Post by charmingnancy on Apr 27, 2009 15:02:38 GMT -5
Dandie Dinmont Terrier
Group: 4- Terriers
Origin: England and Scotland
Purpose: Hunting small game like badgers and foxes, also used by poacher and gypsies, and companion dog
Description:
The Dandie Dinmont Terrier is an enigmatic fellow who requires a special owner, as they are loving and stubborn at the same time. Dandie Dinmont Terriers are playful and intelligent companions who, deep down inside, have a true terrier spirit. When aroused, the Dandie can be a veritable demon who will tackle a fox or other small vermin.
Appearance- Breed Standards:
Coat and Colour: The coat is a very important point; the hair should be about 2 inches (5 cm) long; that from skull to root of tail, a mixture of hardish and soft hair, which gives a sort of crisp feel to the hand. The hair should not be wiry; the coat is what is termed piley or pencilled. The hair on the underpart of the body is lighter in colour and softer than on the top. The skin on the belly accords with the colour of dog. The colour is pepper or mustard. The pepper ranges from a dark bluish black to a light silvery grey, the intermediate shades being preferred, the body colour coming well down the shoulder and hips, gradually merging into the leg colour. The mustards vary from a reddish brown to a pale fawn, the head being creamy white, the legs and feet of a shade darker than the head. The claws are dark as in other colours. (Nearly all Dandie Dinmont Terriers have some white on the chest, and some also have white claws).
Head: Strongly made and large, not out of proportion to the dog’s size, the muscles showing extraordinary development, more especially the maxillary. Skull broad between the ears, getting gradually less towards the eyes, and measuring about the same from inner corner of the eye to back of skull as it does from ear to ear. The forehead well domed. The head is covered with very soft silky hair, which should not be confined to a mere topknot, and the lighter in colour and silkier it is the better. Cheeks starting from the ears proportionately with the skull have a gradual taper towards the muzzle. Muzzle deep and strongly made, and measures about 3 inches (8 cm) in length, or in proportion to skull as 3 is to 5. It is covered with hair of a little darker shade than the topknot, and of the same texture as the feather of the forelegs. The top of the muzzle is generally bare for about 1 inch (3 cm) from the back part of the nose, the bareness coming to a point towards the eye, and being about 1 inch (3 cm) broad at the nose. Nose black or dark-coloured. Mouth black or dark-coloured inside. Teeth very strong, especially the canines, which are of extraordinary size for such a small dog. The canines fit well into each other, so as to give the greatest available holding and punishing power, and the teeth are level in front, the upper ones very slightly overlapping the under the ones. (Many of the finest specimens have a “swine mouth”, which is very objectionable, but is not so great an objection as the protrusion of the underjaw.) Eyes set wide apart, large, full, round, bright, expressive of great determination, intelligence and dignity; set low and prominent in front of the head; colour a rich dark hazel. Ears pendulous, set well back, wide apart, and low on the skull, hanging close to the cheek, with a very slight projection at the base, broad at the junction of the head and tapering almost to a point, the forepart of the ear tapering very little - the tapering being mostly on the back part, the forepart of the ear coming almost straight down from its junction with the head to the tip. They should harmonize in colour with the body colour. In the case of a Pepper dog, they are covered with a soft straight brownish hair (in some cases almost black). In the case of a Mustard dog the hair should be mustard in colour, a shade darker than the body, but not black. All should have a thin feather of light hair starting about 2 inches (5 cm) from the tip, and of nearly the same colour and texture as the topknot, which gives the ear the appearance of a distinct point. The animal is often one or two years old before the feather is shown. The cartilage and skin of the ear should not be thick, but rather thin. Length of ear from 3-4 inches (8-10 cm).
Neck: Very muscular, well developed and strong, showing great power of resistance, being well set into the shoulders.
Forequarters: The forelegs short, with immense muscular development and bone, set wide apart, the chest coming well down between them. The feet well formed and not flat, with very strong brown or dark-coloured claws. Bandy legs and flat feet are objectionable. The hair on the forelegs and feet of a Pepper dog should be tan, varying according to the body colour from a rich tan to a pale fawn; of a Mustard dog they are of a darker shade than its head, which is a creamy white. In both colours there is a nice feather, about 2 inches (5 cm) long rather lighter in colour than the hair on the forepart of the leg.
