The Dandie Dinmont Terrier is a distinctive little dog of Scottish heritage, much prized for its hardiness, hunting prowess and affectionate nature.
This breed has a very long but sturdy body, short legs, bright expressive eyes, tasselled ears and a distinctive topknot of hair on top of their head. They are friendly but tough, and calmer than other terrier breeds, making them excellent companions to children. They love playtime and daily walks and thrive on human companionship. Their good nature means that they tend to get on with everyone and they do well with other dogs and can do well with cats with careful introductions. Dandies can be independent and wilful, and do well with lots of early positive training. They can make good little guard dogs and possess a surprisingly loud deep bark.
History
The Dandie Dinmont originated in Scotland in the 1700s where it was used for hunting small game and tracking otters. The breed is believed to be related to the Bedlington Terrier, with input from strains of basset hound, border terrier and Cairn terrier. The breed gained its name after the publication of Sir Walter Scott’s 1815 novel Guy Mannering, in which he created a character name Dandie Dinmont, based on a neighbouring farmer who owned terriers called Pepper and Mustard. It is believed all Dandies can be traced back to these dogs. In February 2015, the breed was allowed to adopt the Sir Walter Scott tartan, making the Dandie Dinmont the only breed with permission to wear an official Scottish Clan Tartan.
