CHAPTER XL 



THE DANDIE DINMONT 



THE breed of terrier now known as the Dandle Dinmont is one 

 of the races of the dog which can boast of a fairly ancient 

 lineage. Though it is impossible now to say what was the 

 exact origin of this breed, we know that it was first recognised 

 under its present name after the publication of Scott's Guy 

 Mannering, in the year 1814, and we know that for many 

 years previously there had existed in the Border counties a 

 rough-haired, short -legged race of terrier, the constant and 

 very effective companion of the Border farmers and others in 

 their fox-hunting expeditions. 



Various theories have been suggested by different writers 

 as to the manner in which the breed was founded. Some say 

 that the Dandie is the result of crossing a strain of rough-haired 

 terriers with the Dachshund ; others that a rough-haired 

 terrier was crossed with the Otterhound ; and others again 

 assert that no direct cross was ever introduced to found the 

 breed, but that it was gradually evolved from the rough-haired 

 terriers of the Border district. And this latter theory is 

 probably correct. 



The Dandie would appear to be closely related to the Bed- 

 lington Terrier. In both breeds we find the same indomitable 

 pluck, the same pendulous ear, and a light silky " topknot " 

 adorning the skull of each ; but the Dandie was evolved into a 

 long-bodied, short-legged dog, and the Bedlington became 

 a long-legged, short-bodied dog ! Indeed to illustrate the 

 close relationship of the two breeds a case is quoted of the late 

 Lord Antrim, who, in the early days of dog shows, exhibited 



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