Body: Long, strong, and flexible; the back rather low at the shoulder, having a slight downward curve and a corresponding arch over the loins, with a very slight gradual drop from top of loins to root of tail; both sides of backbone well supplied with muscle; ribs well sprung and round, well developed and let well down between the forelegs.
Hindquarters: The hind legs are a little longer than the forelegs, and are set rather wide apart but not spread out in an unnatural manner, while the feet are much smaller; the thighs are well developed, and the hair of the same colour and texture as the forelegs, but having no feather or dewclaws; the whole claws should be dark; but the claws of all vary in shade according to the colour of the dog’s body.
Tail: Rather short, say from 8-10 inches (20-25 cm), and covered on the upper side with wiry hair of darker colour than that of the body, the hair on the underside being lighter in colour and not so wiry, with nice feather about 2 inches (5 cm) long, getting shorter as it nears the tip; rather thick at the root, getting thicker for about 4 inches (10 cm), then tapering off to a point. It should not be twisted or curled in any way, but should come up with a curve like a scimitar. The tip, when excited, being in a perpendicular line with the root of the tail. It should neither be set on too high nor too low. When not excited, it is carried gaily, and a little above the level of the body.
Scale of Points: The relative value of the several points in the standard are apportioned as follows:
Head- 10
Eyes- 10
Ears- 10
Neck- 5
Body- 20
Legs and feet- 10
Coat- 15
Colour- 5
Size and weight- 5
Tail- 5
General appearance- 5
TOTAL= 100
Size:
The height should be from 8-11 inches (20-28 cm) at the top of the shoulder. Length from top of the shoulder to root of tail should not be more than twice the dog’s height, but preferably 1-2 inches (3-5 cm) less. The preferred weight from 18-24 lb. (8-11 kg). These weights are for dogs in good working condition.
Temperament:
Dandie Dinmont Terriers are independent, lively, and affectionate towards their owners. They are friendly, but not always obedient. They can be independent, and are happiest when busy. They have quite a docile and peaceful attitude for terriers. They are bold, unafraid, but not instigating in fights. They remain dignified, even in play. They are very loyal, and can be used as a guard dog. Dandie Dinmont Terriers are playful, intelligent and happy with any attention it recieves.
Health:
Issues include Intervertebral disc disease and glaucoma. Other health concerns include lens luxation.
Average Lifespan:
11 -14 years.
History:
The Dandie Dinmont Terrier's origins are from the border of England and Scotland where they claims ancestry with the Bedlington Terrier, Skye Terrier, Otterhound and English Terrier. Their name goes back to the 1600s, when a man named Willie "Piper" Allan kept and raised Dandie Dinmont Terriers until his death in 1704. Despite large amounts offered to him, he never sold his terriers. His children and grandchildren continued the trend, only rarely giving away a Dandie to a friend as a gift or as a favor.
When a farmer named James Davidson obtained a pair and decided to breed them, the otter terrier and other breeds were meshed into the mix of the breed now known as the Dandie Dinmont. At this time, there was no record, no title or pedigree concerning the breed's name, and they had simply been called Catcleugh, Hindlee, or Pepper and Mustard Terriers, after the colors of Davidson's dogs. Soon a man named Walter Scott who was traveling through found this breed and adopted a few. He soon went on to write the novel "Guy Mannering" in 1814, which popularized the breed. In the story, a character named "Dandie Dinmont" kept a pack of these dogs, just as "Piper" Allan had. Although the likeness of the two was similar, the author later denied the claim that the character in fiction was written about Allan. Nevertheless, the breed went on to be known as Dandie Dinmont's Terriers.
In the 1840s, King Louis Phillipe of France obtained a pair of Dandie Dinmonts. In 1867, when the breed was first shown at the Birmingham Dog Show, the judge refused to acknowledge the breed with a prize, remarking that they were "just a bunch of mongrels." Developed for hunting small game like badgers and foxes, Dandie Dinmonts were also used by poacher and gypsies. The Dandie Dinmont Terrier was particularly good at tracking otters. To this day, the breed is used as a companion.
