Dandy Diamond Terrier (Great Britain)

History of the breed

Information about Dandie Dinmont Terriers first appeared in the sixteenth century. This is one of the most ancient branches of the terrier breed. It appeared thanks to the breeders who bred this species. The genes of ancient Scottish terriers were used in the work. Skye terriers and Bedlington terriers were crossed.

Work on the development of the Dandie Dinmont was carried out in Scotland and ended in the eighteenth century. This country is considered the birthplace of the breed.

Initially, these small dogs were bred by gypsies and Scottish farmers. Such pets were supposed to hunt rats and other rodents. They also announced the arrival of uninvited guests with loud barks.

Then more experienced breeders took up dandy terriers. In the course of breeding work, they tried to create hunting dogs with small dimensions, lightning-fast reactions, speed, developed sense of smell and courage.

The goal was achieved. Dandie Dinmonts have become excellent hunting companions. They easily caught game such as badgers, otters and other burrowing animals. It is also worth noting that rats will never live in the territory of the terrier. From time immemorial the dog has been waging a merciless fight with them.

Dandy terriers were not very popular. But after the publication of Walter Scott's novel, in which the main character kept a whole pack of dandy terriers, the popularity of the breed skyrocketed.

In the novel, Dinmont Terriers were described so enticingly that many readers immediately wished to have such a dog. The population has increased sharply not only in Scotland, but also in England. In European countries, representatives of the breed also gained popularity.

Modern Dandie Dinmont Terriers have been retrained from hunting dogs to decorative ones. This species is considered the rarest among other terriers.

Origin story

The history of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier breed is interesting. The first mentions of it are found in works of the 16th century. To develop this variety, representatives of several types of terriers were crossed. Scottish farmers bred these dogs. It was important for field owners that the pet be a hunter, so at first they were used to protect their property from rats, then they began to take them with them to catch large animals.

The origin of the name of the breed also has an interesting history. The novel by famous poet Walter Scott describes the main character who devoted his life to hunting, enlisting the help of his personal pack of dogs. The man's name was Dandy Diamond. Historians confirm the fact of the real existence of such a person. The terrier breed is named after this terrier enthusiast.

Breed standard

It is impossible to confuse the Dandie Dinmont Terrier with other types. He has an overly long body and short legs. But the main distinguishing feature is the fluffy “cap” consisting of fine hairs.

The height of adult individuals is 20-27 cm , weight is about 8.2-11 kg.

A large head rests on a short, strong neck. Ears are drooping. Convex eyes of large size and dark color. The nose is dark.

The jaws are powerful, like those of all hunting dogs. The canines are quite large, which does not correspond to the small size of the Dandy Terrier. Scissor bite.

The body is extremely long. The line of the back is lowered down. The chest is wide.

The legs are short, but strong and muscular. The hind ones are slightly longer than the front ones. The step is light and smooth. The tail is short, without curvature.

The coat is thick, quite long (up to 5-6 cm). On the face there is a mustache and beard characteristic of terriers. There is long decorative hair on the tail, limbs and belly. The coat is hard, softer on the head. There is a soft, dense undercoat.

There are two main colors:

1. Pepper. 2. Mustard.

The “cap” on the head can be white or pale pink. White markings on paws and chest are allowed. Completely white paws are a serious fault.

Description

Of the few people who know about the Dandie Dinmont Terrier, almost all recognize her by her unique appearance. These dogs are very short, with very short legs and a long body. Additionally, their traditional show cut is quite unique, with a large tuft of hair on the head and balls of fur at the ends of the ears.

These dogs are small, but not as tiny as some of the toy breeds. Both males and females should be between 20 and 28 cm at the withers, and in healthy, working condition will usually weigh between 8 and 11 kg, although some will weigh a little more or a little less.

The head is typical of the British Terrier, large but not grossly out of proportion to the size of the body. The muzzle is short, but not too short and very strong. These dogs have large, round, brown eyes that radiate intelligence. The ears are set low on the head and droop downwards, rather thin and tapering to a relatively sharp point.

