Dandie Dinmont Terrier

The Dandie Dinmont terrier is another of the old Scottish terriers from before breeds were divided and recognized. The Dandie Dinmont is from the Skye line of terriers, same as Cairn terriers. Like all terriers, the Dandie Dinmont was bred to hunt; namely vermin. They were used by gypsies and became popular through Sir Walter Scott’s novel “Guy Mannering.” While this dog is odd looking due to its long body, short legs, and toupee like fur on their head, they are also friendly, lovable and loyal to their owners. They make for excellent apartment dogs as they are small enough to exercise indoors, but at the same time, they benefit from daily walks and access to a small yard. They still retain their hunter instincts however, so they don’t do well off leash in unsafe areas since they’ll go after anything small and moving like cats. They can also be fierce and don’t do well with children since they consider children ‘beneath’ them and won’t put up with having their food or toys encroached upon. This means that if you want be sure of having a good pet, you have to start training consistently and early on.

Stay Consistent With your Dandie Dinmont Terrier

Dandies are smart, independent, and fierce, a combination that makes them perfect for hunting, guarding, and other activities. However, this can also make them difficult to train as they demand that you prove yourself to them before they’ll obey. They are also smart enough to know when you don’t mean what you say, so stay consistent or you could end up with a demanding dog that thinks it’s king of the castle. However, with good training and care, you’ll have a loyal companion for years.