ALBORADA y Vallbonica Kennel, West Highland & Scottish Terrier || Scottish Terrier

BODY

Well rounded ribs flattening to deep chest and carried well back. Back proportionately short and very muscular. Topline of body straight and level, loin muscular and deep, powerful coupling ribs to hindquarters

FOREQUARTERS

Head carried on muscular neck of moderate length showing quality, set into long sloping shoulder, brisket well in front of straight, well boned forelegs to straight pasterns. Chest fairly broad and hung between forelegs which must not be out at the elbow nor placed under body.

HINDQUARTERS

Remarkably powerful for size of dog. Big, wide buttocks, deep thighs and well bent stifles. Hocks short, strong, turning neither in nor out.

TAIL

Moderate length giving general balance to dog, thick at root and tapering towards tip. Set on with upright carriage or slight bend.

EARS

Neat, fine texture, pointed, erect and set on top of skull but not too close together. Large, wide-based ears highly undesirable

HEAD AND SKULL

Long without being out of proportion to size of dog. Length of skull enabling it to be fairly wide and yet retain narrow appearance. Skull nearly flat and cheek bones not protruding. Foreface strongly constructed and deep throughout. Skull and foreface of equal length. Slight but distinct stop between skull and foreface just in front of eye.Almond-shape, dark brown, fairly wide apart, set deeply under eyebrows with keen, intelligent expression. Nose large and, in profile, line from nose towards chin appears to slope backwards.

BITE

The jaw should be square, level and powerful. Undershot or overshot bites should be penalized.

MOUTH

Teeth large with perfect, regular scissor bite, i.e. Upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

NECK

Muscular and of moderate length.

FEET

Good size, well padded, toes well arched and close knit, forefeet slightly larger than hindfeet.

General appareance

Thick set, of suitable size to go to ground, short legged, alert in carriage and suggestive of great power and activity in small compass.

Head gives impression of being long for size of dog. Very agile and active in spite of short legs.

Size, Proportion, substance

The Scottish Terrier should have a thick body and heavy bone. The principal objective must be symmetry and balance without exaggeration.

Height at withers 25,4 cm-28 cm (1O-11 ins); weight 8,6-10 kg (19-23 lbs).

Temperament

The Scottish Terrier should be alert and spirited but also stable and steady-going.

He is Loyal and faithful. Dignified, independent and reserved, but courageous and highly intelligent. His attitude in the ring should convey both fire and control.

The Scottish Terrier, while loving and gentle with people, can be bold, but never aggressive with other dogs.

Coat

The Scottish Terrier should have a close lying, double coat; undercoat short, dense and soft; outer coat harsh, dense and wiry, together making a weather-resisting covering.

Color

Black, wheaten or brindle of any shade.

Many black and brindle dogs have sprinklings of white or silver hairs in their coats which are normal and not to be penalized.

White can be allowed only on the chest and chin and that to a slight extent only.

Gait

The gait of the Scottish Terrier is very characteristic of the breed. It is smooth and free, straight both back and front with drive from behind and level gait throughout.

Movement should be free, agile and coordinated with powerful drive from the rear and good reach in front.

The action of the rear legs should be square and true and, at the trot, both the hocks and stifles should be flexed with a vigorous motion.

When the dog is in motion, the back should remain firm and level.

Penalties

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree:

EXAMPLES: Soft coat; curly coat; round, protruding or light eyes; overshot or undershot jaws; obviously oversize or undersize; shyness or timidity; movement too wide or too close in rear; too narrow in front or rear; out at the elbow; lack of bone and substance; low set tail; lack of pigment in the nose; etc...

NOTE : Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum

Origin

People, in the past, didn't have dogs like companion animals, but for its utility. The different breeds were being created by the selesction of their aptitudes and their usefulness from the foundational dogs that also were fixing local racial characteristics.

We can not talk about the Scottish Terrier origin without having a thought in the steep and rocky places of the West Highlands of Scotland. They constituted an optimal refuge for all wild animal where, a small robust and tenacious Terrier, were used for the hunt of foxes, wild cats and badgers.

An early Scottish hunting a badger

It is said that this Terrier already lived in the Highlands of Scotland and accompanied in the hunting to the different Celtic tribes when the Romans took possession of Europe.

