The History of the
Dandie Dinmont Terrier

The Dandie Dinmont Terrier is the only breed named for a literary character. Sir Walter Scott’s 1814 novel, Guy Mannering”, contained a farmer named Dandie Dinmont” who had a pack of terriers indigenous to the English-Scottish Border area. James Davidson, a tenant on Hindlee farm, was credited as being the model for the Scott character. The peppers and mustards were renamed Dandie Dinmont Terriers, and the success of the novel ensured continued publicity and their increasing popularity throughout Great Britain.

In the British Isles in the mid 1700’s, two distinct types of terriers were identified. One was a rough-coated, short-legged, long-backed dog, very strong and most commonly black or yellowish mixed with white. The other was smooth-haired, shorter bodied and more sprightly in appearance, generally reddish-brown or black with tan legs. In the early

1800’s interest turned to controlled breeding of dogs of many types for specific purposes. In Scotland the short-legged rough-coated breeds used to go to ground emerged in a variety of forms, all probably originating from something halfway in type between the modern Cairn and Skye.

In 1875 The Dandie Dinmont Terrier Club was formed and the original Standard formatted. Breeders were invited to submit suggestions for a Standard to specify the points distinguishing the Dandie Dinmont from the other developing terrier breeds. In 1886 the American Kennel Club, (founded in 1884), registered a Dandie Dinmont, Bonnie Britton, in the first year of the Stud Book Registry.

The essentials of the original Standard remain largely unchanged today. In the early 1970’s, the American Standard was modified to specify the spacing and number of incisors. In 1991 the American Standard was reformatted to fall into line with the American Kennel Club’s effort to standardize all the breed standards. The American Dandie Dinmont Terrier Standard is now more explicit, includes a reference to movement and eliminates the numerical scale of points. When studying the Standard it is helpful to remember the origin and purpose of the breed.

Breed Purpose

The Dandie evolved as a hardy working terrier. He needed the stamina to hunt all day over the rough terrain of the English-Scottish Border country, often in inclement weather. He was primarily a hunter of vermin, requiring the skills and physical equipment to “go to ground”. Therefore he had to be a proper size: not too small and light nor too large and clumsy. Necessary were a strong neck, strong jaws and large teeth, especially the canines. His quarters were well muscled and well placed to give him endurance and his body flexible to enter a den and to retreat quickly when necessary. His coat needed to be double, the undercoat to keep him warm and dry at the skin, the outer coat to shed wind and water as well as to protect him from the harsh brush and brambles.

Today’s Dandie, infrequently required to hunt, is known as the gentleman of the terrier family and a loyal and loving companion. However, the instincts of these roots remain. When not hunting, he is calm and reserved, placid and affectionate. He hunts with caution, never rushing into a den without first knowing what is down there and how he might best handle it. But, when his “terrier” is aroused, he will continue to hunt and pursue with great tenacity and will only back off when the job is complete.