05 — Clubhouse: Dandie Dinmont Terriers: Breeding with Integrity and Soft Outlines

Dandies Down Under: Breeding with Integrity and Soft Outlines

Laura Reeves sits down with Emma Greenway of Jolly Gaze kennels in Victoria, Australia, for an in-depth conversation on the history, breeding and styling of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

This episode of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier Diaries is part of Pure Dog Talk’s Clubhouse. The series features members of the Club Partnership Program who are working to preserve the knowledge of their legacy breeders.

[caption id="attachment_17065" align="alignleft" width="300"] Emma Greenway and two Jolly Gaze puppies.[/caption]

Drawing on nearly 40 years of experience, a background as a historian, and a PhD in Australian canine history, Emma shares her unique perspective on how geographic isolation forced her to “interrogate” the breed standard.

Whether you are a Dandie devotee or a general student of dog history, this episode offers a masterclass in breeding with integrity, mentoring across borders and staying true to the soul of your breed.

From Schnauzers to Dandies: The Early Lessons of SportsmanshipEmma began her journey with Miniature Schnauzers, learning the ropes of grooming, showing and standard analysis from a generous mentor who modeled impeccable sportsmanship and grace in defeat.Her early love for the Dandie Dinmont Terrier eventually led her to seek out the breed, though she faced the hurdle of only one active breeder remaining in Australia at the time.

"Generosity breeds generosity... we have to work together and we have to share our knowledge." — Emma Greenway

The Quest for the Foundation Bitch: Flying to the UKDetermined to acquire a top-tier foundation bitch, Emma traveled to the UK. She studied the breed standard obsessively and chose a bitch at a Birmingham show purely based on her own standard evaluation rather than the judge’s placement.Through the generosity of a prominent UK breeder, Emma secured her foundation bitch in 1992 (arriving in Australia in 1993), which she later bred to a respected male acquired from New Zealand expats.

A Historian’s Eye on the Australian Dandie Legacy

Emma recounts the history of Dandie Dinmonts in Australia, noting they were reintroduced in 1969 by Mary McCall (initially a Westie breeder) using imports from the famous Bellmead Kennels.She shares the chilling story of Bellmead maid Peggy Hume, who described the tragic loss of bloodlines during WWII, wheeling down deceased dogs in wheelbarrows due to extreme wartime starvation.Other early Australian pioneers of the breed ultimately drifted away from Dandies because establishing lines and winning against flashy terriers was exceptionally difficult.

"Our breed standard says body colour coming well down shoulder and hips gradually, gradually emerging into colour of legs. Not a line. Not a line anywhere. It's a gradual merging. It's natural." — Emma Greenway