Scottish Terrier Information, Guide to an Iconic Breed Why This Breed Makes a Great Companion

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Scottish Terriers photo
Small Breed X-Small Breed Scotty Cramp Flea Allergy Dermatitis von Willebrand's disease (vWD) Scottish Terrier

Is the Scottish Terrier Right For You?

  • 1 Scottish Terriers have a famous profile as a small dog with a beautiful, wiry coat, beard, and eyebrows.
  • 2 Scottish Terriers are great family and apartment dogs owing to their small size and happy demeanor.
  • 3 The Scottie should be walked on a leash as they have a strong chase instinct.

HISTORY

First bred in the early 18th century in Scotland, the Scottish Terrier was originally used to go after any small game that lived in dens. Their short legs and long bodies made them ideal for slinking down into these nests and rooting out the foxes, rabbits, otters, and badgers that lived there. The Scottish Terrier was accepted by the AKC in 1885.

Quick Facts

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    Size

    Toy/Small

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    Lifespan

    Around 13-14 years

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    Hair Length

    Long

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    Male Height

    10-11 inches (25-28 cm)

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    Male Weight

    19-23 pounds (8 1/2- 10 1/2- kg)

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    Female Height

    10-11 inches (25-28 cm)

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    Female Weight

    19-23 pounds (8 1/2- 10 1/2- kg)

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    Litter Size

    3 to 5 puppies

Personality

Intelligent, companionable, strong, affectionate, and courageous, the Scottish Terrier is highly protective of their owner and family. The dogโ€™s behavior and moods are prone to changes. As the Scottish Terrier is stubborn and independent, they should be given proper socialization as well as firm and gentle obedience training from puppyhood. The Scottish Terrier likes to be in the company of older children, but younger children should be kept at a safe distance from the dog. The Scottish Terrier can be highly aggressive toward strangers. An excellent household pet, the Scottish Terrier always loves to be pampered by their owner..

Color

The Scottish Terrier is most commonly somewhere between dark gray and black. Sometimes they can be a lighter brown or a brindle, but not often.

Health Concerns

The Scottish Terrier, like all other dogs, requires proper care and veterinary attention. The major health problems encountered in Scottish Terriers are:

  • Scottie Cramp
  • Von Willebrand disease
  • flea allergy
  • skin problems
  • jaw problems
Appearance

The Scottish Terrier is a stocky, strong, low to the ground breed that was built to crawl down into dens and root out small game. They have dark, wiry fur, a long, boxy face, and pointed ears that stand erect atop their head.

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