intelligent breed of terrier known for its short legs, long body, and relatively large head; peppery or reddish coat is shaggy and crisp; hair is especially abundant on top of head and on muzzle; ears are broad and set low on head so they hang down and back along neck; tail is long, shaggy, and tapered at end; dark eyes are large, round, deep-set, and bright; adult stands 8–11 in. (20–28 cm) tall at shoulders and weighs 18–24 lbs (8–11 kg); more serene than other terriers; can be an excellent house dog; developed in Cheviot Hills area of Great Britain in 1600s to rout out badgers and otters from holes; Sir Walter Scott immortalized the breed in his novel ‘Guy Mannering' (1814) by naming a character Farmer Dandie Dinmont,