Which is Better between the Pomeranian and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier?

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Last Updated: Apr 12, 2022

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Pomeranian Versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier: Introduction

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

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

Pomeranian versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier

Pomeranian versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier: Overview

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

Furthermore, the Pomeranian 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.

Pomeranian versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier: Comparison Table

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

FactorPomeranianDandie Dinmont Terrier
Tolerates Being Alone1/52/5
Does NOT Drool5/55/5
Tendency NOT to Wander5/53/5
Life Span12 to 16 years12 to 15 years
Tolerates Hot Weather2/53/5
Kid-Friendly2/54/5
Dog Friendly2/53/5
Easy To Groom2/52/5
Does NOT chew on things4/53/5
Low Prey Drive4/52/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor4/53/5
Minimal Exercise Needs4/54/5
Friendly Toward Strangers3/53/5
General Health3/53/5
NOT Rambunctious3/53/5
Potential For Playfulness3/54/5
Weight3 to 7 pounds18 to 24 pounds
Adapts Well To Apartment Living4/54/5
Good For Novice Owners4/54/5
Easygoing2/53/5
Tolerates Cold Weather4/53/5
Does NOT Shed2/53/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight2/52/5
Easy To Train4/52/5
Intelligence4/53/5
Affectionate With Family5/55/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl1/54/5
Height7 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder8 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder
Average Lifespan14.0 years13.5 years
Average Price$2150No Data
Price Range$1500 – $2500No Data
Temperament Score77.8 percent71.4 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination
    • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds22173
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds)2362

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Pomeranian 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 Pomeranian is 79 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 Pomeranian is a better pet than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

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

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

    Pomeranian versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Pomeranian and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier

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

  • Pomeranians are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl. However, Dandie Dinmont Terriers are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.

    • The Similarities Between the Pomeranian and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier

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

  • Both the Pomeranian and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier do not get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier have low exercise needs.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier are good for new dog owners.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    • Size Comparison of the Pomeranian versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier

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

    The Pomeranian weighs 3 to 7 pounds when fully grown. The Pomeranian is 7 to 12 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 Pomeranian versus Size of Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Lifespan of Pomeranian versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    The lifespan of the Pomeranian is between 12 to 16 years. The average lifespan of the Pomeranian is 14.0 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 Pomeranian live longer than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

    Pomeranian versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Temperament of the Pomeranian Versus the Dandie Dinmont Terrier

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

    This is because the temperament score for the Pomeranian is 77.8 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 77.8 percent, the Pomeranian 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 Pomeranian and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier by measuring the temperaments of 36 Pomeranians and 7 Dandie Dinmont Terriers.

    Pomeranian versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier

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

    Pomeranian Dandie Dinmont Terrier
    Intelligence Rank 23 out of 130 dog breeds 62 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 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 Pomeranian has an obedience intelligence rank of 23 out of 130 dog breeds. The Pomeranian belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category. This means that Pomeranians tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 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 Pomeranian 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 Pomeranian 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 Pomeranian and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Pomeranian is more popular with dog owners than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Pomeranian is 22 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 Pomeranian

    Popularity of Pomeranian

    Popularity of Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Popularity of Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Year Pomeranian Popularity Rank Dandie Dinmont Terrier Popularity Rank
    2013 19 168
    2014 20 167
    2015 21 172
    2016 22 167
    2017 22 182
    2018 23 176
    2019 24 174
    2020 23 181
    2021 24 174

    Health Problems of Pomeranian 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 Pomeranian 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 Pomeranian is prone to more genetic health problems than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

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

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

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

    Pomeranian Health Problems

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

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation

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

    Pomeranians do not like to be left alone.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Do Pomeranians shed more than Dandie Dinmont Terriers?

    Pomeranians shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers shed moderately.

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

    Pomeranians 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 Pomeranian or the Dandie Dinmont Terrier?

    Pomeranians do not get along well with other dogs.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers get along fairly well with other dogs.

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

    Pomeranians 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 Pomeranian Easier to Train than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier?

    Pomeranians are very easy to train.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers are not easy to train.

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

    Pomeranians do have a very low tendency to drool.

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

    How Kid-friendly are Pomeranians and Dandie Dinmont Terriers?

    Pomeranians 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 Pomeranian Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier?

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

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

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

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

    Pomeranians can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Pomeranian vs. Dandie Dinmont Terrier

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

    Pomeranians 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 Pomeranian Better for Apartment Owners than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier?

    Pomeranians adapt very well to apartment living.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

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

    Pomeranians are very good for new dog owners.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers are very good for new dog owners.

    Pomeranian Versus Other Dog Breeds

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

    Pomeranian versus Havanese     Pomeranian versus Sussex Spaniel     Pomeranian versus Yorkshire Terrier     Pomeranian versus Redbone Coonhound     Pomeranian versus Irish Wolfhound     Pomeranian versus German Shorthaired Pointer     Pomeranian versus Tibetan Mastiff     Pomeranian versus Peek A Poo     Pomeranian versus Golden Cocker Retriever     Pomeranian versus Pomapoo     Pomeranian versus Boerboel     Pomeranian versus French Bulldog     Pomeranian versus Greyhound     Pomeranian versus Chinook     

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