Why the Doberman Pinscher is Better than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier as a Pet

Last Updated: Jun 18, 2022

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Doberman Pinscher Versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Doberman Pinscher and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Doberman Pinscher and the Dandie Dinmont 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 Doberman Pinscher and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Doberman Pinscher and the Dandie Dinmont 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 Doberman Pinscher and for the Dandie Dinmont Terrier. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Doberman Pinscher and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Doberman Pinscher or the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

Doberman Pinscher versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier

Doberman Pinscher versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier: Overview

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

Furthermore, the Doberman Pinscher belongs to the Working Dogs group. Working Dogs were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.

On the other hand, 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.

Doberman Pinscher versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Doberman Pinscher to the Dandie Dinmont 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.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Doberman Pinscher and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier

FactorDoberman PinscherDandie Dinmont Terrier
Tolerates Cold Weather1/53/5
Dog Friendly1/53/5
General Health1/53/5
Low Prey Drive5/52/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl5/54/5
Life Span10 to 13 years12 to 15 years
Tolerates Being Alone2/52/5
Does NOT chew on things4/53/5
Tendency NOT to Wander4/53/5
Height24 to 28 inches tall at the shoulder8 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder
Adapts Well To Apartment Living3/54/5
Good For Novice Owners3/54/5
Kid-Friendly3/54/5
Friendly Toward Strangers3/53/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight3/52/5
NOT Rambunctious3/53/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor3/53/5
Minimal Exercise Needs3/54/5
Tolerates Hot Weather4/53/5
Does NOT Shed2/53/5
Does NOT Drool2/55/5
Easygoing1/53/5
Affectionate With Family5/55/5
Easy To Groom5/52/5
Easy To Train5/52/5
Intelligence5/53/5
Potential For Playfulness5/54/5
Weight60 to 80 pounds18 to 24 pounds
Average Lifespan11.5 years13.5 years
Average Price$1910No Data
Price Range$1100 – $2500No Data
Temperament Score79.5 percent71.4 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • von Willebrand`s Disease
  • Working Aptitude
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds15173
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds)562
    *Data from AKC.org (The American Kennel Club),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 Doberman Pinscher 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 Dandie Dinmont 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 the Doberman Pinscher is 81 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Dandie Dinmont Terrier is 80 out of 125.

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

    Doberman Pinscher versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Doberman Pinscher and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Below is a list of where the Doberman Pinscher and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier are most different:

  • Doberman Pinschers have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets. However, Dandie Dinmont Terriers have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Doberman Pinschers have a very high tendency to drool. However, Dandie Dinmont Terriers do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Doberman Pinschers are very easy to groom. However, Dandie Dinmont Terriers require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Doberman Pinschers are very easy to train. However, Dandie Dinmont Terriers are not easy to train.
  • The Similarities Between the Doberman Pinscher and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier

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

  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier are very playful.
  • Size Comparison of the Doberman Pinscher versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier

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

    The Doberman Pinscher weighs 60 to 80 pounds when fully grown. The Doberman Pinscher is 24 to 28 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, the Dandie Dinmont Terrier weighs 18 to 24 pounds when fully grown. The Dandie Dinmont Terrier is 8 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Size of Doberman Pinscher versus Size of Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Lifespan of Doberman Pinscher versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    The lifespan of the Doberman Pinscher is between 10 to 13 years. The average lifespan of the Doberman Pinscher is 11.5 years.

    The lifespan of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier is 13.5 years.

    The Dandie Dinmont Terrier live longer than the Doberman Pinscher.

    Doberman Pinscher versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Temperament of the Doberman Pinscher Versus the Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    The Doberman Pinscher has a better temperament than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

    This is because the temperament score for the Doberman Pinscher is 79.5 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 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 79.5 percent, the Doberman Pinscher has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 71.4 percent, the Dandie Dinmont Terrier has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Doberman Pinscher and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier by measuring the temperaments of 1780 Doberman Pinschers and 7 Dandie Dinmont Terriers.

