Scottish Terrier

About the breed

The Scottish Terrier is one of the oldest Scottish terrier breeds, known for its upright stance, bushy eyebrows and unmistakably self-assured bearing. Developed in the Scottish Highlands to hunt underground vermin, it is prized today mainly as a companion that combines a working terrier's toughness with a dignified, almost human-like character. Its instantly recognizable silhouette - short legs, a long head and pricked ears - makes it one of the most recognizable breeds in the world, helped along by famous owners such as President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Origin and history

The earliest known description of small, tenacious dogs that hunted foxes, badgers, martens and wildcats underground in the Scottish Highlands dates back to the 16th century, in Bishop John Lesley's History of Scotland. The modern type took shape in the second half of the 19th century around Aberdeen, which is why it was first known as the Aberdeen Terrier. The type was fixed in the show ring around 1879, the first Scottish Terrier was entered in the UK Kennel Club Stud Book in 1880, and the first breed club was founded in England in 1882. American fanciers founded the Scottish Terrier Club of America in 1900, and the FCI gave the breed its definitive standard (No. 73) in 1954.

Appearance and characteristics

The Scottish Terrier is a small but sturdy, muscular dog with a hard, wiry outer coat and a soft undercoat that protects it from Scottish weather and thorny cover. It is known for its dense "beard" and eyebrows, as well as a long head with a powerful jaw suited to working underground. The ears are small, pricked and pointed, and the tail is carried upright. The coat is most often black, though wheaten and brindle also occur. Despite its small size (25-28 cm at the shoulder, 8.5-10.5 kg), it gives an impression of surprising strength and substance, described in the breed standard as "a big dog in a small body".

Famous Scottish Terriers

The Scottish Terrier is one of the few breeds with its own bronze statue in Washington, D.C. - Fala (formally Murray the Outlaw of Falahill), President Franklin D. Roosevelt's favorite dog, is honored with a statue beside the Roosevelt Memorial on the National Mall, the only presidential pet ever given that distinction. Fala accompanied Roosevelt from 1940 until 1945 and featured in the president's famous 1944 "Fala speech." Decades later, another pair of Scottish Terriers, Barney and Miss Beazley, lived at the White House as pets of President George W. Bush, becoming online celebrities through the "Barney Cam" video series. The breed's popularity, helped in part by Fala, is also why a Scottish Terrier figure has been one of the classic tokens in the board game Monopoly since the 1950s.

Temperament and behavior

The Scottish Terrier is independent, self-assured and remarkably game, earning it the American Kennel Club's nickname "the Diehard." It is loyal and attached to its family but often reserved and wary of strangers, which makes it a capable watchdog. Its background as a vermin hunter shows in a strong prey drive and a tendency to make its own decisions, which makes training an interesting challenge - consistent, patient, reward-based training is essential, since harsh or inconsistent handling quickly turns into stubbornness. Because of its limited tolerance for rough handling, it is not the best match for families with very young children, though it generally gets along well with older, considerate children.

Grooming and care

The Scottish Terrier's wiry coat does not shed in the usual sense, so it needs regular professional grooming - hand-stripping two to three times a year to preserve the correct texture, or regular clipping for owners who value comfort over show coat. The beard and leg furnishings need brushing several times a week to prevent matting and staining. Despite its short legs, it is an active, sturdy dog that needs at least one or two shorter walks or play sessions a day, and it enjoys sniffing and exploring more than long-distance running. It adapts well to apartment life as long as it gets enough daily exercise and mental stimulation, such as scent games or tug-of-war.

Health

Researchers at Purdue University (Glickman et al., 2004) found that Scottish Terriers have roughly an 18- to 20-fold higher risk of transitional cell carcinoma (bladder cancer) than mixed-breed dogs, with exposure to herbicide-treated lawns raising that risk by up to a further seven-fold. The breed is also predisposed to type III von Willebrand disease, the most severe form of this inherited bleeding disorder, which is why breeding dogs should be DNA-tested. Another well-documented, breed-specific condition is "Scottie cramp," a benign, hereditary neuromuscular disorder linked to serotonin metabolism that causes brief muscle stiffness and an unusual gait after exercise or excitement in young dogs, without being life-threatening. Patellar luxation is also fairly common, so regular veterinary checks are advisable.

Suitability for families

The Scottish Terrier is happiest as the only pet of experienced owners who understand the stubborn terrier temperament and can offer consistent leadership. Its strong hunting instinct makes it a poor housemate for small rodents, birds or cats it hasn't grown up with, and it can clash with other dogs, particularly of the same sex, over dominance. It does very well in an apartment since it doesn't need a large yard, as long as it gets enough daily walks. Its independent character and specific coat-care needs mean it isn't the most recommended first breed for completely inexperienced dog owners.

Pros & cons