The Scottish history is linked to all the Terriers of Scotland. It is disputed between the Cairn or the Skye Terrier to to be the first Scottish Terrier, but the certain thing is that all of them come from a same breed, oldest one of Scotland.

In spite of being a popular breed, it is not until century XIX when some information about the Scottish is found.

In 1833 the book "Dog of Scotland" is published, in wich a dog called Skye Terrier it's described, but it has more characteristics of Scottish than of the Skye that now we know.

Dogs of Scotland by Mr.Thomson Gray

One of the parents and main pillar of the breed was Doctor Van Best, who dedicated to select the first dogs of the breed. The next one was Sir Payton Piggot, an important breeder from the beginnings of the Scottish Terriers.

Scottish first appearance was different from the present ones:

An early Scottish Terrier

they had an elongated but less corpulent body; the head was shorter and the jaw wider.

But in time, just as in other breeds (like westie), the breed has evolved thanks to the selection effort by breeders and fans to the Scottish that nowadays we all know.

In 1881 it was celebrated in Perth (Scotland) the first official show of followers and breeders of the Scottish Terrier.

And on 1883 Scottish Terrier Club of England was based and presented the first rough draft of the Standard with J. B. Morrison and Mr. Thomson.The last one last one published in 1887 the first book dedicated to the Scottish and the other Scottish dogs.

Until 1890 the name of Scottish Terrier did not become official for The Kennel Club. Until then, it was called Aberdeen due to Dr. Van Best.

Evolution

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, and so had developed exceptional strength and courage, in a compact and tough package. These traits are still the hallmark of the breed today.

An early Scottish hunting a badger

At first, the breed was surrounded by controversy because each breeder thought he was the only owning the right breed type.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the type of Scottish was stabilised, but the dogs were still too high and too long. Some breeders, as Mr. Chapman who was the first to won Crufts Show in 1929 with CH Heather Necessity, dominated the breed and gave it their print in Scottish Terrier evolution.

Ch. Albourne Slogan

During the 1930s, the Scottish was in vogue, we could saw it everywhere in elegant places like boulevards and boutiques. President Franklin Roosevelt's Scottish "Fala" was the most well-known dog of his era.

The next years, the quality of the dogs became better and the production was more homogeneous.

Ch. Gosmore Eilburn Miss Hopefull

Nowadays the great qualities of their personality and temperament have turned them like the appropriate dog, by psychologists of the USA and Canada, to help children with problems of adaptation or communication.

Character

The Scottish Terrier is a small, compact, short-legged, sturdily-built dog of good bone and substance. He has a hard, wiry, weather-resistant coat and a thick-set, cubby body which is hung between short, heavy legs which are confused under the coat.

These characteristics, joined with his very special keen, piercing, expression, and his erect ears and tail are characteristic features of the breed.

A Scottie with Shirley Temple

Although the Scottie is instantly recognisable by his characteristic profile, Scottie temperament is the essence of the breed. However, each one, has his or her own personality. Some are aloof and independent, while others are friendly and outgoing. It depends on the breeding line and the breeders care. In order to have an extraordinary Scottish teh breeder must have a right selection criteria and a great experience in breeding.

In general the Scottish Terrier is alert and spirited but also stable and steady-going. While loving and gentle with people can be bold, but never aggressive, with other dogs.

Three black Scotties

Life to him is serious, to be met with dignity, reserve and stout heart, accepting few friends outside the family circle but with a deep and life long devotion.

He is, living up to his nickname, a "gentleman" on the street, tolerant with strangers, but indifferent to street dogs unless been attacked, when he will fight to his last breath regardless of the odds against him.

Brought up with children who respect his independent nature, he will adjust to their activities and even appoint himself their guardian. However, his dignity makes him tend to shun rough and tumble games. His favourite games are those which appeal to his hunting instincts; the ball to be pursued, the squeak toy to be demolished, rambles to be enjoyed in fields or even on city streets and he is passionate of water games.

A brindle Scottie

His independent spirit may try your patience at times, however, his strong desire for approval will win compliance with your wishes where harsh words and punishment will fail. To those who appreciate his unique character, the Scottish Terrier is a friend and companion for life.