How to Groom a Dandie Dinmont Terrier

Dandie Dinmonts are an old terrier breed which originated somewhere around the border between England and Scotland. They are lively and friendly and make wonderful companions. They have a unique coat that requires a very particular type of grooming, which may be beyond the capabilities of average the owner. Give your Dandie Dinmont a general grooming every week and a full grooming every 6 to 8 weeks. Read on to learn more.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Slicker brush
• Pin brush
• Natural bristle brush
• Thinning shears
• Blades (if trimming is desired)

1. Brush regularly using a pin brush to help remove shed hair, as well as a natural bristle brush and a slicker brush. This breed sheds very little hair, and sometimes none at all. Dandie Dinmont Terriers have a very specific kind of coat. It's a mixture of a soft topcoat and a not quite as soft undercoat. Dog fanciers refer to this particular mixture of coat types as "penciled."

2. Pluck dead hair from the dog's body once or twice per year. Since they shed so little hair, you have to remove most of it manually.

3. Strip hair from the dog's body once or twice per year. You or your groomer should hand strip your Dandie Dinmonts. Make sure you or the groomer you use know how to do this properly. The Dandie Dinmont has a very particular style that isn't easy to achieve if you're a beginner.

4. Use thinning shears to remove clumps of matted hair and knots from the dog's body.

5. Use a #4 or #5 blade to trim the body, back and sides of the animal. For the ears, use a #10 or #15 blade. Use a #10 blade for the stomach (the hair on the underside of the Dandie Dinmont is much softer than that on the rest of the body) and a #15 blade for the pads of the feet. Be careful while using the blades and enlist help if you're nervous about trimming your dog yourself.

Tips & Warnings

• This breed does well in an apartment. They should exercise regularly, but don't need to do strenuous activities on a day-to-day basis.
• This breed has a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years.
• Dandie Dinmont Terriers usually weigh between 18 and 24 lb. and range in height from 8 to 11 inches. They should always be longer than they are tall.
• If you put your dog in show, the regulations require even more extensive and specialized grooming.
• Use grooming time with your dog to check for skin problems, bug bites and ear infections. Many Dandie Dinmonts enjoy grooming time and use it as an opportunity to be affectionate.
• Hypothyroidism is a somewhat common affliction in older Dandie Dinmonts. Some also suffer from glaucoma and epilepsy.
• If these dogs may develop back problems if you don't exercise them often enough or let them gain excess weight.