Why the Border Collie is Better than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier as a Pet

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Border Collie Versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier: Introduction

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

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

Note that the border collie breed comes in two varieties based on coat texture. There is the smooth-coat border collie and the rough-coat border collie. Read our article on rough-coat border collie versus smooth-coat border collie.

Furthermore, the border collie dog breed is very different from the collie dog breed. Learn about the differences between these two dog breeds in our border collie versus collie article.

Finally, just like the border collie, the collie also comes in two varieties. There is the rough collie and the smooth collie. To learn about the differences and similarities between them, check out our article on rough collie versus smooth collie.

Border Collie versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier

Border Collie versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier: Overview

A very important difference between the Border Collie and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Border Collie is a medium-sized dog while the Dandie Dinmont Terrier is a tiny-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Border Collie belongs to the Herding Dogs group. Herding Dogs were bred for moving livestock, including sheep, cattle, and even reindeer. Herding dogs work closely with their human shepherds, and their natural intelligence and responsiveness make them highly trainable. They have high levels of energy, which needs to be channeled properly to prevent destructive behavior. Herding breeds are protective of their people and property and make excellent watchdogs. Their intelligence, agility, and activity level make them well suited to dog sports.

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.

Border Collie versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Border Collie 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 Border Collie and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier

FactorBorder CollieDandie Dinmont Terrier
Tolerates Being Alone1/52/5
Does NOT Drool5/55/5
Life Span12 to 15 years12 to 15 years
Height18 to 22 inches tall at the shoulder8 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder
Adapts Well To Apartment Living2/54/5
Good For Novice Owners2/54/5
General Health2/53/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl4/54/5
Dog Friendly3/53/5
Does NOT Shed3/53/5
Easy To Groom3/52/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight3/52/5
Does NOT chew on things3/53/5
Low Prey Drive3/52/5
Tendency NOT to Wander3/53/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor3/53/5
Weight30 to 45 pounds18 to 24 pounds
Tolerates Cold Weather4/53/5
Tolerates Hot Weather4/53/5
Kid-Friendly4/54/5
Easygoing1/53/5
Affectionate With Family5/55/5
Friendly Toward Strangers5/53/5
Easy To Train5/52/5
Intelligence5/53/5
NOT Rambunctious1/53/5
Minimal Exercise Needs1/54/5
Potential For Playfulness5/54/5
Average Lifespan13.5 years13.5 years
Average Price$1000No Data
Price Range$600 – $1250No Data
Temperament Score82.4 percent71.4 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Clear By Parentage
  • Collie Eye Anomaly
  • Congenital Deafness
  • DNA Repository
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination, recommended annually until age 7
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis
  • Shoulders
  • TNS Info
  • Trapped Neutrophil Syndrome
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds36173
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds)162
    *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 Border Collie 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 Border Collie is 80 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Dandie Dinmont Terrier is 80 out of 125.

    Despite the equal Better-Pet score of the Border Collie and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier, we still think that the Border Collie is a better pet than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

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

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

    Border Collie versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Border Collie and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier

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

  • Border Collies are very easy to train. However, Dandie Dinmont Terriers are not easy to train.
  • Border Collies require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise. However, Dandie Dinmont Terriers have low exercise needs.
  • The Similarities Between the Border Collie and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier

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

  • Both the Border Collie and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Border Collie and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Border Collie and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier have the tendency to develop certain health problems.
  • Both the Border Collie and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Border Collie and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Border Collie and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Border Collie and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Border Collie and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Border Collie and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier are very playful.
  • Size Comparison of the Border Collie versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier

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

    The Border Collie weighs 30 to 45 pounds when fully grown. The Border Collie is 18 to 22 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 Border Collie versus Size of Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Here is our article on Border Collie size, Border Collie growth, and Border Collie weight.

    Lifespan of Border Collie versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    The lifespan of the Border Collie is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of the Border Collie 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 lives as long as the Border Collie.

