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- Archive-name: dogs-faq/breeds/scotties
- Posting-frequency: 30 days
- Last-modified: 01 Mar 1995
-
- This is a regularly posted faq and appears every thirty days in
- rec.pets.dogs and news.answers. The latest version of this file is
- a hypertext document available via the Web at
- http://www.io.com/user/tittle/dogs-faq/breeds/homepage.html
-
- The most recently posted ASCII version of this file is available via
- anonymous ftp to rtfm.mit.edu in the directory
- pub/usenet/news.answers/dogs-faq/breeds
-
- It is also available via email: check the weekly posting Cindy Tittle
- Moore (tittle@io.com) puts out entitled "Complete List of
- rec.pets.dogs FAQs" for details.
-
-
-
- SCOTTISH TERRIERS
-
- Author
-
- Camille Partridge, Gaelforce Scottish Terriers
-
- Table of Contents
-
- * Description
- * Frequently Asked Questions
- * The Standard
- * Affiliations and Recognitions
- * Medical Information
- * Resources
-
-
- _________________________________________________________________
-
- Description
-
- The Scottish Terrier is one of the decendants of the Old Scotch
- Terrier, along with the Dandie Dinmont, Cairn, and West Highland White
- Terriers. The exact origins of the breed are obscure, but a dog of the
- general description dates back to some of the earliest treatises on
- dogs in Britain. The low stature and wiry coat have always been
- important characteristics to the original purpose of the breed, which
- was to hunt and kill the various species of wildlife that made life
- hard for the Scottish farmer and crofter. These species included fox,
- badger, wildcat, weasel, otter, and the ubiquitous rat. Losing one or
- two lambs could mean the difference between eating well that winter
- and starving to the poor farmer, and so a dog was developed that had
- exceptional strength and courage, in a compact, tough package. These
- traits are still the hallmark of the breed today.
- _________________________________________________________________
-
- Frequently Asked Questions
-
- Do Scotties shed?
-
- All dogs shed, but the wire-coated terriers, which includes the
- Scotties, grow hair differently than many dogs, so they shed less
- than the short haired breeds.
-
- Are they good with children?
-
- Yes, if the child is old enough to respect the dog's body, and to
- understand that the dog has feelings, too. Scotties will generally
- try to hide from an abusive child, but will bite if cornered, or
- pushed hard. For this reason, they are not generally recommended for
- families with very small children.
-
- Does this breed require lots of grooming?
-
- In a word, yes! They require regular brushing, and trimming four to
- six times a year. Regular bathing is NOT recommended, however, as
- the skin dries out too easily. Show dogs are stripped, the hair
- being pulled out when long and dead, or blown, but pets should be
- clipped, as stripping is time-consuming and expensive at a
- groomers'. The regular things such as tooth brushing, nail clipping,
- and anal gland care are easily done at home, and clipping isn't
- hard, either, if one wants to invest in the clippers. Related to
- skin care is the flea question. I wage nuclear war on fleas, as the
- breed is relatively sensitive to them. A Scot can chew itself almost
- bald in next to no time, trying to get one flea!
-
- What about exercise requirements?
-
- The Scot is actually an active breed, and can become destructive if
- not given enough mental and physical stimulation. The short legs do
- mean less walking for the human partner to get the dog it's daily
- requirements ;-). Seriously, this is not a good jogging or marathon
- partner, but an ideal walking companion. ON LEASH, please, as the
- hunting instincts can draw the dog after a rabbit, into the path of
- a car. The Scot is tough for it's size, but not that tough!
-
- Are Scotties noisy?
-
- They can be, but this varies alot within the breed. They are
- territorial, and will announce visitors repeatedly and loudly. Human
- visitors they know are welcome, but animal visitors, invited or not,
- are repulsed with serious fury! One cannot consider the Scot a
- serious protection breed, but they will inflict damage to even the
- most threatening person, if they feel their owner is in danger. The
- teeth are bigger than you would suppose.
