Family-friendly: | 4/5 |
Exercise needs: | 4/5 |
Easy to train: | 1/5 |
Tolerates being alone: | 3/5 |
Likes other pets: | 4/5 |
Energy level: | 4/5 |
Grooming needs: | 2/5 |
Shedding: | 2/5 |
- Dog suitable for owners with some experience
- Extra training required
- Generally healthy breed
- Enjoys active walks
- Enjoys one to two hours of walking a day
- Small dog
- Some drool
- Requires grooming every other day
- Chatty and vocal dog
- Barks and alerts to visitors/anything unusual
- Could have issues with unknown dogs but gets along with known dogs
- May need additional training to live with other pets
- May need additional supervision to live with children
- Needs a small garden
- Can happily live in the city
- Can be left occasionally with training
The Scottish Terrier breed can suffer from:
- Patellar luxation
- Von Willebrand's disease¹ which is where a dog produces insufficient or faulty clotting factors which can result in uncontrolled bleeding.
- Scottie cramp which is a hereditary disorder which causes the muscles in the legs to temporarily cramp.
Priority Kennel Club health schemes and testing:
None but there are several recommended schemes that the Kennel Club recommends which can be found here.
¹P. J. Venta, 'Mutation causing von Willebrand's disease in Scottish Terriers', 2008, Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Personality
Scottish Terriers are frequently described as bold, lion-hearted, loyal and serious, but also dour, aloof, and reserved. Whilst primarily a companion and show dog today, the Scottish Terrier is very much a terrier, with all the feist and independent spirit one should expect.
With kind, patient training and motivation, the Scottie can be a cheerful, loyal and affectionate family friend to those they live with and knows well, but don’t expect them to be gushing and effusive with strangers.
Did You Know?
- Scottish Terriers have in the past been popular with royalty and Presidents. King James V1 of Scotland was a huge fan in the 17th Century, sending six Scotties to France as a gift. Queen Victoria had a favourite Scottie, Laddie and President Roosevelt had a Scottie called Murray the Outlaw of Falahill or Fala for short, and Eleanor Roosevelt had Meggie, during their time in the White House.
- The first mention of a Scottish Terrier was by Bishop John Lesley in his book ‘History of Scotland from 1436 to 1561’. He described them as a ‘dog of low height, which creeping into subterraneous burrows, routs out foxes, badgers, martins and wild cats from their lurking places and dens’.
- Due to their bravery, there’s a legend that the Scottish Terrier descended from bears instead of dogs.
- When Scottish Terriers get extremely excited, they may experience something called the ‘Scottie Cramp’, this is a neurological disorder which makes their muscles tense up.
- The Scottie is the most popular Monopoly piece!
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