    Go to this article to learn more about Border Collie lifespan and how long Border Collie live.

    Border Collie versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Temperament of the Border Collie Versus the Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    The Border Collie has a better temperament than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

    This is because the temperament score for the Border Collie is 82.4 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 82.4 percent, the Border Collie 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 Border Collie and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier by measuring the temperaments of 312 Border Collies and 7 Dandie Dinmont Terriers.

    Border Collie versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    The Intelligence of the Border Collie versus the Intelligence of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Border Collie Dandie Dinmont Terrier
    Intelligence Rank 1 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 Border Collie has an obedience intelligence rank of 1 out of 130 dog breeds. The Border Collie belongs to the `Brightest Dogs` category. This means that Border Collies 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 Border Collie 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 Border Collie 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 Border Collie and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Border Collie is more popular with dog owners than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Border Collie is 36 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 Border Collie

    Popularity of Border Collie

    Popularity of Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Popularity of Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Year Border Collie Popularity Rank Dandie Dinmont Terrier Popularity Rank
    2013 44 168
    2014 40 167
    2015 38 172
    2016 38 167
    2017 38 182
    2018 35 176
    2019 33 174
    2020 32 181
    2021 31 174

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

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

    13 health tests are recommended for Border Collie while 2 tests are recommended for the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

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

    Border Collie Health Problems

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

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Clear By Parentage
  • Collie Eye Anomaly
  • Congenital Deafness
  • DNA Repository
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination, recommended annually until age 7
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis
  • Shoulders
  • TNS Info
  • Trapped Neutrophil Syndrome

  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Border Collies 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: Border Collie versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Border Collies do not like to be left alone.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Do Border Collies shed more than Dandie Dinmont Terriers?

    Border Collies shed moderately.

    Check out our articles to learn more on how to minimize shedding in Border Collies, and on how to groom a Border Collie

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers shed moderately.

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

    Border Collies are moderately easy to groom.

    To learn more about how to properly groom a Border Collie, check out our article on how to groom a Border Collie.

    Learn more on how to take care of a Border Collie here.

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

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

    Border Collies get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Are Border Collies good family dogs? What about Dandie Dinmont Terriers?

    Border Collies are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Border Collie make a good addition to a family. They love kids and kids love them.

    Learn about Border Collie temperament here.

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

    Is the Border Collie Easier to Train than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier?

    Border Collies are very easy to train.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers are not easy to train.

    Which one drools more, the Border Collie or the Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Border Collies do have a very low tendency to drool.

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

    How Kid-friendly are Border Collies and Dandie Dinmont Terriers?

    Border Collies get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

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

    Border Collies have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and 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 Border Collies Bark and Howl? What about Dandie Dinmont Terriers?

    Border Collies 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 Border Collies Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Dandie Dinmont Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Border Collies can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Border Collie vs. Dandie Dinmont Terrier

    Border Collies 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 Border Collies Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Dandie Dinmont Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Border Collies can tolerate hot weather.

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

    Is the Border Collie Better for Apartment Owners than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier?

    Border Collies do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

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

    Border Collies are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Dandie Dinmont Terriers are very good for new dog owners.

    Border Collie Versus Other Dog Breeds

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

    Border Collie versus Polish Lowland Sheepdog     Border Collie versus Alaskan Klee Kai     Border Collie versus Border Terrier     Border Collie versus Morkie     Border Collie versus Brittany     Border Collie versus Coton de Tulear     Border Collie versus Australian Shepherd     Border Collie versus Rhodesian Ridgeback     Border Collie versus Azawakh     Border Collie versus Patterdale Terrier     Border Collie versus Basset Hound     Border Collie versus Field Spaniel     Border Collie versus Mudi     Border Collie versus Redbone Coonhound     Border Collie versus Irish Water Spaniel     Border Collie versus Pomchi     Border Collie versus Belgian Malinois     Border Collie versus Yorkipoo     

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