The breed is a hardy one; are good-tempered, and make excellent companions.
The chief points of the Dandie-Dinmont are as follows:—
Head.—The skull ought to be broad between the ears, and the forehead well domed. It should be covered with light, silky hair, softer the better. The muzzle deep, and from it—excepting the bare part about an inch from the back part of the nose—there ought to be hair growing, a little darker than that on the head.
Level, strong, and sound teeth are a sine qua non.
Large, full round eyes, set well apart, and low down, with a lively expression; a black nose; black inside mouth, together with large, low-placed, pendulous ears, hanging close to cheek, and tapering on their posterior borders.
The ears should be covered with soft, brown hair, forming a feathering around the bottom, and 3 or 4 inches long.
Neck.—Short and well rounded.
Body, long and strong, with well-rounded ribs, and a downward curve behind the shoulders, but slightly arched at the loins.
Tail.—About 8 inches in length, thick at the set-on , and then thicker for 2 or 3 inches, afterwards tapering.