Dandie Dinmont Terrier On the Rise

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Dandi Dinmont Terrier By Janice Jones Updated 04-29-2024

Known
for their devotion to their families, the unique Dandie Dinmont Terrier is
proof that good things come in small packages. 
Dandies are small and adorable with a personality to match. They are
independent and intelligent and do great with kids and families.

The Dandie
Dinmont is an extremely rare breed of dog. That can be a good or bad thing.  The good thing is that they are one of a kind
and very unique looking, but the sad thing is that they are so rare that only a
few people get to know their amazing charm and nature.

In fact, if you owned a Dandie and decided to take him or her out on a walk, the chances of someone guessing what kind of dog you have is one in a million, maybe even two in a million.

However, with that being said, if you know what a Dandie looks like, you will be able to spot one. Along with their unique name, they have a distinct look and cut. They have a large and round set of expressive eyes that can melt your heart. Their large head and broad, tapered skull with a deep muzzle is distinctive among all known dog breeds.

They are as low to the ground as a water bottle, and weigh about as much as the average one-year-old human baby. It would take a stack of about three Dandies to reach the height of your average St Bernard, but the Dandie is actually not the world’s smallest dog. What they do lack in stature, they make up for in quiet confidence.

The Dandie Dinmont Terrier has coined the nickname “The Gentleman of the Terrier World”. This could not be more accurate for this polite breed. If you or your family is in the market for a gentle, kind and loyal pup, that is very rare and unique, then look no further than the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

History of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier

The
origins of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier date back to the 1700s, and they were
bred on the English-Scottish border to hunt vermin. Their ancestry is a mix of
terrier including Bedlington, Scott, English, and Otterhound. They arrived in
America in the late 1800s and the breed was registered with both the American
Kennel Club (AKC), as well as the United Kennel Club (UKC).

During the Second
World War, these kennels were dispersed and the breed nearly went extinct, like
many breeds during the war.  After the war
was over, kennels and breeders worked to raise the number of Dandies, but to
this day, they still have very few numbers compared to some of the more popular
breeds of small dogs. 

They only have a
fraction of dogs registered to AKC compared with other small breed dogs such as
the Shih Tzu, Poodle, or Boston terrier. 

As for the unique name, Dandie
Dinmont, it was actually named after a character in a fictional book.  This makes the Dandie the only breed to have
a fictional namesake. Their name is a novel concept and Dandie Dinmont was the
name of a fictional character in an 1814 Sir Walter Scott novel called, Guy Mannering. The character Dandie
Dinmont was apparently a jolly farmer who keeps a pack of interesting pepper
and mustard terriers. As the novel’s popularity grew, the name Dandie Dinmont
Terrier was coined.

This is a breed loved by many people including King Louis
of France and Queen Victoria. They loved Dandies and owned a few. Bill Cosby
has also had the chance to experience the uniqueness of a Dandie.

Personality

Dandie Dinmont Terrier

The
Dandie Dinmont Terrier is a very confident dog. It is also intelligent and
independent. This means that training can be a little more difficult.  They are very trainable, but they need a firm
hand for training.

Firm and consistent training will be the key to a
well-trained Dandie. It is important to know that this particular breed of dog
is probably the calmest of all the Terriers; however, they do have some
terrier-like personality traits.

They
make great watchdogs because they are alert and intelligent, but after they get
your attention, it is important to let them know they can calm down and stop barking. 

This breed has the tendency to develop Small
Dog Syndrome, which can be the result of inconsistent and careless training.  With SDS, the dog can think that they are the
kings of the castle and that they are the owner and pack leader.

This can lead
to all sorts of behavioral problems such as separation anxiety, stubbornness,
difficulty training, and more. These are not typical behaviors of the Dandie,
which is why a firm and confident hand in training is as important as it is.

Positive and motivational training works best with these dogs and yelling or
hitting is definitely not the way to go with them. Early socialization is also
important with this breed if you have small children or cats. Being raised with
small children and cats around will make them less likely to act out around
them.

