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The Scottish Terrier is a breed of dog known for its long, wiry coat and independent spirit.
These dogs are often referred to as “the little terrier that could.” Scottish Terriers are feisty and full of personality, which makes them a popular choice among dog owners.
In this article, you’ll discover answers to the most common questions and facts about the Scottish Terrier breed.
Table of Contents
Scottish Terrier Facts & Frequently Asked Questions
What Size Are Scottish Terriers?
Scottish Terriers typically weigh between 19-22 pounds and are about 11-12 inches tall at the shoulder.
They’re considered a small to medium breed of dog.
When Are Scottish Terriers Fully Grown?
Scottish Terriers take about 18 months to reach their full adult size.
When Do Scottish Terriers Calm Down?
Scottish Terriers are a relatively calm breed of dog, but they do have a lot of energy.
They tend to calm down as they get older, usually around the age of two or three.
When Do Scottish Terriers Ears Stand Up?
Scottish Terriers’ ears usually stand up by the time they’re eight weeks old.
When Do Scottish Terriers Go Into Heat?
Scottish Terriers usually go into heat around six to seven months of age.
When Do Scottish Terriers Stop Growing?
Scottish Terriers typically stop growing by the time they’re 18 months old.
What Are Scottish Terriers Bred For?
Scottish Terriers were originally bred for hunting rodents and other small animals.
This is why they will often chase small animals like cats and rabbits if not properly trained.
Where Did Scottish Terriers Originate?
The breed was initially developed in the 19th century from a cross between the Cairn Terrier and the West Highland White Terrier in Scotland.
The Scottish Terrier was recognized by the Kennel Club of Scotland in 1883 and by the Kennel Club of England in 1885.
The American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1900.
What Are Scottish Terriers Known For?
Scottish Terriers are known for being independent, feisty, and full of personality.
They’re also known for their long, wiry coat, which requires regular grooming.
Scottish Terriers are relatively calm for a small breed of dog, but they do require daily exercise to stay healthy.
What Are Scottish Terriers Like As Pets?
Scottish Terriers make good pets for families with older children.
They aren’t a good choice for first-time dog owners since they can be stubborn and difficult to train without experience.
When it comes to younger kids Scottish Terriers may not be the best.
They typically stand up for themselves so extra handling from kids might cause problems.
Scottish Terriers also require daily exercise, but they’re relatively low-maintenance when it comes to grooming.
Where Do Scottish Terriers Rank In Intelligence?
Scottish Terriers are considered to be one of the more intelligent breeds of dog. They rank 26th out of 138 on Stanley Coren’s “The Intelligence of Dogs”.
Why Are Scottish Terriers So Stubborn?
Scottish Terriers are known for being stubborn because they were bred to be independent hunters.
This independence makes them less likely to take direction from humans.
Why Do Scottish Terriers Have Beards?
Scottish Terriers have beards because they were originally bred for hunting rodents and other small animals.
The beard helped protect their face from getting scratched by the claws of their prey.
Why Do Scottish Terriers Have Furry Faces?
Scottish Terriers have furry faces to protect their eyes from the Scottish weather.
They also developed furry faces to protect their face from getting scratched by the claws of their prey.
Why Do Scottish Terriers Have Skirts?
Scottish Terriers have skirts to protect their legs from getting scratched by the Scottish weather.
They also developed skirts to protect their legs from getting scratched by the claws of their prey.
Why Do Scottish Terriers Howl?
Scottish Terriers howl because they were originally bred for hunting rodents and other small animals.
The howling helped their owners find them when they were out hunting.
Why Do Scottish Terriers Lick Their Paws?
There’s a number of reasons a Scottish Terrier may lick their paws.
Why a Scottish Terrier licks their paws depends on their behavior, health, paw/skin conditions, allergies, weather conditions and even more specific factors.
Some examples why they might be licking include self grooming, injury, dry skin, infection, and boredom.
Why Do Scottish Terriers Smell?
Scottish Terriers may smell for a number of reasons including poor grooming, health conditions, or allergies.
They’re double coated dogs with a thick undercoat that sheds seasonally.
This can lead to an increase in Scottish Terrier shedding and Scottish Terrier smell if they’re not properly groomed.
What Color Are Scottish Terriers?
Scottish Terriers can be a number of different colors including black, brindle, wheaten, and fawn.
What Colors Do Scottish Terriers Come In?
All the colors a Scottish Terrier can be are black, brindle, wheaten (cream color), silver brindle, red brindle, black brindle, and light wheaten (looks white).
How Many Scottish Terriers Are There In The World?
Scottish Terriers are one of the less common dog breeds.
There’s no exact number, but Scottish Terriers make up less than 0.05% of the total dog population.
What Do Scottish Terriers Eat?
Scottish Terriers are relatively low-maintenance when it comes to their diet.
They can eat a variety of different foods, but they should always have a high-quality protein source.
The protein source they eat can be chicken, lamb, fish etc. It depends on the individual dog and their preference and allergies (if they have any).
Scottish Terriers also benefit from supplements to help with joint health and skin/coat conditions.
What Do Scottish Terriers Die From?
Scottish Terriers typically live to be 12-14 years old.
The most common cause of death for Scottish Terriers is cancer.
What Health Problems Do Scottish Terriers Have?
Scottish Terriers are generally a healthy breed of dog, but they’re prone to certain health conditions.
Some of the most common health problems Scottish Terriers face include allergies, joint problems, and skin conditions.
Scottish Terriers may also suffer from more serious health conditions like cancer or heart disease.
How Much Do Scottish Terriers Cost?
Scottish Terriers typically cost between $800 and $2000 but it depends on the breeder.
How Long Are Scottish Terriers Pregnant For?
Scottish Terriers are pregnant for about 58-68 days or about nine weeks.
How Many Puppies Do Scottish Terriers Have?
Scottish Terriers have 6 puppies in a litter on average.
They can have as low as 1 puppy per litter and up to 8!
Other Posts You Might Find Interesting:
Everything A Scottish Terrier Can & Can’t Do (Complete List)
Scottish Terriers vs. Other Dog Breeds: Comparison Guide