Dandie Dinmont Terrier: description and characteristics of the breed

Description and features

It is impossible to confuse the hunting terrier with other breeds. The short dogs have a characteristic long body, short legs, and an expressive cap on the head. The uniqueness of the breed is preserved in strict accordance with the standard:

height 22-28 cm;
weight 8-11 kg;
large round head;
hanging ears pressed to the cheekbones;
short legs, strong, muscular;
developed chest;
elongated flexible body;
small thick tail;
hanging thick fur.

Minimum dimensions are valued to a greater extent. The kind, expressive eyes of the shaggy pet are slightly protruding and invariably dark. Nose is black. On the face, like many terriers, there is a mustache and beard. Long hair, up to 5-6 cm, hanging on the legs, belly, tail, quite hard. Dense undercoat.

Soft hair adorns the head in the form of a characteristic cap of cream color, sometimes whitish. It is interesting that among terriers, the Dandie Dinmont has a special exterior - it does not have straight lines, which is not typical for the family. The small size of the pet allows you to keep the terrier in an apartment without any problems.

Training and education

Raising terriers is not always easy - dogs can be willful and stubborn. However, this breed is distinguished by high intelligence and curiosity, so animals are able to quickly learn commands and various rules.

Training must be carried out consistently, you cannot swear at the dog, and even more so it is not permissible to use physical force. However, in the process of education it is necessary to show firmness. After correctly performed exercises, do not forget about the reward.

Attention! Training is based on a trusting relationship; it is impossible to achieve anything from a dog by force.

Terriers are very cheerful and joyful dogs.

Kinds

, the Dandie Dinmont Terrier breed exists in two color options:

pepper;
mustard

Pepper color includes streaks from black to deep gray and silver tones. The thin hair on the head is invariably light, almost white. The mustard range includes shades from reddish to chocolate. The “cap” is light cream.

Pepper Dandy Terrier

Both species are distinguished by a lighter color of their paws, which is a tone different from the main color of the coat. But completely white limbs are a serious drawback. According to the standard, only small light marks on the chest and paws are allowed.

Maintenance, grooming, cutting

The terrier is a wire-haired breed. He sheds differently than most dogs. For regular combing, use soft brushes.

It does not require dandy and full trimming: the coat is only periodically corrected in the necessary, “stray” areas. It is better to pluck individual hairs that stand out from the general “hairstyle” (guard coat) by hand.

Special trimming knives are used to remove the hair located between the toes and the underside of the paw. The hair to be removed is on the stomach, at the anus, on the tail (given a conical shape), in the inner corners of the eyes, the ears and the back of the nose are treated.

The coat of Dandie Dinmont Terriers requires periodic trimming.

Attention! It is better to entrust the haircut of a dog that is being prepared for an exhibition to a professional.

History of the breed

The Dandie Dinmont breed has been reliably known since the 16th century. The ancestors of terriers were ancient Scottish relatives. At first, the breed was bred by gypsies and farmers in Scotland. They needed hunting dogs to kill rodents, especially rats.

Earth dogs, as they were called, did not allow predatory animals into the territory that ravaged people's farms and coped with attacks from skunks and martens. The agile dogs successfully cleared the area of pests.

Later, experienced breeders took up breeding. The improvement of terriers was manifested in the ability to hunt, thanks to their small size, badgers, otters, and other inhabitants of deep holes. Scottish breeders completed work on the breed in the 18th century.

Dandie Dinmont mustard color

Hunting dogs were distinguished by their lightning-fast reaction, excellent sense of smell, courage, and speed. When hunting, they weren’t even afraid of bears. The attractive appearance and obedient nature of the dogs attracted the attention of important people. Dogs began to be taken into care in rich houses.

The breed gained great popularity after the publication of Walter Scott's novel Guy Mannering. The main character Dandy Dinmont owns the “immortal six” terriers, of which he is immensely proud. The breed was named in his honor. Modern dogs have become more decorative, although they have not forgotten how to clear the territory of rodents.

Character

The Dandie Dinmont Terrier is full of inexhaustible love of life, energy, and kindness. In a family, pets communicate with everyone, their intelligence allows them to get along with children and faithfully serve adults. The little dog shows off its owner and is ready to carry out any commands from the household in his presence. But he tends to ignore family members if the owner is not at home.

The animal is wary of strangers and first greets them with barking. If strangers do not pose a threat, the terrier changes his attitude towards them and is ready to communicate and play together. The little pet has a strong character and an innate sense of self-esteem.

