This article was originally published in Showsight Magazine, September 2013 issue.
These were the first words spoken to me by the instructors while I was registering for my first Obedience class with Hannah. I was crushed and then I got mad and vowed to make them eat their words.
Since then, I have heard this expression on numerous occasions at ringside (including from two judges) and delight in showing them just how wrong they were. I’m not claiming that Dandies are easy to train (they aren’t Border Collies), but they are far from stupid.
In fact, Dandies are probably one of the cleverest breeds around, once you figure out what their motivation is and keep them from getting bored with the training process. This is nothing new—besides being vermin hunters, they were highly prized as “Tinker’s dogs” back in the 1700s and 1800s. They were used to entertain and draw in potential customers by these traveling salesmen.
If you decide that you would indeed enjoy working with a Dandie, you must first and foremost possess a sense of humor, a lot of patience, the ability to recover from public humiliation, and be prepared to spend a lot of time hunched over with your knuckles almost dragging on the ground in an “ape-like” position.
You’ll be pleasantly surprised at the reception you’ll get working them at “their” level. You have to realize that your Dandie’s head is below your knee, and because of their conformation, it isn’t natural for them to walk around gazing up at you. They want to look where they are going, not follow you blindly into who-knows-what situation.
The next important difference in working with Dandies—more so than with other breeds—is that they are so smart they get bored quickly. When they do something right, they see no reason to keep beating it into the ground.
A Border Collie or a Golden will just keep doing what you ask ad nauseum since their whole purpose in life is to make you happy. A Dandie’s whole purpose is to find a way for YOU to make THEM happy. Your Dandie is not going to respect a person who barks out an order expecting instant adherence to something that really isn’t important to them.
Rally is a fun and attainable first sport since you are allowed to talk to your dog, pat your leg, clap your hand, or even sing in the ring (if you so desire). In conventional Obedience, you give a single command and expect instant compliance while withholding praise or feedback until the end of the exercise.
Your novice Dandie could be two rings away by that time, making friends with some nice person or sitting on an available lap. Dandies get bored with repetition, even when they are being rewarded, but your first rally title can be done “on leash.”
From this title, you are set up to pass your Canine Good Citizen test and Therapy Dog International test too.
For the Dandie adventurers, there are other sports for Dandies to excel in.
Although some say Dandies shouldn’t do Agility because of their long backs, the Dandie has a natural rise in their back, making it possible to do jumps (albeit at certain heights), A-frames, teeter-totters, tunnels, and more. They may not be the fastest time-wise due to their short legs, but they do very well and enjoy the sport. If you ever see a picture of a Dandie doing Agility, you will notice a smile on their face.
Nosework is a fairly new sport, but one that allows your Dandie to work independently and find that “hidden” scent. They are natural hunters and very accurate once they understand the purpose of the “hunt.” Once they find “it,” they need to tell you, and it builds a unique communication bond with your Dandie. There are four obtainable titles in Nosework.
Although there are VERY few Dandies that do Herding, the ones that do manage very well. You, as an owner, will need to be able to move fast and stay in control of your dog. Perseverance is needed with this sport, as your Dandie will love the “chase,” and you will need to teach them to slow down—which isn’t always fun. If you achieve this, though, your Dandie can do just as well as any herding breed out there.
If you’re completely ready to have your Dandie embarrass you, try Canine Freestyle Dance. This is probably the most difficult sport of all. I have a Dandie that knows 65 commands and does amazing tricks. We set those tricks to music and dance. Sometimes we earn our title, and sometimes we don’t.
On more than one occasion, my Dandie has decided it was far more interesting to stop in the middle of the ring and watch me dance for the audience. Entertainment at its finest—he has won Judges’ Choice and Most Memorable Routine prizes for his “comedic stage presence.” If you’re not too hung up on winning and are interested in FUN, this is the sport for you.
So… as you can see, the Dandie Dinmont is a great little dog with versatility plus. They are a fun breed with loads of personality.
