Scottish Terrier

Scotties are very friendly and playful dogs, rather feisty, but loving to snuggle on the sofa, on their terms of course. A very loyal breed, totally committed to their family members.

Certainly a very playful and sometimes mischievous dog. A Scottie dog loves nothing better than any interactive games such as “hunt the toy” and “fetch the ball."

These tough little dogs can be quite dominant and stubborn too, but for most of the time they are calm and non-aggressive. However, they can sometimes be quite possessive and won’t stand any teasing.

Often appearing quite aloof, but nevertheless, very independent dogs too. They do however, have a very strong, determined mind, and this needs to be considered when training the Scottie.

As with most terrier breeds, the Scottish terrier has a high drive to chase after prey. He will very easily chase anything that moves in front of him, given the opportunity. Because of this hunting instinct, care needs to be taken when walking him off the lead, to prevent him rushing off after wild animals.

This breed tends to be quite reserved around strangers, yet is very loyal towards their owners. If given extensive exposure to many sights, sounds and other people at an early age it should be quite accepting of strangers. In some cases, Scottish Terriers can be suspicious and possessive which can sometimes lead to nastiness.

The majority of Scottish Terriers are very independent, neither needing nor wanting instructions from their owners. As a breed in general they can be quite aloof, stubborn too, which tends to make them selectively deaf in certain situations.

These dogs tend to form strong bonds with their owners and in reality, anyone who cares for them. Because of this, they love nothing more than being in someone’s company and aren’t very happy at being left alone for longer periods during the daytime. Separation anxiety can make a dog destructive in the home, as they see this as a way of relieving boredom.

As a smart dog who is keen to learn, training must be consistent and begin early in the dog’s life. However, they very easily pick up bad habits too. A terrier is never happier than when he has something to keep him busy, but likewise, is happy to chill out at home relaxing. Successful training routines must not be too repetitive and be very interesting to keep the dog focused on the task in hand. Avoid heavy handed training and harsh reprimands and always provide positive reinforcement for the best results.

You may discover that your Scottish Terrier likes to hear his own voice and will bark quite often. On the other hand, he may only bark at something he’s not sure about, or when strangers are around. As with any dog that’s left alone for too long, he may bark to let you know his displeasure.