The Scottish Terriers have a moderate availability and demand in India and they are not very commonly seen in the Indian households. Only large-scale and reputed breeders are known to provide these canines in India. These dogs have a good tolerance against both hot and cold climatic conditions and they are also highly adaptable in nature. The Scotties are fairly affectionate and friendly towards most people and are very loving and kind with their family members. Hence, these canines can be a fine choice for anyone who is looking for a durable, amiable, playful and small-sized pooch to raise as a pet. But, one important thing to note is that these dogs can be a bit hard to train and thus they are mostly recommended to experienced and knowledgeable dog owners only.
The Scottish Terrier is a short-legged, compact and sturdily built canine whose head is fairly long in proportion to its size. These dogs are known for their confident personality and the dignified carriage of their body. The official standards for the Scottish Terriers are given as follows:
The average height of the Scottish Terriers is around 10 inches (at the shoulders). The male and the female Scotties are almost identical to each other in terms of stature and size. The average weight of the Scottish Terriers lies between 8-10 kilograms.
|
GENDER |
WEIGHT |
HEIGHT |
|
MALE |
8.5-10 kg |
About 10 inches |
|
FEMALE |
8.0-9.5 kg |
About 10 inches |
The Scotties are double-coated. They have a hard, thick and wiry outer coat and a dense and soft undercoat. The coat is fairly long especially around the muzzle, legs, and lower body. It also protects the Scotties against different kinds of weather conditions (hot and cold).
The Scottish Terriers have a small but durable body which is heavily feathered and is strongly built. Their neck is thick, muscular and fairly short and it blends smoothly into the shoulders. The Chest area is deep and broad and is neither flat nor concave. The Back region is broad and strong and the tail is thickly based, slightly tapering and is covered with short and hard hair. The forelegs and hind legs are reasonably muscular and powerful, fairly short and are in balance with each other.
Their head is quite long, slightly domed and is of medium width. The eyes are small, almond-shaped, black or dark brown in color and are set wide apart from each other. Their ears are pointy, small and are covered with short velvety hair.
Their jaw region is square, powerful and leveled. The teeth are large and evenly spaced and their mouth closes in either a scissor or a level bite. Their overall muzzle is well-filled and is free from any snippiness.
The Scottish Terriers are fairly feisty and bubbly canines who remain highly alert and aware of their surroundings. These dogs are lively, playful and spirited in nature perhaps even more so than other terrier breeds. They get along well with small animals like cats, rabbits etcetera but they feel challenged by other canines especially if they are of the same gender. These pooches are not very easy to train as they can be a little independent and stubborn sometimes, but if provided proper obedience training early in their life (at the puppy stage), then they can be trained fairly easily. These canines are highly territorial as well and they possess a decent watchdog ability which enables them to efficiently alert their owners in case of any intruders. The temperament traits of the Scotties are listed below:
The Scottish Terriers are quite famous because of their fearless and feisty personality. The canines of this breed hail from Scotland and it is one of the five breeds of terrier that originated in the U.K.’s northernmost country.
Due to their tough and determined character, the Earl of Dumbarton gave the nickname “Diehard†to these dogs. They are highly self-assured and confident in nature and can be a bit aggressive sometimes towards other canines. They remain friendly but a little restrained with the strangers but are immensely warm, loving and devoted to their family members and loved ones.
They make decent house pets which is mostly due to their great adaptability, adjusting behavior, dedicated nature towards their close ones, and their vibrant and animated personality. But, as they can be a bit difficult to handle and train sometimes, they are mostly suggested to people who have some experience as a dog parent as they will be able to properly control and guide these spunky canines.
The Scottish Terriers are divided into different types on the basis of the several colors which their coat can be found in. These different colors are:
|
Adaptability |
**** |
Sensitivity Level |
**** |
|
Affection Level |
**** |
Potential for mouthiness |
*** |
|
Apartment-Friendly |
**** |
Drooling Potential |
* |
|
Barking Tendencies |
** |
Energy Level |
**** |
|
Friendly towards dogs |
** |
Health Issues |
**** |
|
Friendly towards other animals |
*** |
Intelligence |
**** |
|
Child Friendly |
*** |
Playfulness |
**** |
|
Exercise Needs |
*** |
Shedding Level |
** |
|
Grooming Needs |
**** |
Social Needs |
**** |
|
Good for novice owners |
** |
Stranger Friendly |
*** |
|
Trainability |
** |
Watchdog Ability |
***** |
|
Tolerates Heat |
*** |
Tolerates Cold |
**** |
The Scottish Terriers do fairly well on a moderate-protein diet (about 20 percent protein). They can be fed both commercially manufactured dog food or home-prepared meals but it is better to take the advice of a skilled vet before finalizing the diet chart and feeding routine of a Scottie.
The Scotties require moderate but regular exercise to remain fit and fine. They enjoy long strolls with their owners in a park or in an open area. They are fond of playing several games with their loved ones and they are happy to chase a ball or a toy with the utmost enthusiasm. And, all these things should be provided to them on a daily basis so that they remain healthy and happy.
Their training should begin at an early age as training an older Scottish Terrier can be a little challenging. The training sessions should be kept short and sweet and should not be repeated again and again as these canines can easily become bored and uninterested. The owner/trainer must be creative and should have the proper experience and knowledge about the psyche of a bold and spunky pooch.
These canines require a good amount of grooming to look neat and tidy. Their coat is needed to be brushed at least 2-3 times a week, bathing and trimming of nails can be done as deemed necessary by the owner. Most owners choose to clip the long coat of this breed and for that, the help of a professional groomer is required. The good thing about their coat is that it sheds only on an occasional basis and that too in a limited manner.
Health-related problems which are commonly seen in the Scottish Terriers are as follows:
The Scottish Terriers are required to be taken to a vet’s clinic on a regular basis (once every month) for normal check-ups and consultation.
The true history and origin of these canines are not very clearly documented and are still considered to be a mystery. But many believe that these dogs were created to hunt small animals like foxes, badgers, rats et cetera that resided underneath the ground. These canines were bred and trained to go underground and hunt those small creatures.
Until the 1870s, the Scottish Terriers were grouped under the name of Skye Terriers and in the show rings, they were shown under that group only. But, after some years, the first standard for the Scotties was formulated and by the end of the 19th century, the Skye Terriers were divided into 4 different breeds namely the modern-day Skye Terrier, the Cairn Terrier, the West Highland White Terriers, and the Scottish Terrier.
This breed was recognized by the AKC in the year 1885, and after moving to several different parts of the world from their place of origin, their popularity and numbers both began to climb high. These pooches were highly admired and adored for their spirited and lively character and their elegant demeanor. Today, the Scottish Terriers are ranked at #58 spot on the list of most popular dog breeds all around the world which consists of near 200 distinct dog breeds.
