CELEBRATE THE SCOTTISH TERRIER
By Charla Hill
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cottie owners are a breed unto themselves and like their dogs they never back down. Scottie own- ers nearly always come back for more and seldom
of this multi-colored breed. Let fashion dictate black as it may in the game of Monopoly, but revel in the shades of all the variations! An acquaintance who has Blood Hounds also had one Scottie bitch. She is one of the few in our breed to have earned a tracking title along side the hounds. I asked how did she accomplish this and was told that once she broke the bitch from digging holes while tracking, she was able to follow the trail well. It is amazing how strong the earth dog instinct is in this breed. Th ey don’t call Scotties “die hards” for nothing. Th ey are highly tolerant of pain and very stoic. It is also said that often an older Scottie exhibits no symptoms that they are near death until one day they stop eating, and go peacefully. Scotties often have a stubborn streak, and I think that persistence is due to their strong hunting qualities of being intent on following the prey into a hole or den. Th ey can be sometimes a challenge if the person training doesn’t understand that quality. A Scottie is very focused, but a reward of something that is edible will almost always shift their attention to the request. Th e average Scottie will always try to convince you he is starving. Weight watching is almost always needed with this breed. Some people who show in conformation bulk their dogs up confus- ing fat and muscle. Proper conditioning is always preferable. Most Scotties do not like their feet touched or handled and will jerk the leg back in disapproval. On the exam table at a show, it is occasionally seen when the judge checks front legs. And try to keep the toenails short! What a struggle of wills. Th eir nails are heavy and large for their size. Digging breeds like a Scottie need a slightly longer toenail than most breeds, but not so long as to curve or click
change breed preference. I think some of us would “go underground” before giving up “our breed”. Having had several other breeds through the years, I found myself saying “He’s just not a Scottie!” Scottie owners are a special clan of folks who gather at the fi rst drop of a hat. You will see them en masse at Highland Games, Scottie ephem- era collector’s conventions, rallies such as the one in Door County, and, of course, at AKC events. Wherever this multicolored breed goes, people always turn to look. As one famous author said, “ Th ere is no Scottie of a bad color”. Wheaten is accept- able, not white. A wheaten Scottie may look like it has a variation in body color. If the coat is clippered, it will be much lighter in color all over. Th e darker shade of a wheaten coat is in the tip of the hair that grows after stripping. I just read somewhere that if given a choice, people will choose a white dog over a black or dark colored one, BUT NOT ME. Maybe that is one reason why the registrations for our breed are down 60% in the last 10 years. Or is it legis- lation, housing rules, subdivision cov- enants, more people working all day with no time for a dog, rules against fences, breeders declining in numbers or fewer litters, or any number of things?And may- be it is a reason why some people want only the wheaten color. What a bleak out- look for one of the most wonderful and intelligent breeds on the planet! It is never a good idea to breed for color as being important. We must trust Mother Nature to provide us with the joy
Three colors on three steps. Photo by S. Russell
“IT IS NEVER A GOOD IDEA TO BREED FOR COLOR AS BEING IMPORTANT.”
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