Dandie Dinmont Terrier

The breed developed in the Scottish Borders, particularly around the Cheviot Hills, among itinerant gypsy horse dealers and border farmers who bred a hardy, short-legged terrier for vermin control and hunting otter and badger along the rivers. It gained its unusual name from a character in Walter Scott's 1815 novel Guy Mannering, a farmer who kept a pack of similar terriers, after which the public began calling the breed by that name and it stuck permanently.

Living with a Dandie Dinmont means having a dog with real terrier grit wrapped in an unusually calm and dignified package; it is less frantic than many terriers, often described as having a somewhat aloof, thoughtful manner, though it is affectionate with its own family. It retains a strong prey drive and a stubborn streak from its working past, so recall around small animals needs careful management. The topknot and body coat need regular brushing and the traditional coat should be hand-stripped rather than clipped to keep its texture and colour.

Today it is one of the rarer British native breeds, appearing on the Kennel Club's vulnerable native breeds list with only a small number of registrations each year, kept mostly by dedicated terrier enthusiasts. Its combination of long body, big dark eyes and characterful silhouette make it instantly recognisable to those who know it, even as its overall numbers remain worryingly low.