The unique coat is one of the defining characteristics of the breed. These dogs have a double coat covering most of their body, with a soft undercoat and a hard outer coat. This allowed the breed to work in harsh conditions. Unlike most terriers, the Dandie Dinmont Terrier does not have a rough coat. The fur on the head should be very soft. The tips of the ears are also covered with such hair, which extends about five centimeters. This distinctive fur often does not appear until these dogs are two years old.

The coloring of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier is almost as important as the coat of the breed. All Terriers should have significantly darker fur on the upper body than on the lower body. In addition, the upper half of the tail is much darker than the lower half.

The only two colors allowed in the modern Dandie Dinmont Terrier are pepper and mustard. Pepper ranges from dark, bluish-black to light silver-gray, with shades in between being preferred. Mustard ranges from reddish brown to pale fawn in color. Dogs are allowed to have some white on their chest, but not on their legs.

Maintenance and care

It is recommended to keep the Dinmont Terrier in an apartment or in a private house. Although he can live in an enclosure with a warm booth. The second option is much worse than the first, since these dogs are very sociable and need constant contact with people.

If the terrier is kept in an apartment, accustom him to the place from the first days. If you put him on the sofa or in the bed, that's where he'll sleep. The little puppy will quickly get used to his bed. Since it is small in size, you can install a whole decorative house for it with a mattress inside.

Place a bowl of water next to the bed. If you don’t want your pet to spoil shoes, furniture and other household items with his teeth, buy him toys made from latex or natural sinew.

It is also important to walk your dog daily. Although it is considered decorative, it requires regular physical activity. A dog with a highly developed hunting instinct cannot doze for hours on a rug. He needs active games and daily runs.

Do not neglect the rules of caring for the Dandy Terrier. To keep him healthy and look beautiful and well-groomed, you should regularly carry out the following procedures:

Comb out the fur with a stiff brush or comb. It is recommended to do this as often as possible, daily or once every two days.
To maintain the beautiful shape of the coat, the Dinmont Terrier needs to be trimmed approximately once every 5-6 months. It is also necessary to trim the hair on the paw pads and ears as it grows back. You also need to trim your mustache and beard.
Frequent bathing is not required for the dandy. We carry out water procedures using special detergents intended for dogs.
It is recommended to examine the ears every day. Clean twice a week.
As they grow, we shorten the claws. After this, use a special nail file to trim the cuts.
We examine our eyes every day. If necessary, we wipe them with special means.
Two or three times a week we brush our pet’s teeth with a special paste and brush. Have him examined by a veterinarian-dentist at least once a year.

A little dandy doesn't need a lot of food. If you decide to feed him with ready-made food, buy premium quality food from trusted sellers. These should not only be dry granules, but also buy canned dog food, pates, and vein bones.

With natural feeding, the basis of the diet is meat products and vegetables. Cook porridge without spices and without salt. Sweets, smoked foods, pickles, and leftovers from the host's table are prohibited.

Adults should eat 2 times a day. Puppies eat 6-7 times, the number of daily servings depends on age. The older the pet, the less often it needs to be fed. The puppy's diet is based on cereals, vegetables and low-fat dairy products.

The number of feedings should be reduced gradually. You also need to gradually transition your puppy to solid food. This must be done when he has teeth.

Your pet should always have access to fresh, cool water. Keep food and water bowls clean at all times.

DANDIE DINMONT TERRIER (haircut)

Grooming of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier. Price: 2,000 rub. -a haircut; 2,300 rub. -complex (haircut, wash, ears, claws, paraanal glands);

The Dandie Dinmont Terrier is a fairly ancient breed of dog; it was bred artificially on the basis of such a breed as the ancient Scottish terriers. Initially, these dogs were created as hunting dogs, so they were given all the necessary characteristics for this: speed of movement and reaction, compact size, and so on. Bedlington Terriers and Skye Terriers took part in the crossing for this purpose. Despite the fact that representatives of this breed were once used only as hunting dogs, today they have become quite common pets.

