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

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Dandie Dinmont Terrier Versus Keeshond: Introduction

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

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

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 Keeshond

Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Keeshond: Overview

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

Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Keeshond: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Dandie Dinmont Terrier to the Keeshond 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 Keeshond
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 12 to 15 years
Weight 18 to 24 pounds 35 to 45 pounds
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 1/5
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 3/5
Easygoing 3/5 1/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 3/5 5/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 3/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 1/5
General Health 3/5 3/5
Intelligence 3/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 3/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 4/5 4/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 4/5 5/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 2/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 3/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 5/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Height 8 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder 1 foot, 4 inches to 1 foot, 7 inches tall at the s
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 13.5 years
Price Range No Data $1250 – $1850
Average Price No Data $1680
Temperament Score 71.4 percent 81.6 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 173 89
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 62 16

    *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 Keeshond. 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 Keeshond is 83 out of 125.

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

    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 Keeshond so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Similarities Between the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Keeshond

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

  • Both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Keeshond do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Keeshond do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Keeshond require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Keeshond have low exercise needs.
  • Both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Keeshond adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Keeshond are good for new dog owners.
  • Both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Keeshond get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Keeshond gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Keeshond have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Keeshond are very playful.
  • Both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Keeshond are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Keeshond

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

    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, Keeshonds weigh 35 to 45 pounds when fully grown. Keeshonds are 1 foot, 4 inches to 1 foot, 7 inches tall at the s when fully grown.

    Temperament of the Keeshond Versus the Dandie Dinmont Terrier

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

    This is because the temperament score for the Keeshond is 81.6 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 81.6 percent, the Keeshond has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Keeshond by measuring the temperaments of 7 Dandie Dinmont Terriers and 87 Keeshonds.

    The Intelligence of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus the Intelligence of the Keeshond

    Dandie Dinmont Terrier Keeshond
    Intelligence Rank 62 out of 130 dog breeds 16 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 40 To 80 Repetitions! Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 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 Keeshond has an obedience intelligence rank of 16 out of 130 dog breeds. The Keeshond belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category. This means that Keeshonds tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.

    The Keeshond 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 Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Popularity of Keeshond

    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 Keeshond over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Keeshond is more popular with dog owners than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Keeshond is 89 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 Keeshond

    Popularity of Keeshond

    Year Dandie Dinmont Terrier Popularity Rank Keeshond Popularity Rank
    2013 168 86
    2014 167 87
    2015 172 84
    2016 167 92
    2017 182 87
    2018 176 95
    2019 174 88
    2020 181 96

    Health Problems of Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Health Problems of Keeshond

    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 Keeshond 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 Keeshond is prone to more genetic health problems than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

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

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

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

    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.

    Keeshond Health Problems

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

  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Keeshonds here.

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

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

    Keeshonds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Keeshond

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Keeshonds do not like to be left alone.

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

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

    Keeshonds are moderately easy to groom.

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

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers are not easy to train.

    Keeshonds are very easy to train.

    Do Dandie Dinmont Terriers Bark and Howl? What about Keeshonds?

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

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

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

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Keeshonds can very well tolerate cold weather.

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

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

    Keeshonds 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 Keeshond?

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Keeshonds get along very well with other dogs.

    Do Dandie Dinmont Terriers shed more than Keeshonds?

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers shed moderately.

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

    Wanderlust Potential: Dandie Dinmont Terrier vs. Keeshond

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

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

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

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Keeshonds adapt very well to apartment living.

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

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers are very good for new dog owners.

    Keeshonds are very good for new dog owners.

    How Kid-friendly are Dandie Dinmont Terriers and Keeshonds?

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

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

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

    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.

    Keeshonds have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

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

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

    Keeshonds 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 Keeshond vs Cavapoo.
  • Shih Tzu (79 percent match with Dandie Dinmont Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Keeshond vs Shih Tzu.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Keeshond

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

  • American Eskimo Dog (82 percent match with Keeshond). Here is our comparison of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier vs American Eskimo Dog.
  • Collie (84 percent match with Keeshond). Here is our comparison of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier vs Collie.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Dandie Dinmont Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Welsh Terrier     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Belgian Sheepdog     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Labradoodle     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Mountain Cur     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus American Hairless Terrier     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Carolina Dog     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus American Hairless Terrier     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Boston Terrier     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Boxerdoodle     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Shiba Inu     

    Keeshond Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Keeshond versus Toy Poodle     Keeshond versus Mal Shi     Keeshond versus Labradoodle     Keeshond versus American Pit Bull Terrier     Keeshond versus Akbash     Keeshond versus Rhodesian Ridgeback     Keeshond versus Mountain Cur     Keeshond versus Pomsky     Keeshond versus Akita     Keeshond versus French Bulldog     

    Conclusion: Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Keeshond. 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 Keeshond better suits you and your family.