Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Dandie Dinmont Terrier Breed Overview
- History of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier Breed. Where Dandie Dinmont Terriers came from
- What the Dandie Dinmont Terrier Looks Like
- Best Dandie Dinmont Terrier Breeders
- Adopting or Rescuing the Dandie Dinmont Terrier
- What Colors do Dandie Dinmont Terriers Have?
- Dandie Dinmont Terrier Litter Size
- How Fast Dandie Dinmont Terriers Can Run
- Good Names for Dandie Dinmont Terriers
- How Intelligent are Dandie Dinmont Terriers?
- How Popular are Dandie Dinmont Terriers with New Dog Owners?
- Health Problems in Dandie Dinmont Terriers and How to Prevent Them
- Dog Breeds That Are Similar to Dandie Dinmont Terriers
- Other Things to Know About Dandie Dinmont Terriers
Dandie Dinmont Terrier Breed Overview
The Dandie Dinmont Terrier is a tiny-sized dog.
The adult Dandie Dinmont Terrier stands 8 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder.
The Dandie Dinmont Terrier belongs to the Terrier Dogs group.
Dogs in the Terrier Dogs group, like the Dandie Dinmont Terrier, were originally bred to go underground to hunt rodents and other small wild animals (vermin).
Terriers come in a wide range of sizes and shapes, but all terriers are energetic, highly intelligent, and territorial. Terries also have the tendency to escape. They require a securely fenced yard.
The fact that Dandie Dinmont Terriers belong to the Terrier Dogs group is one of the reasons why Dandie Dinmont Terriers have the personality and temperament that they have.
The temperament of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier is generally described as:
- Affectionate
- Companionable
- Determined
- Fun-loving
- Independent
- Lively
History of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier Breed. Where Dandie Dinmont Terriers came from
The Dandie Dinmont Terrier was born in Scotland, near the border of Scotland in 1770s.
It is the only breed that has taken its name from a literary character.
This breed`s name is derived from Sir Walter Scott`s fictional Guy Mannering character.
Although the Dandie Dinmont terrier is closely related to the Bedlington, the dog`s ancestry likely includes breeds of Cairn terrier, border terrier, and basset hound.
The Dandie Dinmont Terrier was originally designed for small game hunting and became well-known for its ability to track otter.
The Dandie evolved into a show dog and a household pet over the years.
He is valued for his distinctive appearance.
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What the Dandie Dinmont Terrier Looks Like
The Dandie Dinmont terrier, a Dandie Dinmont, is playful, affectionate and dedicated.
Although he is not a pack animal, the Dandie Dinmont terrier often bonds with one person.
However, he can be a good member of a family.
The coat is made up of a mix of soft and hard hairs.
It can be black to pale gray (“pepper”), or red to fawn (“mustard”).
The terrier breed is long in stature with a high back and a higher rear.
The distinctive “top-knot”, which is the top of their heads, is highlighted by long ears.
These dogs are very small and will happily lie on your lap.
However, they can also be active and playful.
Dandie is not a good candidate for stairs because of his short legs.
For older dogs, this is a particularly important concern.
Although Dandie is a calm watchdog, he can be quite loud and strung.
The Dandie Dinmont terrier is a loving dog but can also be stubborn.
A patient and assertive trainer is needed.
The Dandie Dinmont terrier is not a snappy breed and makes a great companion for children.
This dog is calmer than other terrier breeds.
The terrier`s good nature makes him a welcome addition to any home.
The Dandie Dinmont needs to be exercised daily if he is not kept in a house with a yard.
The Dandie Dinmont is a friendly dog who enjoys being surrounded by people.
Dandie does not like to be alone, so it may be a good idea to have another dog companion.
To keep your Dandie tidy, you must brush him or her daily.
To maintain the Dandie`s distinctive appearance, it is necessary to trim or cut hair several times per year.
The “top-knot”, used to prevent mats, should be taken care of to keep the hair silky smooth.
The dog sheds very little and is easy to maintain in the home.
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Best Dandie Dinmont Terrier Breeders
We have researched reputable Dandie Dinmont Terrier breeders that you can buy a puppy.
Go to this page for our complete list of reputable Dandie Dinmont Terrier breeders in various states in the United States.
On this page, you will see how much these breeders sell their puppies for, and how many puppies they have available.
A few of these breeders are listed below.
Derrydown Dandies
Puppy Price: Check with breeder
DayOJoy Kennel
Puppy Price: Check with breeder
Dandie Dinmont Club of America
Puppy Price: Check with breeder
WeBe Farms Dandie Dinmont Terriers/Angeldotz Dalmatians
Puppy Price: Check with breeder
Adopting or Rescuing the Dandie Dinmont Terrier
You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many dogs, Dandie Dinmont Terriers included, are currently available for adoption in your local dog shelters.
These helpless but adorable dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Dog adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300 or even less.
In addition to your local dog shelter, another good place to find dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.
Below is an adorable Male Dandie Dinmont Terrier named Roscoe / Toby that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely Dandie Dinmont Terriers like Roscoe / Toby on pefinder.com.
You can find more Dandie Dinmont Terriers that are available for adoption on petfinder.
