A Detailed Comparison of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Kerry Blue Terrier.

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Dandie Dinmont Terrier Versus Kerry Blue 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 Kerry Blue 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 Kerry Blue 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 Kerry Blue Terrier.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Kerry Blue 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 Kerry Blue 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 Kerry Blue 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 Kerry Blue Terrier

Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Kerry Blue Terrier: Overview

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

Furthermore, both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Kerry Blue Terrier are Terrier Dogs. This means both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Kerry Blue 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 Kerry Blue Terrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Dandie Dinmont Terrier to the Kerry Blue 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 Kerry Blue Terrier
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 12 to 15 years
Weight 18 to 24 pounds 33 to 40 pounds
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 3/5
Easy To Groom 2/5 2/5
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 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 5/5
General Health 3/5 3/5
Intelligence 3/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 2/5
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 3/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 3/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 4/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
Height 8 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder 17 to 19 inches tall at the shoulder
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 13.5 years
Price Range No Data $2000 – $2000
Average Price No Data $1980
Temperament Score 71.4 percent 73.5 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination
    		•
  • Clear By Parentage
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Eye Examination
  • Factor XI Deficiency
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • von Willebrand`s Disease
    		•
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 173 128
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 62 35

    *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 Kerry Blue 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 Kerry Blue Terrier is 78 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Dandie Dinmont Terrier is a better pet than the Kerry Blue 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 Kerry Blue 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 Kerry Blue Terrier

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

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

    • The Similarities Between the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Kerry Blue Terrier

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

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

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

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Kerry Blue 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, Kerry Blue Terriers weigh 33 to 40 pounds when fully grown. Kerry Blue Terriers are 17 to 19 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Temperament of the Kerry Blue Terrier Versus the Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    The Kerry Blue Terrier has a better temperament than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

    This is because the temperament score for the Kerry Blue Terrier is 73.5 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 73.5 percent, the Kerry Blue Terrier has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Kerry Blue Terrier by measuring the temperaments of 7 Dandie Dinmont Terriers and 49 Kerry Blue Terriers.

    The Intelligence of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus the Intelligence of the Kerry Blue Terrier

    Dandie Dinmont Terrier Kerry Blue Terrier
    Intelligence Rank 62 out of 130 dog breeds 35 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 40 To 80 Repetitions! Tend To Learn New Commands After 15 To 25 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 Kerry Blue Terrier has an obedience intelligence rank of 35 out of 130 dog breeds. The Kerry Blue Terrier belongs to the `Above Average Working Dogs` category. This means that Kerry Blue Terriers tend to learn new commands after 15 to 25 repetitions.

    The Kerry Blue 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.

    The Popularity of Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Popularity of Kerry Blue 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 Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Kerry Blue Terrier over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Kerry Blue Terrier is more popular with dog owners than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Kerry Blue Terrier is 128 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 Kerry Blue Terrier

    Popularity of Kerry Blue Terrier

    Year Dandie Dinmont Terrier Popularity Rank Kerry Blue Terrier Popularity Rank
    2013 168 126
    2014 167 128
    2015 172 124
    2016 167 127
    2017 182 129
    2018 176 129
    2019 174 133
    2020 181 133

    Health Problems of Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Health Problems of Kerry Blue 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 Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Kerry Blue 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 Kerry Blue Terrier is prone to more genetic health problems than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

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

    2 health tests are recommended for Dandie Dinmont Terrier while 6 tests are recommended for the Kerry Blue Terrier.

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

    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.

    Kerry Blue Terrier Health Problems

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

  • Clear By Parentage
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Eye Examination
  • Factor XI Deficiency
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • von Willebrand`s Disease

    • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Kerry Blue Terriers here.

    Which one drools more, the Dandie Dinmont Terrier or the Kerry Blue Terrier

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

    Kerry Blue Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Kerry Blue Terrier

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Kerry Blue Terriers can be left alone only for a short time.

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

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

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

    Is the Dandie Dinmont Terrier Easier to Train than the Kerry Blue Terrier?

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers are not easy to train.

    Kerry Blue Terriers are very easy to train.

    Do Dandie Dinmont Terriers Bark and Howl? What about Kerry Blue Terriers?

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

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

    Can Dandie Dinmont Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Kerry Blue Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Kerry Blue Terriers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Can Dandie Dinmont Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Kerry Blue Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

    Kerry Blue 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 Kerry Blue Terrier?

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Kerry Blue Terriers do not get along well with other dogs.

    Do Dandie Dinmont Terriers shed more than Kerry Blue Terriers?

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers shed moderately.

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

    Wanderlust Potential: Dandie Dinmont Terrier vs. Kerry Blue Terrier

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

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

    Is the Dandie Dinmont Terrier Better for Apartment Owners than the Kerry Blue Terrier?

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Kerry Blue Terriers adapt moderately well to apartment living.

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

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers are very good for new dog owners.

    Kerry Blue Terriers are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    How Kid-friendly are Dandie Dinmont Terriers and Kerry Blue Terriers?

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

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

    Does the Dandie Dinmont Terrier Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Kerry Blue 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.

    Kerry Blue Terriers have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Are Dandie Dinmont Terriers good family dogs? What about Kerry Blue Terriers?

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

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

    • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Kerry Blue Terrier

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

  • Irish Water Spaniel (78 percent match with Kerry Blue Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier vs Irish Water Spaniel.
  • Polish Lowland Sheepdog (79 percent match with Kerry Blue Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier vs Polish Lowland Sheepdog.

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Dandie Dinmont Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Bloodhound     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Pomsky     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Cavapoo     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Schnoodle     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Ibizan Hound     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Whoodle     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Finnish Spitz     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus American Foxhound     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Korean Jindo Dog     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Polish Lowland Sheepdog     

    Kerry Blue Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Kerry Blue Terrier versus Goldendoodle     Kerry Blue Terrier versus Border Collie     Kerry Blue Terrier versus Akita Chow     Kerry Blue Terrier versus Spanish Mastiff     Kerry Blue Terrier versus Fila Brasileiro     Kerry Blue Terrier versus Chihuahua     Kerry Blue Terrier versus Leonberger     Kerry Blue Terrier versus Biewer Terrier     Kerry Blue Terrier versus Norwegian Buhund     Kerry Blue Terrier versus Puggle     

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