Scottish Terrier: Dog Breed Profile

Scottish Terriers (Scottie) are small, short-legged dogs with big personalities. Those who can deal with their stubbornness will find in them a loyal, intelligent, and adaptable companion.

Origin and history

The Scottish Terrier is the oldest of the four Scottish terrier breeds. The low-legged, fearless dog was once used specifically for hunting foxes and badgers. Today’s type of Scottie was only developed at the end of the 19th century and bred as a show dog quite early on. In the 1930s, the Scotch Terrier was a veritable fashion dog. As the “First Dog” of American President Franklin Roosevelt, the little Scot quickly became popular in the USA.

Appearance

The Scottish Terrier is a short-legged, stocky dog ​​that, despite its small size, has great strength and agility. About its body size, the Scottish Terrier has a relatively long head with dark, almond-shaped eyes, bushy eyebrows, and a distinct beard. The ears are pointed and erect, and the tail is medium-length and also points upwards.

The Scottish Terrier has a close-fitting double coat. It consists of a rough, wiry top coat and a lot of soft undercoats and thus provides good protection against weather and injuries. The coat color is either black, wheaten, or brindle in any shade. The rough coat needs to be expertly trimmed but is then easy to care for.

Nature

Scottish Terriers are friendly, dependable, loyal, and playful with their families, but tend to be grumpy with strangers. They also reluctantly tolerate foreign dogs in their territory. The brave little Scotties are extremely alert but bark little.

Training a Scottish Terrier requires a lot of consistency because the little guys have a big personality, and are very self-confident and stubborn. They will never submit unconditionally but always keep their head.

A Scottish Terrier is a lively, alert companion, but doesn’t need to be kept busy around the clock. It enjoys going for walks but does not demand excessive physical activity. It is also content with several shorter trips into the countryside, during which it can explore the area with its nose. Therefore, a Scottie is also a good companion for older or moderately active people. Due to their small size and calm nature, a Scottish Terrier can be kept well in a city apartment, but they also enjoy a house with a garden.

The Scottish Terrier’s coat needs trimming several times a year but is easy to care for and rarely sheds.