Dandie Dinmont Terrier
| Recognized By: |
ACR
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AKC
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ANKC
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APRI
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CKC
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CKC
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FCI
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KCGB
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NKC
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NZKC
,
UKC
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| AKA: |
Dandy Dinmont |
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| Mispellings: |
Tierier |
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Caring for a Dandie Dinmont Terrier
Feeding: Care should be taken not to overfeed a Dandie Dinmont Terrier as they can have back problems if they become overweight.
Living with a Dandie Dinmont Terrier
Temperament: The Dandie Dinmont Terrier is an independent, determined, affectionate, intelligent dog with all the tenacity and boldness of a terrier.
Shedding: The Dandie Dinmont sheds very little hair.
Grooming: The coat of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier should be brushed regularly. They need to have the dead hair plucked out one or two times a year.
Exercise: The Dandie Dinmont Terrier should be taken on a daily walk and given play time in a safe area.
Living Conditions: The Dandie Dinmont Terrier makes a wonderful apartment dog. They are relatively active inside and will do fine with a small yard. They do have a fair amount of chase instinct so be careful to always have them on leash or in a secure area.
Dandie Dinmont Terrier Appearance
Appearance: The Dandie Dinmont Terrier is long to the ground with a large head and silken topknot. The eyes are large and dark in color giving them a wise expression. The body sturdy yet flexible body with a scimitar shaped tail.
Size: A fully grown Dandie Dinmont Terrier will stand between 8 to 11 inches tall and weigh about 18 to 24 pounds.
Head: The Dandie Dinmont Terrier's head is large and strong with well developed muscles. The expression is one of great determination and intelligence. The skull is broad between the ears and gradually tapers toward the eyes. The forehead is well domed with a well defined stop. The cheeks gradually taper from the ears toward the muzzle in proportion with the skull.
Nose: The nose of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier is moderately large and black or very dark in color.
Eyes: The Dandie Dinmont's eyes are large, round and bright. They should be full but not protruding and set well apart and low facing directly forward. They should be a rich dark hazel in color with dark rims.
Ears: The ears of the Dandie are thin, set well back, far apart and low on the skull. They hang close to the cheek having a slight projection at the fold. They are broad at the base and almost form a point with the front edge being almost straight and tapering on the back edge. They are about three to four inches in length.
Muzzle: The Dandie Dinmont's muzzle is deep and strong. The lips and mouth are black or dark in color.
Teeth/Bite: The large, strong teeth of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier meet in a tight scissors bite. They have six evenly spaced incisors.
Neck: The moderately long neck of the Dandie Dinmont is very muscular, well developed and set well into the shoulders.
Body: The body of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier is long, strong and flexible with well sprung, well rounded ribs and a deep, well developed chest. The underline of the body reflects the curves of the topline. The length of the body is about one to two inches shorter than twice the dog's height giving them a very long appearance. They are sturdily built with strong bone and well developed muscle. The topline is rather low at the shoulder with a slight downward curve, arched over the loins with a gradual drop from the top of the loins to the root of the tail. The outline has a continuous flow from the neck to the tail.
Forequarters: The shoulders of the Dandie Dinmont are sufficiently laid back to allow proper forward reach. The upper arm is approximately the same length as the shoulder blades with the elbows lying close to the rib but with the ability to move freely. The front legs are short and muscular.
Hindquarters: The rear legs of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier are slightly longer than the front legs and are spaced far apart. Both the upper and lower thighs are muscular and rounded and about the same length. The stifles are angulated to balance with the forequarters. The hocks are well let down. The rear pasterns are perpendicular to the ground.
Gait: The Dandie Dinmont Terrier has a free and easy stride with ample forward reach and good rear drive. The legs move in a straight plane from the shoulder to the feet.
Feet: The Dandie Dinmont Terrier has round and well-cushioned feet that point forward or slightly outward. The rear feet are much smaller than the front feet and do not have dewclaws. The dewclaws on the front feet are typically removed. The nails are dark in color but may vary based on the color of the dog.
Tail: The Dandie Dinmont's tail is 8 to 10 inches in length. It is thick at the base and gets thicker for about four inches and then tapers to a point. The tail is set as a continuation of the very slight gradual drop over the croup. It should be carried a little above level with a curve like a scimitar. Only when the dog is excited should the tip of the tail be aligned perpendicular to its base.
Color: The coat of the Dandie Dinmont comes in two distinct colors, pepper or mustard. The Pepper colored coat ranges from a dark blue-black to a light silver-gray. The coat on the top of the head and ears are a silvery white color while the coat on the legs and feet is a shade of tan. The Mustard color varies from a red-brown to a pale fawn with the topknot and ear coat being a creamy white color. The hair on the legs and feet is darker than the topknot. In both colors, the body color extends down the shoulders and hips blending into the leg color. The coat on the under body is lighter than the top. The beard is darker than the topknot. The top of the tail is a darker than the body while the underside is lighter. There may be some white on the chest.
Coat: The coat of the Dandie Dinmont should be about two inches long consisting of a mixture of about 2/3 hardish hair to about 1/3 softer hair giving the body a crisp texture. The coat should be shortened by plucking and is often referred to as pily or penciled. The coat on the underneath is softer than that on the top. The head is covered with a very soft, silky coat and topknot. The ear is covered with a thin feathering of hair that is nearly the same color and texture as the topknot which starts about two inches from the tip. The hair on the muzzle is similar in texture to the feathering on the forelegs which is about two inches long. The rear legs are covered in a coat of similar texture to the front but with much less feathering. The top of the tail is covered with hair that is crisper than that of the body while the underneath has a softer feathering about two inches in length which gradually shortens toward the tip.
Dandie Dinmont Terrier Facts
Life Expectancy: The average life expectancy of a Dandie Dinmont Terrier is about 12 to 15 years.
Dandie Dinmont Terrier Health
Health: The Dandie Dinmont is generally a healthy breed. They may be prone to glaucoma, epilepsy and hypothyroidism as they mature.
Dandie Dinmont Terrier History
History: The Dandie Dinmont Terrier is an old breed dating back to the 1700s. They were developed from the Skye and the now extinct Scotch Terriers around the border region between England and Scotland. They were popular among the gypsies and were employed by farmers to hunt and kill vermin. In an 1814 novel called Guy Mannering", Sir Walter Scott had a character named Dandie Dinmont from where this breed later got its name. This breed was first recognized by the AKC in 1886.
