Scottish Terrier Profile

Other Names : Aberdeen Terrier, Scottie

Country of origin: Scotland

Dog Group Kennel Club:  Terrier

General appearance:

Scottish Terriers or Scotties originated from Scotland and have short legs and sturdy bodies.  They are compact and well built with large paws and erect ears.They have a long and wiry weather-resistant outer coat with a short and dense undercoat. The outer hair coat is hard and wiry and grows to approximately 2 inches in length. This breed is low shedding. Despite their small size, Scotties give the impression of being strong and powerful dogs.For being such short-legged dogs, Scotties are surprisingly agile and active, moving with a smooth, level gait.

Colours:

Brindle, black or wheaten.

Size:

Dogs              25 - 28cms

Bitches         25 - 28 cms

Weight:

                                   Min                Max
 
Bitch              8kg (18lbs) 10kg (22lbs) 
 
Dog                8kg (18lbs) 10kg (22lbs)

Temperament:

Scotties have a typical terrier attitude and are bold and independent despite their small stature.  They are playful and intelligent showing loyalty towards their owners. The Scottish Terrier will go anywhere and do anything. They have a dominant personality and a tendency to be territorial.
The Scottie may show aggression to other dogs and cats if they are not socialized properly at an early age. They are good watchdogs and will not bark without good reason.

Movement:

Smooth and free with power.

Care and training:

The Scottish Terrier requires brushing twice weekly to keep the coat tangle free. They do require grooming and trimming to keep their distinctive look. Grooming must begin at an early age and stepped up during the changeover to adult coat. Scottish Terriers need to be professionally stripped three to four times a year, the chest, legs and head being clipped.

Scotties, for all their loyalties to their owners, are independent dogs and can, therefore, be quite difficult to obedience and house train. Training needs to based on mutual respect. They are highly intelligent and courageous. Their strong independence presents a training challenge. The Scottie can be stubborn, so motivation, consistency, and positive praise are a must. They do very well in obedience and agility if the proper training techniques are utilized.

Overall Exercise: 0 - 20 minutes per day.
Scotties are undemanding in their exercise requirements and will readily adapt to the given circumstances.

Feeding requirements:

Whilst it is relatively cheap to feed Scotties, owners must watch out for overfeeding as excessive weight can lead to back problems. 

   
Exercise: Med

Grooming: High

Noise: Low

Personal Protection: Medium

Suitability As Guard Dog: Medium

Level of Aggression: Low

Compatibility With Other Animals: High

Suitablity for Children: Medium

Often docked: No

Average litter:  3 - 5 puppies

Life expectancy: 12 - 14 years.

Health issues: Sensitive to fleas, skin problems, craniomandibular osteopathy, elbow dysplasia, intervertebral disc protrusion, Scottie cramp, and von Willebrand's disease.

History:  Originally known as the Aberdeen Terrier after the Scottish city, they were originally bred with the purpose of dispelling vermin. The Scottish Terrier is the best known and possibly oldest of the Highland terriers. They are closely related to the Skye, Dandie Dinmont, and West Highland White Terriers. Some people think Westies are one in the same breed as the Scotties. Originally in the 1800s, all of those terriers were shown and classified under "Scotch Terriers". The breed was brought to America in the late 1800s and first shown at dog shows in the early 19th century. All of these were interbred until around 1800, when the Scottie was set apart from the rest and bred on its own. The first Scottish Terrier Club was formed in Scotland in 1892. Strangely, until 1859 there was no mention of the breed ever, and within that same year the Scottish Terrier was exhibited as a pure breed. The breed seems to have appeared out of thin air, but it is known that they came from the Blackmount region of Perthshire and the Moor of Rannoch.