A Detailed Comparison of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Shihpoo.

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Dandie Dinmont Terrier Versus Shihpoo: Introduction

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

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

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 Shihpoo

Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Shihpoo: Overview

Both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Shihpoo are similar in size. The Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Shihpoo 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 Shihpoo belongs to the Mixed Breed Dogs group. Mixed Breed Dogs are not purebred dogs.

Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Shihpoo: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Dandie Dinmont Terrier to the Shihpoo 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 Shihpoo
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 13 to 17 years
Weight 18 to 24 pounds 8 to 18 pounds
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 2/5
Easy To Groom 2/5 2/5
Easy To Train 2/5 2/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 4/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 4/5 4/5
Easygoing 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 3/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 2/5
Dog Friendly 3/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 4/5
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 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 5/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 4/5 5/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 2/5
Kid-Friendly 4/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 2/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 4/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 4/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Height 8 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder 8 to 18 inches
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 15.0 years
Price Range No Data $1200 – $2000
Average Price No Data $1590
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination
    		•  No Data

    *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 Shihpoo. 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 Shihpoo is 84 out of 125.

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

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

    The Similarities Between the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Shihpoo

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

  • Both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Shihpoo do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Shihpoo do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Shihpoo require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Shihpoo are not easy to train.
  • Both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Shihpoo are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Shihpoo have low exercise needs.
  • Both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Shihpoo adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Shihpoo get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Shihpoo gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Shihpoo are very playful.
  • Both the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Shihpoo are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

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

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

    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, Shihpoos weigh 8 to 18 pounds when fully grown. Shihpoos are 8 to 18 inches when fully grown.

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

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

    Shihpoos do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Shihpoo

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Shihpoos do not like to be left alone.

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

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

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

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

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers are not easy to train.

    Shihpoos are not easy to train.

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

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

    Shihpoos are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

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

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Shihpoos can moderately tolerate cold weather.

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

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

    Shihpoos cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

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

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Shihpoos do not get along well with other dogs.

    Do Dandie Dinmont Terriers shed more than Shihpoos?

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers shed moderately.

    Shihpoos do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Wanderlust Potential: Dandie Dinmont Terrier vs. Shihpoo

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

    Shihpoos 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 Shihpoo?

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Shihpoos adapt very well to apartment living.

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

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers are very good for new dog owners.

    Shihpoos are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    How Kid-friendly are Dandie Dinmont Terriers and Shihpoos?

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

    Shihpoos get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.

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

    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.

    Shihpoos have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

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

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

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

    • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Shihpoo

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

  • Japanese Chin (75 percent match with Shihpoo). Here is our comparison of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier vs Japanese Chin.
  • Shiranian (76 percent match with Shihpoo). Here is our comparison of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier vs Shiranian.

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Dandie Dinmont Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus English Setter     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Leonberger     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Standard Schnauzer     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Norwegian Buhund     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Pomchi     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Puggle     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Lakeland Terrier     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Norwegian Lundehund     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Pomchi     Dandie Dinmont Terrier versus Pomeranian     

    Shihpoo Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Shihpoo versus Standard Schnauzer     Shihpoo versus Japanese Spitz     Shihpoo versus Alaskan Klee Kai     Shihpoo versus Cavalier King Charles Spaniel     Shihpoo versus Peek A Poo     Shihpoo versus Komondor     Shihpoo versus Sloughi     Shihpoo versus Bouvier des Flandres     Shihpoo versus Puggle     Shihpoo versus German Shepherd Dog     

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