Dandie Dinmont Terriers in the UK

Part of an ongoing section of the Dandie Dinmont Web, we will bring you, from time to time, stories about Dandie Dinmont Terriers, fact and fiction, from old books. This one is true! All will be linked from the Dandie Tales button on the Dandie Menu.  

"Mr Morritt, well known to the readers of the Life of Sir Walter Scott, as his intimate and confidential friend, had two terriers of the pepper-and-mustard breed, or rather, as we prefer him to any other character Sir Walter Scott has delighted us with, the Dandy Dinmont breed. These dogs (for we avoid the feminine appellation when we can) were strongly attached to their excellent master, and he to them. They were mother and daughter, and each produced a litter of puppies about the same time. Mr Morritt was seriously ill at this period, and confined to his bed. Fond as these dogs were of their puppies, they had an equal affection for their master, and in order to prove to him that such was the case, they adopted the following expedient.

day after day these two Dandie bitches looked after their master ...

They conveyed their two litters of puppies to one place, and while one of the mothers remained to suckle and take care of them, the other went into Mr Morritt's bedroom and continued there from morning until evening. When the evening arrived, she went and relieved the other dog, who then came into the bedroom, and remained quietly all night by the side of the bed, and this they continued to do day after day in succession.

This charming anecdote was communicated to me from a quarter which cannot leave a doubt of its authenticity, and affords an affecting proof of gratitude and love in animals towards those who have treated them with kindness, and made them their friends. Such an anecdote as this should be sufficient to preserve dogs from much of the ill-treatment they meet with."

Edward Jesse 1888 published by Henry G Bohn, York Street, Covent Garden, London

Full text of 'Anecdotes of Dogs' in our download section