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Dandie Dinmont Terrier
This adorable little dog,
with its silky topknot, has a tenacious spirit.
History:
Although its ancestry has
never been firmly established, the Dandie Dinmont Terrier
comes from the border counties between Northern England and
Scotland. The dog takes its name from a fictional character
called Dandie Dinmont (said to be based on a farmer called
James Davidson who had some of the dogs on his farm) in a
nineteenth-century novel called Guy Mannering, by Sir Walter
Scott. The novel was a huge success and the dog's popularity
spread throughout Britain, adopting the Dandie Dinmont name.
The
breed is variably thought to contain the base of many other
terriers, including the Skye Terrier (which has the same
droopy ears as the Dandie Dinmont), the Border Terrier, Cairn
Terrier, Scottish Terrier, and also some Bedlington Terrier
and Otter Hound. The Dandie Dinmont Terrier Club was founded
in 1876, and the breed is rarely seen outside of Britain.
Physical
characteristics:
A hardy, low-slung and
long-bodied dog with a silky topknot and an intelligent,
friendly expression. Height: 8 - 11 in (20.3 - 28 cm). Weight:
18 - 24 lb (8 -11 kg) under Canadian standards.
The
head is large and strong, with well-developed jaws. The skull
is broad between the ears; the forehead is domed at its widest
point between the ears. Teeth are straight and scissor bite.
The nose is black and the eyes are large, round and set wide,
bright, prominent and dark hazel, with a sad expression. Ears
are pendent, set well back and wide apart and hang flat to the
cheek. A muscular neck on a long, strong body with well-sprung
ribs, and a back that is low at the shoulder. The tail is
short, 8 - 9.75 in (20 - 25 cm). The front legs are shorter
than the back, and the hind feet smaller than the forefeet.
The
coat color of the Dandie Dinmont is in two ranges: Pepper,
varying from dark bluish-black to light silvery-gray; and
Mustard, varying from reddish brown to pale tawny with a
creamy white head. Paws and feet are darker than the head. The
coat is a double coat 2.5 in (6 cm) long from head to tail,
with a mixture of stiff and short hair which is fuzzy to the
touch. The underside is lighter and softer than the top.
Behavior:
The Dandie Dinmont Terrier,
while looking completely adorable, is still by nature a true
terrier. As this dog looks so cute, people may be inclined to
allow this dog a little too much freedom. It is advisable to
remain firm with this terrier so that it does not become too
bossy as it matures. This is especially important with the
male dogs if they are not going to be sterilized.
The
Dandie Dinmont Terrier is alert and has a keen sense of its
territory, and so makes a good watch-dog. It will delight in
alerting its owners to any potential incursion of its
territory. This dog makes a wonderful companion for single
people and couples. This terrier will thrive if given regular
attention and tasks to please its owners. Families with small
children should be cautious for two reasons. Firstly, if the
dog has been given favored status it may become jealous.
Secondly, it may be at risk of injury from over-zealous play
if the children are too rough. Given the right conditions,
however, this wonderful little dog can make an excellent
companion animal.
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