Dandie Dinmont Terriers need regular brushing and combing to keep their coats tangle-free. Depending on the type of coat, dead hair needs stripping out a couple of times a year.

Dandies should be hand-stripped. A statement you will see frequently and is the way to keep the Dandie coat as it should be - a crisp, pily top coat with a soft, linty undercoat. Hand-stripping removes the dead hair and usually you will find a wonderful new coat 'ready to go' underneath. Clippering this coat changes it - over the years the back coat will lose the colour and can become whiteish fluff. Clippering does not remove dead hair, it just shortens it.

A good professional groomer should be able to hand strip a dog so do check before you make the appointment if you are not doing this yourself. The Caledonian does hold grooming 'educationals' and the mentoring scheme would be able to help you learn to do this yourself or be aware of what you require from a professional groomer.

However, there are circumstances where skillful clippering can be done - an old Dandie, a Dandie that lives in a very hot climate - individual circumstances need to be taken into consideration.

Grooming your Dandie shouldn't be considered a chore. It is a lovely 'bonding' time with your dog and a time you can check for problems such as ticks, skin irritation, ear cleanliness - a general health check. Most Dandie Dinmonts love this time of closeness and cuddles when you are concentrating on nothing else but him!