Sources:
CKC (Breed Standards)
Puppy Dog Web
Pictures:
Photobucket
Group: 4- Terriers
Origin: England and Scotland
Purpose: Hunting small game like badgers and foxes, also used by poacher and gypsies, and companion dog
Description:
The Dandie Dinmont Terrier is an enigmatic fellow who requires a special owner, as they are loving and stubborn at the same time. Dandie Dinmont Terriers are playful and intelligent companions who, deep down inside, have a true terrier spirit. When aroused, the Dandie can be a veritable demon who will tackle a fox or other small vermin.
Appearance- Breed Standards:
Coat and Colour: The coat is a very important point; the hair should be about 2 inches (5 cm) long; that from skull to root of tail, a mixture of hardish and soft hair, which gives a sort of crisp feel to the hand. The hair should not be wiry; the coat is what is termed piley or pencilled. The hair on the underpart of the body is lighter in colour and softer than on the top. The skin on the belly accords with the colour of dog. The colour is pepper or mustard. The pepper ranges from a dark bluish black to a light silvery grey, the intermediate shades being preferred, the body colour coming well down the shoulder and hips, gradually merging into the leg colour. The mustards vary from a reddish brown to a pale fawn, the head being creamy white, the legs and feet of a shade darker than the head. The claws are dark as in other colours. (Nearly all Dandie Dinmont Terriers have some white on the chest, and some also have white claws).
Head: Strongly made and large, not out of proportion to the dog’s size, the muscles showing extraordinary development, more especially the maxillary. Skull broad between the ears, getting gradually less towards the eyes, and measuring about the same from inner corner of the eye to back of skull as it does from ear to ear. The forehead well domed. The head is covered with very soft silky hair, which should not be confined to a mere topknot, and the lighter in colour and silkier it is the better. Cheeks starting from the ears proportionately with the skull have a gradual taper towards the muzzle. Muzzle deep and strongly made, and measures about 3 inches (8 cm) in length, or in proportion to skull as 3 is to 5. It is covered with hair of a little darker shade than the topknot, and of the same texture as the feather of the forelegs. The top of the muzzle is generally bare for about 1 inch (3 cm) from the back part of the nose, the bareness coming to a point towards the eye, and being about 1 inch (3 cm) broad at the nose. Nose black or dark-coloured. Mouth black or dark-coloured inside. Teeth very strong, especially the canines, which are of extraordinary size for such a small dog. The canines fit well into each other, so as to give the greatest available holding and punishing power, and the teeth are level in front, the upper ones very slightly overlapping the under the ones. (Many of the finest specimens have a “swine mouth”, which is very objectionable, but is not so great an objection as the protrusion of the underjaw.) Eyes set wide apart, large, full, round, bright, expressive of great determination, intelligence and dignity; set low and prominent in front of the head; colour a rich dark hazel. Ears pendulous, set well back, wide apart, and low on the skull, hanging close to the cheek, with a very slight projection at the base, broad at the junction of the head and tapering almost to a point, the forepart of the ear tapering very little - the tapering being mostly on the back part, the forepart of the ear coming almost straight down from its junction with the head to the tip. They should harmonize in colour with the body colour. In the case of a Pepper dog, they are covered with a soft straight brownish hair (in some cases almost black). In the case of a Mustard dog the hair should be mustard in colour, a shade darker than the body, but not black. All should have a thin feather of light hair starting about 2 inches (5 cm) from the tip, and of nearly the same colour and texture as the topknot, which gives the ear the appearance of a distinct point. The animal is often one or two years old before the feather is shown. The cartilage and skin of the ear should not be thick, but rather thin. Length of ear from 3-4 inches (8-10 cm).
Neck: Very muscular, well developed and strong, showing great power of resistance, being well set into the shoulders.
Forequarters: The forelegs short, with immense muscular development and bone, set wide apart, the chest coming well down between them. The feet well formed and not flat, with very strong brown or dark-coloured claws. Bandy legs and flat feet are objectionable. The hair on the forelegs and feet of a Pepper dog should be tan, varying according to the body colour from a rich tan to a pale fawn; of a Mustard dog they are of a darker shade than its head, which is a creamy white. In both colours there is a nice feather, about 2 inches (5 cm) long rather lighter in colour than the hair on the forepart of the leg.
