The Dandie Dinmont Terrier in Denmark

It is uncertain when the first Dandie Dinmont Terrier was imported to Denmark, and it has not been possible to determine this. There is no club of the breed in Denmark but we belong to “Dansk Terrier Klub” (DTK) (Danish Terrier Club), a special club under “Dansk Kennel Klub” (DKK) (Danish Kennel Club), connected to FCI.

Since the late 1970s there has been a representative of the breed in The Danish Terrier Club - a representative who is also connected to DKK.

1960’s

In the early 1960s there was only a couple of kennels: Kennel Rönningesögaard on Fyn, where our famous Danish author Karen Blixen bought her last dog, when she again lived at “Rungstedlund” in her life retirement. She called, of course, her little dog “Pepper” like the dog in Sir Walter Scott’s novel “Guy Mannering”, being the foundation of the name of the breed. There was a kennel Ryttergaarden too and one named “Hesselager” was also known, however, it is uncertain whether any puppies have been given birth in this kennel.

1970’s

During this decade 5 Dandies were imported and there were kennels like Rönningesögaard, Esperhuus and not least the kennel Griffi which imported the well-known male “Culston Inkspot” (Ross) from the UK. Only 8 puppies were born during this period, however, there may have been private individuals who have not had their puppies’ registered in DKK, as this is not a request only a wish from us who are dedicated to the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

1980’s

Kennel Griffi had puppies in the early 1980s and then they stopped the breeding of Dandie Dinmont Terriers, as they began breeding other dogs. A single individual had a few litters, while other kennnels came along: Kennel Brilliant, Kennel Skave, Kennel Vesthus, Kennel Spoondrift, Kennel Wondering and Kennel Vimax. Kennel Vimax owned by Vibeke & Max Renard, imported their first Dandie Dinmont Terrier in 1984 from Mrs Later-v.d.Willigen, Kennel Salicia’s in the Nederlands. The second import came also from Salicia’s in 1985; the third was from Sweden and finally one from the UK. Mrs. Later-v.d.Willigen was the mentor of Vibeke and Max Renard during their first years as Dandie Dinmont Terrier owners. They paid many visits to her home where they learned much about the breed and participated in shows in Holland. Vibeke Renard has since 1986 been the representative of the Dandie Dinmont Terriers in the DTK in Denmark.

In the 1980s there were all together 19 imports from the UK, Germany, Holland, and Sweden. A total of 54 puppies were born.

1990’s

In the beginning of the 1990s there was still a few kennels left, however, in the middle of the decade they closed down and Kennel Vimax was the only kennel left, a kennel which has remained faithful to the breed and through their “Dandie life” really attempted to spread awareness of these rare wonderful dogs in Denmark. The family has participated in many shows in Denmark and in Europe and has met many wonderful people with the same passionate interest in the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

In the 1990s 7 Dandie Dinmont Terriers were imported to private people, mostly from Sweden; however these dogs were unfortunately not registered in “Dansk Kennel Klub”. Totally 26 puppies were born. in the early 1990s. Late this decade there was no interest of the breed and therefore, no Dandies were born during this period.

2000’s

In the beginning of this millennium the interest of the breed was extremely low. It is not easy breeding a rare vulnerable breed like Dandie Dinmont Terrier, even through you might think that it would be easier to spread the knowledge in a small country like Denmark. This is not so, even though the Internet is of great help through various websites.

Imported Dandie Dinmont Terriers went like this: 2 in 2002 – another 2 in 2005 - in 2006 one from Italy to Kennel Vimax, 8 mostly from Sweden to private people - in 2007 there was 3 imports - 3 in 2008, 2 in 2009 and finally 1 in 2010.

In the years between 2000 and 2005 no puppies were born but from 2006 to 2009 thirteen puppies were given birth. Besides Kennel Vimax another “new” kennel started: “Kennel Gammelgaard”. The kennel has earlier bred e.g. Norfolk Terrier and during many years participated in shows. In 2008 four puppies were born in a private home.

A “Breed specific breeding strategy” has been worked out for the Dandie Dinmont Terrier in Denmark, being a demand from DTK/DKK. It has been worked out by Vibeke Renard, based upon a Swedish model and a health investigation has been made among the Dandie Dinmont Terrier owners in the country. Most of these owners have participated in this investigation which is public to all interested people at DTK’s website and based upon the knowledge from most of the Dandie Dinmont Terriers in Denmark, no matter whether they are members of DTK or DKK.