Sunday 27 February 2011

Never saw one of those before

I came across this terrier today. I had never heard about this breed before so I looked it up. The Dandie Dinmont Terrier is amongst the rarest and most endangered of all pure breeds/pedigree dogs. The UK Kennel Club lists the Dandie as one of the UK's Vulnerable Native Dog Breeds and there is a very real chance of the breed becoming extinct.
This short legged terrier was developed in the 17th century as an otter and badger specialist in the Cheviot and Teviotdale Hills in the border country of Scotland and England. The Dandie Dinmont Terrier is named after Dandie Dinmont, a jovial farmer in Sir Walter Scott's novel Guy Mannering. Scott also gave the names to the breed's colours, pepper and mustard, which were adopted from the names of Dandie Dinmont's dogs. The Dandie Dinmont Terrier is the only breed to be named after a character in fiction.
The Dandie Dinmont Terrier Club was formed in 1875 and is one of the oldest pedigree breed clubs in the world. The breed is registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC) since 1888 and with the United Kennel Club (UKC) since 1918.
A Dandie Dinmont called Dodo features in Gerald Durrell's book: My Family and Other Animals Chapter 16.
circa 1915
Very interesting, I think.

2 comments:

Angus said...

Always thought Dandies were a popular breed. Horrifying to learn they might disappear.

Whispering Walls said...

One for the handbag?