-
- What sex makes the best pet?
-
- Most people still want a female puppy, but I feel the male makes a
- better pet, since both sexes will be neutered. The boys are
- generally a happier, easier-going lot. There is a joke with a kernel
- of truth that "they don't call 'em bitches for nothing"! The female
- Scot is more likely to be reserved with strangers, for instance,
- than the male dog. Of course, this can vary between the members of
- the breed, as most traits can. But generally, I recommend males as
- better pets.
-
- Do they make good obedience dogs?
-
- If you are looking for a High-In-Trial, no. A challenge, yes. The
- Scot is one of the breeds bred to work independent of human
- direction. If the dog is nose to nose with a badger, it cannot take
- the time to come out and ask "may I attack now, please, or would you
- prefer me to wait?" Thus, obediance as a formal task is rather
- foreign to the breed. Some Scots obtain advanced degrees, but the
- majority are not tempermentally suited to it. HOWEVER, all dogs
- should learn basic good manners and certain general behaviors, such
- as coming when called. Puppy Kindergarten Training is wonderful
- socialization for a young Scot to learn, to avoid dog-aggressiveness
- later in life.
-
- Are the blond ones Scotties, too?
-
- This is definitely the most asked question to anyone with a wheaten
- Scot. There are many different colors acceptable in the breed;
- black, shades of brindle, and wheaten being the major classes of
- color. Wheaten ranges from a pale golden to a deep red. White,
- however, is not an acceptable shade of wheaten, nor is it in the
- standard as an approved color.
-
-
- _________________________________________________________________
-
- The Standard
-
- The standard of the breed describes the ideal Scottish Terrier, and no
- one dog lives up perfectly in every regard. In general, a Scottie
- should resemble the standard as closely as possible. The closer to
- perfect, the more likely the dog is to earn a championship. A dog can
- still have major faults and be a good Scottie, but should not be used
- for breeding. Being a good pet is nothing to be ashamed of, rather the
- opposite! But with the pet overpopulation problem in this country,
- only the very best representaives of any breed should reproduce. This
- is not just in conformation terms of course, but tempermentally and
- medically as well. A condensed version of the AKC Standard for
- Scottish Terriers follows.
-
- GENERAL APPEARANCE
-
- The Scottie is a small, compact dog of bone and substance. He has a
- long head, a hard wiry double coat, and a thick-set body hung between
- short, heavy legs. Th ears are prick, and the tail short and carried
- vertically.
-
- SIZE, AND PROPORTION
-
- The Scottie should have a thick body and heavy bone for it's size. The
- main point should be BALANCE. Height should be about 10 inches at the
- withers, dogs weighing about 19-22 lbs., bitches 18-21 lbs.
-
- TEMPERMENT
-
- The Scottie should be alert, spirited, stable, and steady-going. He
- has a "heads up, tails up" attitude in the ring, conveying fire with
- control. He can be aggressive with other dogs, but should be gentle
- with people. He should exude power, living up to the old nickname of
- "The Diehard".
-
- PENALTIES
-
- Soft or curly coat, round, protruding or light eye, over or undershot
- bite, obvious over or undersize, shyness and timidity are all
- penalized in the ring, along with bad movement and conformation. NO
- JUDGE SHOULD PUT TO WINNERS OR BEST OF BREED ANY SCOTTISH TERRIER NOT
- SHOWING REAL TERRIER CHARACTER IN THE RING.
-
- For the complete standard, contact the Scottish Terrier Club of
- America, as listed later in this FAQ, or consult the AKC's publication
- The Complete Dog Book.
