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DANDIE
DINMONT TERRIER
The
Dandie was originally a hardy working dog developed for hunting
small game and vermin along the border of Scotland and England.
Today the Dandie is first and foremost a beloved pet, but many of
those true, ancient features are still there: powerful jaws and
very large teeth, a weatherproof coat, strong construction and limbs,
and sturdy nails - especially in the front paws - well suited for
digging.
The
Dandie Dinmont Terrier was bred from selected specimens of the rough
native terrier in the Border country between England and Scotland
during the late 17th century. A direct line of these dogs descended
to the farmers in the Teviotdale Hills where Sir Walter Scott chanced
upon them and - charmed - made them famous in his 1812 novel "GUY
MANNERING". His character, "Dandie Dinmont", a farmer,
kept the immortal six - "Auld Pepper", "Auld Mustard",
"Young Pepper", "Young Mustard", "Little
Pepper" and "Little Mustard". (Mustard and Pepper
are the two colours of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.) The breed soon
became as popular as the novel, and was known thereafter as Dandie
Dinmont Terriers.
But
the greatest asset of the Dandie is not his endearing looks but
his character: a more adaptable and loving companion is hard to
come by.The Dandie thinks highly of himself, that big hairy head
is full of willpower, sense of humour, energy, courage, curiousity,
and intelligence.And he is a Terrier - a Personality.
THE
ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD
GENERAL
APPEARANCE : Distinctive head with beautiful silky covering, with
large, wise intelligent eyes offsetting long, low weaselly body.
Short, strong legs ; weatherproof coat.
BEHAVIOUR AND TEMPERAMENT : Game, workmanlike Terrier. Independant,
highly intelligent, determined, persistent, sensitive, affectionate
and dignified.
HEAD : Head strongly made, large but in proportion to dog's size,
muscles showing extraordinary development, especially the maxillary.
CRANIAL REGION :
Skull : Broad, narrowing torwards eye, measuring about the same
from inner corner of eye to back of skull, as from ear to ear. Forehead
well domed ; head covered with very soft, silky hair not confined
to mere " topknot ".
FACIAL REGION :
Nose : Black.
Muzzle : In proportion to skull as three is to five. Top of muzzle
has triangular bare patch pointing backwards to eyes from nose about
2,5 cm ( 1 in.) broad.
Cheeks : Gradually tapering towards deep and strongly made muzzle.
Jaws/Teeth : Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor
bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set
square to the jaws. Any deviation highly undesirable. Teeth very
strong, especially canines which are extraordinary in size for a
small dog. Canines fit well against each other, to give greatest
available holding and punishing power. Inside of mouth black or
dark coloured.
Eyes : Rich dark hazel ; set wide apart and low, large, bright,
full and round but not protruding.
Ears : Pendulous, set well back, wide apart, low on skull, hanging
close to cheek with very slight projection at base ; broad at junction
of head and tapering almost to a point, fore part of ear coming
almost straight down from its junction with head to tip. Cartilage
and skin of ear very thin. Length of ear, from 7 ½ -10 cm
(3-4 ins). Ears harmonise in colour with body colour. In a pepper
dog, covered with soft, straight, dark hair (in some cases almost
black).
In a mustard dog, hair mustard in colour, a shade darker than body
but not black. Both should have a thin feather of light hair starting
about 5 cm (2 ins) from the tip, and of nearly the same colour and
texture as " topknot ", giving ear appearance of a distinct
point. This may not appear until after age of two years.
NECK : Very muscular, well developed and strong, showing great power.
Well set into shoulders.
BODY : Long, strong and flexible.
Back : Rather low at shoulders having slight downward curve and
corresponding arch over loins, slight gradual drop from top of loin
to root of tail. Backbone well muscled.
Chest : Well developed and well let down between forelegs.
Ribs : Well sprung and round.
TAIL : Rather short from 20-25 cm (8-10 ins), rather thick at root,
getting thicker for about 10 cm ( 4 ins ) and tapering off to a
point. Not twisted or curled in any way but with a curve like a
scimitar, the tip when excited being in a perpendicular line with
root of tail, set neither too high nor too low. When not excited
carried gaily a little above body level.
LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS : Forelegs short with immense muscular development
and bone, set wide apart and chest coming well down between them.
Bandy legs highly undesirable.
Shoulders : Well laid back but not heavy.
Forearm : To follow line of chest.
Forefeet : Pointing forward or slightly outward when standing.
HINDQUARTERS : Hindlegs a little longer than forelegs ; set rather
wide apart, but not spread out in an unnatural manner.
Thighs : Well developed.
Stifles : Angulated.
Hocks : Well let down. Dewclaws, if present, customarily removed.
Hindfeet : Round and well padded. Hindfeet smaller than forefeet.
Nails dark but varying in shade according to colour of body. Flat
or open feet highly undesirable.
GAIT / MOVEMENT : Strong, straight impulsion from rear, giving a
fluent free and easy stride, reaching forward at the front. A stiff,
stilted, hopping or weaving gait highly undesirable.
COAT
HAIR : Very important feature of the breed. Double coat with a soft
linty undercoat and a harder topcoat, not wiry but giving crisp
feel to the hand. The coat should not " shed " down the
back, but should lie in pencils caused by the harder hair coming
through the softer undercoat. The forelegs have feather about 5
cm (2 ins) long. Upper side of tail covered with wiry hair, underside
not so wiry with neat feathering of softer hair.
COLOUR : Pepper or mustard.
· Pepper : Ranges from dark bluish black to light silvery
grey, intermediate shades preferred. Body colour coming well down
shoulder and hips gradually merging into colour of legs and feet
which varies according to body colour from rich tan to pale fawn.
Profuse silvery white " topknot ".
· Mustard : Varies from reddish brown to pale fawn. Profuse
creamy white " topknot ", legs and feet of a darker shade
than head.
In both colours feather on forelegs rather lighter than hair on
fore part of leg. Some white hair on chest and white nails permissible.
White feet undesirable. Hair on underside of tail lighter than on
upperside which should be darker colour than body.
WEIGHT : 8-11 kg ( 18-24 lbs) for dogs in good working condition.
The lower weights preferred.
FAULTS : Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered
a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded
should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon
the health and welfare of the dog.
Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall
be disqualified.
N.B. : Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles
fully descended into the scrotum
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