“THE SCOTTIE STANDARD MAKES NO ADJUSTMENT FOR DOGS WHO ARE SHORTER THAN OR TALLER THAN THE IDEAL HEIGHT.” IT MERELY REFERS TO ‘SYMMETRY AND BALANCE WITHOUT EXAGGERATION’.”
placement, please refer to the diagram previously shown (Illustration 12). Again, another assumption must be made. One must assume that all of the dogs in these diagrams are about 10” at the withers. Therefore, according to the current standard, the ideal Scottie should measure about an inch longer than tall from withers to set on of tail. The Scottie standard makes no adjust- ment for dogs who are shorter than or taller than the ideal height. It merely refers to “symmetry and balance with- out exaggeration”. For illustrative purposes, I will place a “white dot” on the dog where the withers should be when utilizing the “about 11 inches length of back”. I have also used the same pictures previously illustrated in this article. READERS CHALLENGED TO MEASURE LENGTH OF BACK WITH MEASURING DEVICES In my observations of these draw- ings/photographs, I have never seen
Scottish Terriers whose withers would ever be set so far forward nor could they ever be set so forward. I, again, challenge the Scottie enthusiast to mea- sure his dog. This measurement is easy to make with a tape measure. Place the end of the tape measure at the highest point of the withers and go back to the set on of tail. That measurement is the length of back. Now, repeat the process but go back from the set on of tail—this procedure is not normally used, but I’m suggesting it merely to prove a point. With a tape measure at the set on of tail, go back to about 11 inches, that point is where the “withers” should be accord- ing to our current standard. Is there a difference in measurements? HOW MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE RELATED TO THE CURRENT SCOTTISH TERRIER STANDARD In 2000, I was asked to become the chair for the STCA Judges Education Committee. Being a teacher and a tac- tile/visual learner, I felt it necessary to
prepare a poster board cutout of the perfectly sized ideally proportioned Scottish Terrier. At that time, I used the diagram shown below (Illustration 24) as the basis for my outline. Gathering my poster board and rulers, utilizing my artistic talents, onward I moved. Shortly, I became confused—I had never seen a dog of this proportion— I was seeing standard proportions but not the Scottie that I had grown up with since my involvement in the breed. I thought I had miscalculated or misdrawn, I checked. No, I was right. I showed the outline to a num- ber of my Terrier friends, and they concurred with my sentiments. One of my dear mentors was a Sealyham Ter- rier and Scottie breeder who had been involved in Sealyham Terriers nearly 50 years. We noticed that the Scottish Terrier standard now had the Scottie being longer than the Sealyham. Below is the reduced copy of that outline. One is now able to compare that outline to the outlines/photos that were used in previous pages (The basis for my draw- ing is also shown below—taken from the “Red Book”, the illustrated standard booklet I had used when I gave the grooming workshops for the STCA.) It became obvious, to me, that the propor- tions created by the current standard did not reflect the symmetry and bal- ance desired in the breed. CONCLUSION It has been my purpose to share with the reader my findings when I traveled back into the history of the breed. I hope each person who reads this article finds something useful. My original intent was to provide myself with strong sup- port for my view of the correct Scottish Terrier. I feel, for me, I have done that. For the reader, I hope I have made my
LORI SARGENT
ALL BREED PROFESSIONAL HANDLER
Showing dogs for almost 40 years. Specializes in finishing class dogs. American Kennel Club registered handler.
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232 • S HOW S IGHT M AGAZINE , J ULY 2018
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