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Scottish Terrier
Toy Breed Dogs
Small Breed Dogs






What you Must Know BEFORE Getting a Puppy

Forget about the normal list that everyone writes about..."puppy proof your home", "choose the right breed".  The information you must know, goes MUCH deeper than that. This is insider information that no one talks about, the behind-the-scenes info you really must know before you make your choice...Read More
Average Weight:  18-22 lbs.  (8.16- 9.97 kg)
Average Height: 10  inches (25.4 cm)
Pronounced:  Scaught - ish    TEH-ree-er
Group:   AKC Terrier
Life Span: 14 Years
Average Litter: 5
Origin: Scotland

Description
The Scottish Terrier is a small, compact, short legged dog.  This is a very beautiful and unique Terrier.  The head is long, slightly domed and covered with short, almost "hard" hair; however when looking at the profile of this small dog, the skull appears flat.

The eyes are set in under the brow with gives this dog an intelligent, piercing expression. The nose on a purebred Scottish Terrier should always be black, no matter what the coat color.  The teeth are large, relatively speaking and meet either in a scissors bite or a level bite.

The ears are small and set well up on the head, covered with a soft, almost velvet fur that is never cut.  The tail is naturally about 7 inches long, is set high and carried erectly; either vertical or with a slight curve forward.

The coat on the Scottish Terrier is rather weather resistant and is a broken coat that consists of a hard, wiry outer coat and  a soft, thick undercoat.  The coat should be trimmed and blended into the furnishings to give a distinct Scottish Terrier outline.  The longer hairs on the beard, legs and lower body may be slightly softer than the main body.


Color

While black is a very popular color for this small breed dog, other possible colors are red, wheaten or brindle of any color.  Many black and brindle dogs have a sprinkling of white or silver hairs in the coat.  In most shows, only a tad of white is allowed on the chin and chest.

Personality

Nicknamed Scotty, this is a very determined little dog who seems to be thoughtful.  Very alert and spirited but also stable and easy going. with people, this breed is generally very loving and gentle, however around other dogs it can be a different story, as some Scottish Terrier dogs can be aggressive to other canines. 


History & Origin

This breed is believed to have been developed in Scotland sometime during the 16th or 17th century.  This makes this breed one of the oldest and most recognizable of all of the Terrier dogs. In 1860, Scotland Terriers were exhibited in England, however the dogs shown were actually Skye Terriers, Dandie Dinmonts and Yorkies!  This prompted a breed standard to be created in 1880 and since that time there have been only minor changes.  Scottish Terrier dogs were imported into the U.S. in 1883 and AKC recognized in 1884. 

Health

There are only a few health issues that this particular breed is prone to:
  • Scotty Cramp - Thought to be the result of a neurochemical deficiency, most puppies are 6 weeks of age and older when first showing signs of Scotty cramp. When exercising or during times of excitement, the puppy tends to 'cramp up' with a characteristic arched back and stiff rear limbs. The dog does not appear to be in pain. If having this, most cases are mild and the dog simply should not be over exercised. In severe cases, medication such as Valium or Prozac have been used to reduce over excitment episodes.  Vitamin E has been shown to help some Scottish Terriers in reducing the frequency, but not the severity of the episodes.
  • Hypothyroidism - known commonly as a low thyroid.  Signs will be a dulling of the coat, weight gain and activity levels will drop as the dog is tired quite a bit.
  • von Willbrand's Disease - a blood clotting condition
  • Cushing's disease -  a complicated condition in which a dog's body produces too much of a substance called glucocorticoid  and this causes many issues in the body with a wide range of symptoms; fur loss being the most common and noticed first. 
Exercise

This dog, in general, is a very playful canine companion and usually enjoys long walks and staying active.  Most Scottish Terriers seem to enjoy having a safe, enclosed outside area in which to free run and exercise.

Grooming

 The goal of proper grooming is to accentuate the look of this particular breed; therefore the coat should not be fluffy or curly.

The wiry coat on this small dog should be brushed and then combed at least a few times per week.  This ongoing, brushing removes any loose or dead hairs from the dog's undercoat. This is important, because if they are left, they will become matted into the outer coat. 

Baths should be given only after brushing and combing. This is because a wet tangle is more difficult to remove.  When dry, you can put a bit of dog conditioner on your hand and gently undo the tangle.  In worst case scenarios, the matt will need to be clipped off.  After bathing, the coat should be blow dried first against the grain and then when half way dry, brushed and dried with the grain.

Professional grooming is usually done twice per year to keep the coat in shape. The fur on the ears should be trimmed.  The fringes of fur on the front are called tufts. These tufts of hair should not jut out beyond the edge of the ear.  Eyebrows will be done, forming a triangle of fur on the brow.
 

Care & Training

The best home for this type of small dog is one in which the dog will have a good amount of attention and also have opportunity for a fair amount of exercise. A minimum of a 30 minute daily walk is highly suggested. In a multiple dog household, training will most likely need to be given in order to stop any aggression before it escalates. Some Scottish Terriers like to dig or have other behavior "quirks"; however most can easily be handled with proper training.   Owners - Click Here for More Detailed Information

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