The terrier does not like to conflict, but in case of danger he is ready to rush to the defense of his owner and will turn into a fearless fury. The size of the enemy will not stop the brave fighter. The Dandie Dinmont treats pets very calmly if they grew up together.

He is jealous of new pets in the house. It is better not to leave your dog with rodents (decorative rats, hamsters, squirrels). The hunting instinct may be stronger than parenting skills. The disadvantages of the breed include the stubbornness of the pets.

In training, the approach should be firm, confident, without rudeness or violence. Constant exercise in a playful way gives excellent results. Dandy Dinmont appreciates kind treatment and pays with loyalty and endless love.

Characteristics and distinctive features of the breed

The character of dogs of this breed is quite sociable and friendly. Dogs are highly emotional and will always be loyal to one owner. But the rest of the family members will also be loved dearly.

Dandies love active walks, they have a lot of energy

Dandie Dinmont Terriers get along well with children and other small pets. However, if you keep two same-sex individuals at the same time, then periodic fights cannot be avoided.

Attention! Pets of this breed do not impose their presence; if necessary, they will quietly spend time alone and give the owner time to calmly mind their own affairs.

In case of danger, they always report this with a loud bark.

Such pets especially love various outdoor games and take part in them with pleasure. In addition, terriers are always ready for pranks.

Nutrition

Breeders recommend adhering to a balanced diet and ready-made dry food. The right choice must be made from the premium series or the holistic food group. It is important to take into account the weight, age of the pet, health characteristics, and activity of the animal. When feeding with prepared food, a prerequisite is the availability of fresh water.

Not all dog owners choose specialized food; many prefer natural food. The diet should include boiled meat, vegetables, cottage cheese, and mineral supplements. Dogs tend to overeat, so it is important to monitor portion sizes and stop begging.

Dogs of this breed are very active and love to run in nature.

It is recommended to feed adult dogs twice a day. Sweets, smoked foods, legumes, spices, and flour products should be excluded from the diet. You should not give tubular bones, which lead to digestive problems and injuries.

Reproduction and lifespan

Dandy terriers are bred professionally by breeders. In our country, with a small number of dogs of this breed, a few nurseries can boast that they have Dandie Dinmont Terrier puppies . The babies that are born are immediately colored pepper or mustard.

Puppies acquire the appearance of a real purebred terrier with a “cap” only by the age of two. The lifespan of Dandie Dinmont Terriers is 12-15 years. Centuries-old selection has endowed the dogs with good health.

Mom with a Dandie Dinmont Terrier puppy

Dog owners need to support the natural resource with preventive measures and treatment against parasites. Lifespan depends on the development of diseases characteristic of dandy terriers due to the characteristics of their build:

problems with the stomach, digestion;
diseases of the spine.

Regular visits to the veterinarian will help avoid the premature development of pathologies.

Feeding the Dandie Dinmont Terrier

A dinmont should eat a healthy, balanced diet. Typically, breeders recommend dry specialized food. It's really convenient, but choosing a quality product is not so easy. Here you need to take into account age, height, activity, and the presence or absence of diseases. The best option is holistic or super-premium food. They are of higher quality and contain a high percentage of natural meat. But the prices for good products are many times higher. If this factor does not bother you, we advise you to consider reputable brands.

Super premium:

American Nutra Gold and Artemis;
German Belcando and Bosch;
English Arden Grange;
Italian Almo.

Holistic class:

Canadian Pronature Holistic, Orijen, Canidae and Acana;
American Wellness, Chicken Soup, Innova.

If it is not possible to purchase any of the listed foods, you can stick to natural food. A dog's diet must include meat, cottage cheese, and vitamin and mineral supplements.

Important! When eating natural foods, smoked foods, baked goods, sweets, fatty meats, legumes, marinades and spices, and tubular bones should be excluded. When using ready-made food, the dog should always have access to water!

Super-premium or holistic food is suitable for feeding the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

Dogs are modest in size and eat little. With natural nutrition, the portion is selected based on the needs of the dog itself. After eating, the dog's bowl should be clean. If the terrier does not finish, throw away the leftovers, and at the next feeding, reduce the portion slightly. If the dog does not leave the already empty bowl for a long time, it means that he has not finished eating. Don't add food to him, don't teach him to beg. Just increase the portion a little next time.

Monitor the condition of the terrier. Among this breed there are often food lovers. Overfeeding can cause unpleasant consequences: obesity, heart problems, gastric volvulus.

