We have had Dandies since 1999. Our first Dandie was a pepper bitch called Tilly who was a lovely dog with a big personality and a strong sense of humour who lived to the ripe old age of 14½. We got two little mustard girls from a dear friend; one in 2003 and then one in 2005. We breed successfully from these two girls and kept a pepper bitch from one of Bonnie’s litters who then went on to produce a lovely litter from which we kept a mustard girl. Our current tally is 3. Let me introduce you to them:
Purdie
Dawsholm Cantily Cantie
Born on 14th December 2004
Dawsholm Cantily Cantie
Born on 14th December 2004
"What shall I call thee
I happy am,
Joy is my name.
Sweet joy befall thee!"
Blake
I happy am,
Joy is my name.
Sweet joy befall thee!"
Blake
Purdie is Bonnie's full sister from a later litter. She is a wonderful dog - easy going, loving, gentle and charming. She has an extra-ordinary presence which is difficult to describe. She went through the obedience grades very quickly and moved up into the advanced class before she was 14 months old. Purdie showed her true kindness when she had 3 rowdy puppies of Bonnie's pulling and tugging at her - she just spent hours letting them climb over her without any complaint or growls. It was a joy to watch. She became a mum herself in 2008 and proved to be a great mum to her 4 pups. Although we don't compete she does lots of Rally at home (I wish Rally had been around when she and Bonnie were younger). As a 12 year old, we also started tracking and she loves it. When the tracking harness appears she is squealing with anticipation. She is very spritely and happy in her advanced years. We recently had a lovely 6 month old baby visit and she stayed close and relaxed so he could stroke her - they were charmed with each other.
Daisy
Gryfindor Silver Rose RL6
Born on 17th July 2006
Gryfindor Silver Rose RL6
Born on 17th July 2006
"If I could write the beauty of your eyes
And in fresh numbers number all your graces,
The age to come would say 'This poet lies;
Such heavenly touches ne'er touch'd earthly faces"
Shakespeare
And in fresh numbers number all your graces,
The age to come would say 'This poet lies;
Such heavenly touches ne'er touch'd earthly faces"
Shakespeare
Daisy is extra special to me - my first home bred bitch - her mum was my Bonnie and her dad was Ch. Cassencarrie Chimaera. From the first week of being born, she was always the first smiley face over the side of the basket - she always seemed to know she was staying. She is a very loving dog and absolutely demands attention from everyone. Her favourite position is on her back demanding a tummy tickle! Having been the youngest for such a long time and being a little bit of a 'princess' we wondered how she would be as a mother but she proved herself a super mum in 2010 when she gave birth to three beautiful mustard girls. She is the first Dandie in the UK to have got her Level 1, 2, 3, and 4 titles in KC Rally and tied with her daughter to get her Level 5 on the same day. She charms everyone when she competes and often beats the collies, labs, GSDs and retrievers to a placing! We qualified at level 6 in 2017 - the second Dandie to do so - beaten to the top honour by her daughter. I have started tracking with her and she really enjoys it. I just have to remember to trust my little tracker dog - she DOES know better than me where the track goes!
Rosie
Gryfindor Lady Rose RL6
Born on 4th July 2010
Gryfindor Lady Rose RL6
Born on 4th July 2010
"Now I was young and easy under the apple boughs
About the lilting house and happy as the grass was green"
Dylan Thomas
"A friend may well be reckoned the masterpiece of Nature"
Ralph Waldo Emerson
About the lilting house and happy as the grass was green"
Dylan Thomas
"A friend may well be reckoned the masterpiece of Nature"
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Rosie was determined to be the one to stay. Daisy gave birth to three little girls so we had a choice! I had dismissed Rosie early on as she seemed quite timid and too quiet for a noisy pack of Dandies but somehow she made her presence known and was the one I kept! First impressions were wrong; Rosie is confident, self possessed and a force to be reckoned with. A chip off her grandmother's block! She is just a fantastic companion and can always be found wherever I am- she is my little shadow. She is a very athletic dog and is great to train. Although her mum beat her to her Rally L1, 2, 3 and 4 titles, they got their L5 on the same day and then Rosie got her L6 well before her mum. She regularly gets placed at competition even earning a first place at L5. I am very proud of her. She has started tracking which she loves and I love the confidence and determination she shows when following the track - the main issue is slowing her down!