Gordon Setter     

    Conclusion: Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Jack Russell 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 Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Jack Russell Terrier better suits you and your family.