We have had many new arrivals here at Mash n Gravy this season in the form of new brands to the store.

However, there is one more new arrival which we’d like to share with you…

After loosing dear Noah, our home bred Weimaraner and last of the line last summer we decided to look around for something a little smaller to accommodate the fact that we have a young family and therefore a large breed may result in the boys being knocked over by a dog who’s body grows very much faster than it’s brain for the first couple of years.

We settled on an old fashioned Scottish breed and one in desperate need of preserving – the Dandie Dinmont.

The Dandie Dinmont Terrier took it’s name from a character in a novel written by Sir Walter Scott in 1814, but the dogs were around long before that. Known as Mustard and Pepper Terriers, describing their two colour varieties, they were highly prized as working terriers in the Scottish borders, where they were sent to ground after rabbits, rats, foxes, otters and badgers among others. They were often owned by gypsies and poachers – and in fact all the Dandies around today are descended from a poacher’s dog found in a trap on the Duke of Buccleuch’s estate – in 1839!

In the modern age, the Dandie Dinmont is rarely used as a working terrier, but still makes an exceptional companion dog. They are hardy, intelligent, friendly, gentle with children and a good watchdog. They are not too excitable – like some breeds of terrier – but they have very much a mind of their own.

This is how Edward should look when fully grown

However, we are paying him up in installments, and this is how he looks at the moment… Don’t worry, the legs and body will be arriving shortly.