Dandie Dinmont Terrier

Description:

Bred to kill small vermin, the Dandie Dinmont Terrier’s body reflects its occupation. The breed is small and long, with its height being half the length of its body. Despite its small size, it is a sturdy dog with plenty of muscle. The head is strong and large, but still proportional to the rest of the body with a topknot of hair. The dark hazel eyes are large and round, set wide and low. The ears are broad at the base and come almost to a point at the tip; they are located at approximately the same level of the cheeks on either side of the head. The coat has a fairly rough texture, only one third of it being soft hair while the rest is rather hard. The head is covered with soft hair and the ears are covered with short velvety hair. The tail hair feathers out and consists of the same coarse hair as the body. The color of the Dandie’s coat can be either pepper or mustard, and tends to lighten in color as the dog ages. 

Temperament:

The Dandie Dinmont Terrier is a fun-loving companion dog. It is lively and friendly and gets along well with children of all ages and sizes if raised with them from a young age. They are protective of their home and males can be aggressive toward other male dogs, especially if they both live in the same home. This breed tends to be wary of strangers and other pets. It will only tolerate cats with which it has been raised with from puppyhood. Dandie Dinmont Terriers can be stubborn, but they are not difficult to train. Patience is a must when training this breed. Like all terriers, the Dandie Dinmont enjoys a good dig. 

Caring for a Dandie Dinmont Terrier:

The Dandie Dinmont Terrier’s size and even temperament make it a good dog to have in an apartment. When taken outside, be sure to keep them on a leash unless you are in a fenced and secure area because they are constantly on the prowl for small animals and may take off after a cat or squirrel. Regular exercise is always a must for dogs, but this breed can generally adapt to whatever activity level is present in the home. Although this breed sheds a minimal amount of hair, regular brushing is still recommended as well as professional grooming. The dead hair in their coat should be plucked out every few months. Although a very healthy breed, the Dandie Dinmont sometimes suffers from invertebral disk disease and glaucoma.