Breeds 101: Meet the Scottish Terrier
Known for their spirited yet businesslike personality, the Scottish Terrier has a recognizable silhouette that has been seen throughout history since the 17th century. This member of the Terrier Group is the focus for todays “Breeds 101.”
Thought to be the oldest terrier originally hailing from the Scottish Highlands, the Scottie was bred to hunt varmint such as rats, foxes, and badgers. The Scottish Terrier spanned wealth classes, they were humble farm dogs as well as frequent gifts given by England’s King James I.
According to the breed standard from the American Kennel Club the Scottish Terrier is a “small, compact, short-legged, sturdily-built dog of good bone and substance. His head is long in proportion to his size. He has a hard, wiry, weather-resistant coat and a thick-set, cobby body which is hung between short, heavy legs.”
While commonly only seen in black, the Scottie has a variety of approved colors. Other standard colors of the Scottie are: black brindle, brindle, red brindle, silver brindle, and wheaten.
The Scottish Terrier is a bold, independent, and confident dog in a compact size bred for hunting varmint.
Generally smaller in size, the Scottie should be about 10 inches in height for either sex. Males should weigh 19-22 pounds and females should weigh 18-21 pounds.
As a dual coated breed the Scottish Terrier requires frequent grooming. Their dual coat consists of a wiry top coat and a dense but soft undercoat. The outer coat, ideally should be hand stripped to keep its harsh texture but this time consuming process is often brushed over in favor of the easier method of clippers. Clippers will take down the ideal harsh and wiry outer coat and the dense undercoat will be left instead.
Currently ranked at 57th out of 195 on the most popular breed list from the American Kennel Club, the Scottish Terrier has stayed relatively stable in its place on the list.
On average the Scottie has a life span of 12+ years. Generally the Scottish Terrier is a very hearty breed since it was bred to thrive working in the Highlands. There are a few genetic issues seen in Scotties but the commonality of these have reduced drastically due to responsible breeding and genetic testing. Some of these conditions are: Vonwillebrand’s Disease, Scottie Cramp, Cerebellar Abiotrophy, Craniomandibular Osteopathy, and liver shunts.
As a very independent breed, the Scottie can feel challenging to train at times but with short, creative sessions both parties can leave sessions feeling successful. Incorporating frequent walks and playtime will help keep a happy and healthy Scottie in any living environment, including apartments and smaller homes.
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Scottish Terriers have made appearances in the White House not once but Twice. President Franklin Roosevelt owned Fala who is said to have gotten more fan mail than many actual presidents received. President George W. Bush and wife Laura owned Barney and later got Miss Beazley who was Barney’s niece.