Dandie Dinmont Terrier

Dandie Dinmont Terrier

The "mustard" colour of the dandie can be any shade including and between reddish brown and fawn
Common nicknames	Dandie Hindlee Terrier
Origin	Scotland
Traits Weight 18–24 pounds (8.2–10.9 kg) Height 8–11 inches (20–28 cm) Coat Rough coated Color Pepper or mustard Life span 11–13 years
Classification / standards FCI Group 3, Section 2 Small Terriers #168 standard AKC Terrier standard ANKC Terriers Group standard CKC Terrier Group standard KC (UK) Terrier standard NZKC Terrier standard UKC Terrier standard
Domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris)

A Dandie Dinmont Terrier is a small Scottish breed of dog in the terrier family. The breed has a very long body, short legs, and a distinctive "top-knot" of hair on the head. A character in Sir Walter Scott's novel Guy Mannering has lent the name to the breed, with "Dandie Dinmont" thought to be based on James Davidson, who is credited as being the "father" of the modern breed. Davidson's dogs descended from earlier terrier owning families, including the Allans of Holystone, Northumberland.

There are three breed clubs in the UK supporting the breed, although it is registered as a Vulnerable Native Breed by the Kennel Club due to its low number of puppy registrations on a yearly basis. The breed is friendly, but tough and is suitable for interaction with older children. There are no breed specific health concerns, but they can be affected by spinal issues due to their elongated body and the breed is affected by canine cancer at a higher than average rate.

The breed originates from the dogs being used in the border country of Scotland and England. During the 1600s, they were used for hunting badgers and otters. Whilst their ultimate origin remains unknown, dogs owned by the Allans of Holystone, Northumberland in the early 1700s are thought to have been involved in their early origins. These dogs may have been a type of Border Terrier, although other theories exist including the idea that they are a cross between Scottish Terriers and Skye Terriers. The head of this family was Willie "Piper" Allan, who was born in nearby Bellingham. He was a fly-fisher and enjoyed his sports, and in particular kept dogs for the hunting of otters.Lord Ravensworth once hired Allan to remove the otters from the pond in Eslington Park. Lord Ravensworth attempted to purchase one of Allan's favoured dogs after he successfully removed the otters, which Allan refused. Willie Piper died on 18 February 1779, and his dogs passed into the care of his son, James. James' son eventually inherited the dogs, and sold a dog named "Old Pepper" to Mr. Francis Sommer who came from Town Yetholm on the Scottish side of the border. Old Pepper was descended from one of Willie Allan's favorite dogs who had worked Lord Ravensworth's manor.