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The Scottish Terrier as the name suggests originates from Scotland. Known commonly as Scotties these terriers are also sometimes called by their original name: Aberdeen Terriers. They were given the nickname “Die-hards”, by the Earl of Dumbarton.

Scotties were originally bred in Aberdeen Scotland in the 1700s to hunt rodents, badgers and foxes.

The  Scottish Terrier is a small breed of dog, about 28–38 cm (in height). A Male dog should weigh around 8.5–10 kg (19–22 lb) and a female round 8–9.9 kg (18–22 lb). They have square build and short legs. They have a short and bearded muzzle and have pointy ears. Their tails are kept natural.

They have a wiry topcoat with softer undercoat. Hair is usually shaved short at the top but kept long around the legs and under carriage. They are mostly black (pure black, gray or brindle) in colour but rare, wheaten Scotties are white. Scotties require special grooming. Their coats need regular brushing and should be trimmed about six times a year.

Scotties are intelligent, fiercely independent and somewhat stubborn which makes them somewhat difficult to train. They are quite aggressive dogs and should be kept on leash during walks. They are very energetic and highly alert. Their independence makes them a good choice for working people who aren’t at home all day. Scotties aren’t such a good choice for smaller children, because they don’t like being teased or prodded. They get along with most pets, but skittish pets that run away might trigger the Scotty’s hunting instincts.

They tend to gain weight easily, so special attention should be given to their diet. They are more susceptible to cancer, especially balder cancer, than some of the other terrier breeds. Other health issues that they might be genetically prone to are von Willebrand disease and craniomandibular osteopathy. They might also suffer from Scottie cramp, cerebellar abiotrophy and patellar luxation.

In popular culture, the Scotty is a token in the game of Monopoly. Jock, an old Scotty is one of Ladies friends in “The Lady and the Tramp”. They became extremely popular between World War I and World War II”. Although its popularity has not remained constant, the Scottish terrier is still a well-known and popular dog breed.

If you’ve decided that you would like to buy a puppy (or even better, adopt a dog) you have to keep the Scotty’s temperament in mind before you choose the breed. Is this the right dog for your family set-up and life style? Are you dominant enough to be the boss of a Scotty?  When you buy a dog you should be willing to take responsibility for it and take care if its special requirements.

Sources: Wikipedia  & IAMS
Picture by: Ukapala (sxc)

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