The Dandie Dinmont Terrier: The Review

The Westminster Dog Show a few years back featured a breed I had never seen before. Bill Cosby was co-owner of a dog that was at once adorable and yet strange looking at the same time. It was Harry, a Dandie Dinmont Terrier and I was smitten; I was also determined to find one.

An Internet search revealed two things: 1) The Dandie is not your average dog, breeders are not only few and far between but they are also stringent in their requirements for placing a Dandie and 2) Dandie Dinmont's do not come without a hefty price tag.

After locating a breeder who wouldn't have pups available for 4 months and would require me to fly across the U.S. to pick him up, I decided to continue my search. I finally located a breeder who put me in touch a few other breeders and as luck would have it I stumbled upon an available Dandie.

His name was Jock O' Hazeldean and he was 8 months old. His breeders had decided he was not going to be a show dog and were considering adopting him out. They sent me pictures and I fell head over heels in love with this little guy who looked like a cross between a poodle and a weenie dog with big hair.

Although I really wanted a newborn, I didn't really want to have to wait. Jock O' was only an 18 hour drive away and I knew I could manage to go that far and the cost was about half what a newborn pup would have been. Once I decided I wanted him, I had to go through an adoption process to make sure they wanted me to have him.

The forms I filled out to adopt him made me think I was going to pick up a human child, not a Dandie Dinmont. My references were checked and finally I was cleared for adoption. I was over the moon. The only hesitation was the fact that I already have a Bichon Frise in the house. However, we all decided to give it a try. If it didn't work out they would take Jock O' back.

After buying a book on Dandie Dinmonts and packing the car with all the necessities, my roommate and I set out for the hills of Kentucky. When we finally arrived, we met not only Jock O' but his entire family - from his Grandma Mollly to his siblings. There were Dandies everywhere. Jock O' came right to us, tail wagging.

One of the stipulations when we purchased him was that he be neutered. Dandie breeders are particular about keeping the bloodline as pure as possible. Because the breeder was also a veterinarian, Jock O' had been neutered prior to our arrival and was ready to travel.

After our good-byes we started back home. The trip back was entirely uneventful, unless you consider my worrying that Jock O' was so quiet. The little guy never even whimpered. He just rode in his crate and looked around. I couldn't recall reading that Dandie Dinmonts were a quiet breed. I called his breeder and asked when he was going to 'talk', her response - "when he feels the need to".

Arriving home and meeting Dolce (the Bichon) was pretty much uneventful as well. They became friends rather quickly. Jock O' had been crate trained and so for the first few weeks slept in his crate. It didn't take him long to figure out that he was more of a baby than a dog in his new home and so the crate was soon abandoned for a cushioned nest beside my bed. I also found that he enjoyed being sung too at night. "Rock A Bye Baby" is his favorite song.

Jock O' has been with us for 2 years now and I must say that the Dandie Dinmont is by far the best dog I have ever been around. He is very laid back, not at all hyper or demanding. He is loyal and will defend his 'mama' - even to the point of pushing Dolce out of the way if the need arises. He is also a wonderful guard dog with a deep, howling bark that would make anyone think a big dog was in the house.

Jock O' causes quite a stir when out in public. The most often asked question is 'what kind of dog is he'? Not many people here in South Carolina have seen one. Walking him down the street brings many stares.

For anyone considering a new dog, the Dandie Dinmont is a wonderful choice. Smart, loyal and cute they become a part of your family in a hurry and you won't be able to imagine life without them.