Dandie Dinmont Terrier Dog Breed

Although these dogs have been around for a few centuries, they were not known outside of their Scottish border regions until the early 19th century. Still, there are many well-documented Dandie Dinmont Terrier facts as these dogs were closely managed to maintain breed purity. They are specialized hunting dogs with long, strong bodies and short, thick legs. They were bred to hunt otters and badgers, which are far more fierce than you may think and required a dog that would go to ground, not be put off by water, and fight equally fiercely. Nevertheless, these dogs are friendly around people, they do just fine with young and noisy kids, and they are great companions.

Here is some more information about these remarkable dogs:

There is a lot of Dandie Dinmont Terrier information out there despite these dogs not being too common. These somewhat little-known but odd-looking dogs may make people laugh at first. Taking the time to get to know them will reveal they tend to be calm, that they can be personable after a while, and that they are very bold and strong.

The intelligence of the Dandie Dinmont is easily seen when in the presence of these dogs. They may be a bit hard to train, but they do respond well to those whom they respect. Once they understand that they are part of a team or ready to work, you'll find they are extremely able.

The big head, little body, and short legs are a bit comical at first, and if you are next treated with the Dandie's big bark, you may well be shocked! How could such a loud sound come out of that little dog? Well, it does, so be prepared.

These dogs have a lot of stamina, but left to themselves they may prefer to lie about most the day. Given toys, let out to chase butterflies or other creatures, or taken along for walks, runs, or even bicycle rides, however, and they'll easily keep up for a long while.

Unlike the typical terrier personality, the Dandie Dinmont Terrier temperament is a reserved one. These dogs are hunters, they can handle a confrontation, and they are strikingly alert, but they prefer to assess a situation rather than over-react out of the gate. They like to hang out, play a bit, and explore a lot. They are a bit defensive in the company of other dogs, however, and especially around dogs they don't know. They are very independent too, so you won't find them pining for your attention all the time.

They do love to work when they feel it's a substantial task. As a hunter, they are excellent dogs. As a pet, they can be stubborn, so be prepared to compromise. They will tolerate children rather well as they are easy-going, can handle rough-housing, and are fine with noisy play.

True border terriers from northern Scotland tend to have few inheritable and no breed-specific health concerns, and the Dandie Dinmont is believed to be a border terrier. They do have problems due to their body style, however. The very long body and short legs, technically called "breed-defining chondrodysplasia," makes them prone to back problems. They should also be prevented from jumping onto and off furniture, especially when they are less than a year old.

Here are some other things that issues that might occur in your Dandie Dinmont Terrier:

• Obesity
• Epilepsy
• Blindness
• Glaucoma
• Hip dysplasia
• Skin allergies
• Hypothyroidism
• Luxating patella
• Lymphosarcoma
• Cushing's Syndrome
• Intervertebral disk disease

The average lifespan for the typical Dandie Dinmont is 11 to 13 years.