Why you Should Get the Yorkshire Terrier Instead of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

Last Updated: Apr 09, 2022

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Yorkshire Terrier Versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Yorkshire Terrier 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 Yorkshire Terrier 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 Yorkshire Terrier 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 Yorkshire Terrier or the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

Yorkshire Terrier versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier

Yorkshire Terrier versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier: Overview

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

Furthermore, the Yorkshire Terrier 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.

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.

Yorkshire Terrier versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Yorkshire Terrier 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 Yorkshire Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier

FactorYorkshire TerrierDandie Dinmont Terrier
Does NOT Drool5/55/5
Life Span12 to 15 years12 to 15 years
Tolerates Being Alone2/52/5
Tolerates Cold Weather2/53/5
Tolerates Hot Weather2/53/5
Kid-Friendly2/54/5
Friendly Toward Strangers2/53/5
Does NOT Shed4/53/5
Easy To Groom2/52/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight4/52/5
Does NOT chew on things4/53/5
Low Prey Drive4/52/5
Dog Friendly3/53/5
Easy To Train3/52/5
Intelligence3/53/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl3/54/5
Tendency NOT to Wander3/53/5
Good For Novice Owners4/54/5
Affectionate With Family4/55/5
General Health4/53/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor2/53/5
Minimal Exercise Needs2/54/5
Weight4 to 6 pounds18 to 24 pounds
Adapts Well To Apartment Living5/54/5
Easygoing1/53/5
NOT Rambunctious1/53/5
Potential For Playfulness5/54/5
Height8 to 9 inches tall at the shoulder8 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder
Average Lifespan13.5 years13.5 years
Average Price$2420No Data
Price Range$1600 – $2950No Data
Temperament Score83.7 percent71.4 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cornell DNA Bank
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination- Prior to the onset of breeding, recommend evaluations at 1, 3, and 6 Years of Age.
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds9173
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds)2762

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Yorkshire 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 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 Yorkshire Terrier is 76 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Dandie Dinmont Terrier is 80 out of 125.

    Despite the higher Better-Pet score of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier, we still believe that the Yorkshire Terrier is a better pet than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

    This is because Yorkshire Terriers are much cuter but you cannot put a score on cuteness. If you could put a score on cuteness, then the Yorkshire Terrier will come out on top.

    Also, we are biased in favor of the Yorkshire Terrier :-). We are for the Yorkshire Terrier. So get a Yorkshire Terrier!

    Yorkshire Terrier versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    The Similarities Between the Yorkshire Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier

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

  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier are not very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier are good for new dog owners.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier are very playful.
  • Size Comparison of the Yorkshire Terrier versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier

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

    The Yorkshire Terrier weighs 4 to 6 pounds when fully grown. The Yorkshire Terrier is 8 to 9 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 Yorkshire Terrier versus Size of Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Lifespan of Yorkshire Terrier versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    The lifespan of the Yorkshire Terrier is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of the Yorkshire Terrier is 13.5 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 as long as the Yorkshire Terrier.

    Yorkshire Terrier versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Temperament of the Yorkshire Terrier Versus the Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    The Yorkshire Terrier has a better temperament than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

    This is because the temperament score for the Yorkshire Terrier is 83.7 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 83.7 percent, the Yorkshire Terrier 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 Yorkshire Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier by measuring the temperaments of 43 Yorkshire Terriers and 7 Dandie Dinmont Terriers.

    Yorkshire Terrier versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    The Intelligence of the Yorkshire Terrier versus the Intelligence of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    `
    Yorkshire Terrier Dandie Dinmont Terrier
    Intelligence Rank 27 out of 130 dog breeds 62 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 15 To 25 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 Yorkshire Terrier has an obedience intelligence rank of 27 out of 130 dog breeds. The Yorkshire Terrier belongs to the `Above Average Working Dogs` category. This means that Yorkshire Terriers tend to learn new commands after 15 to 25 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 Yorkshire 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 Yorkshire Terrier 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 Yorkshire Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Yorkshire Terrier is more popular with dog owners than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Yorkshire Terrier is 9 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 Yorkshire Terrier

    Popularity of Yorkshire Terrier

    Popularity of Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Popularity of Dandie Dinmont Terrier

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    Year Yorkshire Terrier Popularity Rank Dandie Dinmont Terrier Popularity Rank
    2013 6 168
    2014 6 167
    2015 7 172
    2016 9 167
    2017 9 182
    2018 10 176
    2019 12 174
    2020 13 181
    2021 13 174

    Health Problems of Yorkshire Terrier 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 Yorkshire Terrier 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 Yorkshire 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 Yorkshire Terrier than for the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

    7 health tests are recommended for Yorkshire Terrier while 2 tests are recommended for the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

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

    Yorkshire Terrier Health Problems

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

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cornell DNA Bank
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination- Prior to the onset of breeding, recommend evaluations at 1, 3, and 6 Years of Age.
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation

  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Yorkshire Terriers 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: Yorkshire Terrier versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Yorkshire Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Do Yorkshire Terriers shed more than Dandie Dinmont Terriers?

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

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers shed moderately.

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

    Yorkshire Terriers require a lot of grooming and they are not 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 Yorkshire Terrier or the Dandie Dinmont Terrier?

    Yorkshire Terriers get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers get along fairly well with other dogs.

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

    Yorkshire Terriers 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 Yorkshire Terrier Easier to Train than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier?

    Yorkshire Terriers are fairly easy to train.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers are not easy to train.

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

    Yorkshire Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

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

    How Kid-friendly are Yorkshire Terriers and Dandie Dinmont Terriers?

    Yorkshire Terriers do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.

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

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

    Yorkshire Terriers 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 Yorkshire Terriers Bark and Howl? What about Dandie Dinmont Terriers?

    Yorkshire Terriers bark and howl, but not very much.

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

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

    Yorkshire Terriers cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Yorkshire Terrier vs. Dandie Dinmont Terrier

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

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

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

    Yorkshire Terriers cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

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

    Is the Yorkshire Terrier Better for Apartment Owners than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier?

    Yorkshire Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

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

    Yorkshire Terriers are very good for new dog owners.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers are very good for new dog owners.

    Yorkshire Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

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

    Yorkshire Terrier versus American Hairless Terrier     Yorkshire Terrier versus Carolina Dog     Yorkshire Terrier versus Pomchi     Yorkshire Terrier versus Irish Terrier     Yorkshire Terrier versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier     Yorkshire Terrier versus Cairn Terrier     Yorkshire Terrier versus Coton de Tulear     Yorkshire Terrier versus Clumber Spaniel     Yorkshire Terrier versus Schnoodle     Yorkshire Terrier versus Appenzeller Sennenhunde     Yorkshire Terrier versus Dogo Argentino     Yorkshire Terrier versus Briard     Yorkshire Terrier versus Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen     Yorkshire Terrier versus Kishu Ken     Yorkshire Terrier versus Caucasian Shepherd Dog     

    Conclusion: Yorkshire Terrier 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 Yorkshire Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier better suits you and your family.