the muzzle is of good strength, not snipey. Dental examination should reveal a good, wide mouth with a strong jaw and power- ful teeth, the teeth should be large, large enough to surprise you. Th e bite should be either scissors or level; neither undershot nor overshot. Evaluating the Body Begin your examination of the body by checking the front end. Run your hands down the neck. Th ey should fl ow gradually and smoothly into the shoulders. Th e shoul- der blade should be well laid back. Th is is a breed that can and should achieve a 45 degree layback as is appropriate for a breed with the body dropped between the legs. Th e upper arm should be of almost equal length and set on to the shoulder blade at approximately a right angle. Th e proper length and angle of upper arm will set the leg well back under the dog and add to the appearance of a pronounced forechest. Referred to in our old books as the “chest of a duchess” Elbows should be tucked in so that when your hands move down the legs from the shoulder, no protrusion of the elbow is felt. Th e legs should be relatively straight. Examine the leg for adequate bone by encircling the leg with your hand. It is heavy bone for the size of the dog. Th e feet should be thick and well rounded. Cup the dog’s forechest with your hand to ensure that it is well fi lled and extends forward. Drop your hand, palm up between the front legs to ensure proper width of chest. Place your closed fi st under the chest. A correct brisket will just touch the top of an average man’s fi st. When viewed in cross-section, the ribs should be heart shaped, well sprung and deep. Th e Scottish Terrier is a long ribbed breed. Th e distance between the rib cage and upper thigh should be short and the loin is muscular. Th ighs should be very muscular with the sti fl e well bent. Th e width of the thigh should fi ll your hand. Hocks should be short and parallel to one another both while standing and moving (a major problem in the breed). Th e bum should be broad and strong with good inner thigh, referred to in our old books as the “bum of a cook.”
One aspect which can frequently cause confusion in evaluating a Scottish Terrier is the use of the term “cobby” in describ- ing the breed. Th e appearance of being compact from the withers to the set on of the tail combined with his substantial bone and substance gives him his cobbiness. One must remember, however, that the pro- nounced forechest and hindquarters add to the overall lengthy appearance of the dog. In order to correctly examine a Scot- tie’s coat texture, lift the outer coat. Th ere should be no skin visible. Th e dog should have a thick, dense undercoat with a hard, tight topcoat. Furnishings should not be excessive and should have the same harsh texture. All colours and variations outlined in the standard are equally acceptable. Movement Exhibited at a walk, the unique “Scot- tie Roll” fi nds its origin from the front assembly not the hindquarters as many may think. While moving forward, the front legs incline slightly towards the center as speed accelerates and due to the deep wide forechest, a slight roll becomes evident. Rear legs should move true with hocks remaining parallel. Correctly built, the Scottish Terrier should be able to cover ground well despite his short legs.
or timidity. One should see a tough, digni- fi ed dog that will not back down from a challenge. In sparring, the dog should col- lect himself and appear on alert – ears and tail up. He will boldly stand his ground. He may stare down his opponent or look away thereby giving him the opportunity to leave the spar with dignity intact. He may start a rumble, but should return to control when asked by his handler to do so. Sparring should never cause a Scottie to become uncontrollable in the ring. He should leave the spar with an air of dignity becoming a Scottish gentleman. BIO Darle Heck is a second generation Scottish Terrier breeder/judge who has judged Scottish Terrier National Special- ties worldwide including the US National at Montgomery County. In addition to breeding Scotties, she has also bred Wire Fox Terriers and Bouvier des Flandres under the Beinnein prefix; including many champions, top dogs, BISS and BIS win- ners around the world. Darle was a mem- ber of the committee for the revision of the STCA Illustrated Standard and Groom- ing manual and completed the artwork for these award winning publications as well as the Canadian and Australian illustrat- ed guides and is currently a member of the standards committee. In addition to being an artist and author, Darle is an all breed
The Dour Scott – Evaluating Temperment
One of the key statements in the Scot- tish Terrier standard relates to the unique temperament of this breed. As it refers to a Scottie, “true terrier temperament” does not refer to the high energy, high activ- ity, heads up – tails up attitude frequently associated with breeds such as the Fox and Parson Russell Terriers. “True Terrier Tem- perment” in a Scottie refers to the bold, strong willed spirit of the breed. It may be seen as the Scottie alerts on another dog or draws himself up unyielding in a four square stance. It is shown in his unwilling- ness to back down from a challenge. It is not, nor should it ever be misconstrued, as the uncontrollable gnarling and gnashing of teeth as dogs are sparred together. In judging, the purpose of sparring is to see character portrayed by a con fi dent and digni fi ed attitude with no sign of shyness
judge who judges worldwide. From Bill deVilleneuve A
s I watch a Scottie walk into my ring, the fi rst impression that I am looking for is a dog that thinks it is the master of it’s domain. Th e Scot-
tish Terrier should have a commanding presence, moving con fi dently with tail up while showing interest in what is going on in the ring, and even beyond. Physically, I want to see a dog that is compactly built with a short loin, low to the ground with a deep chest, with well laid back shoulders blending into a level topline. Th ere should be no rounding of the croup to the set on of tail. Th e well developed chest should be prominent in 4 )08 4 *()5 . "(";*/& + 6-: t
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