Before you decide if a Dandie Dinmont Terrier is right for your family, you have to look at its personality and that of your family. With the gentle nature of the Dandie, if you have children, it's a perfect match. They are small enough that you don't need to concern yourself with accommodations, though they do require a fair amount of exercise in order for them to stay in shape. They are well-suited for apartment living but should never be let off a leash because they will run and not heed any of your commands to stop.
They are less aggressive than most of the other terriers, though they may have a problem with other pets in the house that were not there from the beginning. They may be reserved with strangers, though some are very intimidated by strangers and will bark incessantly when in the presence of people he doesn't know. Each dog is an individual when it comes to strangers, so you will have to wait and see how yours reacts to strangers as well as other pets in the house.
They are very energetic dogs that are very loyal and fun to have around for the most part. As with any breed, however, some will be fun-loving and others will be very placid and uninterested in playing with humans. You will have much better luck with your Dandie if you get him as a puppy and can train him the way you want him to behave. Although there are some things that are embedded into him from birth, there are many aspects of his personality that can be molded with proper training. Unfortunately, there is little you can do about their instinct to run and chase, so rather than becoming frustrating and upset, keep your Dandie on a leash and make certain he is not close to the door when it is opened, because that is an open invitation for him to scurry out the door and wander off on his own.
One of the disadvantages of this breed is that they are rare, and with that comes a high price tag. One recent advertisement showed a price tag of $2,000 and though the price included shipping, you are still able to see how expensive these little dogs are. If your family is on a budget when it comes to the price you want to pay for a dog, the Dandie Dinmont Terrier is probably not the right dog for you. On the other hand, if you are looking for a small dog that is loyal and affection and are willing to pay whatever price is necessary, you will be very happy with this breed. You have to keep in mind that although they are gentle, some of them don't get along well with small children. They don't like to be coddled, and prefer to be treated like any other dog in spite of its small size. Like many small breeds, they have a tendency to attempt to overtake those that are bigger when they feel threatened.
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