Is the Dandie Dinmont Terrier Better than the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever as a Pet? Answer…

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Dandie Dinmont Terrier Versus Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever? 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 Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever 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 Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever 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 Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. 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 Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.

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 Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever: Overview

A very important difference between the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Dandie Dinmont Terrier is a tiny-sized dog while the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever 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 Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever belongs to the Sporting Dogs group. Sporting Dogs were bred to help hunters catch and retrieve feathered game. Some sporting dog breeds such as Retrievers, which were built for swimming, were bred to hunt waterfowl in water. Whereas sporting dog breeds like setters, spaniels, and pointing breeds were bred to hunt quail, pheasant, and other game birds nest on grasslands. Many Sporting Group breeds have thick, water-repellent coats that protect them from harsh hunting conditions.

Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Dandie Dinmont Terrier to the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever 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 Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 10 to 14 years
Weight 18 to 24 pounds 35 to 50 pounds
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 2/5
Easy To Groom 2/5 5/5
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 4/5
Dog Friendly 3/5 4/5
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 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 3/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 4/5 5/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 3/5
Kid-Friendly 4/5 5/5
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 1 foot, 5 inches to 1 foot, 9 inches tall at the s
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 12.0 years
Price Range No Data No Data
Average Price No Data No Data
Temperament Score 71.4 percent 78.9 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 173 91

    *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 Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. 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 Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is 85 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is a better pet than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier. So, you should get the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever!

    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 Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever 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 Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

    Below is a list of where the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever are most different:

  • Dandie Dinmont Terriers require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom. However, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers are very easy to groom.
  • Dandie Dinmont Terriers have low exercise needs. However, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • The Similarities Between the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

    The Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever are most similar:

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

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.

    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, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers weigh 35 to 50 pounds when fully grown. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers are 1 foot, 5 inches to 1 foot, 9 inches tall at the s when fully grown.

    Temperament of the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Versus the Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever has a better temperament than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

    This is because the temperament score for the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is 78.9 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 78.9 percent, the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever by measuring the temperaments of 7 Dandie Dinmont Terriers and 38 Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers.

    The Popularity of Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Popularity of Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

    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 Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is more popular with dog owners than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is 91 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 Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

    Popularity of Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

    Year Dandie Dinmont Terrier Popularity Rank Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Popularity Rank
    2013 168 97
    2014 167 99
    2015 172 99
    2016 167 87
    2017 182 89
    2018 176 83
    2019 174 86
    2020 181 90

    Health Problems of Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Health Problems of Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

    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 Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever 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 Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is prone to more genetic health problems than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever than for the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

    2 health tests are recommended for Dandie Dinmont Terrier while 3 tests are recommended for the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Dandie Dinmont Terriers and in Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers.

    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.

    Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Health Problems

    Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever 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 Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever 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 Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers for:

  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers here.

    Which one drools more, the Dandie Dinmont Terrier or the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

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

    Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers do not like to be left alone.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Dandie Dinmont Terrier or the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever?

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

    Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers are very easy to groom.

    Is the Dandie Dinmont Terrier Easier to Train than the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever?

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers are not easy to train.

    Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers are very easy to train.

    Do Dandie Dinmont Terriers Bark and Howl? What about Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers?

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

    Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Can Dandie Dinmont Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Can Dandie Dinmont Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

    Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers can tolerate hot weather.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Dandie Dinmont Terrier or the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever?

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers get along very well with other dogs.

    Do Dandie Dinmont Terriers shed more than Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers?

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers shed moderately.

    Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers shed moderately.

    Wanderlust Potential: Dandie Dinmont Terrier vs. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

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

    Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers 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 Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever?

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Dandie Dinmont Terrier or the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever?

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers are very good for new dog owners.

    Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers are OK for new dog owners.

    How Kid-friendly are Dandie Dinmont Terriers and Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers?

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

    Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Does the Dandie Dinmont Terrier Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever?

    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.

    Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers 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 Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers?

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

    Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers 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 Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever vs Cavapoo.
  • Shih Tzu (79 percent match with Dandie Dinmont Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever vs Shih Tzu.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever 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 Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever:

  • Cairn Terrier (81 percent match with Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier vs Cairn Terrier.
  • English Cocker Spaniel (79 percent match with Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier vs English Cocker Spaniel.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Dandie Dinmont Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Field Spaniel     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Alaskan Klee Kai     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Greyhound     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Chihuahua     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Miniature Pinscher     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Rottweiler     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Staffordshire Bull Terrier     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Fila Brasileiro     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Gordon Setter     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Saint Bernard     

    Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever versus Bolognese     Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever versus Kishu Ken     Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever versus Mastiff     Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever versus English Toy Spaniel     Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever versus Wirehaired Pointing Griffon     Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever versus American Bulldog     Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever versus Entlebucher Mountain Dog     Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever versus Pug     Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever versus American Hairless Terrier     Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever versus Shih Tzu     

    Conclusion: Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. 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 Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever better suits you and your family.