What Colors do Dandie Dinmont Terriers Have?
Dandie Dinmont Terriers come in the following beautiful primary colors:
- Gray / Blue / Silver
Dandie Dinmont Terriers come in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to their primary colors:
- White / Cream
Dandie Dinmont Terrier Litter Size
Researchers from the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science did a study where they counted the numbers of puppies in 1 different Dandie Dinmont Terrier birth litters.
From this study, the researchers found that the average number of puppies that Dandie Dinmont Terriers can have is 5 puppies. Also, the Dandie Dinmont Terrier can have as few as 5 puppies per litter and as many as 5 puppies per litter.
The number of puppies that the Dandie Dinmont Terrier will have depends on factors such as the age of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier, the method of pregnancy, etc.
Click here to see our calculator for predicting how many puppies your Dandie Dinmont Terrier will have and how the litter size of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier compares to the litter size of other dog breeds.
How Fast Dandie Dinmont Terriers Can Run
How fast a dog breed can run is a good measure of how athletic the dog breed is.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) regularly conducts dog running competitions. The AKC records the running speed of competing dogs in these competitions. These competitions are open to all dog breeds.
Based on our analysis of the speeds of 1 different Dandie Dinmont Terriers, the average speed of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier is 10.7 mph (17.3 kmph).
The fastest speed on AKC record that the Dandie Dinmont Terrier ran in a race is 10.74 mph (17.3 kmph) and the minimum speed on record in a race for a Dandie Dinmont Terrier is 10.74 mph (17.3 kmph).
Click here to see how the speed of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier compares to the speed of other dogs and other mammals such as cats, horses, humans, etc.
Good Names for Dandie Dinmont Terriers
Here are some really good names that are typical for the Dandie Dinmont Terrier ranked by popularity:
- Roscoe
How Intelligent are Dandie Dinmont Terriers?
| Dandie Dinmont Terrier | |
|---|---|
| Intelligence Rank | 62 out of 130 dog breeds |
| Trainability | Tend To Learn New Commands After 40 To 80 Repetitions! |
According to Prof. Stanley Coren, a Canadian psychology professor/dog trainer, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:
- Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence that comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that have been historically bred to be guard dogs will have a high `guarding` intelligence compared to dogs that were not bred for guarding.
- Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. You can improve your dog`s adaptive intelligence by investing time to train your dog.
- Working/Obedience Intelligence: This type of intelligence is breed-specific. Certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. This type of intelligence can be measured for each dog breed and compared to that of other dog breeds.
Professor Stanley Coren measured and ranked the working intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.
Prof. Coren found that the Dandie Dinmont Terrier has an obedience intelligence rank of 62 out of 130 dog breeds. Thus, Prof. Coren put Dandie Dinmont Terriers in the `Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category.
This means that Dandie Dinmont Terriers tend to learn new commands after 40 to 80 repetitions!.
However, we should mention that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone. There are other important factors you need to consider when deciding on which dog breed to get. These other factors include sociability, adorability, and compatibility of the dog breed with your lifestyle.
See the intelligence ranking of some other dog breeds below:
| Breed | Intelligence Rank |
|---|---|
| Standard Poodle | 2 |
| Golden Retriever | 4 |
| Labrador Retriever | 7 |
| Rottweiler | 9 |
| Belgian Tervuren | 14 |
| Belgian Sheepdog | 15 |
| Cardigan Welsh Corgi | 26 |
| Airedale Terrier | 29 |
| Manchester Terrier | 32 |
| Cairn Terrier | 35 |
| Norwegian Elkhound | 36 |
| Kuvasz | 42 |
| Bichon Frise | 45 |
| Boxer | 48 |
| Dachshund | 49 |
| Ibizan Hound | 53 |
| Great Pyrenees | 64 |
| Lhasa Apso | 68 |
| Beagle | 72 |
| Basenji | 78 |
How Popular are Dandie Dinmont Terriers with New Dog Owners?
Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds.
The graph below shows the popularity trend of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.
The popularity of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier averaged over the years is Number 173 out of about 200 dog breeds.
Do not get a dog breed just because it is a popular dog breed. And do not reject a dog breed just because it is an unpopular breed.
Health Problems in Dandie Dinmont Terriers and How to Prevent Them
Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it tends to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.
The Dandie Dinmont Terrier is prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is an organization that keeps track of genetic health problems in dog breeds.
From the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop.
Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.
If you want a Dandie Dinmont Terrier puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Dandie Dinmont Terrier breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.
The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Dandie Dinmont Terriers for:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Dandie Dinmont Terriers here.
Dog Breeds That Are Similar to Dandie Dinmont Terriers
If you have not made up your mind on which dog breed to get, you may also want to consider some other dogs similar to the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.
We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds that have similar behavior and temperament as the Dandie Dinmont Terrier:
- Cavapoo (79 percent match with Dandie Dinmont Terrier). Learn more about the Cavapoo here.
- Shih Tzu (79 percent match with Dandie Dinmont Terrier). Learn more about the Shih Tzu here.
Other Things to Know About Dandie Dinmont Terriers
Here are some of the very important characteristics of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier that you need to know about the Dandie Dinmont Terrier breed: