Dandies.—A very sterling and genuine breed is the Dandie Dinmont Terrier, which was, I think, first brought to public notice by the writings of Sir Walter Scott, and as I have bred, owned, exhibited and judged more of them than most people, I may be allowed to say they are highly intelligent (according to my experience, much more so than any breed of Terrier, and I believe I have kept most of them), devoted to their owners "born sportsmen," being always open for anything in the way of "sport" on land or in water, full of dash and spirit, have a quaint and picturesque appearance, and make ideal companions for either sex. Of course they are Scottish by birth and origin, but, the more they are seen and known, the better they will be liked, and they have been so much introduced into England, and good specimens bought up, that, at one time, even if not now, there were more good ones in England than could be met with in any part of Scotland. There are only supposed to be two colours allowed in Dandies, "Pepper," which is a sort of pepper and salt, composed of light and dark bluish greys, with topknots of silvery white, and "Mustard," which is a kind of pale yellowish fawn, darker on the neck and back than below, and also with a light silvery topknot. A Dandie of high class, of either colour, shown in good coat and form, is a very beautiful little dog, and fit company for the highest in the land, and, as I said of the last breed I mentioned, may be seen in the possession of all classes. I am not quite certain whether Her Majesty the Queen continues to keep the breed. I do not remember seeing any at Windsor, but I know that in the lifetime of the late lamented Prince Consort, there were Dandies and Skyes amongst the royal pets. Where a person desires to keep but one dog, and wishes to make a friend and companion of it, I do not think that they could improve upon a Dandie, as they make incomparable house dogs. I am speaking from a long and intimate experience of them, as I have bred, owned, shown and judged hundreds of them, and I have rarely found any, who have kept them, but speak in the highest terms of their many charming qualities, and continue to take an interest in the breed, perhaps, long after they have any specimens of it left, and in many cases, several generations of the same families have kept them on. In build they are low to the ground, with long bodies, short legs, possessed of great strength and endurance, and certainly one of the most muscular breeds of its size with which I am acquainted, their quaint, dignified bearing, and deep bark are marked characteristics. The following are the points of the breed, as set out by me for publication, very many years since, and I am not aware they have ever been altered:—Head apparently large in proportion to size, skull fairly wide and covered with top-knot of silky, light hair, muzzle deep and moderately broad, jaws of great strength, teeth level, ears not thick or wide, and feathered to a point, eyes dark hazel, very lustrous and intelligent (dark markings round the eyes very desirable in Pepper Dandies), chest deep, forelegs as straight as compatible with lowness, and, as well as in loins and hindquarters, showing great bone and muscle, tail carried rather gaily, weight under twenty-four pounds, bitches under twenty-two pounds. Colours, pepper or mustard.
DROPEARED SKYE CH. "BALLOCHMY LE BASHFUL" SIR CLAUDE ALEXANDER BART owner.
Skyes.—Perhaps it will be in order here to mention their fellow countrymen, the Skyes, also admirably adapted as companions and house dogs, the main advantages Dandies can claim over them being, in carrying less coat, and being rather more active. Although blacks, and fawns with black points, are occasionally seen, the predominant colours of Skyes are, undoubtedly, various shades of grey, from light silver to dark iron and steel. The breed is divided into two varieties, principally distinguished by the carriage of their ears, and known as "Dropeared" and "Prickeared;" in the former, the ears being rather large and pendulous to the sides of the head, and in the latter, the ears are carried as by the Pomeranians; each variety has its admirers, and some, as I have done, keep both sorts, but I think there are many more prick-eared to be seen, than drop-eared. These dogs are more active, intelligent and courageous than would be supposed from their appearance, and form strong attachments to their owners. Owing to the unsatisfactory management of one, and the dissolution of the other, of the clubs, founded many years since in Scotland, and England, for the encouragement of this breed (which is another of those either still, or formerly, favoured by royal patronage, both at Windsor and Sandringham), things have not been going on swimmingly, for some years past, in the Skye world, but I know there are a few zealous breeders still "pegging away" with their kennels, and I am in hopes the interests and fortunes of the breed will be again revived, and some more specimens brought forward, as good, or better, than any seen in the past. The greatest fault I find with nearly all the best specimens brought out of late years, is their size, as in my opinion, and I have probably seen all the best brought out during the last twenty-five years, their weight should not exceed twenty-five pounds, even with dogs, and with bitches two or three pounds less, with preference for small, good ones, long, low, hard in coat, strong in bone, and muzzle, and not toys. With proper care and attention, a Skye may be made a most beautiful animal, as is proved by one of the inmates of a well known kennel, on one occasion, actually pulling off, and on another, getting placed "Reserve," for the highest possible honour at a first class London show, where all the competitors were champions of their several varieties.
PRICK-EARED SKYE CH. of CH. "DUCHESS" Mrs W. J. HUGHES OWNER.
The points in Skyes are usually considered to be as follows: Head long with powerful jaws and level teeth. Skull wide in front, narrowing between ears and tapering gradually towards muzzle, with little falling in between or behind the eyes. Eyes, close set, medium size, dark hazel. Muzzle always black. Ears pendant, or pricked, in the former full and well feathered, lying close to face in front, and in the latter standing bolt upright, with a little feathering at the tip, standing towards each other at inner edges from peak to skull. Body, preeminently long and low, shoulders broad, chest deep, ribs oval shaped, and well sprung, giving flattish appearance to sides. Hindquarters and flanks full and well developed. Level back. Neck long and slightly crested; tail, when raised, a prolongation of the incline of the back, gracefully feathered on lower side, and not rising higher or curling over back. Legs, short, straight and muscular, without dew claws. Feet rather large and pointing forward. Under coat, short, close, soft and woolly. Over coat, hard, straight, flat and crisp, averaging five and one-half inches long. Hair on head shorter, softer, and veiling forehead and eyes; on ears, overhanging, inside falling down and mingling with side locks, not heavily, but surrounding the ear like a fringe, and[Pg 135] allowing the shape to appear. Colours: dark or light blue, grey, or steel, or fawn with black points. Weight not exceeding twenty-four pounds, a few pounds less, better than any higher, as so many good specimens are spoilt by being coarse, at least, this is my opinion, after considerable practical experience of the breed, and being one of its staunchest admirers.