ONE of the world's rarest breeds of dog is coming home to Selkirk this summer.

It is widely accepted the current-day Dandie Dinmont terriers all originated from the Haining estate.

And a statue marks the spot close to where the original Dandie Dinmont, Old Ginger, was kept.

On Saturday, June 1, owners from around the world will return to the Haining for an annual pilgrimage and celebration of the breed.

Eyemouth-based owners Shona and Kenny Allan are helping organise the Haining Dandie Derby.

Kenny told us: "The Haining is the home to Old Ginger where all modern-day Dandies can trace their roots back to.

“The Dandie Derby is now the main social event for the breed.

“Its’s a great way to Dandie owners meet and also potential owners to see the breed.”

The Dandie Dinmont was made famous by Sir Walter Scott’s second Waverly novel Guy Mannering, published in 1815.

Scott had become interested in the breed during visits to nearby estates, impressed by how hard working and skilled they were.

He was so impressed he named a character in his book after the dogs.

A further association to Selkirk was created in 1875 when the Dandie Dinmont Terrier Club was formed in the Fleece Hotel some 60 years later.

Even though there have been three established breeding clubs, the Dandie Dinmont almost died out during WW2.

Many of the kennels were destroyed and ownership of the dogs decreased.

There has been a revival of sorts towards the end of the twentieth century, but the Dandie is still on the Vulnerable Native Dog Breeds list.

On Saturday, June 1 around 70 Dandie Dinmonts will take part in the Haining Dandie Derby just outside Selkirk.

Previous events at the Haining involving the rare breed have been filmed for the Secret Life of Dogs TV series.