Dandie Dinmont Terrier

Size
Small (under 11kg)
Exercise
20 min/day
Training
Puppy school only
Size of home
Some outdoor space
Time at home
Alone with support
Grooming
Frequent
Barking preference
Moderate
Personality
Independent + affectionate

History

The Dandie Dinmont Terrier has existed as a recognised breed type for at least 300 years. First known as ‘pepper and mustard’ Terriers, Dandie Dinmont Terriers were found principally in the Scottish borders, where the breed was commonly owned by gypsies. Like most Terriers, Dandies were used to flush out and kill animals considered pests at the time, in particular badgers and otters.

It was not until the early nineteenth century that Dandies gained greater popularity, as well as the rather whimsical name. The breed shares a common ancestry with the Bedlington Terrier and most probably the Border Terrier, Skye Terrier and Scottish Terrier.

Temperament

The Dandie has been described as the most placid, easygoing and docile of the Terriers. It is not prone to snappiness or yapping and the breed’s demeanour is one of intelligence and tolerance.

The Dandie is generally friendly to all, old or young, and does not usually initiate conflict with other dogs, though when offended will be a fearless opponent. It is an intelligent and sensitive dog with a big personality and bark for its size.

Appearance

The Dandie is an achondroplastic breed with short legs, slightly turning out feet good for digging and a sturdy, long and curvaceous body. Most uniquely it has a large head covered with a profuse soft and silky topknot of hair and complemented by tassled ears, large, round and soulful eyes and very big teeth.

The breed’s body is covered by a crisp and linty coat, unlike any of the other working Terriers, and it is bred in two colours: pepper or mustard. In each colour the hair of the legs and topknot are of either a silvery blue (in peppers) or a creamy white (in mustards).

Health

Overall the Dandie is a healthy and hardy little dog. Glaucoma has been identified as a problem in some Dandie bloodlines and there is anecdotal evidence that suggests the breed is more predisposed to some cancers. Other than that, like most dogs it can develop arthritis and other diseases associated with ageing.

Maintenance & Suitability

Dandies like to be part of the family so generally don’t suit kennel life. The breed can be playful and active but also a loving lap dog. When young, like all puppies, they can be very naughty, disobedient and destructive. Having big personalities, Dandies respond best to a combination of strict guidelines and positive rewards.

The Dandie does not moult, which makes it an excellent house dog. However, its coat does require regular brushing and professional grooming. A show Dandie will need its body coat stripped to maintain colour and texture. The leg furnishings and topknot need regular trimming. Pet Dandies can be clipped and it’s important to keep the hair around the eyes and on the top of the nose trimmed to prevent eye irritation.

Words: Dr Emma Greenway

In Conclusion

Now you know a little about the Dandie Dinmont Terrier, you may think that this is the dog for you. Before you make a decision, please make contact with the breed club or your State controlling body for purebred dogs. They will be able to give you information about available puppies and also suggest dog shows where you can see the breed and speak to breeders. In this way you will gain a better perspective of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and its needs, and whether this breed would suit your lifestyle.

Official breed standard as recognized by Dogs NSW (Last Updated: 22 Feb 2017)

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A breed standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament, and appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function with soundness essential. Breeders and judges should at all times be mindful of features which could be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of this breed.

General Appearance

Distinctive head with beautiful silky covering, with large, wise intelligent eyes offsetting long, low weasley body. Short, strong legs; weatherproof coat.

Characteristics

Game, workmanlike Terrier.

Temperament

Independent, highly intelligent, determined, persistent, sensitive, affectionate and dignified.

Physical Standards

Head and Skull	Head strongly made, large but in proportion to dog's size, muscles showing extraordinary development, especially the maxillary. Skull broad, narrowing towards eye, measuring about same from inner corner of eye to back of skull, as from ear to ear. Forehead well domed; head covered with very soft, silky hair not confined to mere topknot. Cheeks gradually tapering towards deep and strongly made muzzle. Muzzle in proportion to skull as three is to five. Top of muzzle has triangular bare patch pointing backwards to eyes from nose about an inch broad. Nose black.
Eyes	Rich dark hazel; set wide apart and low, large for a small dog, bright, full and round but not protruding.
Ears	Pendulous, set well back, wide apart, low on skull, hanging close to cheeks with very slight projection at base; broad at junction of head and tapering almost to a point, fore part of ear coming almost straight down from its junction with head to tip. Cartilage and skin of ear very thin. Length of ear, from 7.5 - 10 cms (3 - 4 ins). Ears harmonise in colour with body colour. In a pepper dog covered with soft, straight, dark hair (in some cases almost black). In a mustard dog, hair mustard in colour, a shade darker than body but not black. Both should have a thin feather of light hair starting about 5 cms (2 ins.) from the tip, and of nearly the same colour and texture as topknot, giving ear appearance of a distinct point. This may not appear until after the age of two years.
Mouth	Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Any deviation highly undesirable. Teeth very strong especially canines which are extraordinary in size for a small dog. Canines fit well against each other, to give greatest available holding and punishing powers. Inside of mouth black or dark coloured.
Neck	Very muscular, well developed and strong, showing great power. Well set into shoulders.
Forequarters	Shoulders well laid back but not heavy. Forelegs short with immense muscular development and bone, set wide apart and chest coming well down between them. Forearms to follow line of chest with feet pointing forward or slightly outward when standing. Bandy legs highly undesirable.
Body	Long, strong and flexible; ribs well sprung and round, chest well developed and well let down between forelegs; back rather low at shoulders having slight downward curve and corresponding arch over loins, slight gradual drop from top of loin to root of tail. Backbone well muscled.
Hindquarters	Hindlegs a little longer than forelegs; set rather wide apart, but not spread out in an unnatural manner; thighs well developed. Stifles angulated, hocks well let down. Dew claws, if present, customarily removed.
Feet	Round and well padded. Hind feet smaller than forefeet. Nails dark but varying in shade according to colour of body. Flat or open feet highly undesirable.
Tail	Rather short from 20 - 25 cms (8 - 10 ins), rather thick at root, getting thicker for about 10 cms (4 ins) and tapering off to a point. Not twisted or curled in any way but with a curve like a scimitar, the tip when excited being in a perpendicular line with root of tail, set neither too high nor too low. When not excited carried gaily a little above body level.
Gait/Movement	Strong, straight impulsion from rear, giving a fluent free and easy stride, reaching forward at the front. A stiff, stilted, hopping or weaving gait highly undesirable.
Coat	Very important feature of the breed. Hair should be about 5cms (2 ins) long.Double coat with a soft linty undercoat and a harder topcoat, not wiry but giving crisp feel to the hand. The coat should not 'shed' down the back, but should lie in pencils caused by the harder hair coming through the softer undercoat. The forelegs have feather about 5 cms (2 ins) long. Upper side of tail covered with wiry hair, under-side not so wiry with neat feathering of softer hair.
Colour	Pepper or mustard.PEPPER - Ranges from dark bluish black to light silvery grey, intermediate shades preferred. Body colour coming well down shoulder and hips gradually emerging into colour of legs and feet which varies according to body colour from rich tan to pale fawn. Profuse silvery white topknot.MUSTARD - Varies from reddish brown to pale fawn. Profuse creamy white topknot, legs and feet of darker shade than head. In both colours feather on forelegs rather lighter than hair on fore part of leg. Some white hair on chest and white nails permissible. White feet undesirable. Hair on under-side of tail lighter than on upperside which should be darker colour than body.
Size	The height at withers should be from 20-28cms (8-11 ins), length from withers to root of tail should not be more than twice the height, but preferably 2.5-5cm (1" to 2") less.

Faults

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.