Being raised with cats is okay, but since they are terriers that were
bred to hunt, keeping rodents and other small animals such as hamsters are not
a good idea with this breed. 

They might
try to run and hunt while on their daily walk which is another thing to keep in
mind.  Don’t let this scare you because
they are a very calm and docile breed, hunting is in their blood and that is
something that cannot be changed.

Dandies
are suitable for apartment living because of their size, but they need daily
walks and can sometimes be a little vocal. Dandie Dinmont Terriers have a Baritone bark, which
can make them seem much bigger than they actually are.

They love to run around
and go on walks, which is required to keep them healthy. They are overall
somewhat active, but nowhere near that of a frantic terrier. 

This also means that they are not as hyperactive
as some small dogs and have a lower activity level than some.  They still need their daily walks and
exercise.  They will do fine with a
couple walks per day and a small amount of vigorous exercise indoors or out.

Dandies are loyal to their families
and bond strongly with them.  It is unusual
for your Dandie to be cautious and not as inviting to strangers.

Overall, Dandies are amazing
small dogs who are smart, loving, and loyal. 
They are not as hyper and high-strung as most terriers, but they do have
typical terrier traits such as independence, willingness, and courage.

Grooming

This is
not a breed that can go without a daily brushing. They have a mixture of soft
and hard hairs with a soft and silky top knot on their head. Experts say there
is no such thing as a “hypoallergenic” dog, but nevertheless, this breed does
not shed, which would make them great for families or people that suffer with
pet related allergies.

Even though the Dandie Dinmont Terrier does not shed, they still need regular
brushing and professional grooming twice a year to maintain their beautiful
coat, and show dogs require expert grooming. This is not the cheapest breed
when it comes to grooming, but they have a very smooth and beautiful coat if it
is taken care of and maintained properly.

Other than regular brushing and baths,
it’s important to check their eyes, ears, and nails occasionally to make sure
your dog is overall healthy. Last, but certainly not least, the Dandie, as all
breeds needs frequently teeth brushing to maintain those pearly whites.

Health Concerns

This is
a fairly healthy breed, but they do have a few health problems. They can have
eye and back problems and can suffer from epilepsy. Hypothyroidism is often
common in older dogs.

It is also important to do a little portion control when
feeding your Dandie, as they can be prone to obesity.  The average weight of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier is between
18 and 24 pounds.  Since they are so
close to the ground, it could cause some back problems if they become too
overweight.

Spinal
Disk Herniation:  This is also called a slipped
disk and is common in breeds such the Dandie who have long backs.  Trauma is usually the cause in canines with
long backs.

Glaucoma:
A disease that affects the optic nerve leading to a lower field of vision and
blindness.

Hypothyroidism:
An endocrine disorder where the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid
hormone.  It is also called low thyroid
or underactive thyroid

Epilepsy:
A condition that causes seizures

Dandie Dinmont Dog Breed Profile

Breed
Club:

Dandie
Dinmont Terrier Club of America, Inc.

Breed
Rescue:

Dandie Rescue League

About Janice (author and voice behind this site)

Having lived with dogs and cats most of her life, Janice served as a veterinary technician for ten years in Maryland and twelve years as a Shih Tzu dog breeder in Ohio.

Her education includes undergraduate degrees in Psychology with a minor in biology, Early Childhood Education, and Nursing, and a master’s in Mental Health Counseling.

She is a lifelong learner, a dog lover, and passionate about the welfare of animals. Her favorite breed for over 50 years has been the Shih Tzu, but she has also lived with Poodles, Maltese, Yorkshire Terriers, Beagles, English Bulldogs, Carin Terriers, and a Cocker Spaniel.

When not writing, reading, and researching dog-related topics, she likes to spend time with her eight Shih Tzu dogs, husband, and family, as well as knitting and crocheting. She is also the voice behind Miracle Shih Tzu and Smart-Knit-Crocheting

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