Eng. Ch. Heather Necessity
Eng. Ch. Heather Necessity
Heart of America Scottish Terrier Club
ABOUT THE SCOTTISH TERRIER
HISTORY
The Scottish Terrier originated in the highlands of Scotland and is believed to be Scotland's oldest breed of dog. In those far off days, hunters kept packs of small terriers to rid the land of vermin. Dogs were selected for their gameness and hunting ability. Appearance mattered little to the practical Scotsman. All he required was that his dogs be fearless enough to attack any prey; small enough to fight their way back out; and hardy enough to withstand a rough life and rigorous climate. These were the attributes deemed essential in the early hunting terriers and they are still the attributes we look for today.
For hundreds of years they were Scotland's own terriers, but sometime in the late 1800's, enough foundation stock had been brought south of the border to warrant a breed name and distinct classes for them at English shows. The first Standard by which they were judged was drawn up in England in 1880, and the first breed club devoted to their interests was the Scottish Terrier Club of England, founded in 1883.
All present day Scotties stem from a single bitch, Splinter 11, and two sires, Ch. Alister, born 1885, and Ch. Dundee, born 1882. From these three are descended all the show champions on both sides of the Atlantic, first through the two great sires of the 1930's, Eng. Ch. Albourne Barty and Eng. Ch. Heather Necessity, and later through the famous "3Bs" of the '1960's, Chs. Bardene Boy Blue, Bardene Bingo and Bardene Bobby Dazzler.
Scotties came to these shores in the early 1890's but it was not until the years between World War I and World War II that the breed saw any significant popularity. By 1936, Scotties were the third most popular breed in the United States. Although they did not permanently stay in fashion, they continue to enjoy a steady popularity with a large segment of the dog-owning public.
TODAY'S SCOTTISH TERRIER
Compact, tough, and strong, the Scottish Terrier stands just 10 inches tall at the shoulder and has a hard wiry coat over a dense, soft undercoat. he may be black, brindle, or wheaten. Specialized grooming is required to keep the Scottie's characteristic square shape.
A loyal, affectionate and playful pet, the Scottie has the terrier spunkiness. However, he is more reserved than most terriers. he generally bonds with one or two people and is very particular about the company he keeps! He does best with school-aged children who will respect his small size. The Scottie is an effective watch dog who will always sound the alert!
The Scottie was bread to work independently of human direction, and so he has a mind of his own. He requires early and firm training to ensure that he does not dominate the household. He can be stubborn and does best with a training program founded on mutual reqpect. If he is socialized at an early age, he will tolerate other pets. While his small size suits him to almost any living arrangements, the Scottie is an active, alert working dog who enjoys daily exercise. Without physical and mental stimulation, he can become destructive.
CH FIREHEART'S GUNS N' ROSES
Today's Scottish Terrier photo compliments of Fireheart's Scottish Terriers