Body: Long, strong, and flexible; the back rather low at the shoulder, having a slight downward curve and a corresponding arch over the loins, with a very slight gradual drop from top of loins to root of tail; both sides of backbone well supplied with muscle; ribs well sprung and round, well developed and let well down between the forelegs.
Hindquarters: The hind legs are a little longer than the forelegs, and are set rather wide apart but not spread out in an unnatural manner, while the feet are much smaller; the thighs are well developed, and the hair of the same colour and texture as the forelegs, but having no feather or dewclaws; the whole claws should be dark; but the claws of all vary in shade according to the colour of the dog’s body.
Tail: Rather short, say from 8-10 inches (20-25 cm), and covered on the upper side with wiry hair of darker colour than that of the body, the hair on the underside being lighter in colour and not so wiry, with nice feather about 2 inches (5 cm) long, getting shorter as it nears the tip; rather thick at the root, getting thicker for about 4 inches (10 cm), then tapering off to a point. It should not be twisted or curled in any way, but should come up with a curve like a scimitar. The tip, when excited, being in a perpendicular line with the root of the tail. It should neither be set on too high nor too low. When not excited, it is carried gaily, and a little above the level of the body.
Scale of Points: The relative value of the several points in the standard are apportioned as follows:
Head- 10
Eyes- 10
Ears- 10
Neck- 5
Body- 20
Legs and feet- 10
Coat- 15
Colour- 5
Size and weight- 5
Tail- 5
General appearance- 5
TOTAL= 100
Size:
The height should be from 8-11 inches (20-28 cm) at the top of the shoulder. Length from top of the shoulder to root of tail should not be more than twice the dog’s height, but preferably 1-2 inches (3-5 cm) less. The preferred weight from 18-24 lb. (8-11 kg). These weights are for dogs in good working condition.
Temperament:
Dandie Dinmont Terriers are independent, lively, and affectionate towards their owners. They are friendly, but not always obedient. They can be independent, and are happiest when busy. They have quite a docile and peaceful attitude for terriers. They are bold, unafraid, but not instigating in fights. They remain dignified, even in play. They are very loyal, and can be used as a guard dog. Dandie Dinmont Terriers are playful, intelligent and happy with any attention it recieves.
Health:
Issues include Intervertebral disc disease and glaucoma. Other health concerns include lens luxation.
Average Lifespan:
11 -14 years.
History:
The Dandie Dinmont Terrier's origins are from the border of England and Scotland where they claims ancestry with the Bedlington Terrier, Skye Terrier, Otterhound and English Terrier. Their name goes back to the 1600s, when a man named Willie "Piper" Allan kept and raised Dandie Dinmont Terriers until his death in 1704. Despite large amounts offered to him, he never sold his terriers. His children and grandchildren continued the trend, only rarely giving away a Dandie to a friend as a gift or as a favor.
When a farmer named James Davidson obtained a pair and decided to breed them, the otter terrier and other breeds were meshed into the mix of the breed now known as the Dandie Dinmont. At this time, there was no record, no title or pedigree concerning the breed's name, and they had simply been called Catcleugh, Hindlee, or Pepper and Mustard Terriers, after the colors of Davidson's dogs. Soon a man named Walter Scott who was traveling through found this breed and adopted a few. He soon went on to write the novel "Guy Mannering" in 1814, which popularized the breed. In the story, a character named "Dandie Dinmont" kept a pack of these dogs, just as "Piper" Allan had. Although the likeness of the two was similar, the author later denied the claim that the character in fiction was written about Allan. Nevertheless, the breed went on to be known as Dandie Dinmont's Terriers.
In the 1840s, King Louis Phillipe of France obtained a pair of Dandie Dinmonts. In 1867, when the breed was first shown at the Birmingham Dog Show, the judge refused to acknowledge the breed with a prize, remarking that they were "just a bunch of mongrels." Developed for hunting small game like badgers and foxes, Dandie Dinmonts were also used by poacher and gypsies. The Dandie Dinmont Terrier was particularly good at tracking otters. To this day, the breed is used as a companion.
Sources:
CKC (Breed Standards)
Puppy Dog Web
Pictures:
Photobucket