Terrier group · Scotland
Dandie Dinmont Terrier
Also called Dandie, Hindlee Terrier.
What makes them remarkable
A dog named after a fictional person: Dandie Dinmont appears in Sir Walter Scott’s novel Guy Mannering.
- Independent
- Determined
- Intelligent
- Affectionate
- Proud
- Size
- Small
- Weight
- 8 to 11 kg18 to 24 lb
- Lives
- 12 to 15 years
- Energy
- Moderate
- Trains
- Moderate
- Barks
- Moderate
Training
Training a Dandie Dinmont Terrier
Terrier breeds. Impulse control and a rock-solid leave it. Short, high-value sessions; they bore fast.
Protect That Back
Start here
Long back requires care. Use ramps instead of stairs, prevent jumping on/off furniture.
Consistent Training
Independent thinkers who need patient, consistent training. Don't expect instant obedience.
Sensitive Under the Determination
Sensitive under their determined exterior. Harsh methods damage trust.
The app turns this into five to fifteen minutes a day.
Add your Dandie Dinmont Terrier and it builds the plan around their age, where they came from and what they already know, one step at a time.
Free to start. iPhone. No card needed.
At home
Living with one
Bred to go to ground after vermin. Fearless, quick, and not built to back down.
Gets on with
- ChildrenHigh
- Other dogsModerate
- StrangersModerate
- CatsLow
Breed averages. Early socialisation and the individual dog matter more.
- Exercise
- 30-45 minutes daily. Moderate walks. Avoid activities that stress the back.
- Grooming
- Hand-stripping 2-3 times yearly. Regular brushing of the distinctive topknot.
- Drool
- Low
- Coat
- Crisp outer coat, Soft undercoat, Distinctive silky topknotPepper, Mustard
- In a flat
- Can work, with enough exercise outside it.
Health
Things to ask a breeder or vet about
Intervertebral Disc Disease
Severe
Long back makes them prone to spinal issues, prevent jumping
Glaucoma
Severe
Elevated eye pressure that can cause blindness
Cushing's Disease
Moderate
Adrenal gland overproduction of cortisol
Where they come from
History
The only breed named after a fictional character. Dandie Dinmont from Sir Walter Scott's 1814 novel "Guy Mannering." Developed in the border region between Scotland and England for hunting badgers and otters. One of the rarest terrier breeds today.
- Dandie Dinmont · The fictional character who gave the breed its name was based on real farmer James Davidson
Similar breeds
All breeds
Scottish Terrier
President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s dog Fala helped make the Scottish Terrier famous around the world.
Small · Terrier
American Hairless Terrier
The breed began with a hairless puppy born into a Louisiana Rat Terrier litter in 1972.
Small · Terrier
Australian Terrier
British terrier ancestry met Australian working life in a dog used against rodents and snakes.
Small · Terrier
Border Terrier
Bred to keep up with horses yet fit into a fox’s den, the Border Terrier had to balance leg length with a small body.
Small · Terrier