Dandie Dinmont Terrier

Expert Grooming Article

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Dandie Dinmont Terrier

The Dandie Dinmont Terrier breed goes back to the early 1700’s from the hilly Borderlands area of both north and south of the Scotland and England border. They were first and foremost working dogs bred to hunt vermin such as badgers and otters, as well as rodents, and their body shape helped them follow their prey into their burrows underground if necessary.

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The Dandie Dinmont Terrier

The Dandie Dinmont Terrier breed goes back to the early 1700’s from the hilly Borderlands area of both north and south of the Scotland and England border. They were first and foremost working dogs bred to hunt vermin such as badgers and otters, as well as rodents, and their body shape helped them follow their prey into their burrows underground if necessary.

The Dandies coat is a very important feature of the breed being quite unique and with required protection for the terrain and purpose. A Dandies coat should be about 5cms long. Its a true double coat with a soft linty undercoat and a crisp topcoat, not wiry but giving crisp feel to the hand. The coat should not ‘shed’ down the back but should lie in pencils caused by the harder hair coming through the softer undercoat. The forelegs have feather about 5cms long. The upper side of the tail is covered with harder wiry hair, with the being feathering of softer hair. The head has the distinctive topknot, moustache/beard and ears of a soft coat that is soft and silky.

To prepare the Dandie is not as easy as one thinks. You must be able to hand strip correctly for this breed as their coats are unique and not what can be described as a typical terrier harsh weather proof coat. The Dandies coat is more hard than wiry, the linty undercoat is a key feature and required to create the breeds true coat preparation. The harder top coat does not have the density of a traditional terrier double coat. The percentage of top coat is more equalled to the balancing soft undercoat. The breeds head is covered with very soft, silky hair not confined to the mere topknot but the furnishings also.

To break things down there are 2 important parts in bathing and preparing a Dandie 1. The body; and then 2. The head, legs, chest and tail.

The head, legs, chest and under the tail is where to start. The head with the topknot, face with beard plus under belly and under tail the coat is a softer texture.

Start with the face and always use Plush Puppy Let’s Face It. This specialised shampoo will clean around the face without causing irritation to those famous Dandie eyes. This is a hypoallergenic sulfate free low foaming shampoo designed purely for faces. It’s no tear formula features the highest quality Blue Cypress Extracts, Panthenol with Pro Vitamin B and SugaNate. These special ingredients clean, soothe, add moisture, aid healing and have anti-inflammatory benefits. A small golf ball sized amounts directly to the face and eye area allows you to thoroughly clean without causing irritation. It can also be used in and around the ears with the same benefits. Its low foaming design allows ease of rinsing, yet complete cleaning. We always recommend you leave this on until the shampooing process is finished.

Now for the body. This is NOT a wiry coat but a harsh one. You need to shampoo using a product that will not soften the coat and the perfect shampoo is Plush Puppy Texture + Shampoo. This shampoo thoroughly yet gently cleanses and deodorises the coat of Terriers and other wire, harsh or coarse coated breeds without softening or compromising texture. It’s ideal for boosting body and coarseness in coats of all colours and coat types. Formulated to be pH controlled, it can create or maintain texture, is low irritant with a subtle apple fragrance and is easy to rinse out. It is full of beneficial and powerful extracts from the Gentian Root, Juniper Fruit, St John’s Wart Leaf, Hay Flower, Lemon Balm Leaf and Arnica Flower that combine to nourish and vitalise the skin. Use diluted up to 1:10 (1 part shampoo to 10 parts water) or apply undiluted directly to areas requiring intensive cleansing. Rinse thoroughly.

For the head including the topknot, face with beard and ears, and also for the legs use Plush Puppy Natural Body Building Shampoo. This shampoo will give you the fullness required to create the correct shaped topknot. Body Building Shampoos intensive active ingredients make the coat appear thicker and adds fullness. Nothing worse than a Dandies topknot that simply parts like the Red Sea (biblical sense). It also works great on the legs to give fullness.

The Dandie comes in 2 colours: Pepper – ranging from dark bluish black to light silvery grey, intermediate shades preferred with a profuse silvery white topknot, and Mustard – varying from reddish brown to pale fawn. Profuse creamy white topknot, legs and feet of darker shade than head.

Both colours ask for a silvery white or a creamy white topknot. If you have any warm or reddish tones use Plush Puppy Herbal Whitening Shampoo. This is a toning shampoo that neutralises unwanted warm yellow or red tones in the coat.

You can mix equal parts of the Herbal Whitening Shampoo with the Body Building Shampoo and dilute to 1:5 (1 part shampoo to 5 parts water). This will give that required lift to the coat and at the same time mellow out the colour. You get to do two things in the one procedure.

At times your Dandies feet may get stained. To reduce staining use Plush Puppy Wonder Blok. It helps to maintain a white stain free coat. It is not a bleach and contains no harmful chemicals but high amounts of naturally sourced vegetable surfactants and glycerin. This product is designed to remove gently unwanted warm or red tones to the coat. Best used on a damp or wet coat. Gently rub into the areas required allowing 5-10 minutes and rinse. For maximum effects repeat or allow a longer time for this amazing product to work.

If you feel that the furnishings areas are still lacking, you can add Plush Puppy Volumising Spray which is a ‘Ready to Use’ spray for quick fuller coat results. Perfect either before blow drying or used to fluff up the coat at the show. A light even spray, brush in until dry or use a dryer. This is a hair thickener to add volume, not a hair stiffener and not detectable as it leaves the coat with a natural thicker look and feel. This will greatly improve volume to the coat with minimal added texture.

Finally at the show you will need to spruce up the dog! Be sure to avoid over wetting that lovely blow dried head.

If the coat requires a refresh, use Plush Puppy OMG. This comes in both “Ready to Use” or concentrate. A light mist and this will allow you to brush the dog and refresh to coat without over softening. OMG never builds up and never goes stringy. A product that took years to develop using amazing technology for maximum effects. A true necessity for the tool kit.

For drying, grooming and on show days use the Plush Puppy Ultimate Pin Brush. This allows you to get into the coat without damaging or dragging too much on the coat. Any lost hair on a Dandie when drying or dragging knots or kinks out or otherwise, results in the new hair growing through dark as when a puppy and spoils the overview of the finish of the dog. Finish with a Plush Puppy Professional Grooming Comb to reduce static and for easy brushing and combing.

At times due to various reasons including the weather static electricity can create flyaways. If this occurs use Plush Puppy Anti-Static Coat Control. This is a lightweight spray infused with organic extracts of Witch Hazel Leaf, Linden Flower, Birch Bark and Nettle. It protects the coat with a UV filter to stop sun damage and protect against heat.

Don’t forget to make him smell good too with the Plush Puppy Odour Muncher as dogs can get a kennel or crate smell after overnighting and I believe judges do use all their senses when judging.

Now you have your Dandie looking their best. This is a wonderful and unique breed rich with history and character. A wonderful companion and very distinctive showdog.

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