Illustration 13: The Scottish Terrier skeleton depicting correct proportions. Point 1 illustrating the withers; Point 2 illustrating the point of the shoulder.
Illustration 14. Megargee’s vision of correct Scottish Terrier type measured with today’s standard. The white dot represents where the withers would be if “about 11 inches” were used.
Illustration 15: The Tauskey photograph measured with today’s standard measurements.
Illustration 17: The first “Plaid Book” Scottish Terrier diagram showing today’s measurements and possible wither placement.
Illustration 16: The “Red Book” Scottish Terrier diagram measured with today’s standard measurements.
Illustration 18: The second “Plaid Book” Scottish Terrier diagram showing today’s measurements and possible withers placement.
“WHILE THESE TALLER/SHORTER DOGS ARE NOT IDEAL, THE “BABY SHOULD NEVER BE THROWN OUT WITH THE BATHWATER” AS THEIR ATTRIBUTES COULD
OVERRIDE THEIR LESS-THAN-IDEAL SIZE PROVIDING A POSITIVE INFLUENCE IN SOME BREEDING PROGRAMS.”
WITH EYE AND HAND, WHAT WE DO TO MEASURE THE SCOTTISH TERRIER The Scottish Terrier standard of 1947 merely states that the Scottish Terrier’s neck should be “Moderately short”; his body is also described as “Moderately short”. “Both forelegs and hind legs should be short and very heavy in bone in proportion to the size of the dog” describes the relationship of leg length to depth of body. Only in the text of the 1980 Clarification and Amplification of the Scottish Terrier Standard is the use of an average size human hand/an average man’s fist used to determine the correct breadth and depth of chest— a “technique” that should always be utilized in judging the Scottish Ter- rier. The 1993 Scottish Terrier standard
uses While these taller/shorter dogs are not ideal, the “baby should never be thrown out with the bathwater” as their attributes could override their less-than-ideal size providing a positive influence in some breeding programs. the phrase “moderately short” as well; again, utilization of an average size man’s hand/fist is visually demonstrat- ed in A Study of the Scottish Terrier published by the Scottish Terrier Club of America. Along with Megargee’s thinking, precise measurements should not be “laid down”. His version of correct type has been a benchmark since its conception. His guidelines of propor- tion should not only “stand the test of time” but relate correct proportions for dogs/bitches that are above and below
the standard’s ideal size of ten inches. While these taller/shorter dogs are not ideal, the “baby should never be thrown out with the bathwater” as their attri- butes could override their less-than- ideal size providing a positive influence in some breeding programs. Remem- ber, balance and symmetry are of the utmost importance. THE AUTHOR CHALLENGES THE READERS TO HAND- MEASURE THEIR SCOTTISH TERRIERS I was pleasantly surprised to see that these two reference points from “days gone by” applied to every diagram/pho- to I selected. I hope this portion of the article encourages the Scottie breeder/ enthusiast, the next time charges are
226 • S HOW S IGHT M AGAZINE , J ULY 2018
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