The Dandie Dinmont Terrier is a miniature shaggy dog.
Her height barely reaches twenty-eight centimeters, her weight is ten kilograms.
The body is elongated, which, in principle, is not typical for terriers.
The head is large, round, the ears are set high, large, hanging.
The legs are short, but very well developed.
The tail is short, covered with a thick layer of medium-length hair.
The fur on the entire body is quite long, quite hard to the touch, and therefore unpleasant.
There are two main colors of such dogs - mustard and pepper.

The Dandie Dinmont Terrier is popular among many breeders, primarily due to its character: they are very kind and cheerful dogs. They often become favorites of the whole family, as they have inexhaustible energy and mobility. They are infinitely devoted to their owner, very gentle and affectionate, although they treat strangers with suspicion, but not for long.

Now let's try to figure out how to cut our Dandie Dinmont Terriers . Having more than 10 years of experience working with this breed, I believe that if your Dandie Dinmont Terrier is not a show dog, that is, does not currently participate in such events, then the haircut options can be absolutely anything. Dear owners of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier, the dog is an addition, a part of you and your style and taste, it is simply necessary to trim the Dandie Dinmont. The Dandie Dinmont Terrier is a breed that can be made very unusual by choosing the right haircut. Its long coat is somewhat similar to hair, and the more often and shorter you cut it, the better and higher quality the coat becomes.

Grooming the body of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier:

“Cut with a Skirt”, when the neck and back are cut short (sometimes the tail), leaving hair on the paws and sides of the dog. The length of the remaining fur is veiled depending on the wishes of the owner and the exterior of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.
“Cut with panties”, when the hair on the neck, back, sides and tummy is cut off (sometimes on the tail). Remains only on the paws. The length of the remaining fur is veiled depending on the wishes of the owner and the exterior of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.
“Puppy haircut”, when everything (body, muzzle, paws, tail) is cut to 3-5 cm. The length of the remaining fur is veiled depending on the wishes of the owner and the exterior of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

Grooming the face of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier:

“Haircut with a beard”, the ears are cut 1/2 (at a corner), a triangle is cut at the eyes and the tip of the nose. The length of the remaining fur is veiled depending on the wishes of the owner and the exterior of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.
“Poodle cut”, all the hair on the face is cut off, leaving only the chup, tail, or braid on the top of the head. In this case, the ears can be cut off entirely or 1/3 of the ear (corner) or the whole ear can be cut off.

Dandie Dinmont Terrier tail trim:

The tail is cut at the base by 1-5 cm. The length of the hair left on the tail is veiled depending on the wishes of the owner and the exterior of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.
Or a pattern in the form of a spikelet or braid is cut on the tail.

Grooming the paws of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier:

On the paw, only the paw pads and the fur on them are cut to “0”. The length of the fur on the paws is most often veiled depending on the wishes of the owner and the exterior of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.
But sometimes not only the pads and hair on them are cut to “0”, but also higher up, the so-called “socks”, up to the 5th toe (like a Poodle).

Dear owners of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier, let’s move away from the stereotypes imposed on us that the Dandie Dinmont Terrier is cut like this, but not cut like that…. You and only you choose to be you and your Dandie Dinmont Terrier an “exclusive individual” or a “gray mass” like everyone else!

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Health

The average lifespan of a Dandy Terrier is 12-15 years. The dog will live the number of years required by nature if the owner vaccinates him against infectious diseases on time and takes the dog to the veterinarian for preventive examinations, at least once a year. It is also important to treat skin parasites and give dewormers.

