Scottish Terrier

Coat & Grooming: A Scottie’s coat is hard and wiry, perfect for long days working in poor Scottish weather. Grooming isn’t too much of a chore in terms of time, but you need to commit to weekly brushing at a minimum. Scotties have a double coat: a topcoat and a bottom coat. To keep both coats in top shape, it pays to invest in the proper tools and grooming products. A good dog brush is a lifesaver when it comes to grooming your Scottie. Show dogs are often clipped and trimmed daily to maintain that “perfect look”, but casual owners can get away with a professional grooming session every two months or so. When you do your weekly grooming, pay close attention to your dog’s teeth, eyes, ears, and nails for any signs of irritation or distress.

Coat length: Short to Medium
Grooming: Frequent

Shedding: Scotties don’t shed much – their hair just keeps growing and growing. It’s important to clip your Scottish Terrier before it becomes unmanageable for you and uncomfortable for them. It’s a mistake to think that Scotties are an “easy” breed in terms of grooming. Even though they don’t shed much, their coat needs weekly maintenance to stay healthy and presentable.

Training: Early obedience training is crucial with most dogs, but it’s especially important with a Scottish Terrier. They are typically proud and aloof, but Scotties love attention, even if they rarely show it. While they tend to be a bit standoffish with total strangers, Scottish Terriers are loyal and loving with their immediate family and friends. It’s important to supervise strangers and small children around your pet. Crate training is a good idea for younger Scotties, but they can suffer from separation anxiety if left alone for too long.

Barking: If you can’t stand to live with a barking dog, you might reconsider sharing your home with a Scottie. They are always keen to sound the alarm, whether it’s an intruder, squirrel, or strong gust of wind outside. Training and obedience classes will help, but it’s nearly impossible to get a Scottish Terrier to stop barking altogether.

Temperament & Behavior: The Fourth Earl of Dumbarton coined the nickname “the diehard” for his favorite breed. Scotties are alert and quick on their feet with a keen sense of place. Territorial and feisty, the Scottish Terrier is always quick to sound the alarm if a stranger calls. The Earl gave them their moniker based on “a rugged nature and determination”. This is a perfect way to describe the temperament of the proud and noble Scottie.

Behavior with kids: As a confident and proud breed, Scotties don’t take kindly to roughhousing. Unwanted pulling and prodding doesn’t usually end well for curious children. Always keep a keen eye out when strangers and small children interact with your Scottie.

Protection: As a territorial breed, Scotties are a fairly effective burglar alarm. They don’t take kindly to strangers, and barking comes naturally to these dogs. If you are familiar with the expression “doesn’t know his size”, you already know a bit about Scottish Terriers.

Life span: On average, Scottish Terriers live to be about 12 years old.

Inherited health issues: Health conditions can occur in Scottish Terriers, just as they can in any breed of dog. Certain conditions occur at an increased frequency in Scotties, and other conditions have a genetic link. Genetic tests are available for some of these conditions, which are typically performed by responsible breeders in an attempt to decrease the incidence of inherited health conditions within the breed. These conditions may include, but are not limited to, the following: Familial vasculopathy, Hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing’s disease), Hemophilia B, Von Willebrand’s disease, Craniomandibular osteopathy, Cutaneous histiocytoma, Cutaneous lymphoma, Nasal cavity tumors, Congenital deafness, Scottie cramp, Cataracts, Vacuolar hepatopathy and Transitional cell carcinoma.

Preventive care: Although many of the more common health problems found in Scotties cannot be definitively prevented, staying on top of routine veterinary care can help to detect some problems before they become more severe. Even if your Scottish Terrier appears to be healthy at home, do not skip routine veterinary exams. Your veterinarian has been extensively trained to detect subtle changes and can formulate a wellness plan for your individual dog. If you notice any new lumps and bumps, changes in your Scottie’s water consumption or urination, or other changes at home, be sure to bring these changes to your veterinarian’s attention.

The Scottish Terrier Club of America and the AKC require that breeders perform DNA tests for Von Willebrand’s Disease and evaluation of the patella prior to breeding, but an ophthalmologist eye evaluation and thyroid testing are also recommended. The goal of testing dogs prior to breeding is to avoid breeding affected dogs, which decreases the incidence of hereditary conditions within the breed.

With insufficient exercise or overfeeding, Scotties can easily become overweight. Maintaining a healthy body weight is a crucial step in keeping your Scottie at the peak of health. Avoid offering table scraps or too many treats, and offer portion-controlled meals of a high quality and balanced diet.

Daily Consumption: Average daily consumption for an adult Scottie is 1/2 to 3/4 cup.

Energy Level: Frisky, energetic breed that is always ready for action

Exercise: Scotties are quickly bored when left alone, and they possess a big gas tank despite their small, compact body. Vigorous swimming and running are not advised, but a brisk walk and playtime in a fenced yard are perfect for a Scottie. If you are looking for a marathon partner or a hiking companion, this breed won’t fulfill your needs adequately. Chasing squirrels ranks highly on the list of preferred Scottie pastimes. Always use a leash in public to contain their unbridled enthusiasm for the chase.

Climate: Most climates won’t pose a problem for a hearty terrier breed, such as the Scottie. If it’s extremely cold or warm, it’s worth giving them a break from the elements if they appear distressed.

Living Space: Scottish Terriers are small and compact dogs, but they are not a low-energy pet. They enjoy running around and living it up as a lively member of the household. It’s possible to live in harmony with a Scottie in a condo or apartment, but it’s better to have a little breathing room if possible.