SCOTTISH TERRIER — BREED DESCRIPTION & INFORMATION Breed Description / Health Issues / Breed Standards / Grooming / Training / Additional Information Breed Description
Breed Registries:	Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) - Terriers American Kennel Club (AKC) - Terrier Group United Kennel Club (UKC) - Terriers The Kennel Club [U.K.] (KC) - Terriers Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) * - No. 73
Note: The breed registries indicated above are the most recognized all-breed registries. The breed may also be recognized by other registries not indicated here. For further details about dog registries, please see the document: Dog Breed Registries in North America. * — The Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) is the World Canine Organisation, which includes members (one member per country) that each issue their own pedigrees and train their own judges. The FCI recognizes 332 breeds, with each being the "property" of a specific country. The FCI is not a breed registry nor does it issue pedigrees.
Origin:	Great Britain
Height:	10 inches (25 cm)
Weight:	18 to 22 lbs (8-10 kg)
The Scottish Terrier originated sometime during the 1500 and 1600's and is one of the oldest and most recognized of the Terrier breeds. Originally he was used to hunt vermin and bred to be fearless. Today, the well raised Scottish Terrier is a loyal, loving and playful companion. He is alert and spirited yet stable and easy-going. He is an excellent watch dog and adaptable to most living environments. He thrives on human companionship and a Scottie who is raised with children will be very devoted to them. The Scottie's physical appearance gives the impression of power. He is very square and solidly built, often referred to as a big dog in a small package. He has a short outer-coat that is hard and wiry and a dense, soft undercoat. His hair is longer on the muzzle and over the eyes, forming a beard and eyebrows. His colours are either grey, brindle, black or wheaten. His coat is non-shedding and quite often will not trigger allergic reactions for those who suffer from allergies. For additional books, gifts & merchandise, CLICK HERE TOP Health Issues: The Scottish Terrier breed is generally very healthy and not susceptible to many of the genetic health problems found in other breeds. However, as in all breeds, there are some genetic health issues that may be of concern. The following is a brief listing of some of these: Scottie Cramp — The most common hereditary disorder found in the Scottish Terrier breed. It is a permanent condition, but it does not worsen with age. Most dogs affected with Scottie Cramp still make wonderful companions, able to share virtually all activities. von Willebrand's Disease — vWD is a blood disorder, a deficiency in clotting factor VIII antigen. Dogs affected by the disease do not effectively utilize their platelets for blood clotting and therefore are more likely to have excessive bleeding episodes upon injury. This is similar to hemophilia in humans. Cushing's Syndrome — Cushing's disease is the result of the overproduction of cortison, a natural steriod hormone, by the adrenal glands. In the majority of cases, the disease is caused by a lesion in the pituitary gland at the base of the brain that overstimulates the adrenals, while in about 20 percent of cases one of the adrenal glands itself will have a tumor that excretes cortisol independent of what's happening in the body. About half of those tumors are malignant and spread, and about half of them are benign and generally remain small. It is unknown whether there is an inherited predisposition to Cushing's Syndrome in Scottish Terriers. Hypothyroidism — Canine Hypothyroidism is the most commonly diagnosed hormonal disease found in dogs. The term hypothyroidism simply means the underproduction of thyroxin, the hormone produced by the thyroid gland. Epilepsy — Canine Epilepsy is a chronic condition characterized by recurrent seizures. Seizures are the result of muscle responses to an abnormal nerve-signal burst from the brain. In recent years, there appears to be an increase of reported seizures in Scottish Terriers. Craniomandibular Osteopathy — CMO is an inherited disorder usually appearing between the age of four to seven months. It is an abnormal growth of the bone of the lower jaw but normally, as the dog matures, this abnormality abates and is often undetectable in the adult dog. For additional information on these and other health issues, please see the Health & Nutrition section of Canada's Guide to Dogs as well as Genetic Health Issues from the Scottish Terrier Club of America. If you are considering the adoption of a Scottish Terrier puppy, or any breed, it is very important to be selective in choosing a responsible and reputable breeder. Ensure that the prospective puppy's parents have all health clearances. Breeding of any dog should not be done until after they have been proven to be free of evidence of significant hereditary diseases. (For more information on selecting a breeder, see the articles on the main Breed Listing and Breeders page.) Additional Health Resources: Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program (PennHip) QuickCare Pet Insurance Programs TOP Breed Standards: Canadian Breed Standard Canadian Scottish Terrier Club Amplification of the Breed Standard AKC Breed Standard UKC Breed Standard The Kennel Club (U.K.) Breed Standard FCI Breed Standard No. 73 / 02.02.1998 / GB AKC SCOTTISH TERRIER VIDEO 21 Min. Video Edition, Published by the AKC Discussion of the breed standard: good structure and movement, acceptable colors, correct head, size. Developed for breeders, exhibitors and judges. — Available from Dogwise.com TOP Grooming Information: Grooming — This section of Canada's Guide to Dogs includes tips, articles and information covering all aspects of dog grooming along with a listing of Groomers from across Canada. TOP Training Resources: Training — For information on training your Scottish Terrier, see this growing section of Canada's Guide to Dogs for tips, articles, as well as listings of training centres across Canada. Training Tools & Equipment Choose from a wide variety of items from Dogwise.com TOP Additional Information: Scottish Terrier Pedigree Search Clubs, Sports & Activities — Interested in getting involved in a dog sport or activity with your Scottie? This section of Canada's Guide to Dogs provides information on several sports and activities as well as listings of non-breed specific dog clubs from across Canada. (Scottish Terrier specific Clubs from around the world can be found under Breed Clubs.) Working Dogs — This section pays tribute to the many wonderful jobs that dogs do for us, including Guide Dogs, Therapy Dogs, Police Dogs, SAR Dogs and much more. Also included are listings of organizations from across Canada. OFFICIAL BOOK OF THE SCOTTISH TERRIER by Muriel Lee A first-rate guide to every aspect of life with a Scottie: selecting, raising, caring for, grooming, breeding, working and showing. Illustrated with nearly 350 photos. — Available from Dogwise.com For additional titles, please see the Books & Merchandise section.