A Detailed Comparison of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Lhasa Apso.

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Dandie Dinmont Terrier Versus Lhasa Apso: Introduction

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

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

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 Lhasa Apso

Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Lhasa Apso: Overview

Both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Lhasa Apso are similar in size. The Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Lhasa Apso are both tiny-sized dogs.

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 Lhasa Apso 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 Lhasa Apso: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Dandie Dinmont Terrier to the Lhasa Apso 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 Lhasa Apso
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 12 to 15 years
Weight 18 to 24 pounds 12 to 15 pounds
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 4/5
Easy To Groom 2/5 1/5
Easy To Train 2/5 3/5
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 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 2/5
Dog Friendly 3/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 2/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 3/5
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 5/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 4/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 5/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
Height 8 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder 9 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 13.5 years
Price Range No Data $1500 – $1996
Average Price No Data $1780
Temperament Score 71.4 percent 70.4 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination
    		•  No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 173 71
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 62 68

    *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 Lhasa Apso. 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 Lhasa Apso is 79 out of 125.

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

    The Similarities Between the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Lhasa Apso

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

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

    • Size (Weight and Height) of Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Lhasa Apso

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

    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, Lhasa Apsos weigh 12 to 15 pounds when fully grown. Lhasa Apsos are 9 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Temperament of the Lhasa Apso Versus the Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    The Dandie Dinmont Terrier has a better temperament than the Lhasa Apso.

    This is because the temperament score for the Dandie Dinmont Terrier is 71.4 percent while the temperament score for the Lhasa Apso is 70.4 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 70.4 percent, the Lhasa Apso has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Lhasa Apso by measuring the temperaments of 7 Dandie Dinmont Terriers and 27 Lhasa Apsos.

    The Intelligence of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus the Intelligence of the Lhasa Apso

    Dandie Dinmont Terrier Lhasa Apso
    Intelligence Rank 62 out of 130 dog breeds 68 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 40 To 80 Repetitions! Tend To Learn New Commands After 40 To 80 Repetitions!

    Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.

    According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:

  • Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence a dog has because of what the dog was bred for. This type of intelligence comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that were bred for guarding will have high `guarding` instinctive intelligence, while dog breeds that were bred for hunting will what high `hunting` instinctive intelligence. However, you cannot compare the intelligence of dog breeds based on instinctive intelligence because such a comparison will not make sense.
  • Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. It includes learning and benefiting from experience with his environment, solving new problems, and so forth. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. Thus, two dogs can have remarkably different levels of adaptive intelligence even if they are of the same breed.
  • Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Importantly, different dog breeds have different learning abilities. Also, science has shown that some dog breeds can learn faster than some other breeds. This means certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. Dogs with high Working/Obedience Intelligence are smart and easy to train.

    • Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.

    This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.

    To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.

    Prof. Coren found that the 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 Lhasa Apso has an obedience intelligence rank of 68 out of 130 dog breeds. The Lhasa Apso belongs to the `Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Lhasa Apsos tend to learn new commands after 40 to 80 repetitions!.

    The Dandie Dinmont Terrier is more intelligent than the Lhasa Apso.

    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 Lhasa Apso

    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 Lhasa Apso over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Lhasa Apso is more popular with dog owners than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Lhasa Apso is 71 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 Lhasa Apso

    Popularity of Lhasa Apso

    Year Dandie Dinmont Terrier Popularity Rank Lhasa Apso Popularity Rank
    2013 168 63
    2014 167 67
    2015 172 65
    2016 167 71
    2017 182 77
    2018 176 71
    2019 174 78
    2020 181 78

    Which one drools more, the Dandie Dinmont Terrier or the Lhasa Apso

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

    Lhasa Apsos do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Lhasa Apso

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Lhasa Apsos can be left alone for some time without problems.

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

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

    Lhasa Apsos require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Is the Dandie Dinmont Terrier Easier to Train than the Lhasa Apso?

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers are not easy to train.

    Lhasa Apsos are fairly easy to train.

    Do Dandie Dinmont Terriers Bark and Howl? What about Lhasa Apsos?

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

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

    Can Dandie Dinmont Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Lhasa Apsos Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Lhasa Apsos can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Can Dandie Dinmont Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Lhasa Apsos Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

    Lhasa Apsos cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Dandie Dinmont Terrier or the Lhasa Apso?

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Lhasa Apsos get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Do Dandie Dinmont Terriers shed more than Lhasa Apsos?

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers shed moderately.

    Lhasa Apsos shed moderately.

    Wanderlust Potential: Dandie Dinmont Terrier vs. Lhasa Apso

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

    Lhasa Apsos 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 Lhasa Apso?

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Lhasa Apsos adapt very well to apartment living.

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

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers are very good for new dog owners.

    Lhasa Apsos are very good for new dog owners.

    How Kid-friendly are Dandie Dinmont Terriers and Lhasa Apsos?

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

    Lhasa Apsos get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

    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.

    Lhasa Apsos 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 Lhasa Apsos?

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

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

    • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Lhasa Apso

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

  • Cardigan Welsh Corgi (77 percent match with Lhasa Apso). Here is our comparison of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier vs Cardigan Welsh Corgi.
  • Peek A Poo (79 percent match with Lhasa Apso). Here is our comparison of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier vs Peek A Poo.

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Dandie Dinmont Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Papipoo     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Caucasian Shepherd Dog     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Treeing Walker Coonhound     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Mudi     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Boerboel     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Newfoundland     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Welsh Terrier     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Miniature Poodle     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Westiepoo     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Neapolitan Mastiff     

    Lhasa Apso Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Lhasa Apso versus Saluki     Lhasa Apso versus Borzoi     Lhasa Apso versus French Spaniel     Lhasa Apso versus Doberman Pinscher     Lhasa Apso versus Great Dane     Lhasa Apso versus Cairn Terrier     Lhasa Apso versus Caucasian Shepherd Dog     Lhasa Apso versus Harrier     Lhasa Apso versus Welsh Springer Spaniel     Lhasa Apso versus German Shorthaired Pointer     

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