The Dandie Dinmont Terrier Club (DDTC) hosted a landmark 150th anniversary breed celebration lunch at The Kennel Club, Clarges Street on Monday 17 November 2025, honouring a century and a half of dedication to one of Britain’s most cherished - and most vulnerable - native dog breeds.
An iconic Scottish dog, with particularly expressive eyes and distinctive soft silky hair on the top of their heads, Dandie Dinmonts are intelligent and determined, but are also sensitive and affectionate.
This milestone event crowns a remarkable year of advocacy, education, and celebration for the DDTC, the second-oldest breed club in the world, as it continues its mission to protect and promote the endangered Dandie Dinmont Terrier.
A year of highlights for the Dandie Dinmont Terrier Club included:
- January: Launch of a limited-edition calendar celebrating the breed’s rich heritage.
- April & May: Successful open and championship shows at Staffordshire County Showground, judged by international breed specialists, Jonas Wiborg (Sweden) and Joan Glen Tinsley (UK), with entries of 55 and 45 respectively.
- June: A weekend of festivities in the Scottish Borders - the breed’s ancestral home - including the 10th annual Dandie Derby, heritage walks, lectures, and the unveiling of the penultimate plaque on the Dandie Dinmont Heritage Trail.
- Cultural moments: Selkirk Distillers launched a commemorative Dandie Dinmont Gin, and Bowhill House hosted a display of breed artwork and history.
Paul Eardley, Chairman of the DDTC said: “Celebrating 150 years is not just about honouring our past - it’s about securing the future of this extraordinary breed. The Dandie Dinmont Terrier is a living link to British canine heritage, and we’re proud to champion its preservation.”
With fewer than 100 puppies registered annually in the UK, the Dandie Dinmont remains on The Kennel Club’s list of vulnerable British and Irish native breeds. The DDTC’s tireless efforts - from international collaboration to public education - aim to reverse this trend and ensure the breed thrives for generations to come.
Dandie Dinmont Terriers are small but strong dogs that are independent and highly intelligent. They enjoy exercise as well as their alone time and make a great companion for anyone living in a city or the countryside, looking for an even-tempered four-legged companion.
To see more from this year’s celebrations, visit ddtc.co.uk or join the Dandie Dinmont Terrier Club Facebook page.