Scottish Terrier

Scottish Terrier - Small Dog Breed

Quick Facts

OriginScotland

Height: 10

Weight: F: 18-21 lbs, M: 19-22 lbs

Color: Black, Brindle, Red brindle, Wheaten, Black brindle, Silver Brindle

Lifespan12 years

Temperament: Dignified, alert, upbeat, confident

 

Overview

Scottish terriers are so posh that it’s hard to imagine these dignified pups originally hunted rabbit, otter, fox and badgers. Scotties are still just as brave as they were bred to be.

They make excellent watchdogs. True to terrier nature, they will assert dominance when the proper pack order is not established in a home.

Owners that are demure or show weak leadership will find owning a Scottie an extreme challenge. A firm but loving home will be the best fit for this breed.

Celebrity Owners

Queen Victoria, Eva Braun, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Ed Whitfield, Gilbert Chesterton, President of Poland Lech Kaczyński, Tatum O’Neal, Bette Davis, Humphrey Bogart

Fun Facts

  1. Monopoly ran a poll to see which pieces should stay on the board. The Scottie overwhelmingly received the most votes. So PAAAWPULAR!

Health

Scotties are prone to some hereditary conditions. Always request screening from your breeder before adopting. Health issues to be aware of include:

  • Von Willebrand’s disease: Caused by a deficiency of von Willebrand factor, a protein in the blood that helps platelets, this disease is a bleeding disorder.
  • Patellar luxation: Luxating simply means out of place or dislocated. Patella is a kneecap. A Luxating patella is a kneecap that chronically moves out of its normal position.
  • Hypothyroidism: The thyroid gland, sitting at the top of the windpipe in the back of the neck, is controlled by the pituitary gland at the base of the brand. Hypothyroidism would cause the metabolism to slow down.
  • Cushings Disease: This serious health condition is caused by the adrenal glands overproducing cortisol. Extreme thirst and frequent urinating are common signs.
  • Cataracts: A dog develops a cataract when the lens in its eye clouds. The clouding is caused by changes in the water balance or proteins in the lens.
  • Progressive retinal atrophy: Atrophy is a wearing or wasting away of a body part. In this case, it is the retina in the eye, which eventually leads to blindness.

Young Scotties can also experience the Scottie Cramp when they are too excited or have overexercised. It is a central nervous system condition that causes muscle spasms. It is not life threatening.

While you always hope your pet will live a long and healthy life, it is always a good idea to invest in pet health insurance.

Keeping your dog’s mouth clean and problem free goes a long way to your pup’s overall health. Dental hygiene can be the cause or can be the byproduct of other serious health issues.

Visual inspections can be performed to keep track of the signs of potentially waning oral health. These signs can be anything from bad breath to abnormal chewing to loss of appetite.

Keeping ahead of these warning signs can pay dividends. A preventative approach can delay and stop many of the common dental problems from arising.

Oral health can be tackled in five basic steps:

  1. Brushing your dog’s teeth to prevent an undesirable buildup of plaque
  2. Feed your dog a diet where the high quality dog food has dental benefits
  3. Regularly give your dog dental toys and treats
  4. Use mouthwash, to help where brushing misses
  5. At the sign of any abnormalities, consult a vet. You can even do it virtually, from the convenience of your home.

Dogs are just like humans in that they can experience anxiety. The degree to which they are susceptible to anxiety and how they deal with anxiety is breed specific. Left unchecked, initial signs of anxiety could give way to an anxiety disorder. The symptoms of anxiety disorders can lead to a myriad of behavior issues.

Knowing the signs and symptoms will best equip you to keep ahead of it and to nip it in the bud at the earliest signs. There are options available to help with anxiety.

Are You Covered When Your Pup Gets Sick?

Grooming

Grooming a Scottie takes some instruction or a professional groomer. This breed has soft undercoat and a wiry topcoat. You will need to brush your Scottie needs to be brushed several times per week, and hand stripped once a month.

Your pup’s coat will need shaping every three months. Scotties shed lightly throughout the year, they will go through two increased seasonal periods of shedding.

During this time increase brushing to daily. Scotties only need bathing if they have gotten dirty or start to smell. Keep their eyes and ears clean and clear of debris. Clip your pup’s nails regularly and brush their teeth several times per week.

Cost

$800 – $2,000

Exercise

Always watch your dog around any body of water. Scotties are not strong swimmers and easily drown. This breed needs around an hour of exercise a day. They enjoy long walks. They are exceptionally happy running around a fenced in yard. Do not let your pup off leash in an unsecure area, the instinct to hunt prey often outweighs the will to return when called.

Nutrition

Your Scottie will eat around ¾ cup of food per day over two meals. The exact requirements for your dog will vary with age and activity level. Be mindful that little dogs that receive lots of treats and or table scraps end up overweight. A little dog that is overweight is significantly more likely to develop other health issues.

We’ve taken a look at some premium dog foods, high in nutrition here.

Are You Feeding Your Dog The Best Food?

Training

As with all dogs, early socialization with humans and other pups is key. Early training with this breed is advantageous. Don’t let those bad habits set in. This breed is very intelligent which can lead to boredom. Keep your sessions mentally stimulating, varied and full of positive reinforcement. Always make sure your pup performs the task as requested, not how the pup sees fit.

Proper training is essential to ensuring the safety of your dog and those around you. Having your dog come when they should, and in general having them listen is something you want to address early in your pup’s life, as it will pay dividends down the line. There are many tried and true training programs to accomplish this training – faster and better than you might think!

Unless you’re living on a farm, or have the space, a yipping dog, or one that barks all day when you are gone could be an issue with the neighbors and/or landlord. Historically, dogs would bark to communicate with the rest of the pack when hunting and bark as a warning shot to predators eyeing up their flock. Barking is deep rooted in dogs and manifests itself in many ways and for a variety of reasons.

Just like any habit or instinct, there are effective ways you can train this issue away.

The Best Dog Vitamins and Supplements To Keep Your Pup Healthy. Period.

Supplements

As mentioned before, hip dysplasia is the most common ailment for Affenpinschers. A solid Glucosamine Supplement for hips and joints will go a long way to helping your furry friend.

Other helpful supplements include full-spectrum hemp oil or CBD oil. Fish oil skin and coat supplement.

Ensuring a comprehensive preventative vitamin and mineral plan is essential to keeping your dog healthy. Truth is, there are vitamins and minerals that your dog needs, but doesn’t produce naturally. While many of these vitamins and minerals can be found in your dog’s current diet and dog food, the question becomes, are there enough vitamins to ensure they aren’t deficient.

Poor nutrition can lead to some of the most common health issues, such as weak joints, compromised immunity, increased allergies, and low energy.

Vitamins play a vital role in your pet’s health and overall life expectancy. Here are some multivitamin and joint relief options.

As regulations around marijuana have eased, the emergence of CBD oils for humans and dogs have sprung up.

Just to begin to dispel the negative stigma, CBD extract comes from Hemp, marijuana’s cousin. Unlike its cousin, there are no psychoactive qualities in CBD oil. An emerging number of clinical and institutional studies have shown the wide variety of healing qualities in CBD, including pain management, and the containment of seizures and epileptic episodes.

Explore this remedy further to see all the health benefits that have transformed the lives of so many dogs to date.

Have You Tried CBD For You Dog's Health?

The Good

  • Great watchdogs
  • Light shedding

The "Ruff"

  • Try to assert dominance
  • High urge to chase prey

Annual Vet Bills: $1,500+

Be Prepared for the unexpected.