Scottish Terrier

The Scottish Terrier is one of five terriers breed originally developed in Scotland. It is also known as the Aberdeen Terrier, or more commonly the "Scottie"�, and is widely recognized by its unique profile, which has decorated fabric, wallpaper, clothing and Christmas ornaments, amongst many other items through the years. The Scottie is a tough, happy, active little dog that epitomizes the tenacious terrier character. It was originally bred to hunt badger and fox; it was also used to keep rats and mice out of the farmer's grain and other produce. This breed is naturally suspicious of strangers and makes a great watchdog.This breed is sturdy and compact, big of bone, with a long body and short legs; its head is rather long and it possesses small, bright, almond-shaped, expressive eyes. Its signature trim leaving a pronounced "beard"� and eyebrows, and longer side hair dusting the ground emphasizes these features. The Scottie is very muscular and strong for its size, and has a particularly thick neck. The Scottish Terrier possesses a double coat made up of a dense, woolly undercoat and a harsh, wiry overcoat. It is generally dark in color: steel gray, black, and brindle are common. Wheaten is less common, and is considered a fault for the American Kennel Club. The Scottie stands about ten inches tall at the shoulder. When not docked, the Scottish Terrier's tail is about seven inches long and is carried erect. The earliest history of the Scottish Terrier is a bit obscure. It is likely that there were one or two types of terrier dog used in the highlands of Scotland several centuries ago, and these over the centuries were developed separately into the breeds we know today. Given this common history and similar physicality, it is accurate to say that these breeds all have very similar ancestry. These would include the Scottie, the West Highland White Terrier, and the Cairn Terrier, all of whom were included in the 1880's under the heading Scottish Terrier for the purpose of exhibition. In the late 16th century, a Scottie-type terrier was first described in a history of Scotland. The following century, artist Sir Joshua Reynolds painted a portrait of a young girl with what closely resembles a modern Scottie. In the 17th century King James VI of Scotland (he was James I of England) sent six terriers of the Scottie type to the French monarch. That gift marked the first promotion of the breed outside its native region, and interest steadily grew. The Scottish Terrier was first recorded, bred and promoted as a single distinct breed beginning in the 1870's when the Kennel Club was being organized and dog shows were gaining popularity. The first breed standard was drafted, appearing in "The Illustrated Book of the Dog"� by Vero Shaw in 1880. In 1881 the Scottish Terrier Club of England was founded and was pivotal in establishing the popularity of the breed in England. Ironically, the Scottish Terrier Club of Scotland wasn't founded until 1888. Then for years after, the two clubs argued over the breed standard. The Scottie first came to the United States in 1890. Finally in 1930 the English and Scotland clubs combined forces to write a standard based upon four young dogs who had not yet produced offspring. These dogs and their subsequent generations defined the modern Scottish Terrier. In the years between the world wars, the Scottie reached the status of third most popular breed in the U.S. It remains a popular breed around the world today. The Scottish Terrier's coat requires some grooming. This breed should have regular trims, every four to six weeks. It should be bathed regularly as well, since without regular bathing the Scottie can become smelly. Many owners work to preserve the harsh quality of the coat, which traditionally protected the dog while it worked from extremes of Scottish wet and cold. Keeping the coat in this rough state does not require brushing, but rather a technique called "stripping"� in which the dead hairs of the coat are plucked. This action encourages the harsh, protective quality of the coat. The owner may wish to learn the technique, which takes guidance and practice, or allow a groomer to do it. Many groomers do not know how to perform the technique; the owner should research to find a groomer who is experienced specifically in stripping. For the owner who is not interested in preserving the traditional coat, brushing should be done a few times weekly, to keep the coat reasonably clean and the skin healthy. When the coat is brushed, it will tend to grow in soft and will eventually loose its harsh quality altogether. Scotties should be leashed when walked because they will want to chase small animals such as squirrels and cats. They do very well with a well-fenced yard, but should also have a good walk several times a week. The owner should be warned that the Scotland Terrier is predisposed to dig; it has hundreds of years of experience in digging foxes and badgers out of dens. Care should be taken to make certain that the dog isn't digging his way out of the yard to escape. This breed is more prone to cancers than are many other purebred breeds. The most common of these is bladder cancer. Recently a treatment has been developed for bladder cancer in dogs, and the owner should watch the Scottie for early symptoms which mimic those of a simple urinary tract infection. Scotties may also be more prone to VonWillebrand's disease and to craniomandibular osteopathy a bone disease of the jaw.The Scottish Terrier is an active, lively little dog that makes a good family house pet. It is usually friendly with children and with other household pets, when it has been raised with them from an early age. The Scottie is naturally territorial and will want to guard the home from intruders, barking to warn the owner when a stranger approaches. Excessive barking can become an issue without proper early training.

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