Dandie Dinmont Terriers

Breed: Dandie Dinmont
Temperament: Friendly, active & loyal
Cost: $750-$1000
Lifespan: 14 years
Recommended for: Families

The Dandie Dinmont is probably the only dog breed in the world named after a fictitious character. The original Dandie Dinmont was a farmer from the Scottish borderlands, who featured in an 1814 novel, 'Guy Mannering', by Sir Walter Scott. Scott wrote that the character, Mr Dinmont, had developed a particular style of terrier much admired by the local people for their fearlessness before weasels and stoats.

Mr Dinmont had only two names, Pepper and Mustard, for his 20 dogs: "There's auld Pepper and auld Mustard, and young Pepper and young Mustard, and little Pepper and little Mustard...". The names referring to the individual's coat colouring.

The real Dandie Dinmont was probably farmer Jamie Davidson of Hindlee who bred a race of 'mustard and pepper' terriers. Sir Walter Scott (1771-1820) himself owned a matching pair of mustard and pepper terriers and was a great supporter of the line.

Its popularity peaked during the 19th century but has since waned this century. It failed to impress well-known animal writer Gerald Durrell who, in his book 'My Family and Other Animals', wrote that his brother Larry Durrell proclaimed of the breed: "She looks as though she was bred to go down holes after sewage." It is a rare breed, there are less than 100 dogs in Australia today.

Appearance: The Dandie Dinmont is a dwarf, whiskery-faced dog with a lot of appeal.It has a large head, long, slightly arched body and short legs giving it a low-slung look similar to a Dachshund. It stands 20-28cm (8-10") at the shoulder and has a double coat. The outer coat is harsh, often described as "crisp and weatherproof". The undercoat is soft and downy. It has a soft topknot of fur, looking like fluffy Afro.

Temperament: The Dandie Dinmont is said to be the most placid terrier. They are friendly, adaptable but with an independent streak. Individual dogs may bond strongly with their owner and not welcome other pets.

Health:

May be susceptible to back strain. Avoid stairs. Glaucoma is an eye disease causing blindness which may be corrected surgically. Cushings syndrome is a wasting disease characterised by extreme thirst and urination, due to excess cortisol produced by the adrenal gland. It can be controlled by drugs.

Grooming: Exhibition dogs have their coats 'stripped', which means literally removing old long hair to expose the new, coloured coat. Only the first 2cm of the coat is coloured, either mustard or pepper. If the coat grows too long the dog can appear white and pet owners, who may prefer to clip the coat rather than strip it, may end up with a dog which looks similar to a well-trimmed West Highland White Terrier. A regular weekly brushing is required or the coat can matt because it doesn't shed like most dogs. Breeders also suggest trimming the hair around the dog's anus to minimise problems with faeces catching in the fur.

Ideal owner & housepet potential: While owners say they are good family dogs, Dandie Dinmonts will often bond more closely with one person. They do not like being left alone so are best suited to an owner who is home for most of the day. Their small size and need for company makes them well suited to older people or those in flats. The coat requires a commitment to weekly brushing.

Space & exercise: Dandie Dinmonts can take as much or as little regulated exercise as offered but a backyard romp each day is a recommended minimum. Longtime owners recommend sound fences as many Dandie Dinmonts are accomplished escapists.

Training: Their typical independent terrier attitude means they are harder to train, requiring perseverance and patience. Basic leash training is recommended.

Further information

QLD
Jennifer Read
Phone: (07) 4162 9331
Mobile: 0417 607 576

SA
Kathy Crossman
Phone: (08) 8520 2592

VIC
Emma Greenway and Heather Grudgfield
Phone: (03) 9761 3182

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