Care and maintenance

Sociable pets are usually kept in a house or apartment. Separate living in an enclosure is not recommended, since constant contact with people is important for terriers. The dog takes up very little space. Accustoming to a bed must be done from the first days, otherwise the pet will sleep on the bed with the owner.

The dog’s activity should be directed in the right direction. The pet should have toys so it can occupy itself while the owner is away. Joint communication on walks and in daily games for an hour is quite enough to maintain the physical shape of a dandy terrier.

Keeping a dog requires following the rules of care:

daily combing of wool with a special brush;
regular examination of ears and eyes;
weekly teeth cleaning.

Young dogs rarely develop dental disease, but as dogs age, tartar deposits begin to cause problems.

The long-haired Dandy will need to be bathed approximately once every 10 days with shampoo and conditioner to detangle. The tangles need to be untangled or carefully cut off. The wool is usually trimmed with scissors.

A peculiarity of pets is profuse lacrimation. You may notice that the Dandie Dinmont Terrier in the photo often has brown tear tracts. Traces can be removed with special bleaching agents, hydrogen peroxide, and the eyes can be wiped daily.

It is important to keep your ears dry. Hair removal and drying powder help eliminate possible problems. Due to poor ventilation of the ear openings, there is a predisposition to otitis media. To go out into the world, owners will have to periodically contact hairdressers for a radical haircut for their pet.

Price

The cost of a purebred puppy with a good pedigree cannot be low. The factor of the small number of puppies also plays a big role in determining the price. There are only a few dozen rare dogs in Russia, most of which were brought from Western nurseries.

It is better to buy a Dandie Dinmont Terrier in its historical homeland, Scotland, including transport services in the costs. Puppies look different from adult dogs, so buying from a random place can lead to deep disappointment.

The price of a Dandie Dinmont Terrier varies between $1200-1500. Before purchasing, you need to see the puppy and its parents. At 2 months, breeders usually prepare documents and give the necessary vaccinations. The puppy should have a proportional build, thick coat, and good weight.

Slight tearing is allowed due to the special structure of the channels. Particular attention is paid to the absence of signs of congenital glaucoma and epilepsy. The price of a puppy is influenced by the purpose of the purchase and the merits of the parents. But no one can guarantee that the puppies of the show winners will also become the best.

For home keeping, without plans to participate in shows, the pet class Dandie Dinmont Terrier . The special characteristics of the animal, which do not allow it to fully comply with the standard, will not interfere with a full life and active communication with people.

There are defects that limit puppies from having offspring in the future. Breeders must warn the buyer what is causing the price reduction, and whether any feature or pathology of the puppy threatens the health.

How to choose a Dandie Dinmont Terrier puppy: nuances you need to know

Try not to take dogs without documents. The lack of documented proof of purebred is a reason to doubt that they are offering you exactly the breed you want to purchase.

The dandy is not popular in Russia, but kennels officially registered in international canine systems do exist. To find out the coordinates of their owners, it is better to contact the management of the canine department in your city. The cost of a puppy varies from 600 to 2000 dollars and depends on the merits of the baby’s parents.

On a note. When choosing a dog, give preference to the smallest individuals in the litter. In relation to this breed, follow the rule: the smaller the better.

If in the future you are counting on an exhibition career, take into account one more nuance: those representatives who have a complex color are more valued, i.e. several shades, but one color.

Small Dandie Dinmont Terrier puppies Dandie Dinmont Terrier puppy

Be sure to consider the dog's behavior. A puppy who immediately makes contact will be easier to work with in the future. It is better to avoid timid or noisy babies. You should not take a puppy with dull, loose fur.

Be sure to check if any of the parents (up to the 4th generation) have the characteristic diseases and problems listed above. The puppy must be healthy, well-built, and have an appropriate weight for its age. Fatness is welcome, but at the same time a bloated belly.

One of the important distinguishing features of the breed is the change in color as it grows. Newly born puppies are darker in color. They lighten gradually. Coat color is established by 8 months. Complete consolidation of the palette occurs only by the age of three.

Interesting Facts

In the history of the breed, small dogs have always had fans among different segments of the population. It is known that Queen Victoria adored the Dandie Dinmont. Royalty also acquired hunting terriers. Images of beloved dogs ended up in the portraits of many nobles.

This dog breed loves water.

The Duke of Northumberland promised his manager a huge reward or a large farm for his “earth dog.” The manager refused to give the dog away, saying that he could not cope with the gift without the help of his faithful dog. Love for small shaggy creatures does not change over time, just as devotion, trust, and friendship do not depreciate.