Dandie Dinmont Terrier | Dog Breed Information & Facts – Pictures

Sharing the same dog breeds family as the Australian Silky Terrier or the Yorkshire Terrier, the dandie dinmont terrier is another of the breeds that make up the large family of terrier dogs. These small, long, leafy hairs are one of the oldest breeds in the Great Britain, where they came from, which is why, after so many years of history, and having shared a house with many families. Nobles of the time, it was a shame that the Dandie Dinmont dogs were classified as an unpopular breed of dogs, as it is estimated that around 300 specimens are born each year in Ireland and the United Kingdom.

This small dog has large expressive eyes and a distinctive, silky and soft coat on the head. The double coat of the body includes a soft lower coat and a harder upper coat, which can be pepper or mustard in color.

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The dandie dinmont terrier dog breed is very different from most other terriers.

Its coat is a mixture of hard and soft hair ranging from black to pale gray (“pepper”) or red to fawn (“mustard”). The size of the dandie dinmont terrier is very small – only 20-28 cm, and the ideal weight is 8-11 kg.

• Head: Large and round. The transition to the muzzle is pronounced. Powerful forehead.
• Jaws: Powerful with a scissor bite.
• Ears: Large and set high. Slightly rounded at the ends, hanging.
• Eyes: Expressive and large dark brown.
• Torso: Well developed, elongated and earthy. The chest is wide.
• Legs: Short and strong. The forelimbs are slightly longer than the hind limbs.
• Coat: Rigid and long, mustard or pepper colour. There is a soft undercoat.

Loyal and faithful. He attaches himself to the members of the family, but only one is recognized as the owner, and it is to him whom he obeys without asking questions.

Cheerful and curious. He does not rush to strangers, he treats everyone first neutrally, then positively. In case of danger to relatives, he attacks without hesitation, even if the enemy is stronger and larger.

Very calm, but also energetic. He likes to spend time outdoors. He is an excellent runner. The dandie dinmont terrier is suitable for owners who lead an active lifestyle. For example, it will perfectly support running behind a bicycle. Also suitable for home and measured life.

The Dandie Dinmont Terrier is prone to the following health problems:

• Epilepsy – accompanied by seizures that appear against the background of the pathology of the brain.
• Glaucoma is a clouding of the lens that can lead to loss of vision.
• Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract – often occur due to overfeeding or due to improper diet. The special structure of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier body contributes to such problems.
• Back problems – Back injuries are common due to its extraordinary length. Terriers especially suffer from back problems at the age of 10-15 years.

The Dandie Dinmont Terrier should be brushed at least twice a week. Bathe your dog at least once a month. Ears are cleaned two to three times a week, eyes are cleaned daily, nails are trimmed about three times a month.

Also, always watch your pet’s diet, because if he gains excess weight, he may start having back problems.

• The name of the breed is given in honor of the main character of the novel “Guy Manning” by dandie Dinmont. This hero was created from the image of James Davidson. It is this man who is the “father” of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier dogs.
• Among all the household members, the dandie singles out one owner for himself. In his presence, the dog obeys everyone, but when he is not at home, the terrier can ignore the commands of family members.
• The Dandie Dinmont Terrier dog ​​was a favorite of Queen Victoria, other royalty also had pets in the form of Dinmont Terriers.
• Dandie Terrier puppies are born with a dark coat. Only by the age of three does the coat color become fully formed, permanent.

For the first time, information about the Dandie Dinmont Terrier appeared in the sixteenth century. This is one of the most ancient branches of the terrier breed. It appeared thanks to the breeders who bred the specified species. The genes of old Scottish terriers were used in the work. Crossbreeding was carried out between Skye terriers and Bedlington terrier dogs.

Work on the formation of this terrier was carried out in Scotland and ended in the eighteenth century. This country is considered the birthplace of the breed.

Initially, these small dogs were bred by gypsies and Scottish farmers. These pets were supposed to hunt rats and other rodents. They also announced the arrival of uninvited guests with loud barks.

Then more experienced breeders took up dandie terriers. In the course of breeding, they tried to create hunting dogs with small dimensions, lightning-fast reaction, speed, developed sense of smell and courage.

The goal was achieved. Dandie Dinmont Terrier has become an excellent helper during the hunt. He easily hunted such game as badgers, otters and other burrowing animals. It is also worth noting that rats will never live in the terrier’s habitat. From time immemorial, the dog has been fighting a merciless fight with them.

The Dandie Dinmont Terrier was not very popular. But after the publication of the novel by Walter Scott, in which the main character contained a whole pack of dandie terriers, the popularity of the breed skyrocketed.

In the novel, the Dandie Dinmont dogs were described so enticing that many readers immediately wished to have such a dog. The population has increased dramatically not only in Scotland, in England. In European countries, representatives of the breed have also gained popularity.

The modern Dandie Dinmont Terrier has been retrained from hunting dogs to decorative ones. This species is considered the rarest among the rest of the terriers.