The s cottish terrier, Scottish terrier or simply "scottie", is a small but muscular dog with solid bones. Its general appearance is that of a very powerful dog for a small size. In addition, his characteristic beard gives a particular touch to this dog's face, with an elegant bearing.
In this article on our site we are going to tell you many things about the scottish terrier, like what dogs arequite independent , and therefore, it is not recommended that they are not adopted by very affectionate people or who need to be in continuous contact with their pets, although that does not mean that we can leave this breed of dogs alone for a long period of time.
Origin of the Scottish terrier
In the old days all terriers in Scotland were divided into only two groups, short-legged terriers and long-legged terriers, so all the small breeds were interbred. This is a cause of great confusion when looking at the origins of the Scottish terrier, and the only thing that is known for certain is that it was used as a vermin hunting dog in the Scottish highlands. In addition, he was heavily selected to act on his own, without the help of the farmers, which is why he is now such an independent dog.
By the end of the 19th century, however, the distinction between the various short-legged Scottish terriers had been made and their history is more precisely known. The Scottish terrier was very popular in the Aberdeen area and was for a time known as the Aberdeen terrier. In 1880 the first breed standard was drawn up and the Scottie began to gain popularity on the show ring.
Between World War I and World War II, this breed became very popular as a show dog and as a pet. However, his popularity dropped somewhat in the following years. Although not as popular today as it was in its heyday, the Scottish Terrier is still a highly prized pet dog and a major competitor at dog shows.
Scottish terrier physical characteristics
According to the breed standard, the height at the withers of the Scottie is between 25.4 and 28 centimeters, while its ideal weight is between 8.6 and 10.4 kilograms. The body of these dogs is muscular and strong It has a straight and short back, but the back is deep and very strong. The chest is wide and deep. The legs are very powerful for the size of the dog and give it surprising speed and agility.
Scottie's head stands out because it seems to be very long in proportion to the dog's size and because of his large beard which gives him a certain air of distinctionThe nose is long and the muzzle is strong and deep. The eyes have a sharp, intelligent expression, and are almond-shaped and dark brown. The erect and pointed ears are set high. The Scottish Terrier's tail is of moderate length, thick at the base and tapering towards the tip. The dog carries it vertically or with a slight curvature.
The hair is double layered and close to the body. The undercoat is short, dense, and smooth, while the outer coat is tough, dense, and wire-like in texture. Colors accepted by the breed standard are: black, wheaten or any brindle color.
Scottish terrier character
These dogs are brave, determined and independent, but also very loyal and intelligent. With their own they tend to be very friendly and playful, although they are independent. With strangers they tend to be reserved and do not make friends easily, but they do not tend to be aggressive with people either. With dogs and other animals, however, things are different. Scottish Terriers are often aggressive towards other dogs of the same sex and tend to chase and kill small animals. The socialization of these dogs has to be carried out since they are very young so that they can coexist well with people, dogs and other animals.
Among the most common behavior problems in this breed are excessive barking and digging in the garden, as well as aggression towards other animals. These problems, however, can be solved by giving dogs the opportunity to perform those behaviors (except aggression) in controlled situations and through strong and consistent training.
The Scottish terrier has the ideal character to be a pet of people who do not constantly bother the dog, but who enjoy outdoor physical activities.
Scottish terrier care
Coat care takes more time than other breeds, as the Scottie must be combed at least three or four times a weekto prevent your hair from getting tangled. In addition, they need to have their hair cut about three times a year and clean their beard every day Show dogs need more intensive care that should be provided by a professional. Bathing is recommended only when the dog is dirty, and should not be too frequent.
Since they are very active and curious dogs, Scottish terriers demand a lot of physical and mental exercise Fortunately, much of that exercise is they can do inside the house, since they are small dogs. One or more daily walks, added to some games with the ball or tug of war, are usually enough to channel the energy of these dogs. If they get a chance to dig they will, so that too can become an energy release activity if the dog is trained to only do it in one place and on command.
On the other hand, Scotties are very independent due to their past as hunting dogs. That's why they don't need as much company as other dogs, but it's not a good idea to leave them alone for long periods of time. They need quality company time, without being bothered, but without being left to live their entire lives isolated in a garden.
Scottish terrier education
These dogs are very intelligent and learn easily. They respond very well to dog training when positive methods such as clicker training are used. However, they are also very sensitive and are very affected by punishment and yelling.
Scottish terrier he alth
Unfortunately this is one of the dog breeds most prone to different types of cancer It has a predisposition to developing bladder, intestinal, stomach, skin and breast cancer. In addition, it is a breed prone to von Willebrand's disease, skin allergies and jaw joint problems. Less commonly, patellar dislocations and spinal problems have also been reported.