    Doberman Pinscher versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    The Intelligence of the Doberman Pinscher versus the Intelligence of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Doberman Pinscher Dandie Dinmont Terrier
    Intelligence Rank 5 out of 130 dog breeds 62 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After Fewer Than 5 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 Doberman Pinscher has an obedience intelligence rank of 5 out of 130 dog breeds. The Doberman Pinscher belongs to the `Brightest Dogs` category. This means that Doberman Pinschers tend to learn new commands after fewer than 5 repetitions.

    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 Doberman Pinscher 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 Doberman Pinscher versus Popularity of Dandie Dinmont 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 Doberman Pinscher and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Doberman Pinscher is more popular with dog owners than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Doberman Pinscher is 15 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 Doberman Pinscher

    Popularity of Doberman Pinscher

    Popularity of Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Popularity of Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Year Doberman Pinscher Popularity Rank Dandie Dinmont Terrier Popularity Rank
    2013 12 168
    2014 14 167
    2015 14 172
    2016 15 167
    2017 16 182
    2018 17 176
    2019 19 174
    2020 18 181
    2021 16 174

    Health Problems of Doberman Pinscher versus Health Problems of Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.

    Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Dandie Dinmont 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 Doberman Pinscher is prone to more genetic health problems than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

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

    6 health tests are recommended for Doberman Pinscher while 2 tests are recommended for the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

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

    Doberman Pinscher Health Problems

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

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • von Willebrand`s Disease
  • Working Aptitude

  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Doberman Pinschers here.

    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.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Doberman Pinscher versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Doberman Pinschers do not like to be left alone.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Do Doberman Pinschers shed more than Dandie Dinmont Terriers?

    Doberman Pinschers shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers shed moderately.

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

    Doberman Pinschers are very easy to groom.

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

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

    Doberman Pinschers do not get along well with other dogs.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Are Doberman Pinschers good family dogs? What about Dandie Dinmont Terriers?

    Doberman Pinschers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

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

    Is the Doberman Pinscher Easier to Train than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier?

    Doberman Pinschers are very easy to train.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers are not easy to train.

    Which one drools more, the Doberman Pinscher or the Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Doberman Pinschers have a very high tendency to drool.

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

    How Kid-friendly are Doberman Pinschers and Dandie Dinmont Terriers?

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

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

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

    Doberman Pinschers 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.

    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.

    Do Doberman Pinschers Bark and Howl? What about Dandie Dinmont Terriers?

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

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

    Can Doberman Pinschers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Dandie Dinmont Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Doberman Pinschers cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Doberman Pinscher vs. Dandie Dinmont Terrier

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

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

    Can Doberman Pinschers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Dandie Dinmont Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Doberman Pinschers can tolerate hot weather.

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

    Is the Doberman Pinscher Better for Apartment Owners than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier?

    Doberman Pinschers adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

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

    Doberman Pinschers are OK for new dog owners.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers are very good for new dog owners.

    Doberman Pinscher Versus Other Dog Breeds

    You may also be interested in how the Doberman Pinscher compares to other breeds aside from the Dandie Dinmont Terrier. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Doberman Pinscher to other breeds:

    Doberman Pinscher versus Goldador     Doberman Pinscher versus Brittany     Doberman Pinscher versus Braque du Bourbonnais     Doberman Pinscher versus American Pit Bull Terrier     Doberman Pinscher versus Caucasian Shepherd Dog     Doberman Pinscher versus Standard Poodle     Doberman Pinscher versus Tibetan Spaniel     Doberman Pinscher versus Doberman Pinscher     Doberman Pinscher versus Briard     Doberman Pinscher versus Great Pyrenees     Doberman Pinscher versus Affenpinscher     Doberman Pinscher versus Afghan Hound     Doberman Pinscher versus Black Russian Terrier     Doberman Pinscher versus Wirehaired Pointing Griffon     Doberman Pinscher versus Finnish Spitz     Doberman Pinscher versus Pharaoh Hound     Doberman Pinscher versus Cockapoo     

    Conclusion: Doberman Pinscher versus Dandie Dinmont 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 Doberman Pinscher and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier better suits you and your family.