The Rough and Ready Scottish Terrier

Scotland is a rugged land and the dogs which lived inShow ring at that time.
the country centuries ago grew up as rugged andThe Scotty is not a "toy" dog. Although it is a small
crusty as the land. There was no established Scottishterrier, reaching a height of 11 inches at the shoulder, it
Terrier for many years but there has always been ais a sturdy dog with much substance. The head is
"Scottish Terrier type" of dog. It is just that there wasimpressive, for he has long jaws and a blocky
no attempt at developing type and so dogs that livedappearance to the skull. The nose has a bit of a
and worked as the rodent catchers and tough littleroman look to it and the fore face hair falls well down
watchdogs of the farmers simply were born lookingover the eyes in prominent eyebrows and covers the
like their sires and dams. The Terriers of the Aberdeentop of the nose, he also has a long beard. The neck is
region were the most well established type but werewell muscled and trimmed of long coat but the rest of
generally just dubbed the "Aberdeen Terrier" withoutthe body has a stiff and flay lying wiry coat. Many
any real attempt at development of a pure strain.people think that the Scottish Terrier is always black,
Although there was a preponderance of thishowever, grizzled, wheaten, gray and brindle are
Aberdeen Terrier type it was not an established breedallowed. The Scotty should present the appearance of
until 1879, when Captain Gordon Murray decided tostrength and determination both in its structure and in
establish type in the numerous terriers that wereits temperament.
present in the Aberdeen region. He began with theScotties have a particular health problem known as
terriers who had the long hair and a long face and a"Scotty Cramp" , a sort of a short seizure which
square jaw and within five years he had perfected aremains a problem with the breed although studies
true to type terrier which he then called the Scottishrelating to this problem have been done and progress
Terrier. The Scottish Terrier Club was established inis being made. It is important that when breeding, dogs
1882 and the first of the Scotties began to enter thewith this familial tendency not be used for breeding.