Dandie dinmont terrier
The Dandie Dinmont is the only dog breed named after a fictional character — Dandie Dinmont, a farmer in Walter Scott's 1815 novel Guy Mannering, whose terriers made the type famous.
It comes from the border country between England and Scotland.
It stands 20 to 28 centimetres, weighs 8 to 11 kilograms and lives twelve to fifteen years, with a long low body, a domed head topped by a silky topknot, and a coat in pepper or mustard. It is one of Britain's most endangered native breeds, with very few puppies registered annually. Temperament is calmer and more dignified than most terriers, though the working instincts remain.
- Origin
- England–Scotland border country
- Size
- 20–28 cm; 8–11 kg
- Lifespan
- 12–15 years
- Coat
- Pepper or mustard, with a silky topknot; hand-stripped
- Status
- A vulnerable native breed; very few registered annually
- Health
- Intervertebral disc disease, glaucoma, hypothyroidism
Related: Airedale terrier · American hairless terrier · American pit bull terrier · American Staffordshire terrier · Australian terrier
2 dandie dinmont terrier photos, newest first
Living with a dandie dinmont terrier
The long back on short legs means intervertebral disc disease. Discourage jumping on and off furniture, use ramps for the car, support the whole body when lifting, and above all keep the dog lean — weight is the biggest modifiable risk factor.
Ask about glaucoma, which occurs in the breed and can destroy vision within hours. A painful, cloudy or red eye is an emergency.
The coat needs weekly brushing and hand-stripping a few times a year; the topknot is trimmed by hand.
The gene pool is very small. Ask what a breeder does about diversity.
They are calmer than most terriers but still dig and chase. Exercise needs are moderate.
General guidance, not veterinary advice. Individual dogs vary, and anything about a specific animal is a question for a vet who has seen it.
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