Dandie Dinmont terrier is a dog that got its name from a book. In Sir Walter Scott’s novel Guy Mannering, a farmer named Dandie Dinmont raised an unusual pack of short-legged terriers that were all the color of pepper or mustard. In the book, the dogs were famous as hunters of foxes, badgers, and otters. A new breed was later called Dandie Dinmont for the farmer in the book.
The Dandie Dinmont terrier has a big head and large, soft brown eyes. Its forehead is covered by a silky topknot (tuft of hair). Its coat is crisp to the touch on the back and soft and downy underneath. Dandies weigh from 18 to 24 pounds (8 to 11 kilograms) and stand 8 to 11 inches (20 to 28 centimeters) high at the shoulder.