- _________________________________________________________________
-
- Affiliations and Recognitions
-
- The Scottish Terrier Club of America is the official parent club and
- guardian for the breed. The breed is registered for show purposes with
- the American Kennel Club, and may earn titles through this
- organization. The breed may also be shown at events licensed by the
- American Working Terrier Association, and may earn titles through this
- organization as well. Titles include: Championship (conformation),
- Companion Dog through Utility Dog Excellent (obediance), Tracking
- Dog/TD Excellent (tracking), Junior, Senior and Master Earthdog
- (instinct/working) through AKC. From the AWTA, titles include
- Certificate of Gameness and Working Certificate (instinct/working
- below ground) and Hunting Certificate (above ground).
- _________________________________________________________________
-
- Medical Information
-
- The Scottish Terrier is afflicted with a few heritable disorders of
- varying severity. There is a blood test for only one of these,
- unfortunately. Responsible breeders do everything they can to reduce
- and eliminate these disorders from their breeding stock, but genes can
- re-combine in unexpected ways, and so even the best laid plans can go
- awry.
-
- VON WILLEBRAND'S DISEASE
-
- The most serious disorder is a bleeding/clotting disorder called
- vonWillebrand's Disease (vWD). For a Scottie to be a bleeder, i.e.,
- have abnormally long, perhaps life-threatening clotting times, it is
- understood *at this time* that both parents must be carriers. Carriers
- are not thought to be bleeders. Thus one normal parent and one bleeder
- parent will produce all carrier puppies, as the gene seems to be
- strictly dominant/recessive in inheritance. Research is being done to
- find a genetic marker for this disorder, so we may eliminate it from
- the breed, if at all possible. With the technology currently
- available, we test all stock, and breed only normal or
- conformationally superior carriers. Bleeders should NEVER be bred.
-
- SCOTTIE CRAMP
-
- The Scottie Cramp is a neuromuscular disorder treated in severe cases
- with vitamin E and mild tranquilizers. It is not painful for the dog,
- but afflicted animals should not be bred.
-
- CRANIO-MANDIBULAR OSTEOPATHY
-
- Cranio-Mandibular Osteopathy is a disease shared with Westies and
- Cairns, as close cousins. It involves abnormal growth of the bone in
- the jaw of the afflicted puppy. It is severely painful, and should be
- eliminated from a breeding program. At this time the only test for
- carrier status in a dog is to test-breed. Treatment of the afflicted
- pup involves high-dose steroids and intensive nursing by the owner.
-
- IN GENERAL
-
- Of course, Scotties are just as susceptible as any other breed to
- viral and bacterial transmissible diseases, cancer, accident, gum
- disease, etc. Normal health care by a licensed veterinarian is very
- important to the Scot's health. There is current debate on the
- heritability of epilepsy, and hypothyroidism, diabetes, and other
- immune-mediated diseases. It seems likely that there is a genetic
- component to these problems, but the exact mode of inheritance is
- likely to be polygenic, and never completely predictable.
- _________________________________________________________________
-
- Resources
-
- The following books are recommended by this owner/breeder. You may
- find others in many libraries. Thorough research into the breed is
- vital before purchase is comtemplated.
-
- The New Complete Scottish Terrier, John T. Marvin, 1982, Howell Book
- House "This is The Scottish Terrier", T. Allen Kirk, Jr. M.D., 1978,
- TFH Publications (may be out of print, check for similar title by T.H.
- Snethen, same publisher).
-
- The Scottish Terrier Club of America: Evelyn Kirk, Corresponding
- Secretary, 2603 Derwent Drive, SW, Roanoke, Virginia, 24015.
-
- The club publishes a quarterly magazine with ads, articles, trophy
- standings, new titles, and other news of interest to club members. It
- is called The Bagpiper, and is available from the editor to
- non-members at $25/year. The editor is: Joanne Kinnelly, 19510
- Clement, Northville, MI, 48167
-
- In addition, the author of this FAQ will be happy to share any
- information or experience she can. E-mail address below.
- _________________________________________________________________
-
-
- Scottish Terrier FAQ
- Camille Partridge, partridc@ucs.orst.edu
-