ORIGIN OF DANDIE DINMONTS. \ \ 7 



but that there is "a great deal in blood," we would, rather than strain a pedigree beyond its 

 bearing power, take the opposite line, and like 



" The grand old gardener and his wife, 

 Smile at the claims of long descent." 



Quite a fallacious idea appears to us to be entertained by the quibblers for "absolute purity." 

 An unstained lineage is unquestionably an important consideration for a breeder, without which 

 he can with no degree of certainty calculate on the character of expected produce ; but neither 

 the judge in the ring, nor the sportsman in the field with the dog, has any concern with 

 that. The former has to consider whether the dog shows the characteristics of the breed as 

 settled by recognised authorities, however he may have become possessed of them ; and if 

 the latter finds his dog in outward form a Dandie, and one duly "entered wi' rattans, stoats, 

 and weasels, tods, and brocks," and who never flinches, but will "face ony thing wi' a hairy 

 skin on't," he will be quite satisfied, although the dog may have a bar sinister on his 

 escutcheon. Or, again, to quote Scott, he may be a veritable " Mishdegoat," as Herr Douster- 

 swivel would pronounce it. 



As regards the dogs "Dandie Dinmont" originally possessed, the Rev. J. Cuming Macdona 

 in 1869 was the fortunate discoverer of a document in James Davidson's own handwriting, which 

 ran thus 



"1800. Tuggin, from A. Armstrong, reddish and wiry; Tarr, reddish and wire-haired, a 

 bitch ; Pepper, shaggy and light, from Dr. Brown, of Borjenwood. The race of Dandies are 

 bred from the two last. J. D." 



This document must be interesting to all lovers of this game little dog, as supporting Mr. 

 Macdona's views that Tarr and . Pepper were the progenitors of all the Dandies now in 

 existence. 



From considerable acquaintance with Dandie Dinmont Terriers, we have no hesitation in 

 pronouncing them " dead game." They are, essentially, vermin dogs, and no more useful small 

 dog can be kept about a country house if there are rats to be killed, a fox or an otter to be bolted 

 a stoat, weasel, or marten to be destroyed, a badger or brock to be drawn from his "hollow 

 harbour," or a rabbit to be hunted from his fastness in the thickest of whin bramble or bracken 

 brake. He is all there, ever ready, eager, and equal to the fray, untiring, and up to the roughest 

 work, but apt to show a little strong-headedness ana to run riot when game is near and scent is 

 strong, unless exceptionally well broken. At home he proves a good house-dog, and his quaint- 

 ness and high intelligence render him a most lovable companion ; affectionate to a degree, he is 

 not given to quarrel ; but once roused, he shows himself possessed of the very 'essence and spirit 

 of Polonius's advice, and " bears himself so that his adversary must beware," for he can both take 

 and give punishment, and in common parlance will "fight till all's blue." It is a curious 

 feature in his method of fighting that a Dandie generally fights on his back, and tears and 

 scratches at his opponent's throat literally with tooth and nail. 



Those of his admirers who call the Dandie good-looking must have singular ideas of beauty ; 

 but, as the old proverb avoweth, "handsome is that handsome does," and in good deeds he 

 excels ; and his very pronounced character, the weird " auld farran " look of quaintness and 

 intelligence, amply make up for beauty, whilst his rough-and-ready-for-anything look at once 

 commends him to the sportsman. 



