The Scottish Terrier, nicknamed in 19th Century “little diehard”, is 1 of the 5 breeds that originated from Scotland. It is also known as the Aberdeen Terrier.
Small and resilient, quick and muscular, the Scottish terrier is described as being brave, feisty and fearless. Diggers by nature, Scotties were originally bred to hunt small vermin, squirrels, rats, foxes, and even badgers.
* Tip: When walking your Scottie, please make certain they are on a leash, as they are hunters by nature! They will try to chase anything that moves.
They have a long face and short legs. Their eyes are bright are dark brown, even black, in color. Not only are their eyes bright, but their personality is and everything about them. Their ears and tail stand at attention and they are very alert and intelligent. They have a thick, sturdy tail, as selected when breeding, so that they could be pulled out of holes when digging
Scotties are typically dark gray to black in color. However, they can ALSO come in a wheaten (tan/creme to nearly white) color and brindle! I would love one of each! They are definitely known for their “brick”-shaped cut of their head and their big, fluffy eyebrows, and have a wiry outer coat with a soft and dense undercoat.
Playful, intelligent, loving, loyal, rugged, extremely determined and resilient, Scotties need to have exercise and mental stimulation. Even if you have a small yard, they will be able to occupy themselves, as they love to explore and “secure the area”, so to speak.
On the other hand, they can be stubborn, as they are very self-assured, and they can get into trouble. They will dig, as mentioned earlier and if they find a hole in the fence, they will go hunting and explore. Left unchecked from a puppy, this dog can handle taking over the house in one fell swoop. They will dominate you if you don’t let them know you are in charge. They are born leaders. Be firm, but gentle and you will have a winning relationship with your Scottie.
Scottish terriers are fabulous watchdogs, as they have been bred only to bark when necessary, but they have that alertness, intelligence and fearlessness you are looking for.
They are known to be somewhat aggressive with other dogs, if not socialized early, and are a better dog for older children.
Now, for a little more history on the breed, I found a great article to shed some light on this extensive subject…
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Scottish Terrier Dogs – Important Facts You Should Know
By Jeff Cuckson
Scottish Terriers are short-legged dogs, at a height of ten to eleven inches, comparatively heavy-boned, yet deceivingly trim. They are agile and sporty pets. Moreover, their intelligence, playfulness and loyalty make them popular pets.
Historically, they were the first standard for their breed, back in 1880. So even today, when someone says Terrier, what comes to mind is the Scottish Terrier.
This breed originated in Scotland and is ubiquitously recognized as an icon of the Scottish Culture. Still, even if they have long history, it was only in the 1800s, that their history began to be recorded. Many Scottish Terrier owners insist that all other terriers share a common ancestor in the Scottish Terrier dog.
They were originally bred to hunt foxes and badgers. Although for many Americans, their first sight of a Scottish Terrier was through President Roosevelt’s pet, Fala, this breed had been in the country since the late 18th century. In fact, the first registered Scottie America was ”Dake” born Sept. 15, 1884.
Physically the average Scottish Terrier weighs 19-23 pounds in adulthood and lives a life span of 12-15 years. They come in most any shades and colors such as black, wheaten, or brown. They don’t shed a lot of hair. Ideally, you should comb and evenly trim his coat regularly to keep the coat neat and shiny.
How does one take good care of a Scottish Terrier dog? Not to worry, they may be sporty; yet don’t require a lot of exercise. You can keep your Scottish Terrier dog indoors, provided you ensure it gets sufficient walking exercises during the day. If you have a small yard, and it is well secured, then let your dog loose. He’ll be sure to get his optimum requirement by playing in the yard. As pets, they are better pets for older and more mature children.
You should follow the basics for taking care of Scottish Terrier dogs. They are, however susceptible to the following diseases such as Canine von Willebrand’s disease, Scottie Cramp, flea allergy, intervertebral disc diseases, as well as other disorders.
A sage advice for those wanting to join the ranks of Scottish Terriers Dogs owners: give your pet affection and praise. You’ll get it back from your pet, manifold.
(Disclaimer: Any information contained in this site relating to various medical, health and fitness conditions of Westies or other animals and their treatments is for informational purposes only and is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own veterinarian. You should not use the information contained herein for diagnosing the health of any animal. You should always consult and check with your own vet or veterinarian.)
I do hope that you have found the article of use to you.
Good health and happiness
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Jeff Cuckson is Author of “Mad About Westies” Find out more on how
you can have the Healthiest and Happiest Westhighland Terriers
You’ve Always Dreamed Of by going NOW to Mad About Westies
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeff_Cuckson
http://EzineArticles.com/?Scottish-Terrier-Dogs—Important-Facts-You-Should-Know&id=36309
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The Scottish terrier is one of the more famous breeds of terrier, as many a celebrity and high profile person have owned and loved their Scotties. Just to name a few: Franklin D. Roosevelt, George W. Bush (x 2), Humphrey Bogart, Shirley Temple, Liza Minnelli, Queen Victoria, Ronald Regan…Funny how great leaders pick this breed, as the Scottish terrier, as I mentioned at the beginning, are natural born leaders themselves. 
Plus, many companies choose a Scottish terrier as their mascot or for their logo. Hey, when you play Monopoly, do you choose to be the Scottie every single time like I do?
It’s so hard to pick favorites when it comes to terriers because they are all similar in many ways, and too cute! However, I think I can definitely say that the Scottish Terrier is up on the top of my list!
I hope you enjoyed today’s installment of Terrier Lover. I did!
Until next time…
Love Your Terrier,
Kimberly Edwards
P.S. Make sure you get your 2008 Scottish Terrier calendar before all of the cute ones are gone:
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This post has good and valuable information, Is nice to see some good articles like this one, thank you.
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