Dandie Dinmonts are prone to the following health problems:

Epilepsy is accompanied by seizures that appear against the background of pathology of the brain.
Glaucoma is clouding of the lens that can lead to vision loss.
Gastrointestinal diseases - often occur due to overfeeding or poor diet. The special body structure of dinmonts contributes to such problems.
Back problems – Back injuries are common due to its extraordinary length. Terriers aged 10-15 years especially suffer from back problems.

Character

Unreasonable aggression is not inherent in Dinmont Terriers. These are friendly animals, but with an independent, strong character. They are extremely curious, always striving to explore new territories.

In a family, all members of the household are obeyed. Dandy is able to become a devoted friend and companion for the owner. His intellect is highly developed; after several years of living in a family, such a dog understands the owner perfectly. It happens that one gesture is enough for the terrier to carry out this or that command. But this is subject to proper upbringing and training.

You can't call a Dinmont dandy cowardly. He has a fighting character. Despite its small size, the terrier is capable of fearlessly rushing to protect its owner or his property. Such a dog will not be scared even by an opponent that is much superior in height and weight.

The dandy greets strangers with a loud bark. Thus, he warns the owners about the arrival of strangers and at the same time tries to scare the guests. Wariness towards strangers is explained by an innate hunting instinct.

The dandy dinmont gets along well with children. He is playful, affectionate and friendly towards kids. Perhaps this is explained by the fact that terriers, like children, are playful, often play pranks, love outdoor games and adore various toys.

The dandy does not particularly conflict with pets. But it is better not to leave such a dog alone with rodents (decorative rats, squirrels, hamsters...). Remember that the distant ancestors of modern terriers were successfully used as hunters of rats and other small burrowing animals.

Training and education

Due to their independent nature and innate stubbornness, training a terrier is not that easy. On the other hand, due to his sharp mind and developed intelligence, a dandy is able to quickly remember commands and master the rules of behavior in the home and in public places.

Based on the above, the terrier should be trained consistently, lessons should be built in a playful way so that the dog does not get bored from monotonous repetitions. Along with firmness, the owner must also show gentleness in the form of food and verbal encouragement.

Rudeness and physical punishment will not help learning. On the contrary, in response to such treatment, the terrier may refuse to follow commands altogether. Establish a trusting relationship with your pet, but at the same time he must know that the owner’s word is law!

Interesting Facts

The name of the breed is given in honor of the main character of the novel “Guy Mannering” by Dandy Dinmont. This hero was created from the image of James Davidson. It is this man who is the “father” of the Dinmont Terriers.
Among all the household members, the dandy singles out one owner for himself. In his presence, the dog obeys everyone, but when he is not at home, the terrier can ignore the commands of family members.
The dandy dog was the favorite of Queen Victoria, and other royalty also had pets in the form of Dinmont Terriers.
Dinmont puppies are born with a dark coat. Only by the age of three does the coat color become fully formed and permanent.

Pros and cons of the breed

A pet like the Dinmont Terrier needs a lot of attention. Training and education are mandatory for a dog with a hunting instinct. In addition, the dandy is suitable for those who lead an active lifestyle and prefer to spend time outdoors, in the fresh air.

So before you buy a puppy of this breed, weigh your options and familiarize yourself with the main pros and cons of the Dinmont Terrier.

Advantages:

1. Unusual appearance. 2. Suitable for apartment maintenance. 3. Good health. 4. Easy care. 5. Not expensive to maintain. 6. Gets along well with children. 7. Unpretentious in nutrition. 8. Does not have the unpleasant odor characteristic of dogs. 9. Devotion and fidelity.

Buying a dog

In Russia, this breed is not widespread, but there are nurseries where you can buy a puppy according to international standards and from titled parents.

The price of a Dandie Dinmont Terrier starts at $600 and goes up to $2000, depending on the awards of the parents and the prospects of the puppies.

The Dandie Dinmont Terrier requires a lot of attention and patience from its owners, but also gives a lot in return. He is endlessly loyal, fearless and faithful. He has excellent instincts and intuition. The owner of such a dog will be protected and calm.